I have heard many people on Y!A claim that HP is unoriginal recycled garbage, but other than a few similarities to mytological stories, I can't think of anything I've read that made me say "Gee, JK Rowling must have copied the story of HP from this author." So, I would like to ask you people that claim HP is unorginal what your reasoning is. Thanks!
2007-07-15 16:19:07 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
It definitely shares some similarities with LOTR, but you can't use things from the film as evidence, seeing as the films started coming out three years after the first HP book.
A lot of the other similarites are involved with the hero's journey archetype. Jo adds a lot more original elements into the story that it doesn't seem like a blatant copy of something.
But not all Lord of the Rings fans are like that, Pink Lemur. I love the LOTR books and movies and HP. :)
2007-07-15 16:31:58 · update #1
I'm not saying that Jo thought up magic in stories or anything, and I acknowledge that she uses many elements of mythology. I'm just saying that I don't understand people who claim that there is NOTHING original about HP, or that the stuff that is original is silly. I feel like these people are sort of jealous (well I don't think that's quite the right word) of this successful book, or think they are too good for anything that might possibly be considered popular.
2007-07-15 16:34:46 · update #2
Neha T, I hope you don't think I'm one of those people. I was just trying to find out what the people that claim HP is unoriginal were basing their argument on so that I could think of a rebuttal.
2007-07-15 16:44:05 · update #3
No. Harry Potter is not absolutely original. Most of the things which Rowling has described have been borrowed from other customs and cultures. Magic itself is not unique. Though, I think (but not very sure), the concept of a school where Magic is taught formally may be original, but is unlikely.
This what I always thought of Harry Potter. Another credit to Rowling is that she has superbly thought out her things in Harry Potter, it appears so (maybe).
Check this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_disputes_over_the_Harry_Potter_series
TW K
2007-07-15 16:31:13 · answer #1 · answered by TW K 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do think that the Harry Potter books are original on the basic storyline. Yes, there are some similarities between these books and many other literary works but what in this world isn't similar to any other thing? A boy who think he's just an ordinary human being discovers he is a wizard and goes off to a magical school where he learns magic and meets some amazing people that will come to be his friends. He must kill an evil wizard that murdered his parents and caused him to lose his Godfather and mentor.
If there are some similarities between creatures then, so what? JK Rowling has taken them from mythology not already literary succeses like Lord of the Rings, as much people claim. I truly believe when she says that the idea to write about a bot that goes to a magical school came to her while on a train. I believe her.
"J.K. Rowling's young heroic wizard, Harry Potter, lives in a world populated by dragons, trolls, giants - and a three headed dog named Fluffy - among other creatures from ANCIENT MYTHS and LEGENDS." - The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter
2007-07-18 04:03:29 · answer #2 · answered by narcissam9 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only way that HP could be claimed unoriginal is because Rowling adopted many of her ideas from history and mythology...but, doesn't every author do the same, i mean, unless a book is truly absolutely thought up by the author, aren't they all borrowing info from somewhere? I get tired of people accusing Rowling of being a copy cat, especially the LOTR fans who want a reason to bash her and her writing style.
2007-07-15 23:25:11 · answer #3 · answered by Pink_lemur 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Harry potter is definitely original. Anyone who says otherwise and takes the time to map out why pretty much just wants to cause conflict (not just in the case of hp) Everything comes from something. To the person comparing harry potter to star wars and lord of the rings, wow took you a long time to come up with that hypothesis didn't it? Anyways, there is no way that they are similar, and why do people even care? Blah. sorry bout the mini-rant
2007-07-15 23:33:13 · answer #4 · answered by dragonflykagerou84 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HP is completely original. however, it does have many similarities with LOTR, as i explain below.
old mentor- gandalf dumbledore
dark lord- sauron voldemort
one heroic character- frodo harry
a pair of mischievious boys- merry and pippin
fred and george
elves- small creatures used for doing housework- a race of creatures superior to all others.
theres more here.
http://www.mugglenet.com/hpvslotr.shtml
theatremamma said everything i did and she copied it from the website above. so technically speaking she plagerized bcuz she didn't give credit to mugglenet.com.
2007-07-15 23:29:48 · answer #5 · answered by !♥~FaY9512~♥! 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what i know is that she has definately used latin language and she has employed roman and greek mythology and even constellation names in astronomy for getting the fantastic names
and if we would have minded the copying stuff
then we would have got fed up of our lives because we have the same problems that all the people face
like bankrupcy and marriage issues,love and lust,longing to break free,asking your date out and your project gettin approved by your company
god i think these people should be happy that harry potter is ending
even i am happy because i wont have to answer to such people who waste their time trying to find similarities which ends up wasting their time
2007-07-15 23:38:39 · answer #6 · answered by neha t 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A few years ago, an American woman, claimed she wrote the Harry Potter books.
2007-07-15 23:31:15 · answer #7 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It cant be original because it is a magical story of good vs. evil but she just added originality to it. See how that works?
2007-07-15 23:23:43 · answer #8 · answered by Girl Who Needs Answers 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Harry Potter is an accumulation of all the fantasy works out there.
2007-07-15 23:22:37 · answer #9 · answered by tedfeliciano 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I answered a question like this a week or so ago. Here was my answer:
HP & LOTR:
Evil sorceror referred to as "Dark Lord" who desires to regain physical shape [Voldemort Sauron]
Wise old mentor with a long gray beard and a wizard hat [Dumbledore Gandalf]
A birthday sets off events [Harry's 11th Frodo's 33rd and Bilbo's 111th]
Inherited invisibility device [Cloak Ring (although the Ring takes you to a different 'world')]
Dog named Fang [Owned by Hagrid Owned by Farmer Maggot]
Evil, creepy hooded creatures [Dementors Nazgul]
Deceased parents [Harry's parents were murdered Frodo's parents drowned]
Taken to live with uncle [Harry lives with his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia Frodo lives with his Uncle Bilbo (film version - second cousin once removed in the book)]
Giant Spider [Aragog Shelob]
Bad guy with a "wormy" name [Peter Pettigrew (Wormtail) Grima (Wormtongue)]
Longbottom [Neville Longbottom who excels at Herbology Tobold Hornblower from Longbottom who knows much about herbs and pipe-weed]
Fight with a troll [Harry, Ron and Hermione fight a troll on Halloween The Fellowship of the Ring fight a troll][
Dark forest [Forbidden Forest Old forest just outside of the Shire]
"Elves" describing a race of people [House elves act as servants A race of peoples from Middle Earth]
Small, pitiable creature who talks in third person [Dobby Gollum]
Goblins [Run wizarding bank Gringotts One of the evil races of middle earth (otherwise known as Orcs everywhere except in The Hobbit)]
Holder of the keys [Hagrid (Keeper of the Keys) Hurin (Warden of the Keys)]
Mischievous pair [Fred & George Weasley Merry and Pippin (film version)]
Forbidden language [Saying "Voldemort" Black Speech of Mordor ]
Dangerous willow tree [Whomping Willow Old Man Willow ]
Basin of seeing [Pensieve Galadriel's Mirror ]
Powerful, life-saving swords [Godric Gryffindor's sword Anduril ]
Scar on forehead [Harry Merry ]
Do not disturb water because of... [The giant squid Watcher in the Water]
Longed for safe-haven During the summer [Harry wishes he was back at Hogwarts On their quest, the hobbits long to be back in the safety of the Shire. ]
Scar from Evil forces [Harry's scar on forehead Frodo's scar from the Morgul Blade]
HP & Star Wars:
Harry Potter (Luke Skywalker) is an orphan living with his aunt & uncle.
H.P. (L.S.) is rescued from Muggles (aliens) by the wise, bearded Hagrid (Ben Kenobe) who turns out to be a wizard (Jedi Knight).
Hagrid (Ben) reveils to HP (LS) that his father was also a wizard (Jedi Knight) and the best Quiddich Player (pilot) he's ever seen.
HP (LS) is instructed how to use a magic wand (light saber) as he trains to be a wizard (Jedi).
HP (LS) has many adventures at Hogwarts (the galaxy) where he meets two good friends, Ron & Hermione (Han & Leia)
In the course of these adventures, HP (LS) distinguishes himself as an expert Quiddich Player (pilot) during a Quiddich Match (battle of the Death Star) making the catch (direct hit) that secures Gryffindor's (The Rebel's) victory against Sytherin (the forces of Evil).
HP (LS) fends off Lord Voldemort (Darth Vader), who we know murdered his parents (aunt & uncle).
In the finale [Book 1] HP (LS) and his new friends win the House Cup (receive medals of honor).
2007-07-15 23:25:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋