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 Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:16 pm
Are there certain scenes in Harry Potter that sound rather similar to other books?
Is the WHOLE plot of Harry Potter similar to another book? What are some common denominators? Differences?
Themes?
Recurring Motifs?
What sets Harry Potter so much apart from other Wizard-ing stories?
I just figured that I would throw those questions and learn through a discussion 'cause frankly I can't find an answer to any but like two of those questions.
And part of being a Harry Potter "fanatic" is to also know BEYOND the literal elements, but also to be able to analyze it. Well, that's what I think at least.
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:07 pm
I see a lot of comparisons with Lord of the Rings - the white wizard (Gandalf and Dumbledore) fighting against the dark one (Sauron and Voldemort); a childlike hero who then grows up in times of war (Frodo and Harry), accompanied by a faithful group of friends (the Fellowship, the D.A/Golden Trio); the slightly fragmented group of evildoers (Orcs and Death Eaters)...even some names are similar. Grima Wormtongue and Wormtail, for example. *shrug* I suppose it could even be argued that the theme - love conquers evil - is similar, even though you might have to dip deeper than in HP to find evidence for that in Lord of the Rings.
Augh, my Brit Lit class is eating my brain. *headdesk*
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:42 am
Well, it's like what Mr. Black said, isn't it? It follows the hero cycle. So you could say it is similar to Lion King, Odyssey, and lots of others. Otherwise, I would like to say it is quite unique... Even if it is not.
And like how Ms. Benzinger said, most of the Disney classics such as Cinderella, Snow White, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, are all love conquers evil...
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:59 am
The Stylish Nihilist I see a lot of comparisons with Lord of the Rings - the white wizard (Gandalf and Dumbledore) fighting against the dark one (Sauron and Voldemort); a childlike hero who then grows up in times of war (Frodo and Harry), accompanied by a faithful group of friends (the Fellowship, the D.A/Golden Trio); the slightly fragmented group of evildoers (Orcs and Death Eaters)...even some names are similar. Grima Wormtongue and Wormtail, for example. *shrug* I suppose it could even be argued that the theme - love conquers evil - is similar, even though you might have to dip deeper than in HP to find evidence for that in Lord of the Rings.
Augh, my Brit Lit class is eating my brain. *headdesk* I agree 100% There is a lot of mythology in Harry Potter, as well.
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:22 am
I guess, but they're portrayed differently than they are in most myths. For example, in the 4th book, the Sphinx seems to be a more compassionate beast who is actually somewhat FORCED to do what she does. The Sphinx has a more...humanness to "it." But in Greek Mythology, the Sphinx is portrayed more of as a ruthless monster who eats anyone who can't answer her riddles.
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:33 am
Also Remus' code name in book 7 Romulus is in reference to the legend of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome
I'd have to read the books again to give more examples, but it is abundant in the books (and in LOTR too)
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:02 pm
But how is Romulus such a relevant name?
What is the significance of it?
It's just a codename until that codename actually has some hidden meaning to it, other than the obvious.
Remus is a werewolf and Romulus was suckled by a wolf.
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:23 pm
KitaAmaya But how is Romulus such a relevant name? What is the significance of it? It's just a codename until that codename actually has some hidden meaning to it, other than the obvious. Remus is a werewolf and Romulus was suckled by a wolf. Romulus and Remus (in the legend) were brothers. They were both nursed by a she-wolf (in some accounts it was the Wolf-Goddess Lupa in others her name was Luperca). When deciding on the location of the city, they each wanted a different location. To decide they stood on a hill and let the gods decide (the gods chose Romulus) When Remus died, Romulus decided to name the city after himself hence Rome or Roma. My point is that JKR knows a decent amount of mythology and has applied it to her books...
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:27 pm
All of the books follow the Hero Cycle, separately and as a group. This makes the general plot very similar to MANY other novels, including the Golden Compass, Lord of the Rings, and in fact ANY book, really....
As for scenes, there are several that I can think of, but I need to do my English homework, so I'll type it up later.
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