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ring master
The Shire
Jul 4 2009, 5:29pm
Post #1 of 35
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Tolkien vs. Rowling
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It the battle of the authors! Pen vs. Pen, Imagination vs. Imagination! Whose fantasies do you like better? Harry Potter or LOTR? I assume that since all of you have joined a Tolkien fan club that you will pick him but we will just have to find out. Now you have to decide!!! An official creation of Ring Master.
Help to stop the dark lord! Ring Master
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Padster
Bree
Jul 6 2009, 9:11am
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A work colleague of mine and me have argued about this many times. From the perspective of their books, Tolkien wins every time, and that is always my position, in an effort to avoid the discussion straying into any other territory. Sadly, he always drags the conversation into the gutter, as to which one would I rather spend the night with. At which point I cave and have to go with Rowling. Sorry. Padster PS Me and Rowling would be reading to each other obviously......
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Fruit of Laurelin
Rivendell
Jul 7 2009, 1:51am
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On one hand, Harry Potter's much easier to get into than LOTR, IMHO at least. But LOTR totally holds you for a long long time while Harry Potter, though it'll always be a great read, lets go after a while. I'm going to go with the politically correct way and say it's a draw.
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Fruit of Laurelin
Rivendell
Jul 7 2009, 1:54am
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Then Tolkien could come back from the grave as an immortal ghost and kick Rowling's ass.
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ring master
The Shire
Jul 7 2009, 2:45am
Post #6 of 35
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I never thought of it that was but OKAY...
Help to stop the dark lord! Ring Master
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Sonic#
Bree
Jul 7 2009, 3:25am
Post #7 of 35
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These might be fighting words, though I don't intend them in that way, to be politically correct. I think Tolkien is a better... for lack of a better phrase, world-weaver. He had an intuitive sense of how mythologies, languages, and geographies would fit together, and he used them to great effect. He also had a good grip on how to build characters, playing with archetypes while instilling enoguh personality for them to be unique but well-constructed. His detailed nature suits me, and I probably even like his faults. There is a lot of wonder in his works, a lot of awe, a lot of beauty, and a lot of terrible things. Rowling creates delight, fear, and a good deal of wonder as well. Because it's all superimposed on the muggle world, it's more fanciful. She doesn't have the same gift of naming, but that's never irked me so much. I love how she plans meticulously as well, giving names to all of the students and making sure there's an equal number of boys to girls, and so on. Her characters are fantastic, and though I think her archetypes are a bit more flat, I love their personality. She is exceedingly inventive, and can tell a good story. Her writing is certainly more accessible. Better? I want to say no, but only in the sense that I think she writes in a more colloquial style, and I prefer Tolkien's for richness. But at the same time, I also love Rowling for its delight, and the riches that are also hidden there. .
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.Ithilwen.
Rivendell
Jul 7 2009, 3:08pm
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LotR (and all his works) have so much more depth and history. HP is a quick (not quick...but not as thoughtful) read that seemed to fade quickly in my mind.
El eria e mor I `lir en el luitha `uren (A star rises out of the darkness. The song of the star enchants my heart) ~Aníron, Enya NARF since summer '08 when I wouldn't read anything written by Tolkien because my Mum called it classic literature...
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GaladrielTX
Tol Eressea
Jul 7 2009, 10:49pm
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I just can't see Tolkien winning this.
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Talent portion: While Rowling has no public reputation as a performer, she has said she enjoys music by the Smiths and the Clash. She sings a painful medley of “Train in Vain” and “How Soon is Now”. The judges are trading looks. Tolkien, also not given to the performing arts, does a reading of “Beowulf” in the original Anglo-Saxon. The judges vote for Tolkien. One judge interviewed after the competition, said, “We didn’t know what he was saying, but at least he didn’t hurt our ears.” Swimsuit portion: The lovely, slender Jo sports a sexy red bikini with high-cut leg. Lookin’ good for a forty-something woman who’s had children. Tolkien has chosen a 1930s-era swimming suit, daringly baring his arms and even his legs (up to mid-thigh). Geh. Tolkien loses. Evening wear portion: Jo is elegant in a low-cut, black, sleeveless gown with a flowing skirt. The contrast with her blonde hair is stunning. Tolkien’s choice of a red satin gown with ruffles on the neckline, sleeves, and skirt is…unfortunate. Said one judge after the competition, “He didn’t seem to fill it out very well at all.” Onstage question: The judges ask Jo her opinion of current events in Honduras. Jo responds with a poised analysis of the legality of the Supreme Court and Congressional decisions in the South American country. Tolkien steps up and fields a question on the relative importance of marital fidelity among political candidates. He mumbles and speaks too fast, and the judges are clearly at a loss. Miss Rowling takes home the crown!
~~~~~~~~ The TORNsib formerly known as Galadriel.
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Fruit of Laurelin
Rivendell
Jul 8 2009, 10:15am
Post #10 of 35
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yay for the humourous approach
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GalTX, you just made my day Tolkien in a swimsuit! The images I'm getting!
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LordotRings93
Rohan
Jul 10 2009, 7:33am
Post #11 of 35
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The Hobbit/LOTR/Silmrillion are far superior. So much more depth and fantasy. I have read ONE HP book, the sixth one, which was very boring. LOTR is just pure awesomeness. The movies are also much better than HP films.
The HUGEST Lord of the Rings fan ever! Owner of all Lord of the Rings merchandise. "I know what I must do. It's just... I'm afraid to do it."
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Jazmine
Tol Eressea
Jul 10 2009, 12:22pm
Post #12 of 35
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I tried the HP books, but could never really get into them.
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RosieLass
Valinor
Jul 10 2009, 4:27pm
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Although it's sort of apples and oranges in my opinion. Perhaps a more fair comparison might be Rowling vs. some of the other authors who wrote fantasies specifically for a younger reading population. (My mind is blanking on their names...Lloyd Alexander, Madeleine L'Engle, Ursula LeGuin, Patricia McKillip, etc.)
"Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully. "Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit's clever." "And he has Brains." "Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brains." There was a long silence. "I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything." - A. A. Milne
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fairelvenlady
Rivendell
Jul 12 2009, 2:01am
Post #14 of 35
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I tried reading Harry Potter when it was first coming out and I was unable to finish the second book because it scared me too much. (I was 9 or 10 at the time) I have never been able to read them after that.LOTR was so good I finished it over Thanksgiving weekend.
What happened when Legolas and Aragorn road with Eomer in the van. Aragorn: Eomer, Legolas has his bow on my side of the seat! Legolas: Well Aragorn keeps slapping me while practicing his "heroic" poses. Eomer: Don't make me turn this van around.
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Fruit of Laurelin
Rivendell
Jul 12 2009, 7:58am
Post #15 of 35
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If it was so believable and exciting...
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it scared you, shouldn't that make you read them all quickly and like them?
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sador
Half-elven
Jul 12 2009, 9:42am
Post #16 of 35
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!
"Such a fool deserves to starve." - Bard.
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fairelvenlady
Rivendell
Jul 12 2009, 7:52pm
Post #17 of 35
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Let's just say i was reading them in the middle of the night while at my Grandma's house and the whole scary element combined with the dark and unfamiliar kinda of scared my for life.
What happened when Legolas and Aragorn road with Eomer in the van. Aragorn: Eomer, Legolas has his bow on my side of the seat! Legolas: Well Aragorn keeps slapping me while practicing his "heroic" poses. Eomer: Don't make me turn this van around.
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Jul 13 2009, 4:09pm
Post #18 of 35
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Maybe Tolkien should have borrowed silneldor's pink swimsuit? No - the red satin gown would still have done him in. Those Oxford dons have simply no sense of style...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire" "It struck me last night that you might write a fearfully good romantic drama, with as much of the 'supernatural' as you cared to introduce. Have you ever thought of it?" -Geoffrey B. Smith, letter to JRR Tolkien, 1915
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Fruit of Laurelin
Rivendell
Jul 16 2009, 3:20am
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That's a shame. I think they are really enjoyable books, but if can't read them without thinking there's a monster under the bed or what not, your choice. I would recommend giving them another go though.
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Pansy
Bree
Jul 24 2009, 12:58am
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I like J.R.R.T's writing better. i can and do reread his works. Rowling are nice once read and then dust gatherers. but in a war consisting of imagination I would say Rowling J.R.R.T's world was well researched. much of his work has a base in older pre existing culture. he has such a weight of thought and planning behind his books. Rowlings work just seems to me to be more light airy with no deeper hidden meanings. since it is not think as deeply writing it is by default more fantasizing, imagination.
Pansy Bolger give three cheers for a hobbit hero, Ill lead the way Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurray! and the Chorus sings... And we are his sisters, and his cousins, and his aunts! And we are his sisters, and his cousins, and his aunts! His sisters and his cousins, Whom he reckons up by dozens, And his aunts! (song pilfered from gilbert & Sullivan)
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Dananjaya
The Shire
Jul 30 2009, 7:53am
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have you read the green book(s) published by TheOneRing.net?? try to find and read 'More people's Guide to J.R.R Tolkien' it includes lot of articles that will be useful when determining who's better when comparing Tolkien with some other author. Every line in those thousand pages (in LOTR alone) includes delicacy,alertness and detail far more than anyone would expect. Few authors got that 'Talent' When it comes to carefully crafting a mythology. like creating Languages that reflects particular race's characteristics and not using Greek or Latin derived words when necessary to keep the character's identity. For example Every word that Sam utter in LOTR is Free of Greek or Latin Derived words. so his speech remains closely descended from Anglo-Saxon speech as possible.that because Tolkien wanted to show that Sam haven't had no influence whatsoever outside Shire that could change his Natural Hobbit-Like Nature. (No Greek or Latin influence when it comes to speech) Everybody can't keep consistency through out a massive number of pages like that.. Now just think what HP have in common with LOTR even to compare...people try to compare stuff when there's two or more things very much like each other but not the same..they want to keep them side by side and determine what to choose or what looks better to them. I don't think anybody can compare LOTR to HP. They are totally different from each other. (in my view)
This post uses only 100% recycled electrons.
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gandalf_the_awesome
Registered User
Aug 18 2009, 11:01pm
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Rowlings better at making a really gripping story, but tolkiens got an amazing imagination. Rowling stole loads of Tolkiens ideas as well.
You shall not pass!
(This post was edited by gandalf_the_awesome on Aug 18 2009, 11:02pm)
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Nagzz
Registered User
Aug 21 2009, 3:57am
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I've considered this question SO many times.. mainly cuz all my friends keep asking me.. and I just can't decide. There are times when I'm all, LOTR is THE best EVER, but then I reread HP, and I'm like, this is awesome as well. There are good and bad on both - HP is interesting from the start, whereas the beginning of LOTR is quite slow (I didn't read the books until I watched the movies) - but there are so many aspects of HP that are obviously taken from LOTR... so.. hmm.. I'd say they were both tied. LOTR *movies* are a thousand times better than the HP ones, though, no doubt, even though HBP was really cool ;)
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Fool of a Took
Bree
Aug 23 2009, 12:58am
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I've always seen Tolkien as the grandaddy of fantasy. Rowling is the talented precocios granddaughter running around the house Tolkien built while he sits back in his old leather armchair.
"Despair, or folly?" said Gandalf. "It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt." "This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great." http://www.hobbitmeals.wordpress.com
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