Star Wars and Middle-Earth

[Dimcollowen]

I think that Tolkien did start a tradition and I hope its one that never dies!!

[Kitanna]

I wrote a list of this many months ago as a way to combat boredom. Here are three of my results. I may add some more in the future...

1) Frodo Baggins = Luke Skywalker: Both dream of a life away from their peaceful homes. Frodo wishes to go out on one of Uncle Bilbo's adventures. Luke wants to be with his friends at the academy, fighting the Empire. Both are brought into something bigger because of a family member. Frodo inherits the Ring from Bilbo, Luke has the Force from his father. Both are removed from their homes by a wise, older man. (Gandalf and Obi-Wan Kenobi *is considered part of the hero cycle*). Both are sent on missions to help conquer evil and restore peace. Frodo to destroy the Ring and Luke to train as a Jedi and join the Rebel Alliance. Both destroy something that is a great threat to their worlds. Frodo "casts" (I'm using that term lightly here so please excuse me) the Ring into Mount Doom and Luke helps to blow up the Death Star.

2) Boromir = Lando Calrissian: Both wanted what was best for their people, despite their means of getting it. Boromir wanted to see Gondor restored to her glory and would go as far as to steal the Ring from Frodo. Lando wanted the people of Cloud City to continue a peaceful existence and was willing to turn his friend Han over to Darth Vader to ensure it. In the end both come around and see their folly. Though it was too late for Boromir, Lando was able to be of service to the Rebels by leading a fleet to destroy the second Death Star.

3) The Witch King = Darth Maul: Second in command to the ultimate evil force. The Witch King serves Sauron and Darth Maul serves Darth Sideous. Both meet their end at the hands of someone who lost a friend/family member to their evil ways. The Witch King is killed by Eowyn after he kills King Theoden. Darth Maul is killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi after he kills Qui-Gon Jinn.

But of course as VanimaEdhel and Boromir said you can find similarties between LOTR and SW as well as with other fantasy stories like Harry Potter, etc.

[The Only Real Estel]

You could compare Anakin and Denethor.

Both of them started out quite well, but they were both proud and fearful (Denethor grew more fearful as Sauron grew, of course).

They both listened to lies from the main Enemy of their time and ended up turning against those that were trying to help them (Anakin against Obi-Wan & Denethor against Gandalf).

In the end they both eventually came to see their life and its surroundings through the twisted lens of the very Enemy they had been committed to fighting against.

[mormegil]

Truth is, as Boromir similarly stated, that these are two epic stories and those who look for parallels are bound to find something similar. Now if there was an all powerful "force" in Middle-earth or that to be the Sith Master you needed to posses a certain object that would complete your power, then you'd have some real parallels to analyze. As it is, we really have two stories of good and evil competing where some are lost to the evil and some evil come over to the good.

[Gurthang]

I once posted a thread (which got only one reply *sigh*) showing all the similarities between Anakin/Vader and Smeagol/Gollum.

First off, both characters come into view as being evil. Both are considered 'bad guys' when they first appear to the viewers/readers. But, as the story progresses, it is revealed that they were not always evil, but were good in their past. The past is then shown completely and that is followed by a confrontation between past and present; for instance Vader indecision between Luke and the Emporer(Return of the Jedi) and the Gollum/Smeagol debate (movie version is good in this). The characters then repent of their vileness and try to become good.

Also, I just thought of this. It's not really that fantastic, but:

Star Wars: A New Hope -----> Hope to destroy the Ultimate Weapon
The Fellowship of the Ring --> Hope to destroy the One Ring

The Empire Strikes Back ----> Empire's retaliation against the Rebels
The Two Towers -----------> League between the TT against Free Peoples

The Return of the Jedi ----> Jedi come back from 'extiction'
The Return of the King ---> King comes back to Minas Tirith


Hmmmmm...

[AragornII]

There are plenty of similarities between SW and LOTR. Jean Tang, a writer for the website Salon.com said,

Both movies feature mentors who duel bad guys atop narrow passageways, as well as secondary villains - Darth Vader and Saruman the White, both deserters to the dark side, both fond of telekinetic violence - who provide the more visible nemesis. Along the way, both heroes encounter women in white gowns, cynical older-brother types, sidekicks playing for laughs and faceless cannon fodder (storm troopers and orcs). Both make use of mystical languages, mystical spiritual beliefs and pivotal scenes in bars and in watery mucky - mucks (compare the swamp at the gates of Moria to the garbage chute in the Death Star.

If you think about it, all these are true.

There are also many other similarities:
1. Gollum - Yoda (greenish raggedy midget with speech impediment)
2. Magic swords (Sting, Glamdring, Anduril) - Lightsabers
3.Gandalf - Obi-Wan Kenobi
4. Eowyn - Princess Leia
5.Saruman - Darth Vader
6. Sauron - Palpatine
7.Bilbo digs his magic sword out of an old wooden box and gives it to Frodo.
Obi-Wan digs Anakin's lightsaber out of an old wooden box and gives it to Luke.
8. Gollum bites off Frodo's finger, which plunges into the abyss with the Ring.
Vader chops off Luke's hand, which plunges into the abyss with his lightsaber.
9.Galadriel foretells the future, and Sam must decide whether to help his friends or not. Yoda foretells the future and Luke must decide whether to help his friends or not. They both warn that they've only seen one possible future.
10. Saruman tries to convince Gandalf to join the evil wizards, thereby bringing order to ME. Darth Vader tries to get Luke to join the dark side, thereby bringing order to the galaxy.
11.Mundane name and special name (Strider and Aragorn, Ben and Obi-Wan0
12. Mysterious figure throws back hood of robe to reveal that he's Gandalf. Mysterious figure throws back hood to reveal he's Obi-Wan.

That's pretty cool, all those similarities.

[Lyta_Underhill]

Galadriel foretells the future, and Sam must decide whether to help his friends or not. Yoda foretells the future and Luke must decide whether to help his friends or not. They both warn that they've only seen one possible future.

One difference here: Luke acts on his fears, while Sam puts them in their place and reaffirms that his place is by Frodo's side. Also, Yoda counsels, and Galadriel merely chides, suggesting Sam's own thoughts on the matter, while Yoda and Obi-Wan tend to believe they know what is best and fear for Luke's own decision. (Now we know it is because Anakin did a bit of this in his time, and they were probably afraid!) Interesting point, though, is Luke's decision is quite Frodo-like. He chooses his friends' safety over his own spiritual safety, simply because he believes he can help them. No selfish motives there. Anakin, on the other hand, has some REAL issues! :P As Estel pointed out, there is some Denethor-mirroring in there, but I'd also say he's got a bit of Wormtongue characteristic too, choosing the person who seems strongest in order to further his own ambitions, only to have his fortunes intertwined with that person for good or ill, mostly ill. Vader was Palpatine's enforcer and "convincer," while Wormtongue, in a less overt way, was the "convincer" of Rohan...anyway, don't read too much into this crackpot analysis!

Cheers!
Lyta