Re:Any opinions of Harry Potter? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Alassë Estel · 07-03-2023, 06:07 PM

A key difference between Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings is that they are on entirely different scales.

For example, Sauron nearly took over the world twice and posed a threat to great kings and powerful immortals alike.

Whereas Voldemort tried to take over a highschool and failed

.

Galadriel55 · 07-03-2023, 09:59 PM

A very good friend of mine recently pointed out another crucial difference - that of genre. LOTR is true medieval fantasy, it's pretty much an archetype. But HP only masquerades as fantasy; it is, in fact, a mystery series. If you think about it, each book has its own primary and secondary mysteries which the reader solves along with the heroes, with some percolating threads linking up to the Grand Mystery. And everything else is built around solving those mysteries.

Alassë Estel · 07-04-2023, 01:45 PM

Yes, that is so.

As much fun as I might have lambasting Harry Potter as compared to The Lord of the Rings, it really isn't fair. They are not "peers".

Edit: I should also note that I have only seen the Harry Potter movies, and I have not read the books, making it even more unfair.

07-03-2023, 06:07 PM	#1
Alassë Estel Wight Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Treading the Narrow Way Posts: 198	It's all in good fun... A key difference between Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings is that they are on entirely different scales. For example, Sauron nearly took over the world twice and posed a threat to great kings and powerful immortals alike. Whereas Voldemort tried to take over a highschool and failed. __________________ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

07-03-2023, 09:59 PM	#2
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,527	A very good friend of mine recently pointed out another crucial difference - that of genre. LOTR is true medieval fantasy, it's pretty much an archetype. But HP only masquerades as fantasy; it is, in fact, a mystery series. If you think about it, each book has its own primary and secondary mysteries which the reader solves along with the heroes, with some percolating threads linking up to the Grand Mystery. And everything else is built around solving those mysteries. __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

07-04-2023, 01:45 PM	#3
Alassë Estel Wight Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Treading the Narrow Way Posts: 198	Yes, that is so. As much fun as I might have lambasting Harry Potter as compared to The Lord of the Rings, it really isn't fair. They are not "peers". Edit: I should also note that I have only seen the Harry Potter movies, and I have not read the books, making it even more unfair. __________________ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16