For this list, we are looking at 9 very specific similarities that exist between Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings. Were these ideas ripped off? Who is to say? But, they are interesting points nonetheless.
Disclaimer: I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and a huge Lord of the Rings fan. I have read all seven Harry Potter Books multiple times, and have also read the Lord of the Rings books.
#1 Both Voldemort and Sauron are called the Dark Lord, and actually, in the Lord of the Rings books, they refer to Sauron as "He Who Must Not Be Named." These two villains are similar in a number of respects that are explained further.
#2 Both Sauron and Voldemort put part of their soul in an object, and this has kept them in a type of spiritual state until they are both able to regain power.
#3 Both the ring and the horcruxes require a special method of destruction in order to ultimately kill the villain. Horcruxes can only be destroyed with the sword of Gryffindor or a Basalisk fang, and the ring can only be destroyed in Mount Doom.
#4 Both Harry and Frodo have a scar given to them by their nemesis that flares up whenever evil is around. Both scars seem to have special powers to help them know when the Dark Lord is advancing or gaining power.
#5 Both protagonists have a trusted friend (Sam and Ron) who stays with them through the entire ordeal of trying to destroy the object holding the soul of the main villain. There is then a misunderstanding that leads both friends to leave the protagonist, only to return at the precise moment the protagonist needs them to save their life. They actually both have a light source and a famous sword (the sword of Gryffindor and Sting) in hand as well. Ron saves Harry from drowning, Sam saves Frodo from Shelob and the Orcs.
#6 Both protagonists wig out when they have the object that holds the villains soul around their necks. They both become jerks, and begin treating their friends mean as a result of this.
#7 Both protagonists have a really wise, old wizard friend who is widely known, revered, and feared. Both wizards have an intimate connection to the main villain, Dumbledore with Voldemort and Gandalf with Sauron. Both "die" at some point, but are able to come back to give the main protagonist the help they truly need in order for them to accomplish the difficult task of ultimately destroying the main villain. Both are indirectly responsible for getting the main protagonist into the situation where they now must destroy the horcruxes/ring to save their people.
#8 Both protagonists have the ability to become invisible when they most need it.
#9 Similarities in many other creatures, locations, and ideas. Dementors are like the Ring Wraiths, Forbidden forest and Fangorn forest, Wormtail and Wormtongue, elves, trolls, dwarfs, giants. Shelob and Aragog are both giant spiders who threaten the protagonist's life. The death eaters and the orcs do the main villain's bidding. Both protagonists are orphaned archetypes that come from humble beginnings and are ultimately selfless, willing to give their lives to the cause but are saved in the end.
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