[ninenot]

Well, Tolkien and HarryPotter are quite distinct.

Tolkien's Ring cycle does not include 'magic,' and is actually a parable of the fall/redemption story.

Potter is entertainment. There are good values in the stories, but they certainly don't compare to Tolkien.

[MeanWestTexan]

"Tolkien's Ring cycle does not include 'magic,' and is actually a parable of the fall/redemption story."

I think reasonable minds could disagree on that one --- I guess depending on what one called "magic." Certainly both are "fantasy" and involve wizards. Superficial similarity, perhaps.

That said, I agree. HP series is no LOTR.

But, hey, she wrote the books for kids. They just happen to be good enough for adults.

[Miykayl]

Tokien, were he here, would argue with you on those points.

Tokien, were he here, would argue with you on those points.

“Tolkien's Ring cycle does not include 'magic,' and is actually a parable of the fall/redemption story.

Potter is entertainment. There are good values in the stories, but they certainly don't compare to Tolkien.”

I agree that there are important distinctions.

However, Tolkien has clearly stated that his trilogy is not an analogy, or parallel… At least, there was no intention of him to make it so. There are great many who argue the tree ring represents the atomic bomb, or atomic power, when that long story was well underway before WWII.

Christian themes are present because Tolkien was a Catholic. He did not intend for the story to be directly a fall/redemption story. Tolkien did intend for his story to be enjoyed as entertainment. I find them very entertaining.

Gandalf definitely uses “magic” in the sense that he uses powers unavailable to the common man, and that are supernatural. The ring is most certainly magic, and possessed.

The previous post makes an attempt to explain away the “magic” as a natural ability afforded Gandalf by his non-human race. (He is a “Maia”, not a human)… Those who practice “magic” or attempt to, here on Earth… might argue that what appears to be “magic” is really just the natural order of things and we are simply to simple or stupid to recognize their “magic” as a natural thing rather than as a supernatural thing.

Gandalf uses magic…

Please denote a key element in LOTR that illustrates an important connection to the fall/redemption story. The most Christ-like character is Gandalf. He is killed and resurrected in The Two Towers, after defeating the Balrog, a rather demon-like creature if there ever was one. Is there a stronger connection you can find?

[kevkrom]

Tolkien's Ring cycle does not include 'magic,'

Oh really?

• The Ring itself is a "magic" artifact -- it makes the wearer invisible to normal eyes and extends the life of the bearer, and that has a will of its own, despite being an inanimate object.
• The chief Ringwraith is known as the Witch-King of Angmar.
• The barrow-wight casts an incantation to bewitch and freeze Frodo and his companions.
• One of Elrond's guards around Rivendell is to create a flood when any enemy attempts to ford the river. Gandalf throughs in a "few touches" by adding an illusion to the wave.
• Gandalf attempts to open the doors of Moria via one of many incantations and/or spells before realizing the proper password. Once inside, he uses magical light from his staff to guide the party and eventually tries to hold off an attacking force by casting a spell to bar the door.
• Galadriel engages in telepathy and fortune-telling. She also possesses a magical artifact that allows viwing distant (both in time and space) events.
• Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf possess magical rings of their own.
• The elves of Lothlorien equip the Fellowship with magical artifacts prior to their departure.
• ...

And this is all from Volume I.