Forgotten Realms Just Like Lord of the Rings?

[The_Gunslinger658]

Hi-

Saw all three movies on DVD a few days ago and it got me thinking on how closely FR is so much like the Lord of the Rings. Elminster is Gandolf, Awrin is Storm Silverhand, Drizzit is Aragorn, and so on.

Of course I could be wrong, and if I am I'll be more then happy to stand corrected.


Scott

 

[Eye Tyrant]

Perhaps some of the characters are similar, but the settings certainly aren't, IMO of course.

 

[Aaron L]

Well... you arent wrong, but you arent really right either, and its a bit more complicated than that.

LOTR had a major influence on D&D, if not so much as intended by the creators, than certainly in practice by the players. Ideas that were normal in D&D became normal in the Realms. Things like elves and dwarves in Middle Earth became standard fantasy fare and were absorbed into the Realms pretty standardized. The Realms is pretty generic fantasy (not thats thats bad, I love the Realms, but it is generic, and intentionally so, so that everyone can use it.... generically)

In addition, several standard mythological/fantasy archetypes are present in both. The wise old wizard is pretty universal in the fantasy genre. Gandalf and Elminster have a lot of company.

Drizzt would of course have SOME resemblance to Aragorn, as they are both rangers (hardy, fighting woodsman) but beyond that I really dont see any similiarity at all.

Arwen and Storm... I see no connection whatsoever, beyond both being women. Queen Amlaruil and Galadriel I could agree with, but not those two.

So, while there are some similiarities, they really are quite different at the core.

The biggest similiarity I can see is the prominance and then sorrowful retreat of the elves.

 

[Li Shenron]

I definitely see a strong resemblance between Elminster and Gandalf, but with the others it's only a weak connection.

Undoubtedly the Ranger class comes from Aragorn, but not just because Drizz't is a ranger too then the two must be similar. The fact that one is from an evil race is a huge distinction.

 

[diaglo]

The fact that one is from an evil race is a huge distinction.

just b/c Aragorn's ancestor gave into his greed and didn't destroy the ring doesn't mean he was evil.

 

[Li Shenron]

just b/c Aragorn's ancestor gave into his greed and didn't destroy the ring doesn't mean he was evil.

No, I meant that Aragorn is a good character from a good (or at least non-evil) race, while Drizz't is a good outcast of an evil race, which should put them in quite different conditions. I'm not very familiar with either's background however, and it's possible that they share other similarities...

edit: or was yours a joke?

 

[JRRNeiklot]

Drizzt is Aragorn? That's pure blasphemy. There is absolutely NO resemblance that I can see.

 

[jinx crossbow]

Saw all three movies on DVD a few days ago and it got me thinking on how closely FR is so much like the Lord of the Rings.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, noooooo!

Elminster is Gandolf, Awrin is Storm Silverhand, Drizzit is Aragorn, and so on.

Elminster ist a powerful mage - Gandalf is a wise man which can cast some spells.
Awrin is abeautyfull women in nice dresses - Storm Silverhand is a tough warrior.
Drizzit is an outcast hunted by his famally - Aragorn is the last of a lousy house.

Of course I could be wrong, and if I am I'll be more then happy to stand corrected.

Yes you are wrong, or you so a totally diferent movie than I did.

 

[diaglo]

Drizzt is Aragorn? That's pure blasphemy. There is absolutely NO resemblance that I can see.

2nd lvl rangers are called Striders...

 

[Desdichado]

Saw all three movies on DVD a few days ago and it got me thinking on how closely FR is so much like the Lord of the Rings. Elminster is Gandolf, Awrin is Storm Silverhand, Drizzit is Aragorn, and so on.

Those resemblances are only superficial though, even in the movies. They're not deep-rooted or significant. Try reading all three Lord of the Rings books; you'll find even less correspondences, not more.