Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are both well-known high fantasy novels written by J R R Tolkien, a renowned author and professor at Oxford University. The two novels share many similarities, as well as film adaptations, and some characters even appear in both series, albeit at different ages. However, despite these similarities, there are notable differences between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, with the latter often seen as a sequel to the former.
Lord of the Rings has been incredibly successful worldwide, with the three-part movie series written and directed by Peter Jackson. The trilogy, which includes The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, was released between 2001 and 2003. These movies are based on Tolkien’s epic fantasy novel, The Lord of the Rings, which began as a sequel to his earlier children’s fantasy novel, The Hobbit. However, as the story developed, the scale of The Lord of the Rings grew, and it became an epic novel in its own right.
Readers who have experienced both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit know that there is a significant difference in the tone and tenor of the two novels. While Peter Jackson also directed the first two Hobbit films, he made a conscious effort to replicate the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy by including some familiar characters in the new Hobbit movies. Jackson has stated that while The Hobbit is a children’s movie, The Lord of the Rings is not intended for a younger audience. However, due to the similar subject matter and locations, audiences may feel that the two Hobbit movies belong at the beginning of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Key Takeaways
- Both novels were written by J.R.R. Tolkien before and during World War II and appear to be a prequel and sequel (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings).
- The Lord of the Rings grew in theme and scale compared to The Hobbit and became a highly popular novel in its own right.
- While The Hobbit is aimed at children, The Lord of the Rings does not target a younger audience.
