I just finished reading the latest Harry Potter novel. After learning of Dumbledore's fate, I have to say that there seems to be a strong parallel to the last three Star Wars story.

Harry = Luke (boy thrusts into a situation)
Dumbledore = Obiwan (mentors)
Voldemort = Emperor (antagonists)
Hermione = Leia (strong girls helping a boy)
Ron = Han (closest friends of boy)

Both Antagonist want the mboy character dead or under their control.

both Harry and Luke's father die.

both mentors die

There is the force and there is magic - both are learned both are powerful with their respective ability

Ron is falling for Hermione and Han falls for Leia

good force / good magic = dark side / black magic

jedi mind trick = imperious curse

etc. etc. etc.

Now granted, when comparing some characters and events, it's a stretch of the imagination but they do perform similar roles such as characters being best friends, mentors, antagonis, etc. Both story lines are similar in that there is an evil force that wants to do away with a boy. Both boys didn't know of their power until told. There are similar things and what they can do with them such as the Force and Magic such as using the Force to retrieve something or using the Accio charm as Harry did.

Heck, I think any of us could also write and get rich if we just had the time. Since SciFi and Fantasy have been done, maybe something along the lines of a western? I can't put my finger on it but it seems I've seen/read this storyline in something else as well. I can't get Lord of the Rings out of my mind

It's a fairly classic character mix, really. I don't see it as anything like borrowing from "Star Wars".

Read Joseph Campbell's HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES. His theory is that most stories follow the same basic structure.

about a year ago, i saw an spoof photo on the web where they taken an outline of star wars and scratched out the names of the characters and places and replaced them with those from the harry potter mythos. it went something like this.....

orphaned luke/harry lives on tattoine/suburbia, but dreams he is destined for more. (he was left with his aunt and unkle by wise old obi-wan/dumbledore). when he is old enough, he is told by obiwan/hagrid that his father was a powerful jedi knight/wizard. luke/harry is determined to follow his newfound heritage..... etc. etc.

it wwas only a one page outline, but carried the story through to the end of a new hope/sorcerer's stone. the paralells were more than slight. bear in mind though that lucas was hardly original when it comes to his plotline. campbell has it right.

Star Wars: The Magic of Myth shows how Star Wars follows the classic hero's tale. Just like a thousand others. Alladin for instance. Or Aladdin, hell I don't know. But it does, and they do, so there you go.
Owsat!

Yeah, I did a piece years ago comparing Star Wars structure with the Hobbit.

Gandalf = Obi Wan
Bilbo = Luke

You get the idea.

They all ripped off the legend of King Arthur :mad:

Personally, I think Obi-Wan is supposed to be Robert E. Lee. :)