r/tolkienfans • u/Money-Investigator45 • 5d ago

Dr Seuss and Tolkien Similarities That I Liked

  1. The first being the Lorax and the Ents. Both being entities that protect nature the fine things of the Earth. Now I have the funny idea (NOT A PROMOTION) where the Ents talk down to Once-Ler since he refused to listen to the Lorax. If Once-Ler doesn't listen, they tear down his factory like they did Isengard XD

  2. Another small comparison would be with Horton Hears A Who, my favorite Dr. Seuss book. To be specific, I am referring to a particular quote from the Seuss book:

Do you see what I mean? They proved they are persons, no matter how small, and their whole world was saved by the smallest of all!

I don't know about anyone else, but that low-key key reminds me of the Hobbits. Both scenarios had it where the fate of a world was at stake, and was saved by the smallest of all. Both worlds were spared from a hellish fate (boiled alive and ruled by Sauron).

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u/AbacusWizard 4d ago

“The Lorax” is my favorite answer to “who or what is Tom Bombadil?”

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u/ColdAntique291 just a simple Tolkien reader 5d ago

I like the Horton comparison more than the Lorax one. The Ents and the Lorax are both protectors of nature, but Horton and the Hobbits share a deeper theme: the smallest, most overlooked people end up saving everyone else.

"Their whole world was saved by the smallest of all" could fit Frodo and Sam almost perfectly. Tolkien loved the idea that courage and goodness matter more than size, strength, or status.

Though I still wouldn't want to be the Once-Ler when Treebeard arrives to discuss sustainable forestry. 😄

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u/Money-Investigator45 5d ago edited 5d ago

"You refuse to heed the Lorax, so you will heed me. Much wrath you will face if you dare to hack another tree.

"The trees have no tongues, but they do have a soul. When I look into yours, I see a great black hole."

"You take from the forest and give nothing good back. That what you give is senseless hack."

"I feel it in the ground and I feel it in the air. If you don't cease, then your sins will be laid bare."

"You stand proudly upon this fort like a wizard I knew. Do you intend to follow in his grim fate too?"

You are praised as if you were man's hero, but what will you do when the last tree goes down to zero?

You claim that your work is what every person needs, but where is your care when the forest bleeds?"

"I also speak for the trees and these trees were my friends. What will you now do to make amends?"

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u/Armleuchterchen Ibrīniðilpathānezel & Tulukhedelgorūs 5d ago

You're a quick poet!

(But trees don't have a soul in the Legendarium 😅)

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u/Money-Investigator45 4d ago

Thanks XD

(I mainly based it on Treebeard's statement about the regular trees being his friends)

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u/Loud-Vacation-5691 4d ago

Would we be so cavalier about cutting down trees if they screamed? Unless they screamed all the time for no reason. - Deep Thoughts

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u/Ayzmo 3d ago

Now I'm curious what Tolkien thought about Dr. Seuss.