Part 10-Details

“Unlike any other creature on this planet, humans can learn and understand, without having experienced. They can think themselves into other people’s places. We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.” – J. K. Rowling

 

Introduction

One of the things that impresses me the most about the Harry Potter series is that in seven books, over a decade of creating the wizarding world and writing about it, and over 3400 pages, not one detail in the series was left without a purpose.  It is incredible to think of how anyone could keep track of that number of details over that period of time, much less find a creative, although secretive, way of using each one as well.  For this last post, I am simply going to give a list of some of the details we are given throughout the series that may seem meaningless and explain what their hidden meaning is.

Details

1. When Harry is shopping for his wand just before his first year, he meets the wandmaker Ollivander, who remembers every wand he ever made and sold.  He informs Harry that Harry’s father’s wand was an excellent wand for transfiguration (turning one object into another) and later we learn that James was in fact so skilled at transfiguration that he was able to do the complex magic that allowed him to become and animagus, or turn into an animal (specifically a stag) at will.
2. In book four, there is a moment where Harry is looking out a window at Hogwarts and notices an eagle owl, which of course is not unusual, but becomes significant when connected to a dream Harry has later, where he rides the back of an eagle owl to Voldemort, who reveals to Harry accidentally that there is a traitor at Hogwarts.  This suggests the owl Harry saw was the owl being used by the traitor to communicate with Voldemort.
3. Also in book four, the main trio are in potions class discussing how Rita Skeeter, a rumor-starting journalist, could have found out secret information about them and their friends.  As they are discussing, it is noted they are grinding up beetles for their potion, and it is later discovered that Skeeter was in fact an animagus who could turn into a beetle.
4. In the wizarding world, there is a terrible serpent called a basilisk, which during the second book stalks the school.  The reader is told that a basilisk is created when a chicken’s egg is hatched beneath a toad.  Later in the series, the locket of Slytherin (who was the master of the basilisk) becomes significant, and the reader is told multiple times it is about the size of a chicken’s egg.  The trio have to steal it back from Umbridge, a teacher from their fifth year who tried to take control of Hogwarts and is constantly described as a toad.  While this detail may not be important, it is a very hidden way to connect events from the second book to the seventh.
5. In book six, Draco Malfoy is tasked with killing Dumbledore, and for much of the book he is attempting to repair a vanishing cabinet which has a pair in a shop for dark objects, meaning if it was repaired he could sneak Voldemort’s followers (Death Eaters) into Hogwarts.  However, what the reader may not remember is that we got to read the event where this cabinet is destroyed.  The poltergeist Peeves in fact destroys the cabinet in the second book with the encouragement of the ghost Nearly-Headless Nick, who is trying to distract Filch (the caretaker) in order to get Harry out of trouble.
6. In books 1, 4, and 7, green and red sparks are used as signals for moments when some of the characters are attempting to carry out a dangerous plan.  In books 1 and 4, green sparks indicate something positive, like something being found or a character being alright, and red sparks indicate something negative, like the characters being in trouble.  This is significant for book seven when Harry is being rescued.  The rescuers are given two signals to indicate when it is time leave.  The first signal is green sparks, indicating all is well and they are on track, and the second is red, indicating it is time for the to leave.  However, this also foreshadows the danger the group is about to enter, as they run into Death Eaters almost immediately after leaving.
7. It is not until the seventh book that we really realize Dumbledore has a brother (Aberforth), much less that he is a barman at a pub near Hogwarts. However, this is alluded to multiple times before.   Aberforth is very fond of goats due to the memories he has of caring for goats with his sister.  It is mentioned in the fifth book that Aberforth’s pub has a strong smell of goats, and Dumbledore says at one point that he is “friendly with the local barmen” (significant as the other pub is run by a woman, not a man).
8.  *bonus*  In the first book, Hermione, under immense pressure forgets she can use magic to conjure fire, to which Ron responds “Are you a witch or not!?”  Toward the end of the seventh book, the group is again under pressure and it is Ron this time who expresses being unable to do something despite being able to do magic, to which Hermione this time responds “Are you a wizard or not!?”  This quote ties together the first and last adventures the trio have together in the series in a way that is both sweet and accurate to the character’s personalities.

Conclusion

This list could go on for as long as the series is.  The incredible intricacies in what is really just a children’s series has drawn millions of people to read Harry Potter, and to find a sense of connection and fascination with the series.  I hope that over the course of this semester I have been able to explain well how the Harry Potter series became so successful simply through the way it was written.  I have read (or listened to the audiobooks) probably over 30 times since I first read the series ten years ago, and I still find myself suddenly noticing new details or connections I had not noticed in any of the times I previously read the books.  Thank you for taking the time to read this blog!

 

 

Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/159314905551462319/

Quote Source: https://www.bustle.com/articles/200871-15-jk-rowling-quotes-that-will-inspire-you-to-get-writing

Part 9-Theme

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

 

Introduction

A theme is a central topic, subject, or message within a narrative, and probably one of the more popular literary devices to discuss and analyze.  The theme of the story is often a driving force in the plot or sequence of events of a story, and it can tackle some difficult issues in a way that is easier for a reader to understand and learn about.  The Harry Potter series is no different; the series deals with some difficult and complex themes, especially for a series considered to be for youth.  However, J.K. Rowling does an excellent job of portraying the themes in a healthy light and lets the readers journey with the characters to learn about these specific themes.  As the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, wraps up these themes and the lessons they teach, I will be focusing on how this particular book tackles three of the most prominent themes throughout the series.

Choice (Good vs. Evil)

The theme of choice is often the one Harry discusses with Dumbledore at the end of each book, and one that produced some of the best pieces of wisdom from the series (such as the quote above).  In this last book, Harry faces two main situations in which he has to learn about the theme of choice.  The first of these is introduced as Harry struggles to take in the rumors about Dumbledore’s life that rise after his death.  Many of these new rumors suggest that when Dumbledore was a teenager, he was friends with a great dark wizard and even helped this wizard (Grindelwald) plan horrific deeds against muggles (non-magical people).  Harry struggles to understand how the Dumbledore he knew and this other side of Dumbledore can both be real.  He feels betrayed by not being told about these pieces of Dumbledore (many of which do turn out to be true), and questions the wise mentor he so idolized earlier in his life.  Harry has to learn that a person is not good or evil by birth, but that their choices show who they are.  Harry comes to understand that Dumbledore did make some terrible, perhaps evil choices as a youth, but that he also learned, and in response to his remorse for those actions he dedicated his life to conquering evil.

The second major choice Harry faces is in the discovery of the Deathly Hallows.   As he and his friends having been hunting Voldemort’s horcruxes in order to destroy them so Voldemort himself can be killed, Harry is elated to discover the existence of three magical objects that when brought together make the person the “Master of Death.”  Harry is convinced these legendary objects are real, however his friends disagree.  This leads to Harry obsessing over the Hallows and in effect neglecting the search for horcruxes.  However, a close call and death of a good friend jolt Harry back to reality, and Harry makes the choice to continue hunting horcruxes, as this is what he was instructed to do.  Later, the gravity of this choice is revealed when Harry (briefly) dies and meets Dumbledore again.  Harry had willingly given himself up to Voldemort as a sacrifice to save the others, and as Dumbledore explains, “You are the true master of death, because the true master does not seek to run away from Death.  He accepts that he must die, and understands that there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.”  It was Harry’s choice to give up control and follow his instructions that led him to ultimately have the tools to defeat Voldemort.

Death/Mortality

Without the context, this theme seems like it would be way too dark for a children’s story.  However, the ideas of mortality, fear of death, and sacrifice are presented in ways that make the reader feel unafraid, and truly does teach good lessons.  Throughout the whole series, we learn how greatly Voldemort fears death, and that this fear is what drives him to seek ways of becoming immortal and put himself so highly above others he is not capable of love.  However, we also see many of the characters in the books die doing something they believe in because their motive is love.

Perhaps the greatest demonstration of this theme is when Harry willingly gives himself up to Voldemort so that he may die in order to save others, just as his mother died to save him.  Harry discovers that he was made a horcrux by accident on the night his parents die, and because of this he must die so that Voldemort can be killed.  This willingness to sacrifice himself reminds the reader that “there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.”  It also presents the idea that all humans will face death, but if you face it without love you have not really lived at all.  This last book shows that it is not avoiding death that leads to a better life, but an acceptance of mortality, and not in a morbid, fatalistic way, but in a way that creates a motive to do good in your life and the lives of those around you.

Love

My favorite chapter in the entire series is chapter 33 of this book, titled “The Prince’s Tale.”  This chapter gives the back story and history of the villain Snape through his own memories, which he gave to Harry upon his death.  It is these memories that powerfully portray the theme of love in the story, and give Harry the strength to walk toward death with love.  In this chapter we learn Snape was in fact on Harry’s side the whole time.  Snape had grown up with Harry’s mother, and had been in love with her.  It was also he who, unknowingly, passed Voldemort the information that would cause him to kill Harry’s parents.  It is this deep remorse and love for Lily that gives Snape the strength to turn spy against Voldemort and continue to work against him for the sixteen years leading up to Voldemort’s defeat, all while Voldemort thought him a loyal follower.

As stated before, Voldemort is not capable of love, and is therefore no longer able to understand Snape or work out his true intentions.  Being as arrogant as he is, this leads Voldemort to believe Snape is entirely on his side.  Voldemort can not see the power of Snape’s love, and because of this believes Snape is nearly as empty or evil as himself.  As Dumbledore puts it, “That which Voldemort does not value, he takes no trouble to understand. Of house-elves and children’s tales, of love, loyalty, and innocence, Voldemort knows and understands nothing. Nothing. That they all have a power beyond his own, a power beyond the reach of any magic, is a truth he has never grasped.”

The theme of love presented in this book takes love beyond emotions and feelings, and presents it as something so much deeper, and action, even a form of magic.  Even more powerful, this idea of love as a sort of magic is not something that has to be limited to a fantasy series about a boy with a scar, it is a theme that can be brought into our own world.

“You would be protected by an ancient magic of which [Voldemort] knows, which he despises, and which he has always, therefore, underestimated – to his cost. I am speaking, of course, of the fact that your mother died to save you. She gave you a lingering protection he never expected, a protection that flows in your veins to this day…He shed her blood, but it lives on in you and her sister. Her blood became your refuge…There is a room in the Department of Mysteries that is kept locked at all times. It contains a force that is at once more wonderful and more terrible than death, than human intelligence, than forces of nature. It is also, perhaps, the most mysterious of the many subjects for study that reside there. It is the power held within that room that you possess in such quantities and which Voldemort has not at all. That power took you to save Sirius tonight. That power also saved you from possession by Voldemort, because he could not bear to reside in a body so full of the force he detests.” -Dumbledore explaining the deepest magic of love to Harry in the Order of the Phoenix

Conclusion

There is no doubt that these themes have been presented in a way that has changed the lives of people worldwide and has helped many to better understand these concepts.  It is incredible that themes so complex can be broken down into simple quotes or ideas that can be presented in a children’s series.  J.K. Rowling has mastered the art of both explaining these theme in compelling ways, but also letting the reader discover these themes for themselves.  As Dumbledore explains to Harry, there are some things we must discover for ourselves.  I hope this post was insightful and interesting, and that these themes were explained in a way that may help you better understand not just this story, but any other stories (both real and imagined) you may come across.  Have a fantastic day!

 

 

Image Source: https://wallpapercave.com/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-1-wallpapers

Sources:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1077326.J_K_Rowling

True Master Of Death

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows/themes/choices-redemption-and-morality

https://www.hypable.com/harry-potter/deathly-hallows-book-themes/

Quotes by and about Albus Dumbledore

Part 8-Juxtaposition and Character Foils

“Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success.” -J. K. Rowling

 

Introduction

Juxtapositions and character foils my be some of the more difficult literary devices to identify and use in writing.  Juxtaposition is defined as “the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.”  In stories, juxtaposition is often used to compare ideas, themes, and characters with things such as “good vs. evil” or “wisdom vs. foolishness.”  A character foil is a type of juxtaposition that uses two characters to highlight each others traits and differences.  Common examples include the hero and villain of a story, or to compare two characters in similar situations such as two leaders.  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince provides many good examples of both juxtapositions and character foils throughout the book, and further highlights examples from throughout the series.  These examples compare everything from objects to themes to characters.

The Ring and the Mouth Organ

In this book, Harry begins meeting with Dumbledore so Dumbledore can teach him about Voldemort’s past, and how he came to be such a powerful dark wizard.  These meetings serve the dual purpose of preparing Harry to face Voldemort and helping Harry and Dumbledore discover how to defeat Voldemort.  It is discovered that Voldemort has been using horcruxes, horribly evil objects that conceal pieces of his soul, to make himself invincible, and without destroying the horcruxes Voldemort can not be killed.  Just before the start of the sixth book, Dumbledore finds one of these horcruxes through his knowledge of Voldemort’s past, and is able to destroy it.  This particular horcrux was a ring that Voldemort’s maternal grandfather, and pure-blood descendent of Slytherin, owned and took great pride in.  Voldemort visits his grandfather’s home to find only his uncle remains, and after his uncle reveals the location of Voldemort’s paternal family, Voldemort takes the ring as a sort of “trophy” and murders his father’s family.  Dumbledore explains to Harry that Voldemort liked to collect tokens from his horrible deeds, and at the end of the meeting Harry notices the broken ring sitting on a table.  At the next meeting, Dumbledore shows Harry a memory of Tom Riddle (Voldemort) as a child with a collection of things he stole from his peers at his orphanage, including a mouth organ, but at the end of this meeting Harry notices the ring has disappeared from the table but no object has replaced it.

“The ring’s gone,” said Harry, looking around. “But I thought I you might have the mouth organ or something.”
Dumbledore beamed at him, peering over the top of his half-moon spectacles. “Very astute, Harry, but the mouth organ was only ever a mouth organ.”

This scene uses juxtaposition to compare the ring and the mouth organ, and explains that while these objects may seem equally important, the ring plays a much bigger role in the story than the mouth organ.  The reader learns later that this is because the ring is a horcrux and key to defeating Voldemort while the mouth organ was simply an object.  It also uses juxtaposition to give insight to Voldemort’s personality, as it explains that while Voldemort still has a habit of keeping “trophies,” he is arrogant enough to look for grandeur in the object he keeps and stores his soul in.

Destiny and Choice

At this point in the story, Harry is aware of the prophecy that named him as the one “with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord,” and is struggling with his destiny to either kill or be killed by Voldemort.  However, it is during one of Harry’s meetings with Dumbledore that Dumbledore is finally able to communicate to Harry the choice he has:

“But, sir,” said Harry, making valiant efforts not to sound argumentative, “it all comes to the same thing, doesn’t it? I’ve got to try and kill him, or —”

“Got to?” said Dumbledore. “Of course you’ve got to! But not because of the prophecy! Because you, yourself, will never rest until you’ve tried! We both know it! Imagine, please, just for a moment,
that you had never heard that prophecy! How would you feel about Voldemort now? Think!”

Harry watched Dumbledore striding up and down in front of him, and thought. He thought of his mother, his father, and Sirius. He thought of Cedric Diggory. He thought of all the terrible deeds he knew Lord Voldemort had done. A flame seemed to leap inside his chest, searing his throat.
“I’d want him finished,” said Harry quietly. “And I’d want to do it.”

“Of course you would!” cried Dumbledore. “You see, the prophecy does not mean you have to do anything! But the prophecy caused Lord Voldemort to mark you as his equal. … In other words, you are free to choose your way, quite free to turn your back on the prophecy! But Voldemort continues to set store by the prophecy. He will continue to hunt you . . . which makes it certain, really, that —”

“That one of us is going to end up killing the other,” said Harry. “Yes.”

This scene juxtaposes the destiny Harry has been handed and his own free-will to either accept it or turn from it.  In many stories, a prophecy comes true whether the characters try to avoid it or not (think about Greek myths, many of them involve a prophecy that a person tried to avoid but it came true anyway).  However, here, J.K. Rowling presents a prophecy as really only a prediction, a motivation almost for the characters to act on.  By comparing the prohecy to Harry’s choice, she is able to convey a theme that our choices have a far greater impact and power than any future possibilities.  In other words, our present choices define our future far more than our future defines our present choices.  Here, juxtaposition is used to convey a theme that is powerfully present throughout the whole story, but has never been directly stated.

Draco and Harry

There are many examples of character foils throughout the series, but some become more prominent in this particular book.  These include foils such as with Dumbledore and Voldemort, Molly Weasley and Narcissa Malfoy, and perhaps even Ron and Hermione.  However, the most obvious case of this is with Harry and his arch-enemy Draco.  Draco has been Harry’s enemy since the very first book, and the two have had a relentless rivalry since they began school.  Up until now, the reader does not see Draco as anyone but the spoiled bully.  However at this point in the story the reader is introduced to a new side of Draco, and his comparison to Harry throughout the book points out some of both his and Harry’s deeper traits.

Some interesting similarities between the two boys are brought up, including their fierce loyalties to their groups and their intense desires to do what is right.  However, while Harry’s loyalty is to Dumbledore and his desire involves defeating Voldemort, Draco’s loyalty is to the Death Eaters and his desires involve making sure Voldemort succeeds.  In this book Draco is trying to complete a secret job for Voldemort, and Harry, realizing he is up to something, forms an obsession with figuring out what Malfoy is doing.  Likewise, it is clear Malfoy is obsessed with completing his job.  Both boys start neglecting things that were once important to them due to their obsessions.

However, this comparison also reveals Harry’s desire on a deeper level to selflessly protect his loved ones and have justice, while the reader learns that Draco’s obsession is born out of fear of death for him and his family if he fails.  This further shows that Harry firmly believes in his values, while Draco was practically brainwashed into his beliefs and is discovering their flaws.  This becomes important in the last book, as it leads to Draco’s sort-of redemption.

Conclusion

This has been a really long post, so I’ll keep the closing remarks short.  Juxtaposition was something that was very hard for me at least to identify and understand until recently.  I hope this post helped you understand this literary devices better and, in the future, can help you notice these important comparisons in any book you may read.  Have a great day!

 

 

Image Source:https://www.amstarcinemas.com/movies/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince/HO00002059

Sources:

13 Most-Inspiring J.K. Rowling Quotes that Make You Stronger

Juxtaposition

 

Literary Foils – Harry Potter

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/dumbledore?page=4

Part 7-Conflict

“You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity.”     –J.K. Rowling

 

Introduction

In literature, conflict is a struggle between two opposing forces.  You may recognize conflict in a story by the seven different types, including man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. society, etc.  In the fifth installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry faces multiple of these conflicts, mainly man vs. man, self, society, and to some extent fate.  As the sole living witness to the rise of Voldemort in book four, Harry has to deal with the effects of such a traumatic event, as well as the fact that very few people are willing to believe Harry’s story.

Voldemort’s Return (and Umbridge’s Reign)

As stated above, Harry is the only witness to the “rebirth” of Voldemort besides Voldemort’s followers.  As many do not want to believe Voldemort is back and because Harry was repeatedly made out to be unstable by a reporter (Rita Skeeter), many in the wizarding world turn from Harry and Dumbledore (who is fully supporting Harry and trying to fight Voldemort despite the Ministry’s disbelief).  This is the cause of Harry’s “man vs. society” struggle.  With so few people believing him and so many thinking Harry is unbalanced or looking for attention, Harry often faces insults and criticism from both his peers and the press.  To add to this, Umbridge, a ministry official, comes to teach at Hogwarts this year.  Umbridge is one of the most prominent antagonists, as she actively and openly seeks to silence Harry and Dumbledore and with the Ministry’s help begins to bring all of Hogwarts under her control.  One of Harry’s flaws is that he has a quick temper, which often gets him in trouble with Umbridge.  This takes his struggle with man vs. society and brings it to a level of man vs. man.  When Umbridge refuses to allow her students to use magic or learn spells that could be in any way “dangerous,” Harry and his friends start a secret club for the few students that believe his story and want to learn to defend themselves from dark wizards.  This direct rebellion against Umbridge and the Ministry is often a driving force of the conflict in this book.

Harry’s Connection to Voldemort

Harry and Voldemort have a sort of connection that is especially emphasized in this book, and although we know it is there we do not yet know as readers why or how it is there.  Harry frequently gets flashes of Voldemort’s emotions, and in extreme episodes will even see what Voldemort is seeing as if he, Harry, was Voldemort.  The most extreme example is when Harry enters into Voldemort’s mind one night in his dream as Voldemort is possessing his gigantic pet snake, which is attempting to reach a “weapon” in the ministry.  The snake encounters Ron’s dad who is guarding the weapon and attacks.  While this allows Harry to save Mr. Weasley’s life, it also deeply disturbs Harry.  In addition, he is then given lessons with Snape in occlumency, which is essentially the study of keeping people from entering your mind (as opposed to legilimency, which is the study of entering another’s mind) without any explanation as to why he needs these lessons.  The connection between Harry and Voldemort causes Harry to struggle with man vs. self, as he does not know what exactly is happening to him and at times wonders if he is a danger to others or causing terrible things to happen because of the connection.  Harry is concerned he is being possessed and wonders if he is turning into some version of Voldemort, but without a proper explanation of these ongoing events Harry faces much inner turmoil and anxiety.

Dumbledore’s Mistake

For much of the book we are, of course, focused on Harry’s struggles and conflicts, and it is not until the end that we get a glimpse into the struggles and conflicts of Albus Dumbledore, a character for which Harry and we as readers have gained great respect for but truthfully know very little about.  Dumbledore is incredibly wise and loving, and fills the archetype of the “wise old man,” so it is hard to consider him having his own unique conflicts or making mistakes.  However, after the climax of the story Dumbledore reveals to Harry that he had been mistaken the whole year about how to handle the situation with Harry and Voldemort.

 

Albus Dumbledore: [after Sirius’ death]  I know how you feel, Harry.

Harry Potter: No you don’t.

[pause] 

Harry Potter: It’s my fault.

Albus Dumbledore: No, the fault is mine. I knew it was only a matter of time before Voldemort made the connection between you. I thought by distancing myself from you, as I have done all year, he’d be less tempted and therefore you might be more protected.

Harry Potter: The prophecy said neither one can live while the other one survives. It means one of us is going to have to kill the other, in the end.

Albus Dumbledore: Yes.

Harry Potter: Why didn’t you tell me?

Albus Dumbledore: For the same reason you tried to save Sirius. For the same reason your friends saved you. After all these years, after all you’ve suffered, I didn’t want to cause you any more pain. I cared too much about you.

 

Dumbledore explains to Harry that he himself had been wrestling with his own man vs. self struggle.  Dumbledore had dedicated his life to defeating Voldemort, but he knew he may allow his love for Harry to intervene for the plan if in the moment he knew he could spare Harry pain.  He explains that he had made excuses since Harry came to Hogwarts for not explaining the whole story to Harry, and also that he now knows that in trying to spare Harry some kinds of pain he has caused others, like Harry’s struggles with man vs. self in this book.

When Dumbledore finally tells Harry about the prophecy and the reason he and Voldemort are connected, this also sets up Harry’s ultimate conflict with man vs. fate.  Harry now knows he is destined to either kill Voldemort or be killed by him, and now he has to wrestle with how this effects his actions and future and whether or not to accept this fate or avoid it.  This really was the pain Dumbledore was trying to delay in putting on Harry, but must eventually be given to him.

Conclusion

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix exemplifies how a conflict can drive a plot even if it is not a fully understood conflict, as well as how multiple interwoven conflicts can add great depth to a story.  The conflicts Harry goes through as a fifteen year old are ones that can be understood by many in some ways.  While we do not have to worry about being possessed obviously, everyone has probably dealt with feelings of being misunderstood or used, which makes the story more relatable.  All throughout the story we of course focus on Harry’s own conflicts, but by adding in Dumbledore’s conflict for example, it reminds the reader of all the unseen motivations and forces driving the characters around Harry and therefore the events that unfold before him.  This of course can also be applied to our own lives, where we often are so focused on our own trials that we forget to notice the trials others are going through.  I hope this post was interesting and helpful, have a fantastic day!

 

Images Source: https://www.ea.com/games/harry-potter/harry-potter-order-of-the-phoenix

Sources:

Top 16 J.K. Rowling Quotes to Inspire Strength Through Adversity

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373889/characters/nm0002091

 

Part 6-Subplot

“Life is difficult, and complicated, and beyond anyone’s total control, and the humility to know that will enable you to survive its vicissitudes.”  -J.K. Rowling

 

Introduction

A subplot is a side story that is connected to and runs parallel with the main plot of a story.  They are often used to explain parts of a story that may not fit into the main plot, or to add details that may widen a reader’s knowledge and view of the world in which the story takes place.  Subplots may also do things such as add character development, emphasize themes, or fill gaps in the main story plot.  The fourth book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, has some excellent examples of subplots and what they do for a story.  In fact, many of these subplots had to be cut from the movie version as the movie would just have been too long.  While it may have been sad to see those scenes get cut from the movie, it illustrates the purpose of a subplot.  The main plot was not severely effected by the loss of these subplots, the viewer just simply did not know as much as when they read the book.  In other words, the story could continue without the subplots, but when they were present in the book the reader was able to develop a deeper understanding of various characters, events, and world as a whole.

House Elves

We are introduced to house elves in book two by Dobby.  A house elf is an elf that is bound by magic to serve a family as a servant (or slave as Hermione argues).  They truly love doing work and are deeply loyal to their family to the point they often overlook faults.  In the fourth book, we are introduced to Winky, who is fired after “disobeying” her master’s (Mr. Crouch’s) orders.  She is friends with Dobby, who returns in this book and convinces Winky to work in the Hogwarts kitchens with him.  Throughout the whole book, there is a subplot involving Winky and Dobby and their interactions with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.  Winky’s loyalty to her former master does not waver even after she is fired, and this deep devotion proves itself to be helpful in developing the plot of this book, as one of the villains in this book is her master’s son.  The mystery around Winky’s devotion helps to explain how and why Barty Crouch Jr. came to be a villain.  Furthermore, the mistreatment of house elves spurs some character development for Hermione, who becomes deeply passionate about securing rights for house elves.  This passion is something that continues for the rest of the series, and may even have effected Hermione’s career choice after Hogwarts.

Ludo Bagman

Ludo Bagman was head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, and in opposition to Mr. Crouch had a very buoyant, care-free personality.  Because of his position in the ministry, Bagman helps judge the tasks during the Triwizard Tournament in which Harry is competing.  His character could have stopped at this and had little effect on the story, however the reader is brought into a subplot revealing not all is as it seems with Bagman.  He is constantly offering Harry help with completing the tasks, and multiple times throughout the book appears not his usual self in front of Harry.  We later learn he was in deep debt with the goblins who run the wizarding bank, and was trying to pay off his debts by betting Harry would win the tournament.  In most stories we of course get the heroes and villains, but it really adds a depth and familiarity to the story to see people like Bagman, who do not fit a typical archetype.  Bagman was simply a flawed person, neither good nor bad.

Additionally this subplot gives way to some character development for Ron’s twin brothers Fred and George.  The twins are well known for their endless jokes and pranks, so it’s hard to picture them doing anything but planning pranks at Hogwarts for the rest of their lives.  However, we begin to see some character development for them through their ambitions.  We learn Fred and George are intent on starting a career in business, specifically running a joke shop.  While we know this is a serious ambition due to the fact that the twins fight with their mother over the career choice and are constantly inventing new joke products, the thing that makes it feel the most serious has to do with their bet with Ludo Bagman.  After winning a bet against him, Ludo Bagman pays the twins in leprechaun gold, which vanishes eventually.  This leaves the twins unpaid and unable to move forward with their joke shop plans.  As a result, they spend much of the school year secretly writing to Bagman demanding their money and trying to meet with him when he was on school grounds for the tournament.  While they do eventually give up, this serious, business side of Fred and George is not one the readers has seen before or expected, and as a result helped the reader more deeply understand the twins.

Barty Crouch Jr.

Barty Crouch Jr. is the villain hidden in plain sight.  He spends the year magically disguised as one of the teachers and helps Harry, often indirectly, to be successful in the tournament.  As a result he successfully completes his mission of making sure Harry wins the tournament so that when he touches the trophy at the end he is transported to Voldemort.  We see glimpses of his life through memories and through information Sirius gives us about him.  This subplot about Crouch’s past, like the subplot with the house elves, helps to explain how and why the conflict of the story came about.  Additionally, like the Ludo Bagman subplot, this helps to develop the Wizarding World as the story is not reduced to a battle between Harry and Voldemort.  By expanding into other villains and their stories, the reader can see not only how Voldemort became so powerful and dangerous but also more worldly issues, like what happens when people are neglected.

Additionally, this subplot helps to keep characters like Sirius more important and familiar to the reader.  On the whole, Sirius does not play as large of a role in the fourth book as he does in the third and fifth, so by giving him the task of adding information to this subplot the reader does not have a chance to disconnect from or forget about his character until he is more prominent in the story again.

Conclusion

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire holds some excellent examples of subplots and how they assist with things such as characterization, plot explanation, and filling in gaps within the main plot.  A good subplot adds depth to a story and serves multiple purposes within the plot.  I hope this post gave some good insight into the purpose of a subplot and how it can effect a story.  Thank you for reading!

 

Image Source: https://www.thequiz.com/how-well-do-you-remember-harry-potter-and-the-goblet-of-fire/

Sources:

Top 16 J.K. Rowling Quotes to Inspire Strength Through Adversity

https://nybookeditors.com/2017/11/the-importance-of-subplots/#:~:text=The%20subplot%20is%20a%20side,story%20line%20in%20some%20way.

 

Part 5- Magic Beyond Spells and Potions

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
– J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)

 

Introduction

In this post, I will break from analyzing literary elements in each of the books and instead dive into one of the more philosophical parts of the Harry Potter series.  The basis for much of this philosophy, or at least open discussion of it, happens mostly in the fifth book when Harry and five friends head to the Ministry of Magic, and more specifically the Department of Mysteries, to save Sirius whom they believe is in trouble, only to be attacked while they are there.  As they navigate the disorienting halls and mysterious rooms, a number of the themes, ideas, and philosophies, presented throughout the series are expressed in “physical” forms to the characters.  In this post I will be taking a look at each of the known rooms, what they represent, and how they go beyond the usual magic of spells and potions.

The Space Chamber

The Space Chamber is a room that essentially models outer space, and presumably is used by wizards to study space.  Compared to the other rooms encountered, the Space Room is less significant to the story.  Harry himself does not even enter it, it is only known of because three of his other friends had passed through it while trying to escape.  We as readers do not really learn much about it, however we are introduced to the idea that space is a concept outside the control of magic, something the characters (and really us as readers) often relied upon to fix everything.  This room’s purpose for the books is really just to emphasize that magic is not the force ultimately in control, and that there are often greater “forces” out there than ones we like to emphasize or rely on.

The Time Chamber

The Time Room holds many devices, such as the devices used for time travel (Time-Turners).  As the third Harry Potter book explored the topic of time pretty extensively, it is not explored as in-depth here.  Essentially, the room is presented to the reader to remind us that, like space, time is outside of magic.

The Brain Room

The Brain Room is home to many tanks of, obviously, brains.  Except these brains aren’t ordinary, they hold tendrils of thoughts that when encountered can leave a mark on a person.  As the Hogwarts nurse puts it, “thoughts [can] leave deeper scars than almost anything else.”  Obviously, the room is used to study thoughts, although we are not told why.  The Brain Room also presents the readers with a physical representation of just how much thoughts and emotions can effect our lives, an idea also presented with the Dementors and their eerie similarities to depression.

Hall of Prophecy

The Hall of Prophecy is home to shelves upon shelves or glass orbs which hold the memories of all the known prophecies.  Only those to whom the prophecy was made to or about can touch the prophecies or remove them from the room.  Predicting the future and destiny are themes that constantly pop up throughout the series.  After all, Harry’s whole life has been shaped by the prophecy made about him which prompted Voldemort to come after him.  The Hall of Prophecy comes to symbolize how personal each person’s destiny is, and the difference it can make of who you meet along the way.  Furthermore, as Dumbledore explains, not every prophecy has been or has to be fulfilled.  This further goes to show the idea that not everyone reaches their destiny, whether it’s because they chose a better path or got lost along the way.  Similarly, this shows that a person does not have to be held by the expectations of others, and they can break out of the mold they have been put into and pursue a future not expected of them.

The Death Chamber

The Death Chamber is built like an amphitheater around a raised platform, on which rests a stone archway with a veil.  The veil seems to flutter although there is no wind, and some of the characters seem to hear voices coming from “behind” the veil (this may be because some of the characters have had loved ones who die, or it may represent their various beliefs in the afterlife).  Anyone who walks through the veil never comes back out, as essentially the veiled arch is a one way portal to the afterlife.  The mystery surrounding the veil and ominous feeling of the room represents fear of death.  As stated before, some of the characters could hear voices in the veil, which scared characters like Hermione, but for others (notably Luna) brought comfort.  It is important to note that J.K. Rowling may have drawn inspiration from this room from the Biblical story of the veil in the Temple, which separated the people from the most holy place of the temple and also symbolized the separation of God and man.  At the moment of Jesus’s death the veil was torn in two, which showed that humans no longer had to be separated from God by sin.  This makes the veil a more significant symbol of death and the afterlife, and helps present the theme that death does not have to be a scary thing, or even the “end”.

“[Harry:] “Have you…” he began. “I mean, who … has anyone you known ever died?”
“Yes,” said Luna simply, “my mother. She was a quite extraordinary witch, you know, but she did like to experiment and one of her spells went rather badly wrong one day. I was nine.”
“I’m sorry,” Harry mumbled.
“Yes, it was rather horrible,” said Luna conversationally. “I still feel very sad about it sometimes. But I’ve still got Dad. And anyway, it’s not as though I’ll never see Mum again, is it?”
“Er – isn’t it?” said Harry uncertainly.
She shook her head in disbelief. “Oh, come on. You heard them, just behind the veil, didn’t you?”
” You mean…”
“In that room in the archway. They were just lurking out of sight, that’s all, you heard them.”

The Ever-Locked Room

While entering the Department of Mysteries, Harry and his friends encounter a room that is so tightly magically sealed none of them can open it.  They abandon the room, and it is not until the end of the book we learn what was inside.  We learn the room contains nothing other than the force of love, which in this series is the most powerfully magical force.

“There is a room in the Department of Mysteries, that is kept locked at all times. It contains a force that is at once more wonderful and more terrible than death, than human intelligence, than forces of nature. It is also, perhaps, the most mysterious of the many subjects for study that reside there. It is the power held within that room that you possess in such quantities and which Voldemort has not at all. That power took you to save Sirius tonight. That power also saved you from possession by Voldemort, because he could not bear to reside in a body so full of the force he detests. In the end, it mattered not that you could not close your mind. It was your heart that saved you.” -Dumbledore to Harry

One of the most powerful themes and ideas in this series is that love is a force more powerful than any other, the thing that drive so many choices and actions and has so many purposes and consequences in our lives that the world could not function the same without it.  The way this theme is presented manages to avoid the somewhat cheesy “love conquers all” feel and makes it something raw that everyone can connect to.

Conclusion

I hope this post was interesting and informative.  Perhaps one of the most successful things about this series is that way it turns common themes into something meaningful and raw for the reader.  This post was long, so I won’t keep you any longer.  Have a great day!

Image source: https://www.mugglenet.com/2015/12/within-department-mysteries/

Sources:

44 Magical J.K. Rowling Quotes

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Department_of_Mysteries#Space_Chamber

Within the Department of Mysteries

Part 4- Symbols, Motifs, and Allegory

“In a novel you have to resist the urge to tell everything.” -J. K. Rowling

 

Introduction

Symbols and motifs are some of the more recognizable and well understood types of literary devices.  I can certainly remember doing countless projects in high school english classes where we did research and analysis on symbols and motifs in the books we read.  A symbol is defined as a mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process, and a motif is defined as a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition.  More unknown perhaps are allegories.  An allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.  Symbols, motifs, and allegories are used throughout the Harry Potter series, but there are some particularly interesting examples in the third book (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) that we will be looking at today.

Symbol of Dementors

In this book, the reader is introduced to the terrible creatures known as dementors.  Dementors are dark, hooded figures with scabbed skin and no face.  Their very presence sucks the joy and hope out of nearby people, and they are used to guard the wizard prison Azkaban, where most of the prisoners end up insane because of the dementors.  Dementors also have the ability to suck out the very soul of a person, leaving them alive but with no sense of being.  As it may now be obvious, dementors symbolize depression, fear, and hopelessness.  J. K. Rowling has even stated that she came up with the idea of dementors while struggling through depression following the death of her mother.  It can also be argued that dementors symbolize the corruption in the Ministry, as the Ministry employs these creatures who will prey on anyone, not just criminals as we learn throughout the Prisoner of Azkaban.  Throughout this book and the rest of the series, dementors turn up during times when the characters are happy, angry, desperate, or cautious, representing how things like depression and fear can creep up on a person no matter the circumstance or their mood.

However, there is one thing that keeps the dementors at bay, a charm called the Patronus Charm, which casts a brightly lit protector made of pure hope and joy and love.  The dementors are unable to suck these things out of the protector, and therefore can not defeat it.  This also symbolizes how there is always hope for those willing to look for it, and that things like love and joy are stronger than fear.  As Dumbledore says, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

Motif of the Grim

“The Grim, my dear, the Grim!  The giant, spectral dog that haunts churchyards! My dear boy, it is an omen – the worst omen – of death!” (cue Professor Trelawney dramatically sighing).  Throughout the book, Harry is tailed by a mysterious black dog thought to be a Grim.  Every time the dog appears, he has a near death experience.  The Grim is supposed to bring death to one who sees it, but Harry manages to survive every time, just as he survived Voldemort’s attempt to kill him at just one year old.  Of course, later we learn that the great dog is actually Sirius, Harry’s godfather, who can turn into a dog and used this to escape from prison (he was wrongly accused of murder).  Because of this, the Grim does not represent death, but prejudice and misunderstanding.  As the Grim is a famous omen of death, with entire books written about how to deal with seeing one, it never crossed the character’s minds to consider that instead of bring about death or near death experiences, the dog could be there to protect Harry.  This theme of things not always being as they appear is common throughout the series (and is again demonstrated with the thestrals in book 5, which can only be seen when you have seen someone die) and will be discussed more in part 9 of this blog.

Allegory of Divination

In this book, Harry, Ron, and Hermione begin studying new subjects, one being divination.  Divination is the study of predicting the future and fortune telling, however has a reputation of being extremely unreliable.  The professor for the subject is Sybil, Trelawney, who is well known for her overdramatic actions and countless false predictions.  For example, when Trelawney begins teaching about astrology (I believe in book 4) she tells Harry that he obviously was born in mid-winter, to which he replies that “no, I was born in July.”  She also is known to refuse to sit at tables with 12 people, as she believes that when 13 dine together the first to rise will die.  What’s more, Harry and Ron have to make predictions for class, which they completely make up (predicting their own deaths in many tragic ways that never happen) and Trelawney gives them full marks for the homework.  Divination class is an allegory meant to show that it is impossible to predict the future, and that it is important to live in the present.  Harry’s life is marked by a tragic past and a tense future, one that has to end in him either killing or being killed by Voldemort.  As an extension of this, divination represents how you can’t change your past, but you can change your future.

As a bit of a bonus, I would like to point out that many of the “predictions” made often came true in some respect.  While Harry was not born in mid-winter, Voldemort was (I suggest you look up horcruxes to understand the full significance of that), and there are multiple instance throughout the books where 13 characters eat a meal together and later in the series the first to leave does in fact die.  This also makes divination an allegory meaning things don’t always happen the way we predict or in a way we understand.

Conclusion

If I’m honest, studying the symbols, motifs, and allegories was one of my favorite things to do in english classes in high school.  I find hidden meanings behind details to be fascinating and an impressive thing to accomplish when writing.  Studying these three things requires a reader to not just understand the story, but also to learn to understand other people and to think more deeply about a subject.  I have found symbolism, motifs, and allegories to be one of the best ways to learn lessons from stories, even if the story is about a magical world where owls carry your mail and people travel by broomstick.  Next time you read a book, any book, I encourage you to look for the repetitions, look for these literary devices.  You may discover a whole new level of the story.

 

Image link:https://www.peacocktv.com/collections/harry-potter-movies/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban

Sources:

https://medium.com/read-watch-write-repeat/a-dozen-quotes-by-j-k-rowling-to-help-you-write-your-novel-9b3362ad91a3

https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/harry-potter-3-azkaban/analysis/symbols-imagery-allegory

https://www.gradesaver.com/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban/study-guide/symbols-allegory-motifs

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban/symbols/dementors

Quotes by and about Sybill Trelawney

Part 3 (Foreshadowing)

“You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity.” -J.K. Rowling

 

Introduction

Foreshadowing is a warning or indication of a future event, and a key element to the Harry Potter series.  There are pieces of information scattered throughout the entire series that allude to other events, whether in the same book or multiple books apart.  Today I will be analyzing how foreshadowing is used in the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, as this book especially has some interesting examples.

Ginny Weasley

In this book, a terrifying, unknown monster is set on Hogwarts to rid it of any witches and wizards without magical parents (muggleborns).  Ron’s younger sister, Ginny, is found to be the one setting the monster on students, who end up petrified when the monster attacks.  However, it was found she had been doing this because she was possessed by none other than Voldemort himself (just a younger version of him).  As the story progresses, the reader may notice that every time someone is attacked, Ginny Weasley is mentioned around the same time.  When the caretaker’s cat becomes the first victim, it is mentioned not long after that Ginny is terribly distressed about the attack, which is credited to her great love of cats.  When Colin Creevey, the second victim, is attacked, it is mentioned that Ginny sits net to him in one of her classes (Charms I think…).  This pattern continues, but is easy to miss as there are many other distractions, such as Hagrid being framed for setting the monster loose.  Moreover, Ginny is found near Hagrid’s cabin early in the school year “just looking around,” to which Hagrid hints to Harry that he thinks Ginny was looking for him, as she has a huge crush on Harry.  However, Ginny was actually there to kill Hagrid’s rooster under Voldemort’s influence, as the cry of the rooster is fatal to the legendary monster.

Discovery of the Basilisk

Later in the book, Hagrid is taken away to prison as he is believed to be the one attacking students.  Before he goes, he tells Harry and Ron to go into the Forbidden Forest and find Aragog, a giant spider Hagrid raised.  When the two boys do this, they get very little information about the attacks from him, as Aragog refuses to speak of the monster.  Harry later remarks that this makes the monster sound like “a sort of monster-Voldemort” because others refuse to speak of it.  This alludes to the fact that the monster is a Basilisk, which is a giant serpent, as Voldemort is a well known Slytherin (Slytherin is one of the four houses students at Hogwarts are sorted into upon arrival) and the symbol for Slytherin is a serpent.  Moreover, the monster is said to be commanded by “Slytherin’s heir.”  Harry’s remark and the connections to Voldemort and Slytherin hint at the identity of the unknown monster, although this direct foreshadowing is not really mentioned again in the book after this statement.

“The Question is Not Who, But How?”

Just after the first attack, Harry, Ron, and Hermione (who were the first to find the victim) are in an office with a few of the professors as they examine the petrified cat (the victim) and try to decide what to do.  Professor McGonagall asks Professor Dumbledore “who could have done this?” to which Dumbledore replies, “the question is not who, but how.”  No one seems to understand this statement, and neither did I the first time I read the book.  This quote however indicates that Dumbledore knows who the attacker is, but not how they could be the one attacking people.  Now knowing this, the reader can understand that the attacker is probably not someone obvious, or someone who can easily have contact with the students at Hogwarts (making it highly unlikely Hagrid is the actual attacker).  The reader eventually learns Voldemort is behind the attacks, and the question begins to make sense.  Dumbledore knows it was Voldemort (as he explains in the sixth book) but due to the fact Voldemort was at the time powerless and in hiding there was no logical explanation as to how he could have been attacking people.  This is also explained, but the explanation is complicated so I will let you explore more about that if you wish.  In any case, this question of Dumbledore’s certainly illuminates many qualities of the then unknown villain .

Conclusion

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a prime example of how foreshadowing can add a new layer of depth to a story.  J.K. Rowling demonstrates a mastery at using just enough foreshadowing to hint at the future, but not enough to reveal the end of the plot.  I have probably read this series (or rather listened to the audiobooks) 30+ times since I first read the series in fourth grade, and each time I read it I discover a new piece of foreshadowing I had not caught before.  As the series progresses, the foreshadowing seems to become more complex.  In this book, one hint would often be enough to indicate future events if the reader catches it, but further into the series the hints start become less clear.  They rely more and more on the reader connecting with the characters and thinking about them as if they were real people.  It’s one way the reader can see the development of J.K. Rowling’s skill as an author, and how foreshadowing does not always have to be understood the first, second, or even third time it is read.  I hope this post was interesting and helped you to better understand how complex a story like Harry Potter’s can be.

 

Image: https://images.justwatch.com/backdrop/179961109/s1440/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets

Quote Source:

Top 16 J.K. Rowling Quotes to Inspire Strength Through Adversity

Part 2 (Characterization)

“People ask me if there are going to be stories of Harry Potter as an adult. Frankly, if I wanted to, I could keep writing stories until Harry is a senior citizen, but I don’t know how many people would actually want to read about a 65 year old Harry still at Hogwarts playing bingo with Ron and Hermione.” -J.K. Rowling

 

Introduction

Characterization (the process of developing characters and the way they are viewed by the audience) plays a vital role in the development of the Harry Potter series and why it’s so popular.  Characterization is made up of five methods: physical description, attitude/behavior, inner thoughts, reactions, and speech.  All of these are used in a way that molds a character into who the author wants them to be viewed as and can effect the readers feelings toward a character.  J.K. Rowling uses some somewhat unique characterization techniques throughout the series (e.g. describing characters as animals; Professor Umbridge is described to look like a toad on more than one occasion, giving the reader a negative feeling about her before she even speaks or act), so I hope to be able to discuss some of the techniques used in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by looking at specific characters that are important throughout the entire series.

Harry Potter

The Harry Potter series is narrated from a third person point of view (mostly limited, sometimes omniscient) which gives the reader the opportunity to “see” rather than be told of Harry’s physical appearance, actions, and reactions.  Through this, J.K. Rowling can draw the reader in and give them a way to connect with Harry before he even acts or speaks.  The reader is able to tell very quickly Harry is neglected, but that he is also not bitter.  His very first reaction to an event in the book is not marked by anger or self-pity for his situation, but by acceptance and a sense of independence.  The reader can sense his character’s kindness and the love he becomes so famous for later.  Rowling goes on to describe his appearance, which is not one of perfection.  This combination of obvious good personality, bad circumstances, and unassuming appearance draws the reader in not only because of sympathy for Harry, but because he is now very relatable.  The reader wants to read about Harry because they can see a part of themselves in him.  What’s more, Rowling does not hide his flaws.  Harry has a bit of a temper, and can be a bit reckless.  He certainly does not get away with these flaws (he does receive a few detentions throughout the series he probably deserves), but by making them easily recognizable and looking at how his poor or reckless decisions impacted him now gives the reader another way to relate.  While many readers’ situations are probably different, they can relate to making poor decisions at times and suffering consequences, but moving on and learning too.  Harry’s character is developed in such a carefully designed way so that the reader is attracted to his story because of how close they feel to Harry and other characters.  There’s a certain level of hope a reader gets from reading about a character who is so like them and has a happy ending, no matter what the road to get there looked like, and Harry Potter’s story is definitely one full of this hope.

Albus Dumbledore

Dumbledore is one of the first wizards to appear in the series when he delivers the baby Harry to the Dursley’s just after the Potters’ deaths.  Right from the beginning, his actions and speech suggest a certain level of eccentricity but also wisdom (for example, while waiting for Hagrid to bring Harry, Dumbledore offers McGonagall candy, then proceeds to wisely explain why Harry should grow up away from fame).  This gives Dumbledore the archetype of the “sage” and sets him up well to be a significant mentor to Harry.  Later on in the book, Harry discovers a collectable card with Dumbledore on it while riding the train to school.  This is the introduction of Dumbledore as a leader though Harry’s eyes, as Harry can now put a face to the famous name and, besides Hagrid and Mrs. Weasley, this is the first adult wizard Harry is introduced to (both Hagrid and Mrs. Weasley play important roles in Harry’s life as well).  Throughout this scene and others, including the odd welcome speech he gives and the moment he tells Harry his deepest desire is to get a pair of socks for Christmas, add onto the eccentricity of Albus Dumbledore.  It’s easily understood by Harry and the audience that Dumbledore is a role model, a protector even, but what may be forgotten due to his role as the wise leader is his backstory.  It’s easy to look over the allusions to Dumbledore’s past and secrets.  For example, after the scene about the socks, Harry remarks that Dumbledore may not have been entirely truthful about his deepest desire, but that is a very personal thing.  It’s almost too easy for the reader to forget to ask, well then what is his deepest desire?  What is behind Dumbledore’s personality?  This in turn sets up Dumbledore for his own backstory and share of secrets later in the series, as well as the growth of a more personal relationship with Harry.  Harry goes from nearly disregarding Dumbledore’s desires to understanding what they are without being told, and we as the readers get to appreciate a character arc that explores the depth to the people we see as idols and a reminder that there’s always more to a person than what’s on the surface.

Severus Snape

Snape is a constant antagonist throughout the series, and up until the end the reader is never sure whether he is a “good guy” or a “bad guy”, or at least whether he is helping Dumbledore or serving Voldemort.  His character is extremely complex, and the Sorcerer’s Stone helps to set up his character for the complex role he plays.  For much of the book, Harry (and the audience) are led to believe Snape is the one attempting to steal the Sorcerer’s Stone for Voldemort.  In the end, it’s revealed by Dumbledore that Snape went to school with Harry’s father, James, and that they hated each other.  Despite this, James once saved Snape’s life.  Because of this, many of the earlier instances that made Snape suspicious now give him a certain mystery and complexity.  Snape worked hard to protect Harry to basically get even with James or to feel as if he’s no longer in debt to him.  The reader is left wondering why James had to save Snape, why the two men hated each other, and why Snape is so involved in Harry’s life despite loathing him.  Snape’s whole character is built to play with the audiences emotions and make them think.  It’s clear he has motivation to side with either Dumbledore or Voldemort, but it is also clear that at least from Harry’s view we are not supposed to like Snape.  In book one, Snape threatens Harry, appears to jinx him, and tries his best to get him expelled, and while it turns out some of his actions were indeed meant for good, his methods and obvious hatred still sour the good deeds a bit.  However there is always mystery surrounding his motivation.  Certainly from the first book it’s obvious we do not know Snape’s deepest motivation.  The constant mystery, deeply developed dislike, and unknown motivations begun in book one all effect the impact on the reader when Snape’s whole story is finally revealed, and lead to his redemption.  Harry and the reader’s get to see just how all the pieces, seemingly inconsistent, really fit together to build up such a realistic and deep character.  Snape goes from being an antagonist to a suddenly relatable, understandable, and incredibly respectable character.  While his character arc only just begins in book one, J.K. Rowling is able to write Snape’s behavior and actions in such a way to set up a stunning finale, and a provoking comment on the deepest nature of love.

Conclusion

Rowling has a way of designing and shaping characters so that the reader gets to know them slowly, like in real life.  She is able to convey feelings about and toward characters that don’t always line up with who they truly are, and because of this she is able to drive home the point that people always have a story, they aren’t just what appears on the surface.  The balance of strengths and flaws mixed with the themes of choices and motivations help the series connect to the reader and apply what they read to real life.  Good characterization is just one of many ways Rowling created such a successful series.

 

 

Image: https://cdn.onebauer.media/one/empire-images/features/560ec04850e6c513721c379e/potter.jpg?quality=50&width=1800&ratio=16-9&resizeStyle=aspectfill&format=jpg

Sources:

https://medium.com/read-watch-write-repeat/a-dozen-quotes-by-j-k-rowling-to-help-you-write-your-novel-9b3362ad91a3

Severus Snape Analysis: The Reveal That Marked a Generation

 

Part 1- Names

“I love inventing names, but I also collect unusual names, so that I can look through my notebook and choose one that suits a new character.” -J.K. Rowling

Introduction

The Harry Potter series is often marked by made up or unusual names, but there is often a much deeper meaning behind the names than many people would at first realize.  J.K. Rowling has often talked about how important names were for not just her characters, but the various places and spells in the story.  She has made up names, such as “Quidditch” and “Malfoy”, dug into historical meanings for names, drew on myths and constellations (Sirius, Hermione), and reused names to stress the importance of loved ones to various characters (for example, Harry names his eldest son after his father, James).  There are probably very few names chosen at random, and if you’re willing to dig through the names a bit you can uncover a whole new layer of complexity in the series.

Invented Names

Perhaps the most famous name invented by Rowling is “Voldemort.”  The character himself is called by many names throughout his life, but Voldemort becomes the famous name everyone fears.  The name Voldemort can be broken down by syllable into “vol”, “de”, and “mort.”  Digging into the meanings of each syllable, they are all of French origin.  “Vol” means “flight” or “theft”, “de” means “of” or “from”, and “mort” means “death”.  Put this together, and “Voldemort” means something along the lines of “flight from death,”  which as we discover in the seventh book is Voldemort’s whole goal in life- to evade death itself.

Names as Connections Between Characters

Names of often used to connect the characters, and the most obvious examples are often within families.  For instance, almost every member of the Black family shares a name with a constellation.  Sirius is the name of the dog constellation, which references Sirius’s ability to turn into a dog.  There is also Narcissa, a reference to the constellation Narcissus, a man who drowned after he fell in love with his own reflection (Narcissa is known to act mostly for her own interests), and then there is Draco, which is the name of the dragon constellation (a reference to Draco’s Hogwarts house Slytherin (which has a serpent as its mascot).  Then you have the Weasly family.  It is perhaps easy to guess the meaning of their last name, which is simply “Weasel.”  However, as explained on the Wizarding World website, “weasels traditionally tend to be pretty sly and deceitful, but we’d wager this wasn’t supposed to suggest the Weasley family are in any way devious, but rather that the weasel’s bad reputation is undeserved. It’s also no coincidence, of course, that weasels live in a burrow… as do the Weasleys.”  The Weasley’s are often given a bad reputation by other characters like the Malfoys, who disapprove of their willingness to befriend those who are not “pure-blood,” or those who are not ancestrally 100% wizard.

Names of Spells

Perhaps this is obvious, but many of the spell names come from Latin words.  “Lumos” the light giving spell, comes from the Latin words “lumen” (light) and “os” (to have), meaning “to have light.”  Its opposite, “nox” is Latin for “night.”  “Expecto Patronum,” the patronus conjuring spell (a patronus guards the caster from the terrible soul sucking creatures known as Dementors) roughly translates to “I await a guardian.”  Avada Kedavra, although not Latin, is an Aramaic term meaning “let the thing be destroyed” (and is also the origin of abracadabra, incidentally).  This fits as Avada Kedavra is the unforgivable killing curse, and literally destroys life itself.

Names as Foreshadowing

More than just being important through sound or meaning, these names can often offer insight into a character or foreshadowing about them.  For example, the reader is introduced to Rita Skeeter in the fourth book, a journalist who loves to spin nasty stories and start rumors about the subjects of her articles.  Throughout the book, Rita Skeeter releases a number of terrible articles about Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid, but many of the details are ones spoken during private conversations.  In other words, she should have no feasible way of collecting the information.  However, if you’ve made the connection, her last name, Skeeter, is a slang term for a mosquito, which is significant.  As the reader finds out at the end of the book, Skeeter can turn into an insect, which allows her to collect information secretly as she can simply sit on or near another character without being noticed.  Additionally, “skeet” can mean “gossip” or “news”, referencing her career as a journalist but also her love of spreading gossip.

Digging Deeper

If you are interested, there are endless quotes from J.K. Rowling discussing the names of her characters.  But fans themselves have dug deeper and uncovered possible origins and meanings the author herself has not mentioned.  My favorite example is that of the Weasley twin’s, Fred and George.  Prince Frederick and King George III were two men from the British Royal line.  Prince Frederick died young from an odd accident, which could allude to Fred Weasley’s untimely death.  Furthermore, George III had many health issues, including possible deafness, which may foreshadow George Weasley loosing an ear early in the seventh book.  What’s more, Fred Weasley was always a bit more dominant than George, but his death left George solely in charge of their joke shop, which is similar to how Prince Frederick’s death left George III as heir to the throne.  All this said, this is simply a theory and has not been confirmed by Rowling herself.

Conclusion

I know this was a long post, but I hope it was informative and maybe opened the door to the magic it took to piece together a story like this.  I hope that if you plan to read or reread the series (or have simply read them already), this has helped you gain some insight to the more intricate details hidden in plain sight throughout the series.  I personally find the etymology of names to be fascinating, but when the etymology is used to explain characters or to foreshadow, I find it an incredibly successful tool to add an extra layer to any story.

 

Image source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurengarafano/harry-potter-idenitify-characters-quiz

Information sources:

https://www.azquotes.com/author/12713-J_K_Rowling/tag/character

https://harry-potter-compendium.fandom.com/wiki/Rita_Skeeter#cite_note-17

https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/revealing-etymology-of-the-weasley-family-tree

https://www.bustle.com/articles/125284-did-jk-rowling-hint-at-fred-and-george-weasleys-fates-with-their-names

https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/the-different-meanings-behind-lord-voldemorts-many-names

http://www.accio-quote.org/themes/names.htm

https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/the-etymology-of-harry-potter-spells

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Killing_Curse#Etymology