Alyssa Jimenez
Mrs. Jordan
Eng. III Pre-Ap 5th pd.
7 May 2016
JK Rowling and her Harry Potter series have reached the entire world. Many say the Harry Potter series is just for pure entertainment. I say it’s the total opposite. JK Rowling uses the Harry Potter Series to convey issues that her readers may experience and relate to throughout their lifetime. She portrays tragedies, unity, accomplishments, friendships and lastly, finding self-identity.
What kind of series doesn’t have tragedies? JK Rowling uses death of loved ones as an example of tragedies. In book six, “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince”, Dumbledore is killed by Severus Snape. Dumbledore was the mentor and grandfatherly figure throughout the Harry Potter Series (Conte
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Learning to face up to fears and realizing that people can work together and become friends are skills that everyone could use reminding of (Walker). No matter the age or gender, the Harry Potter Series is truly one where you could relate to a work of fantasy literature. Incorporating stories that are full of universal themes, JK Rowling certainly has made the Harry Potter Series interesting and relatable (Woodrum).
Works Cited
"Bogrod." Harry Potter Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2016.
Conte, Catherine. "Why Harry Potter Appeals to Adults as Well as Younger Audiences." The Artifice. Ed. Gracie Maich, John Wilson, Rachael Elfassy Bitoun, and Nurse Manhattan. N.p., 2 Oct. 2015. Web. 16 May 2016.
"Order of the Phoenix." Harry Potter Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2016.
Rowling, J. K. "A Quote from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2016.
Walker, Wren. “ Muggles and Other Strangers: The Harry Potter Controversy.” Words, Wrants and Wramblings. Weekly Editorials and Comments, December 1999. Web. 16 May 2016.
Woodrum, Emily Anne. "The Harry Potter Controversy - Joyner Library." The Harry Potter Controversy - Joyner Library. East Carolina University, 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 16 May
On October 15, 1999 an article was published in the Omaha World-Herald that angered and agitated devoted fans of Harry Potter. Omahans already knew that the Harry Potter books had been challenged in South Carolina and a few other places across the nation. Now, the controversy over the fantasy stories by J. K. Rowling had hit their home town. Apparently, the administration at Omaha Christian Academy learned of the popularity of the books and...
“In examining how race functions in the Harry Potter series it is nonetheless important to help students consider not only what is depicted in the texts but also what is absent” (Wallace & Pugh)
! J.K Rowling is easily one of the most influential women of our decade due to her
I felt angry, confused, and scared. I didn’t know who I could trust or where I could feel safe-- feelings that are overwhelming and utterly terrifying for a second grader. Post-incident, everyday events became obstacles that terrified me. Taking a shower or staying home alone seemed insurmountable. It was difficult to distract myself from the aftermath when the effects were so infiltrated within my daily life. I found comfort in school, which I considered a safe place. I discovered my love for words and became a voracious reader, where I rapidly progressed to reading levels far beyond that of my peers. That year I began the Harry Potter series, which transported me to worlds far different than my own. I could relate to the characters, many of whom had been hurt in one way or another. The Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center even held a Harry Potter camp throughout February break where children who had underwent similar pasts could attend. I identified with the characters in these novels, which not only contributed to my love for reading, but opened the gates to a lifelong quest for
Whitehead, A. N. (2006). God, C.S. Lewis, and J.K. Rowling: Christian Symbolism in Harry Potter.
The logical appeal of this paper is showing of how Radcliffe’s displays his feelings of being Harry and idolized as such by his fans. Radcliffe is Asked in an interview “How do you feel about becoming famous?” he replied with “It’d be cool!” demonstrating that in his early childhood he was very open to this idea. These quotes tell of how a young boy demonstrates how a change in life would be, he had no clue of how his life would change just by these movies. Daniel tells how he feels, “I’m more nervous about the anticipation about feeling bad,” telling the interviewer that he worries about those letting the fans down and not signing all their memorabilia. This quote shows that he likes to make people happy. When he cannot accommodate his fan base do so he is left in sadness. Susan Dominus notes that Daniel deserves to receive the golden ticket he earned at age ten, He will not squander his fame on little things when he has the ability to be a major role model. He does not want to hurt his fans feelings but he cannot be at places fo...
Ever since J.K. Rowling first introduced Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 1997, children and adults have read and loved the series. It has gained such popularity that all of the books have been made into major motion pictures, and a Harry Potter attraction has been opened in Universal Studios, Florida. Though the readers love Rowling’s intricate and exciting story lines, many controversies have arisen from these stories, not only in the United States, but also in various countries around the world. Perhaps the biggest controversy is the religious implications perceived by some critics. Although these critics believe that the series promotes paganism and encourages evil actions, these theories should not be taken so seriously.
The portrayal of female characters in British literature has most often reflected the larger perception of women by society during the time of a work’s publication. In this regard, the immensely popular Harry Potter series written by author J.K. Rowling is certainly no exception. The circumstances for women in late 20th century Britain have improved and in many ways are nearing equality with men, yet a notable upper barrier to success still remains. Rowling captures this gender dynamic throughout the Harry Potter series by including a diverse cast of resilient female characters who are not allowed to take on the same leadership roles dominated by the men at Hogwarts, at the Ministry of Magic, in quidditch, and during the Triwizard tournament. The novels also center on an important theme of motherly love that Rowling uses to explore the sacrifices women must make in order to raise their children well. Such issues have been present in British literature for well over a century, with each generation seeing steps toward equality, both for the fictitious characters and the women of a given time period. The Harry Potter series, therefore, constitutes a reflection of female status in modern Britain that has advanced, but remains perpetually flawed.
Goff, Patricia. Producing Harry Potter: Why the Medium is Still the Message. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2006. Print.
As a child, I had a love hate relationship with reading. I loved reading the books I picked out and I hated reading the books my mom picked out for me. My child self believed that my mom only wanted me to read the books that taught me a lesson. I only wanted to read the fun books where the cover had caught my eye at the local library. As an adult I now understand what my mom was trying to teach me about reading, however, as a child, I wanted to rebel and read what I wanted to. Now, fifteen years later, I now understand my mom wanted to show me there are more books in the world than the ones where the cover catches your eye. She taught me that sometimes you have to read outside your comfort zone to find true treasures in literature. I transitioned from Carolyn Keene’s Nancy Drew to Tamora Pierce’s Tortall and Circle of Magic series in childhood, to J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind as a teenager and adult. My mom’s lessons on reading helped me grow as a reader and begin a love affair with the written word, no matter the genre.
Harry Potter is a fascinating tale of sorcerers, wands, broomsticks, dragons, and magic. The story begins with a young boy named Harry Potter who lives at number four Privit Drive, Surray, England. His journey begins after the death of his parents at the hands of the evil Lord Voldemort. Harry learns of his past and his future as a wizard from Hagrid, the keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He travels to Hogwarts where he learns spells and enchantments, makes new friends, finds enemies, and discovers fantastic secretes. J.K. Rowling weaves a web of impeccable storytelling with this critically acclaimed novel. In the tale of Harry Potter imagery, symbolism, and motif take central focus.
One of the most read series in all literature is Harry Potter. The seven-book succession has sold over 400 million copies and has been translated into over sixty languages. What is it that makes this series so wildly famous? What is it about the boy who lived that makes frenzied readers flock to their local bookstore at midnight on the day of the release to buy the latest installment? How is a story set in a world that doesn’t exist about wizards, witches, magic, and mystical creatures so popular? The series has been able to earn its spot on the New York Times Bestseller list and has granted author J.K. Rowling multiple awards because it is relatable. It is not the setting or the events in the plot of the story that we relate to. We relate to what Harry, his friends, mentors, teachers, caretakers, and even enemies feel. Harry is in a lot of ways exactly like us. He represents some of the good characteristics that all of us have as well as the bad. The series as a whole, is about one thing that is stressed over and over again in the novels, love. The Harry Potter series is one of the most read sequences of novels because the central theme is love and self-sacrifice, and readers are looking for a novel that shows them just that.
A Literary Analysis of the Themes of Identity and Self-Realization in the Fantasy World of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” (Rowling 333). This quote, from the beloved character Albus Dumbledore in the book The Chamber of Secrets by author J.K. Rowling, counsels young wizard, Harry Potter, about the importance of true character. Throughout the Harry Potter series, Harry struggles with internal conflict about whether his powers are meant for good or evil. Dumbledore assures Harry his powers are intended for good because of the choices he makes. Harry learns who he truly is through the challenges he faces and the decisions that follow.
Not only has J.K. Rowling influenced many women around the world, but she also has impacted many peoples’ lives. J.K. Rowling was a single mother trying to support her only daughter. She proved to single women that she doesn’t need a man to survive. J.K. Rowling shows females that they are just as capable as men. An editor of Good Housekeeping said “Everyone felt J.K. Rowling was the one with the most influence across the widest audience. As a single parent who managed to cope and pull herself out of poverty and create a massive entertainment empire on the way, she is very inspiring” (Nicholson). Rowling shows women that they don’t have to have super-model looks, or a wonderful voice to be noticed by society; they don’t need that to be an inspiration to people of all ages. Those important words to keep in mind underscore one of J.K. Rowling’s characters sayings, “Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure” (Rowling). Rowling believes that people need to use their brains and a hop in their step to make it in this world. Rowling is such an inspiration for people everywhere, not only women- “Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve” (Rowling). In 2010, J.K. Rowling was voted Britain’s most influential woman. She topped the list of over 100 women who have the most influence in the lives of the Briti...