The Harry Potter Controversy

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The Harry Potter Controversy The wildly popular Harry Potter book series by J. K. Rowling has caused controversy for many families over the past five years. These novels according to some critics are harmless, adventurous, children's tales. Others choose to portray them as stories that inspire children to become involved in the occult and serious witchcraft. The Harry Potter novels chronicle the life of a young wizard whose wizard parents were killed by the evil Lord Voldermort. On his eleventh birthday he receives invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each of the five books represents a year of his life there (Walker). This essay will discuss whether the Harry Potter novels are a suitable read for children and why despite what some critics portray, Harry Potter can be a positive role model for youth. In recent history a cultural phenomenon has occurred. With the rise of Harry Potter, this nation's youth have displayed a “mania” that has not been seen in reference to books for a long time. For example, Barns & Noble America's largest bookseller has recently declared that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be their “largest seller in the history of the entire company” (Mangan). In light of this rise to fame one should note that Harry Potter can and will impact modern culture. In the “age of electronic entertainment”, Harry Potter novels sharply contrast by luring children away from the internet, and away from video games and the television. Children across the globe are rapidly becoming interested in reading the novels. Katherine Thompson, owner of Frugal Frigate Bookstore, declared the series a “literary phenomena.” She noted that children as young as eight-years-old will devour... ... middle of paper ... ...nuum, 2001. Person, Judith. “Books debunk evils of Potter; Christian authors see enchanting talks as Gospel springboard.” LexisNexis . The Washington Times. (October 31, 2002): Joyner Library, City of Greenville, NC. March 2004. Rowling, J. K. “A Good Scare.” Time 30 October 2000 : 77-78. Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York: Scholastic, 1999. Seden , Janet. 295 “Parenting and the Harry Potter stories: a social care perspective.” Children and Society 16 (2002): 295-305. . Walker, Wren. “ Muggles and Other Strangers: The Harry Potter Controversy.” Words, Wrants and Wramblings. December 1999. Weekly Editorials and Comments. < http://www.witchvox.com/harrypotter.html >. Colson, Charles. “Harry Potter and the Existence of God.” Christian Broadcasting Network. 14 July 2000 . Breakpoint. .

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