J. K. Rowling's Magical World

1302 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Harry potter series essay

“Although its importance often goes unrecognized, popular fiction has the power to reach millions of readers and to thus influence culture and society” (Wiener 9). Joanne (J.K.) Rowling’s popular Harry Potter series has definitely reached millions of readers. More than 400 million copies of her books, in fact, have been sold worldwide (Corliss). The genius idea behind the books, theme park, and movie franchise was born on a plain, delayed train ride to London in 1990 (Kirk 66). Rowling’s vision of a young British schoolboy who discovers his talent has sparked the imaginations of children and adults all over the world. The simple character of Harry Potter has become not only a story but a universe of imagination. J. K. Rowling created an entire imaginative world that faced criticism and promoted literacy.

J. K. Rowling and her readers travel beyond the boundaries of real world with Harry Potter (Wiener 72). These stories behind her success invoke plenty of thought from readers. Reality and fantasy come together as Rowling addresses the topics of good and evil in a magical world. As one critic says about the book that began it all; “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone rises above ordinary children’s fiction through the realism of its fantastical plot and through the cleverness of the characterizations” (Wiener 106). Newcomers to the Harry Potter series may notice Rowling’s use of uncommon names for characters. Rowling loves names, and says that she would find unusual names in all kinds of places, including maps, dictionaries, gravestones, myths, and foreign languages (Kirk 89). While other authors may struggle to find the name that just seems ‘right’ for their characters, Rowling takes labels a step further. Names, she says, can...

... middle of paper ...

...y: classic children and young adult novels." Bookmarks Nov.-Dec. 2010: 22+. General Reference Center Gold. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.

Graser, Marc. "Hogwarts & all in Fla." Variety 419.6 (2010): 31. General Reference Center Gold. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.

"J. K. Rowling | Scholastic.com." Teaching Resources, Children's Book Recommendations, and Student Activities | Scholastic.com. Scholastic. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

Kirk, Connie Ann. J. K. Rowling: a Biography. Westport (Conn.): Greenwood, 2003. Print.

Rowling, J. K. "J.K.Rowling Official Site." J.K.Rowling Official Site - Harry Potter and More. 2006. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

Sexton, Colleen A. J.K. Rowling. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century, 2007. Print.

Wiener, Gary. Readings on J.K. Rowling. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 2003. Print.

Show More
Related

  • Octavia E. Butler's Short Story Speech Sounds

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem: An Interview with J.K. Rowling." Interview by Amazon.co.uk. Amazon.com Message. Amazon.com, Inc. or Its Affiliates, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • The Life and Works of Ezra Jack Keats

    1874 Words  | 4 Pages

    Senick, Gerard J., and Hedblad, Alan. Children’s Literature Review: Excerpts from Reviews, and Commentary on Books for Children and Young People (Volumes 14, 34, 35). Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, 1995..

    Read More

  • Roses in Fairy tales: Traditional Belief vs. The Language of the Flowers.

    1742 Words  | 4 Pages

    Griffith, John, and Charles Frey. Classics of Children's Literature. 6th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. 21-29, 322-374. Print.

    Read More

  • Research Essay

    1316 Words  | 3 Pages

    Those few words of wisdom come from the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The Harry Potter books are works of art, written by J.K Rowling; a woman with an impressive life that greatly influenced her writings, especially those of the Potter series.

    Read More

  • Comparison Of CS Lewis's Works and JK Rowling's Works

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    Abanes, R. (2001). Harry Potter and the Bible: The menace behind the magic. Camp Hill: Horizon Books.

    Read More

  • The Theme of Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird

    2121 Words  | 5 Pages

    Belcher, C. and Stephenson, B. H. (2011). Teaching Harry Potter: The Power of Imagination in

    Read More

  • Role of Symbols and Symbolism in C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    It has always been amazing to realize how well the literature I read as a child has stayed with me through the years. It takes an exceptional writer to compose a narrative that maintains a storyline on the same level of a child's understanding; it takes everything short of a miracle to keep a child's interest. However, that undertaking has been accomplished by many skilled authors, and continues to be an area of growth in the literary world. Only this year the New York Times has given the genre of children's literature the credit it deserves by creating a separate best-sellers list just for outstanding children's books. Yet, on another level, children's literature is not only for the young. I believe that the mark of a brilliant children's author is the age range of those who get pleasure from the stories; the wider the range, the better.

    Read More

  • Written Critique on Corduroy and Winn-Dixie

    1542 Words  | 4 Pages

    Norton, D. E., & Norton. S. (2011). Through The Eyes Of a Child. An Introduction To Children’s Literature. Boston, MA, 02116: Eight-Edition Pearson Education

    Read More

  • Harry Potter Argumentative Essay

    679 Words  | 2 Pages

    Since the first segment of the series was released in 1997, Harry Potter has been challenged by churches and parents due to the practicing of magic by children found within the books. The books have been removed from school shelves, discouraged by churches, and censored by parents. It is claimed that Harry Potter is devilish, satanic, and encourages children to practice the occult, damaging their religious views (LaFond). Therefore, many parents keep their children from reading the book series. Yet, Harry Potter has been such a positive influence on my so many lives. Evident through the movies, theme parks, stores, and much more, J.K. Rowling’s series has been an overwhelming success for many reasons (“Because it’s his…”). In order to encourage

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

    1455 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to the textbook’s fantasy fiction characteristic of escape, “fantasy can take us far away from our everyday world, to times that never were, to places that never existed; it lets us forget our everyday routines, our frustrations, our anxieties”(p. 205). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, like other fantasy books, help children escape and explore another world, even if that world is not real. Karin Slaughter a mystery novelist said, “ Reading is not just an escape. It is access to a better way of life.” Being able to invest in characters and a story is an escape for a child that does not make it a bad thing. Reading does let children into a world they wish to be a part of, based on the fact that there is magic and characters they wish they could meet. For instance, children invest in the characters of Harry and Ron, because Harry is the brave, courageous friend, while Ron is terrified of everything, but sticks by Harry no matter what happens. J.K. Rowling wrote characters that are relatable to a child. Some parents

    Read More

  • Popular Culture Artifacts

    1228 Words  | 3 Pages

    Goff, Patricia. Producing Harry Potter: Why the Medium is Still the Message. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2006. Print.

    Read More

  • Feminism, Love And Death In Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

    2091 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, author J.K. Rowling displays the themes of feminism, love, and death because she personally experienced the importance of each. Throughout her lifetime Rowling experienced many difficult and wonderful times with her family, friends, and fans. These experiences and the effects that they had on the author’s life are clearly demonstrated in her written work. Through her characters in this novel Rowling created an outlet that she may solve her problems and relive the wonders of her life not only for herself but for her readers as well.

    Read More

  • Positive and Nagatives at Hogwarts

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rowling, J. K., and Mary GrandPré. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2003. Print.

    Read More

  • The Story of J.K. Rowling

    2098 Words  | 5 Pages

    Creator of the most famous and best loved character in contemporary fiction, J.K Rowling is also the author of her own escape from a depressing existence on the verge of destitution. On the one hand, there is J.K Rowling who wrote the ‘Harry Potter’ novels, ‘The Casual Vacancy’ and ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling’; the literary phenomenon of the nineties and present day. On the other, there is Joanne Rowling (the ‘J.K’ was her agent’s marketing notch), a dreamy, rather shy, but passionate woman whose brilliance in translating her dreams into prose changed her life. In January 1994, she was broke and jobless, struggling to bring up a young child in a small rented flat in Edinburgh. Just six years later, with her first book transformed into a major Hollywood film, she was reportedly worth £65 million (Smith 2001).

    Read More

  • Use of Supernatural Elements in Literature

    3356 Words  | 7 Pages

    Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007. Print.

    Read More

More about J. K. Rowling's Magical World

Open Document