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
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
“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)
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.
! J.K Rowling is easily one of the most influential women of our decade due to her
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...
Whitehead, A. N. (2006). God, C.S. Lewis, and J.K. Rowling: Christian Symbolism in Harry Potter.
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.
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
Goff, Patricia. Producing Harry Potter: Why the Medium is Still the Message. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2006. Print.
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.
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
J.K. Rowling is a very prominent and noteworthy woman. She has influenced people’s lives all around the world, by writing the Harry Potter series of seven books. Rowling has given millions of dollars to charities and she has helped people all over the world enjoy reading. With her major philanthropic efforts of giving to charity or her brilliantly crafted novels, J.K. Rowling is the Dumbledore of the muggle world.
The Harry Potter phenomenon had its humble beginning all the way back in the 1990s, when the first book, written by J. K. Rowling, came out in the shops. The main protagonist, a scrawny, young child wizard, who wore round glasses, had an immediate appeal to the readers, but no one at that time knew that the young boy would turn out to be the literary icon of the last decade. The popularity of the book resulted in it being translated into various language...
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.
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.