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Symbolism in Harry Potter
Character analysis of the book Harry Potter
Character analysis of the book Harry Potter
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Recommended: Symbolism in Harry Potter
Professor Albus Dumbledore’s office is one that Harry Potter is excited to see in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The office is described as: “a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises” (154). Throughout the description of the office, Rowling focuses on two characters: the Sorting Hat and Fawkes the Phoenix. The Sorting Hat is depicted as a tattered and old hat; while Fawkes looks sickly and dying. Rowling’s detailed description of the appearance of these characters is much like Dumbledore’s gentle outward appearance. However, also like Dumbledore, their withering looks does not diminish their powerful abilities. The sorting hat is wise and insightful while Fawkes has healing tears and the ability to be reborn from …show more content…
Its eyes were dull and, even as Harry watched, a couple more feathers fell out of its tail” (155). Fawkes bursts into flames before Harry’s eyes, making it obvious that Harry lacks the knowledge on the power of phoenixes. Although Fawkes dies only moments after Harry notices the sickly bird, Fawkes’ life returns within the pile of ashes. Dumbledore explains that Phoenixes hold tremendous power from holding large and heavy objects to healing tears as well as make “highly faithful pets” (155). This shows that despite the sickly state of Fawkes, he is a powerful creature and comes to Harry’s aid when facing the Basilisk in the chamber of secrets. Although J. K. Rowling’s description of Dumbledore’s office focuses on the old and withered description of the Sorting Hat and Fawkes, this does not take away the power that is behind these characters. Their physical traits do not define their magical abilities and strengths that are shown throughout the plot. Both the Sorting Hat and Fawkes have old and gentle physical traits like Dumbledore, but also like the old wizard, they carry great
The books Redwall by: Brian Jacques and the Harry Potter Series by: J.K. Rowling share many similar and different character traits, themes and symbols. Redwall takes place place during a medieval time in an abbey and the characters are woodland animals. The Harry Potter series takes place in modern day England primarily in school of magic where teenagers learn how to harness their magical powers and abilities. The two may not be similar in terms of plot, but Redwall and Harry Potter both share the themes and symbols of courage, compassion and evil.
The Sorting Hat of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter The Sorcerer’s Stone sings to the students attending Hogwarts in Harry’s first year, “There’s nothing hidden in our head the Sorting Hat can’t see, so try me on and I will tell you where you ought to be. […] You might belong in Hufflepuff, where they are just and loyal, those patient Hufflepuffs are trues and unafraid of toil” (118). This magical hat looks into each student’s minds, putting him or her into the best fitting house for their own personality. If placed into the alternate universe of Harry Potter, Haimon would be placed into Hufflepuff because each the characteristics of the house are quite evident inside the prince of Thebes. In Sophocles’ tragic play, Antigone, Haimon is a loyal individual, faithful to his commitments and will stick with them, which is portrayed through his loyalty to his father, Creon, justice, and Antigone, his fiancé.
the wall. Even though it could have been a bad sign, if he had told
The books describe the struggle between good and evil and the ultimate victory of good over evil through Harry’s courage and the undeniable fact of his love for the human spirit. Good triumphs evil when infant Harry’s life is spared by his parents, especially his mother who sacrifices herself for him, protecting him with love-the only thing that can stop evil. At Hogwarts, good and evil is separated into houses, the two mainly being Gryffindor and Slytherin. The sorting hat is a hat that decides on what house a student is to reside in. It seems that the hat already knows which house the students are already going to be in, with the exception of Harry, so an idea of predestination is introduced. How would the hat know where the student is to go? In Harry’s situation, he showed interest in Gryffindor even though the hat said Slytherin. In the end he was granted Gryffindor so it sort of counters the idea of predestination and the sorting hat. Regardless, it stands that whatever we think we are destined for in life- good or evil- we can always make the morally right choice i...
The Secret Garden is a film based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's book bearing the same title. This movie is about a young girl who is literally shipped off to her uncle's English castle after her parents are killed in an earthquake. The main character, Mary, is played by Kate Maberly. She is tossed into a world where sunlight and cheerful discourse seem as rare as the attention she receives from the sour-pussed housekeeper Medlock, played by Maggie Smith. She helps her crippled cousin to see past his hypochondria and into the wonders of a long forgotten garden hidden beyond the confines of Misselthwaite Manor. While one critic dislikes the slight deviations from the book, another is content to relish in the imagery and scenery of The Secret Garden.
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.
Throughout this series, Dumbledore sacrifices himself for the greater good, he faces the ‘devil’ himself, he cares for the well-being of all children, he regales stories and aphorisms, he has a large group of followers, and he forgives easily. An example of some of these are when Dumbledore sacrifices his life for Harry Potter and the wizarding world so that they may once and for all defeat Lord Voldemort, and when he faces off against the ‘devil’, Lord Voldemort, himself in an attempt to save Harry’s life. Another instance of a Christ-figure characteristic that Dumbledore possesses is how he raises and treats all of the children of Hogwarts as his own and expects the very best from and each and every one of them. As well, Dumbledore also regales many stories that inherently tell a tale close to the problems that each student is having. Likewise, he gives many aphorisms such as “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light.”, that help to let people know that here is always an upside to every situation. Additionally, Dumbledore has a giant group of followers, way more than twelve unfortunately, that call themselves DA or Dumbledore’s Army. Throughout the last two books they listen to the teachings and instructions of Dumbledore’s and learn the spells that will essentially help them in The Battle of Hogwarts that is forthcoming. Lastly, Dumbledore is full of so much forgiveness because as Draco Malfoy disarms and is about to kill him, he tells Draco that it is okay and he understands why he needs to do
The work of C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling is of grave vital on the grounds that their work portrays actuality as well as adds to it. Yes, their work is not just a portrayal of actuality; it is somewhat a quality expansion. Their meeting expectations are depictions of the reasoning examples and social standards pervasive commonly. They are a delineation of the diverse features of regular man's existence. Their works serves as a something worth mulling over and a tonic for creative energy and innovativeness. Lying open a single person to great artistic lives up to expectations, is proportional to giving him/her the finest of instructive chances.
Harry Potter and Jane Eyre are two novel characters who have quite a lot of similarities. In their early childhood, both were raised as orphans, both experienced cruelty and unkind treatment from relatives who were supposed to take care of them, both were given opportunity to study and live far away from the people who treated them harshly, and both of them had a life-changing experience in their respective schools.
The Dursleys, a wealthy English family, begin to notice strange appearances around town. That night Dumbledore, a schoolmaster of a wizarding school, and McGonagall, a professor for Dumbledore, are outside the Dursley’s home when Dumbledore tells her that Voldemort has killed the Potters but Harry lived through the event. Hagrid, the groundskeeper for the wizarding school, then arrives holding baby Harry Potter. Dumbledore leaves Harry and an explanatory note on the doorstep of the his relatives, the Dursleys.
Within the book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling, characters and stories between Voldemort and Harry’s continuous struggle allude to stories from the Bible. Voldemort, who represents the evil in the struggle, fights against Harry Potter, who is the “good” representative within the book. In the fight against Harry, Voldemort has a pet snake by the name of “Nagini.” Nagini, at one point in the book, possesses over a good character in the book, Bathilda Bagshot. Bathilda is an author and a historian, who Hermione and Harry trust and visit. Bathilda eventually dies and the evil snake, Nagini, uses her body to attract Harry and Hermione. Nagini eventually reveals itself through Bathilda’s body and attacks Harry. However, Hermione
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.
When you think of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, besides his vastly long name, what comes to mind? For most, it isn’t the fact that Dumbledore is an extremely flawed character, but it should be. Firstly, the things he put Harry through are unacceptable. Secondly, what was he thinking hiring all those terrible/questionable Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers? Dumbledore’s reputation should not be sugar coated and molded into him being a perfect man - he is not a bad person nor is he all good.
Harry eventually learns that he narrowly escaped death because his parents, especially his mother Lily, were prepared to die for him because of their love for him. He was always Voldemort’s intended victim. His father, James, was killed trying to give his mother time to escape with their child. Lily was even given the chance to stand aside and be spared while Voldemort completed the task that he came to Godric’s Hollow, the Potter’s home for. She sacrificed herself to protect her only beloved son, which en...
It’s hard to believe that a single and struggling mother changed her life by writing, but that’s exactly what J.K. Rowling did; not by luck, but by pure talent. She started writing when she was only 6, and from that moment, she knew she wanted to become a writer when she got older. She did not have a good childhood and was depressed, but this served as her inspiration for her famous Harry Potter books. Many things that are in the Harry Potter series actually came from her childhood; one character was even modeled after her. Rowling even admits that her mother’s painful death influenced her to write. She also created a lot of strong father figures in Harry Potter, and said that was because her father was not a very good one.