Enduring Understandings
Enduring Understandings
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Character
Character
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series frequently features mythological and fantastical characters that are distinctive and unconventional. Additionally, Rowling skillfully crafts her characters through detailed and unique characterization.
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone, Rowling introduces a variety of nonhuman, mythical creatures that inhabit the magical world of Hogwarts, captivating young readers. One of the most notable figures in the series is the antagonist, Voldemort, also known as “You Know Who.” Rowling describes him in vivid detail: “Quirrell reached up and began to unwrap his turban” “He turned slowly on the spot” and “There was a face, the most terrible face Harry had ever seen. It was chalk white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils like a snake”(293). Through the depiction of Voldemort as a terrifying, nonhuman, the story’s tension is largely driven by the characters fear of him, especially Harry, who is haunted by the power Voldemort exerts over him. The detailed description of Voldemort's horrifying appearance makes his influence feel all the more potent. Alongside Voldemort, Rowling introduces other nonhuman characters like the ghosts haunting Hogwards, the goblins who run Gringotts Bank, Hagrigs three headed dog, and the centaurs. When harry enters Gringotts Bank, Rowling writes, “A pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors” and “About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long counter” While “Yet more goblins were showing people in and out” (115). These unusual creatures add to the magic and strangeness of the wizarding world. While many of these characters might initially seem frightening, Rowling subverts expectations. For instance, when Harry and his friends encounter a centaur in the Forbidden Forest, they are initially frightened, only to discover that the centaur is kind and willing to help them.
Furthermore, one of Rowling's most significant strengths as a writer is her ability to develop her characters with intricate, detailed descriptions that enhance the depth of her storytelling. For example, when Hagrid first meets Harry, Rowling describes him as “A giant of a man standing in the doorway. His face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild tangled beard” (46). Such a rich characterization allows a reader to vividly imagine the characters and feel a strong connection with them. This depth of characterization enables the reader to become fully immersed in the novel. For example, Hermione's declaration, “Books! And cleverness! There are more important things friendship and bravery”(287), reflects her logical nature while also emphasizing her deep values of friendship.Rowling’s detailed portrayals of her supernatural characters at Hogwarts give them relatable traits, making them seem more human, and allowing readers to form emotional connections with them.
Ultimately, Rowling combines the use of extraordinary mythical characters with profound characterization to create an engaging and immersive world in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
Setting
Setting
Setting is an important part of storytelling. Descriptions of the setting help the readers picture the world of the story and feel like they are a part of it. J.K. carefully builds the setting in her books, making them an essential part of the story. The way she describes each setting helps show the emotions of the characters, which adds depth to the plot and creates a strong atmosphere. The settings in the harry potter series are not just backdrops, but living parts of the story that affect how the characters feel and react.
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone, Rolwing gives lots of detail when describing the shops in Diagon Alley. When Harry first arrives there, he feels nervous and unsure. Rowling writes, “Harry wished he had about eight more eyes. He turned his head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at one: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping” (56). This description shows the chaos Harry feels, matching his emotions as he tries to take everything in. The busy, overwhelming atmosphere of Diagon Alley reflects Harry's excitement and confusion as he enters the magical world for the first time. Rowling also describes Hogwarts in detail. For Harry, Hogwarts quickly becomes a place where he feels safe and comfortable, almost like a second home. This is important because Harry has never had a place that felt welcoming and cozy. The details about Hogwarts help Harry feel like he belongs, which is important for the growth as a character.
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Rowling continues to use descriptive language to show her characters' feelings. For example, Ron Weasley says, “Why spiders? Why couldn’t it be ‘follow the butterflies.’” The spiders in this scene represent the fear and anxiety that the characters feel when they face a new challenge. The creepy, dangerous creatures symbolize the fear of stepping into an unfamiliar environment, where danger lurks. Later, when there's a breakout in Hogwarts, the school feels less safe. Rowling describes the chaos to show how scared the characters are. The panic that spreads through the schools contrasts with the feeling of safer and security Hogwarts once provided. This change in the atmosphere is a big shift from the home-like feeling. The once peaceful school is now filled with fear and uncertainty, and this change in setting helps express the growing danger teh characters face. The details of the setting in each book helps show the emotions of the characters in that moment, making the reader feel the tension and urgency along with them.
Rowling uses setting not only to describe places but also to make the characters' feelings clearer and to help readers understand their emotions better. Each place in the story plays a role in showing how the characters are feeling, whether it's the overwhelming excitement of Diagon Alley or the fear that spreads through Hogwarts. These settings influence how the characters behave and help drive the plot forward.
Plot/Structure
Plot/Structure
All of J.K. Rowling's books in the Harry Potter series follow a three act structure. The first book in the series is also written in chronological order, which helps the reader understand and is easy to follow the plot.
One of the most noticeable patterns in all the Harry Potter books is that they all follow a three act structure. This structure includes a setup, a confrontation, and a resolution.In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, we can see this structure clearly: the setup is Harry’s childhood with the Dursleys, the confrontation happens during his first year at Hogwarts, and the resolution occurs when Harry stops Voldemort from taking the Sorcerer’s Stone. This pattern continues in other books as well. The three act structure begins with the set up in the “normal” world. For example in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the story starts with Harry at the Dursleys’ home, and he even goes “to the zoo for the first time in his life” for Dudley’s birthday (24). In Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets, the setup is also in the Dursley household, and then Ron rescues Harry in a flying car, taking him to “a tumbletown garage in a small yard, and Harry looks out for the first time at Ron's house” (32). The second part, or act 2, is the confrontation, which happens at Hogwarts too, where the characters solve the main problem. Because the three act structure is easy to spot, readers can clearly follow how the story develops.This structure also makes it easy to compare characters from the beginning of the book to the end, showing how they grow throughout the story. The change in setting between Act 1 and Act 2 also helps highlight how the characters change.
Additionally, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone is written in chronological order. This means that the events happen in the order they occur, making it easier for the reader to follow the story. This is especially helpful for younger readers, who are the primary audience for this series. For example, when Harry is getting ready for Hogwarts, we see things happening step by step. First, Hagrid tells Harry, “Harry - yer a wizard” (50). Next, Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley to buy his school supplies. Then, Harry goes to the train station and looks for “the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it” (94). Because the events are in chronological order, readers can easily understand what is happening and why. They can follow the steps Harry takes and see how one event leads to the next.
In conclusion, J.K. Rowling uses both the three act structure and chronological order to help guide readers through her books. This makes it easier for the readers, especially younger ones, to follow the plot and understand the story.
Speaker
Speaker
The speaker is an important part of any story. A good speaker can persuade readers to believe anything, while a bad speaker can quickly turn them away. Rolwing carefully chooses her speakers in the Harry Potter series, using this to her advantage. She uses a third person point of view to help show the emotions of her characters.
To start, In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Rowling uses third person to show the thoughts and feelings of the main character, Harry Potter. This point of view is effective because it helps readers understand what Harry and other characters are feeling. It allows readers to connect with the characters better, as they can see what’s going on inside their minds. For example, when Harry first arrives at Hogwarts, he has a mix of emotions. He feels nervous about being in a new place with so many talented wizards, but he is also excited to be there and to make new friends. These emotions are clearly shown through the third person point of view, helping the raider understand Harrys inner thoughts. However, the other characters in the story don't know exactly what Harry is feeling, which creates an interesting contrast. This contrast is a clever way to help readers understand what Harry is going through. Additionally, when Harry and Ron look into the Mirror of Erised, the third person point of view highlights how different their reactions are. “‘It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them’” (157). This difference between what the characters see and feel, and what is happening around them, helps readers understand the emotions of each character.
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, third person is used again. The point of view still centers on Harry, so readers continue to see things from his perspective. This allows us to experience Harry’s actions and thoughts, while also understanding how other characters feel. This continually in the point of view is helpful for readers as it makes the story easier to follow. Through third person, readers also get to see the feelings of other characters.For instance, when the antagonist Draco Malfoy shouts,“Enemies of the Heir, beware! You’ll be next, Mudbloods!” We understand his hatred through the third-person point of view. By using point of view, Rowling allows the reader to see inside each character's emotions, which is a crucial element in creating a strong connection with the story.
In conclusion, J.K. Rowling effectively uses the third person point of view throughout the Harry Potter series to show the thoughts and feelings of her characters.This allows readers to understand the emotions of the characters and stay engaged in the story.
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