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Katie Ella Field

Professor Johnston

Assignment 5

November 11, 2010

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series

My research covered the various themes evident throughout the Harry Potter series, as
well as an analysis of each theme and the way Rowling used the themes to develop the
dispositions and personalities of various characters throughout her novels.

Primary Sources

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Scholastic, 2000.

Print.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York: Scholastic, 2007. Print.

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. New York: Scholastic, 2002. Print.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. New York: Scholastic, 2005.

Print.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. New York: Scholastic, 2003.

Print

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. New York: Scholastic, 2001.

Print.

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York: Scholastic, 1999.

Print.

Scholarly Sources

Deavel, Catherine J., and David P. Deavel. “Character, Choice and Harry Potter.” Logos: A

Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture. 5.4 (2002): 49-64. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.
This article focuses on the themes evident throughout the Harry Potter series and
mainly talks about the fact the series is often criticized because of the use of magic in the novels.
The authors specifically cite examples of those that criticize the themes of magic and rule-
breaking, while also citing that there are many other good themes in the series. The authors then
conclude that the Harry Potter series is not actually about magic, but about character.

This article is meant for a scholarly audience. Each author offers good theories
throughout the discussion. The use of sources such as the Harry Potter novels and other
scholarly articles allows for the credibility of the authors to be evident throughout the article.

Natov, Roni. “Harry Potter and the Extraordinariness of the Ordinary.” The Lion and the

Unicorn. 25.2 (April, 2001): 310-327. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.

This article focuses on the theme of a child coming of age in an unfair world. The author
begins by stating that the novels begin with Harry’s 11th birthday, when he finds out that he is, in
fact, a wizard, and must begin studying his craft in the magical world. The author argues that this
parallels real life, especially in England, where boys first become serious about their studies at
the age of eleven. The author then talks about Harry becoming an orphan and its representation
of the fact that the world is unfair, and his ability to overcome this unfairness and use it to his
advantage throughout the series.

This article is meant for a scholarly audience, having first been published in the noted
journal The Lion and the Unicorn, which analyzes children’s literature. Through the use of
citations from other works of children’s literature, the Harry Potter novels themselves and
other scholarly articles, the author offers excellent arguments and analysis relating to the theme
of overcoming the odds.

Mills, Claudia. "The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us about Moral

Choices." Children’s Literature Association Quarterly. 29.2 (May, 2004): 143-

145. Web. 14 Nov. 2010.

This article is a review of a novel that focuses mainly on ethics and the evidence of its
use as a theme by Rowling throughout the Harry Potter novels. As one of the main arguments
against the morality of the Harry Potter novels is the use of magic throughout the series, the
author of the novel counter-argues this by stating that the series teaches proper ethical choices to
its readers. We are shown this through examples of text in the novel embedded throughout the
article, for which the author of the article offers in-depth analysis.

This article is meant for a scholarly audience. The author offers a thorough review of the
novel being discussed and summarizes the arguments made by Edmund M. Kern, the author of
said novel. The author of this article uses evidence from the Harry Potter novels, as well as the
novel being reviewed, to back up the conclusion that wisdom and morality are recurring themes
in the Harry Potter series.
Pond, Julia. "A Story of the Exceptional: Fate and Free Will in the Harry Potter Series."

Children’s Literature. 38.1 (2010): 181-206. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.

This article focuses on the study of philosophy, particularly the study of fate and free
will, and its use by Rowling in her novels as a theme to develop each character into strong-willed
individuals. The author talks about the opportunities that Rowling gives her characters in relation
to free will as they are balanced against the strong force of fate. The author then shows how this
ultimately leads to the development of each character’s disposition.

This article is meant for a scholarly audience. Although the author does use some
arguments and examples from less reliable sources, such as fan sites of the Harry Potter series,
she balances it well with evidence from other scholarly sources and examples from children’s
literature. Ultimately, the author’s analysis of the choices that each character makes throughout
the Harry Potter novels, and their relation to fate and its outcomes, is very reliable and fact-
based.

Zimmerman, Virginia. "Harry Potter and the Gift of Time." Children’s Literature. 37.1

(2009): 194-215. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.

This article focuses on time, a very important theme that is crucial to the development of
the plot throughout the entire Harry Potter series. The author compares the use of time by two
of the main characters, Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort, and the consequences of the choices
each character makes in relation to their abilities to make use of the past. The author of the article
concludes that Harry Potter’s ability to learn from his past leads to the construction of his own
identity, while helping him in the ultimate destruction of Lord Voldemort.

This article is meant for a scholarly audience. The author offers a thorough analysis of the
theme of time and its obvious importance in the development of the Harry Potter novels. By
citing the Harry Potter novels themselves, as well as other scholarly interviews and articles
related to the subject of time and its usage by Rowling in the Harry Potter series, the author
offers very concrete arguments and reliable evidence to back up her conclusion that time is an
important theme throughout the Harry Potter novels.

Additional Sources
Anelli, Melissa. The Leaky Cauldron - Harry Potter News, Books and Films. Web.

14 Nov. 2010.

<www.the-leaky-cauldron.org>.

The Leaky Cauldron is a Harry Potter fan site and blog. The site features news,
pictures and video galleries, a community chat room and discussion forum and various articles
that analyze certain elements of the Harry Potter series.

This website is directed toward a more general audience. The news and discussion
offered is very in-depth, but slightly unprofessional because it is biased. However, the site is
considered to be one of the best of its kind because it offers exclusive content, such as pictures
and videos of the making of each Harry Potter film, interviews and much more for Harry
Potter enthusiasts.

Anelli, Melissa, John Noe, and Frankie Franco. Review of the Themes in Harry Potter.

Audio blog post. PotterCast. The Leaky Cauldron, 21 Aug. 2005. Web. 14 Nov. 2010.

<http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/pottercast/>.

PotterCast is a podcast that was created by the site editors of The Leaky Cauldron.
It is an entertainment news channel that provides comprehensive news analysis, book and film
discussion and exclusive content such as interviews with the editors, cast and crew of the Harry
Potter films. The podcast is also fan interactive and allows for listeners of the show to have
their opinions heard.

This podcast is directed toward a more general audience, particularly fans of the Harry
Potter novels. Since the discussion is largely fan-based, it is slightly unprofessional. The
podcast still offers in-depth news stories and analyses of the Harry Potter novels that are
thought-provoking and insightful.

Sims, Andrew, Eric Scull, and Jamie Lawrence. Review of the Themes in Harry Potter.

Weblog post. MuggleCast. MuggleNet, 7 Aug. 2005. Web. 14 Nov. 2010.

<http://www.mugglenet.com/mugglecast/>.

MuggleCast is a podcast dedicated to everything Harry Potter that was created by the
site editors of MuggleNet. The podcast reaches thousands of listeners with news, theories,
analysis and much more. It is also fan interactive in the way that it allows for fans of the show to
voice their opinions through listener rebuttals and critiques of the show’s content.
This podcast is directed toward a more general audience, particularly fans of the Harry
Potter novels. As a news source, the podcast is reliable, but the way in which everything is
discussed is slightly unprofessional. Each host offers insight into the Harry Potter novels and
the various news items that are announced on the show.

Spartz, Emerson. MuggleNet - The World's #1 Harry Potter Site. Web. 14 Nov. 2010.

<http://www.mugglenet.com/>.

MuggleNet is a Harry Potter fan site and blog. The site features news, pictures and
video galleries, a community chat room and discussion forum and various articles that analyze
certain elements of the Harry Potter series. Content is largely similar to that of The Leaky
Cauldron.

This website is directed toward a more general audience. The news and discussion
offered is very in-depth, but slightly unprofessional because it is biased. However, the site is
considered to be one of the best of its kind because it offers exclusive content, such as pictures
and videos of the making of each Harry Potter film, interviews and much more for Harry
Potter enthusiasts.

Vander Ark, Steve. The Harry Potter Lexicon. 11 Sept. 2002. Web. 14 Nov. 2010.

<http://www.hp-lexicon.org/>.

The Harry Potter Lexicon is a fan-created online encyclopedia for the Harry
Potter series. It contains detailed information of all seven published Harry Potter novels,
including lists of characters, places, creatures, spells, potions and magical devices, as well as
analysis of magical theory and other details of the series.

This website is directed toward a more general audience, particularly those who need
evidence to support various theories and arguments related to the Harry Potter series. The
information is all true to the books and would be considered a scholarly source had it been
published by a well-known journal, but since it is fan-created, it should not be considered as fully
credible.

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