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Revision as of 11:25, 27 November 2002 by Eloquence (talk | contribs) (re-added exodus reference)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Harry Potter is the lead character of a series of fantasy novels aimed at young adults by J. K. Rowling.
Harry was orphaned shortly after his birth when the evil Lord Voldemort murdered his parents. His mother died trying to save him; her sacrificial love gave him a measure of power over further attacks by Voldemort (compare Ruby Slippers).
Harry was taken in by his Muggle relatives in a suburb of London, and they carefully concealed from him any knowledge of his magical heritage, saying that his parents had been killed in a car accident. But when Harry was eleven years old, an owl brought him a letter inviting him to enroll at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry -- much to his uncle's displeasure.
The Harry Potter novels center on the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a castle in the middle of a ring of mountains, usually accessed by taking the Hogwarts Express from platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross station, London. It is in Scotland, according to a margin note in "Fantastic Beasts".
Each book in the series chronicles one year in Harry's life at Hogwarts. There are supposed to be seven books, each getting a little bit darker than the previous one as Harry gets older.
The books have been compared to Ursula Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea and the novels of Diana Wynne Jones; they also fit into a British genre of novels about boarding school life.
Certain aspects of the Harry Potter series have even entered the real world as products to be purchased by fans of the series. One example is Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
Novels and films
- First book and film: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film released November, 2001)
- Second book and film: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film released November, 2002)
- Third book: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Fourth book: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Fifth book: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, expected in 2003.
Controversy
Some Christian groups in the United States have denounced the series for promoting witchcraft or Satanism. "It contains some powerful and valuable lessons about love and courage and the ultimate victory of good over evil," said Paul Hetrick, spokesman for Focus on the Family, a national Christian-fundamentalist group based in Colorado Springs. "However, the positive messages are packaged in a medium -- witchcraft -- that is directly denounced in scripture." A particular Bible passage that is often cited in support of this view is Exodus 22:18, which many readers interpret to mandate capital punishment for witchcraft.
Some groups have burned or attempted to burn (such burnings require permits in most locations) J.K. Rowling's books, often together with other books deemed to contradict Biblical teachings.
In addition, some commentators criticize the books on the grounds that the stories are anti-family: Harry does not obey his abusive, vehemently anti-magic aunt and uncle, but idolizes his deceased parents, themselves a witch and wizard.
See also:
- Muggle
- Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogwarts Express
- Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff
- Albus Dumbledore, Hagrid, Severus Snape
- broom, Quidditch Sorting Hat
- The Burrow, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy
- Hedwig, Scabbers
- Lord Voldemort
- Boggart
- School stories
Parodies of Harry Potter:
- Barry Trotter and the Unauthorized Parody - see external link below
Unauthorized Books of Harry Potter:
- Harry Potter and the Dragon's Path to Luck - originally in chinese