well, its official. J.K. Rowling is a genius. Yes, I know its been awhile since I blogged, but I can't find the right forum to discuss my piece of evidence. It is as follows.
I want to discuss the names in the Harry Potter series. This is first and foremost about the looks and sounds of the names, not about etymology, historical/mythical significance, or association (though I may mention these things as backup or interesting factoid.) This also encompasses places and things.
Our first discussion is regarding repetition/alliteration. We find it many times throughout the series (i.e. Minerva McGonagall, Fawkes the Phoenix, Dudley Dursley, etc.) I find that several truly important characters have this nomenclature. This is not to say that those without alliterative names are not important (i.e. Harry Potter), nor is it to say that those with alliterative names are the MOST important (i.e. Padma Patil). But you must admit, the sounds draw importance to these special names.
1. Founding Fathers: I managed to make that into alliteration also. good job. Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga HufflePuff and Rowena Ravenclaw seem to be incredibly important to the life of this story. The four founded Hogwarts. Without an education, the good and evil wizards would not have proper magical knowledge and skills (i.e. no stories.) Also, the school's magical properties because of these founders (Chamber of Secrets, Room of Requirement) would not have appeared and created these adventures.
2. This draws a straight line to current heads of houses. By current, I mean those we come across in the first book (Sorcerer's Stone=SS.) Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, and Filius Flitwick are the heads of Gryffindor, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw respectively. This begs the question WHY IS POMODORA SPROUT THE ONLY HEAD OF HOUSE SANS ALLITERATION? Well, I suppose this is either because she is not important to the overall plot structure, or because she is the MOST important of the four. She helps harvest the mandrakes, as well as interesting Neville (clearly the most underrated and important character in these stories) in Herbology.
3. The third connection lies in the castle ghosts. Moaning Myrtle, Bloody Baron, Nearly-Headless Nick, Peeves the Poltergeist, Fat Friar... but wait! Again a missing link! The Ravenclaw Ghost? The "Grey Lady" is rarely mentioned, but she is still there and still NOT ALLITERATIVE. We also see at N-HNick's Deathday party there is a Wailing Widow and we know of the group called the Headless Hunt.
4. Luna Lovegood: HI. OBVIOUS. The moon + the power of love = destruction of Voldy? Luna will play a big part in the Deathly Hallows, I'm quite sure.
5. Places: Shrieking Shack, Room of Requirement, Forbidden Forest, Ministry of Magic... the list goes on. I want to briefly say that these places have all been very integral to the plot structures of this series. The most notable exception that comes to mind is that of the Hog's Head. THIS IS BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN IMPORTANT YET! As many have suggested, Aberforth Dumbledore is a likely suspect for the bartender who is tall with grey hair and "looked slightly familiar" to Harry. Yes, the Hog's Head was the sight of the first DA meeting and yes, this is where Hagrid bought Norbert and yes, this is where Trelawny made her first prediction about "the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord," but I don't believe that its important role has been played out yet.
6. Animals: Trevor the Toad, Crookshanks the Cat, Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback. Norbert we saw in SS when Hagrid bought a dragon egg from a shadester in the Hog's Head as mentioned before. BUT HE CAME BACK in GoF for the first task of the 3Wiz Tourny. Crookshanks (as JKR mentioned) is part kneazle, thus making him very perceptive and smart. He helped Sirius to get the trio into the Shrieking Shack. SMART CAT! Trevor, however, has yet to show his true colors, so watch out for him! Also, as Trevor belongs to Neville, ALL SIGNS POINT TO NEVILLE as being crucial to the plot of Book 7.
7. Muggles (?) Dudley Dursley, Piers Polkiss. Yeah. Dudders has played out his important role, though I wouldn't pe surprised if he took a bigger one in book 7. Blood ties, you know? But Piers Polkiss... his name just sounds snakelike. Many have suggested that he is a parseltongue, as he recognizes that Harry is conversing with the snake at the zoo in SS. He might just come into the story again, don't be surprised.
Much more to come as I think of it!
I want to discuss the names in the Harry Potter series. This is first and foremost about the looks and sounds of the names, not about etymology, historical/mythical significance, or association (though I may mention these things as backup or interesting factoid.) This also encompasses places and things.
Our first discussion is regarding repetition/alliteration. We find it many times throughout the series (i.e. Minerva McGonagall, Fawkes the Phoenix, Dudley Dursley, etc.) I find that several truly important characters have this nomenclature. This is not to say that those without alliterative names are not important (i.e. Harry Potter), nor is it to say that those with alliterative names are the MOST important (i.e. Padma Patil). But you must admit, the sounds draw importance to these special names.
1. Founding Fathers: I managed to make that into alliteration also. good job. Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga HufflePuff and Rowena Ravenclaw seem to be incredibly important to the life of this story. The four founded Hogwarts. Without an education, the good and evil wizards would not have proper magical knowledge and skills (i.e. no stories.) Also, the school's magical properties because of these founders (Chamber of Secrets, Room of Requirement) would not have appeared and created these adventures.
2. This draws a straight line to current heads of houses. By current, I mean those we come across in the first book (Sorcerer's Stone=SS.) Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, and Filius Flitwick are the heads of Gryffindor, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw respectively. This begs the question WHY IS POMODORA SPROUT THE ONLY HEAD OF HOUSE SANS ALLITERATION? Well, I suppose this is either because she is not important to the overall plot structure, or because she is the MOST important of the four. She helps harvest the mandrakes, as well as interesting Neville (clearly the most underrated and important character in these stories) in Herbology.
3. The third connection lies in the castle ghosts. Moaning Myrtle, Bloody Baron, Nearly-Headless Nick, Peeves the Poltergeist, Fat Friar... but wait! Again a missing link! The Ravenclaw Ghost? The "Grey Lady" is rarely mentioned, but she is still there and still NOT ALLITERATIVE. We also see at N-HNick's Deathday party there is a Wailing Widow and we know of the group called the Headless Hunt.
4. Luna Lovegood: HI. OBVIOUS. The moon + the power of love = destruction of Voldy? Luna will play a big part in the Deathly Hallows, I'm quite sure.
5. Places: Shrieking Shack, Room of Requirement, Forbidden Forest, Ministry of Magic... the list goes on. I want to briefly say that these places have all been very integral to the plot structures of this series. The most notable exception that comes to mind is that of the Hog's Head. THIS IS BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN IMPORTANT YET! As many have suggested, Aberforth Dumbledore is a likely suspect for the bartender who is tall with grey hair and "looked slightly familiar" to Harry. Yes, the Hog's Head was the sight of the first DA meeting and yes, this is where Hagrid bought Norbert and yes, this is where Trelawny made her first prediction about "the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord," but I don't believe that its important role has been played out yet.6. Animals: Trevor the Toad, Crookshanks the Cat, Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback. Norbert we saw in SS when Hagrid bought a dragon egg from a shadester in the Hog's Head as mentioned before. BUT HE CAME BACK in GoF for the first task of the 3Wiz Tourny. Crookshanks (as JKR mentioned) is part kneazle, thus making him very perceptive and smart. He helped Sirius to get the trio into the Shrieking Shack. SMART CAT! Trevor, however, has yet to show his true colors, so watch out for him! Also, as Trevor belongs to Neville, ALL SIGNS POINT TO NEVILLE as being crucial to the plot of Book 7.
7. Muggles (?) Dudley Dursley, Piers Polkiss. Yeah. Dudders has played out his important role, though I wouldn't pe surprised if he took a bigger one in book 7. Blood ties, you know? But Piers Polkiss... his name just sounds snakelike. Many have suggested that he is a parseltongue, as he recognizes that Harry is conversing with the snake at the zoo in SS. He might just come into the story again, don't be surprised.
Much more to come as I think of it!
