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Bibliography by Alex Payne

Page history last edited by Alexander_m_payne.lion@umail.com 9 years, 3 months ago

Alexander Payne

7 November 2014

English 149

Alan Liu

Annotated Bibliography


Cline, Austin. “Harry Potter’s World: Multidisciplinary Critical Perspectives.” About Religion.

Atheism, n.d. Web. 2014.

 

     Elizabeth E Heilman wrote a book called Harry Potter’s World: Multidisciplinary Critical Perspectives.  Heilman uses this medium to begin a discussion on how Harry Potter has affected the world on a cultural level.  She addresses how Harry Potter originated as a book and then branched out into movies, video games, and toys.  From this she begins an analysis of what this says about modern culture and also the impact Harry Potter has on that culture.  A review of Heilman’s critical perspective book was done, and it was done by Austin Cline.  


     Cline gives a positive description of Heilman’s book.  He explains the importance of Heilman’s book when quoting her “
Ideological critique encourages critical reading, which enables the reader to understand the subtle and overt ideologies of the text.” Heilman believes that the most compelling ideology comes in a subtle form, a subtlety that is pleasurable for the reader.  Cline also gives pros and cons for reading this book.  The major con being the essays written by Heiman are very academic.  They might be too academic for the average reader.  Along with this Heilman discusses viewpoints such as that corporations are trying to exploit children by cashing out on the popularity of Harry Potter.

 

J.K. Rowling.Harry Potter and the sorcerers stone.new york. Arthur A. Levine books

(scholastics).1997

 

     When it comes to quantity of material the Harry Potter novels are the primary source for the beginnings of any analysis.  They offer the most detail about character’s actions, personalities and image. As well as that they can give an enriched description of environments and sounds heard by characters.  The medium of a novel is the biggest and strongest medium to come in comparison with the cinema.  Rowling’s first novel Harry Potter and the sorcerers stone is the novel that introduces both the reader and Harry to the world of wizardry.  Every experience Harry encounters is a first for the reader as well.
 

     Harry Potter and the sorcerers stone is the novel where Rowling introduces the wizard school Hogwarts, sport of Quidditch, and Harry’s friends.  Hogwarts is the school of witchcraft and wizardry, it is established to let the reader know that most of the action will b taking place at this location in this novel.  Here Harry finds many mysteries and enchanted objects, such as paintings that move.  Quidditch is a sport played while riding a broom.  This sport turns out to be one that Harry is a natural at, in a short time he becomes Gryffindor’s seeker.  Rowling also uses this novel to introduce characters that will be prominent in Harry’s growth through the series, Ron and Hermione.  

 

 

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Themes." Study Guides & Essay Editing. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.gradesaver.com/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone/study-guide/themes>.

 

     Gradesavers’ examination of Harry Potter concludes that the themes in play through the novel are love, choice, and the importance of rebellion, just to name a few.  Love is defined by its abilities to achieve great things.  The example used by Gradesaver is how Harry’s mother Lily was able to save him from Voldemort’s curse with the power of love.  Gradesaver claims that it is Harry’s ability to be love and be loved that separates him from characters such as Voldemort.  Having love be a key theme not only defines Harry in his roots, but is what allows him to branch out into his own person through the novel.

 

     Rowling uses Dumbledore as a medium to channel out the message behind the theme of choice.  Dumbledore explains to Harry that choices are what define who we are and who we will eventually become.  Gradesaver ties this in with another theme by alluring that Harry is really defined in his choices of rebellion.  Anytime he chooses to rebel against an authority or rule it is the motivation behind it to look for.  These disregard for rules are looked at as heroic because they are always done with the intention that they will help save lives.  

 

“The Themes of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Potter-scarpnotes. Analysis of the

Themes, Motifs and Symbols, n.d. Web.

 

     Sparknotes categorizes Harry Potters character as modest.  The writers find that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone showcases the virtue of humility.  In that epic novel Harry is able to receive the sorcerer's stone because he is modest.  Which comes as an incredible fleet because in the book he is introduced to life of fame.  However Sparknotes believe that the fact Harry maintains who he is even as he tries living up to a reputation and fame is what draws in readers to liking the book.  Harrys character is counterbalanced by the egotistical Draco Malfoy.


     Sparknotes even goes as far to argue that Harry is the purest form of good while Voldemort is the extreme opposite.  This is believed because Voldemort demonstrates actions taken on by selfish motives.  The other two themes Sparknotes has in their analysis is the occasional necessity of rebellion and the dangers of desire.  In their analysis the occasional necessity of rebellion is reasoned as a way of showing that Harry is an independent thinker and will break rules in order to help friends.  A danger for desire is presented with the notion overblown desire can make people lose perspective in life.  This theme is best illustrated to the audience when Dumbledore shares with Harry why he could make the Mirror of Erised work and not Voldemort.

 

“What’s Wrong with the Harry Potter Movie.” proyouthpages. Art and Culture, n.d. Web. 2002.
 

Pro Youth is an organization that is interested in protecting and defending the rights of children.  In What’s Wrong with the Harry Potter Movie Pro Youth aims to point out how Harry Potter, as a film, promotes the abuse of children.  They define Harry Potter as a movie that was “made by adults who dislike children.”   In their argument they draw examples and moments from the film to defend their argument.  The first being how Harry is poorly treated by his aunt and uncle.  Pro Youth believes that in response to this Harry uses magic to hurt his cousin.  Their stand on this is Hollywood advocates for the harm of children but never adults.

 

     The writers of Pro Youth find that Harry Potter is one of Hollywood’s “most powerless protagonists.”  This belief is based on Harry’s abilities to save himself by chance of luck.  Pro Youths example of this is when he saves himself from Voldemort.  He does not do this by use of skill acquired over time, rather he accomplishes this by using magic he did not know about previously.  Pro Youth also finds that this film promotes the greatest achievement a child can make is to be liked by adults.  

 

 

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