Harry potter: Children’s Literature because of magic and Fantasy

Subject: The New Literature (Paper-13)

Study: M.A.

Roll No.: 25

Year: Sem - IV

Guided by: Dr. Dilip Baradsir

Submitted to: Dept. of English

University: MKBU

Index

No	Topic	Page No.
1	Introduction	2
2	About J. K. Rowling	3
3	Children’s Literature: Definition	5
4	Is Harry potter children’s literature?	6
5	Fantasy in ‘Harry potter’	8
6	Magic in ‘harry potter’	11
7	Conclusion	18
8	Web resources	19

Harry potter: Children’s Literature because of magic and Fantasy

Introduction:

          Harry Potter is not reality but it is what something beyond reality. Harry Potter is the leading and main character of the novel also named as ‘Harry Potter’, on this main character but it is not just a character or it is not just a novel. That character is like a super hero for children and that novel is now like an epical novel because it was written in Seven (7) Books. It is just next to Epical Novel. It is series of seven books and all seven books are as famous as the first one was. Now even craze is going on or even we can say that now to read books of ‘Harry Potter Series’ is becoming trend and fashion. It is another name of Fantasy Novel. This is the series of a wizard world in which Harry Potter lives and all incidents happens with him because of some prophesies and it takes reader in a new Fantasy and Magical world of Harry Potter.   

About J. K. Rowling:

          This novel was written by J. K. Rowling, a British author. Her full name is Joanne “Jo” Rowling but she use to write on her pen name only. The books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, and sold more than 400 million copies. They have become the best­selling book series in history. This all books are turned into movie as per their title. The series of films also became the highest grossing film series in history. Rowling had overall approval on the scripts and maintained creative control by serving as a producer on the final installment. She was born into Yate and studied as Arts student. She done lot of hard work and research work for all these novels but when she travelling to London from Manchester to her mother’s home in 1990 she got a vague idea of such fiction and fantasy novel which took place in magical world. The seven year period that followed saw the death of her mother, divorce from her first husband and relative poverty until Rowling finished the first novel in the series, ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone’ in 1997. There were six sequels, the last, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ in 2007. Rowling has led a "rags to riches" life story, in which she progressed from living on state benefits to multimillionaire status within five years. She is the United Kingdom's best­selling living author, with sales in excess of £238m. The 2008 Sunday Times Rich List estimated Rowling's fortune at £560 million, ranking her as the twelfth richest woman in the United Kingdom. Forbes ranked Rowling as the forty-eighth most powerful celebrity of 2007, and Time magazine named her as a runner up for its 2007 Person of the Year, noting the social, moral, and political inspiration she has given her fans. In October 2010, Rowling was named the "Most Influential Woman in Britain" by leading magazine editors. She has supported charities including Comic Relief, One Parent Families, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Lumos (formerly the Children's High Level Group), and in politics supports the Labour Party and Better Together.

She herself said about Harry Potter:

“People ask me if there are going to be stories of Harry Potter as an adult. Frankly, if I wanted to, I could keep writing stories until Harry is a senior citizen, but I don't know how many people would actually want to read about a 65 year old Harry still at Hogwarts playing bingo with Ron and Hermione.”   

These lines are enough to know about her own feeling about her novel. So this is the power of magic and writing and creating such Wizard World like this with just help of writing that that book becomes best seller and also turned into movie and it was also as famous as books.

Children’s Literature: Definition

          At very first only a simple and single question came in reader’s mind that what is Children’s literature? So in simple words we can give definition of it that that which literature contains stories like fairy tales, poems, some books which can entertain children with some beautiful message, is known as Children’s Literature or Juvenile Literature.

          But as many words meaning are changing in Modern Time as this word’s (‘Children’s Literature’) meaning also differentiate. It was divided into two different parts: genre or the intended age of the reader. Children's literature can be traced to stories and songs, part of a wider oral tradition that adults shared with children before publishing existed. The development of early children's literature, before printing was invented, is difficult to trace. Some classics children tales have their origin into adult’s tale but afterwards they are adapted into children’s literature. And now the situation is that that books which were published in 19^th Century in ‘Golden Age of Children’s Literature’ are now known as classics books and classics.

Is ‘Harry Potter’ Children’s Literature?

          This is quite difficult question to answer because scholars have their own point of views on this point that can we consider it as children’s literature or adult’s? But as per my thinking we cannot differentiate this because we cannot part this series in different genres. The whole series covers so many elements like, fantasy, young­ and adult fiction, mystery, thriller, bildungsroman, magical realism.

                If any child read ‘Harry Potter’ then he or she can get enough state of entertainment from any part of this novel. This novel is also written in very easy English language and because of it any child who can read and understand easy English can read the entire series. And if still English Language is a barrier to children then here we must notice that the entire series of Harry Potter is translated in more than 65 languages. As an example, the whole series is translated into Hindi Language, now if any Child cannot read English but he or she can read Hindi then he or she can easily get Hindi Versions available and he or she can read it with same interest and same magical elements without any language barrier.

          Children use to read this series with more imaginative power and reality and so they even can connect their self with characters of the novel and that thing drags them into magical world of Harry Potter. Adult person may not believe that this thing can ever happen but for young children, Harry Potter is like a friend which can do some magic and they even imagine that once they can also be in the real world of Harry Potter they can do the same magic tricks and many more. These books are like fairy tale for parents and children wants to read it during their sleeping time so they can travel into dream lands of Harry Potter. Main successful and powerful element of this book is its magical significance and magical world of Wizards and Witches. They can do magic with their magical wand and they can hide their self under invisible cloak.  So these are some magical elements which can create a new world of magic in children’s mind and these are things which bring Harry Potter close to children’s heart.

Fantasy in ‘Harry Potter’:

          Basically Fantasy means something which is not natural and imaginative. So here we are trying to see that something which is not naturel and not common is happening in this novel series and then we can easily say that Fantasy elements are presented by author in this series. Many people today, influenced by television, movies, and fictional books, tend to think that magic is just made up. There is fantasy magic such as a cartoon figure tapping a wand and turning a mushroom turns into a leopard, or something similar. Real magic is quite different, but does involve an attempt to use supernatural powers, or to connect with powers (sometimes seen as natural) through incantations, spirit contact, spells, reading hidden meanings, "powers" of the mind, and other forms of paranormal activity, something which is beyond natural, like supernatural.

                If any person is even little bit known about Harry Potter the he or she can easily spell the same that ‘Harry Potter’ is one the most Fantasy novel of literature of any time. The main character Harry Potter is the orphan child of James and Lily Potter. But he was born Wizard like his Mother and Father. Here we can refer first that some children are having some special abilities to do magic from their birth and it was notices by Magical World and Wizards and Witches. So, they take those children to Hogwarts, School of Magic, for study of magic so they children can become good Wizards and Witches. 

Harry was a Wizard from born and so it will be taken to Hogwarts when he will be at the age of Eleven (11). But there is a prophesy that he will become a very good Wizard and he only can kill the darkest Wizard of that Wizard Word, The Dark Lord, Lord Voldemort. So here we can see fantasy element that one child, who is too young but he has ability to do magic and he got that from his born and in future he will kill the evil Wizard with his power and magic and with the help of some other people who are his friends and guides.

             The Secret Keepers:

This is one another element which imagination of J. K. Rowling. Lord Voldemort knows about prophesy and after that he wants to kill Harry Potter but if Potter Family keep one Secret Keeper for them then if they are in Home and Lord Voldemort came and see the entire house then even he cannot see them. So they keep a secret keeper for saving Harry from the Dark Lord Voldemort. So this entire imagination provides a thrill to children though they cannot understand the whole thing but then even these types of things becomes more adventures for them and it will improvise their imagination. So here we can find a pure fantasy element which can provide real fantasy entertainment and even understanding to children.

                Hogwarts – School of Magic:

        Hogwarts is the one another imaginative place which was created in author’s mind and described in books. It is a school for magic teaching. Students use to stay there, away from their home and study that how to do magic with ability and sharpen their exe of magic. The whole school was divided into four houses:

1.   Gryfindor

2.   Slytherin

3.   Hufflepuff

4.   Revenclaw

In this school, taught students for seven years and give them degree of Wizard or Witch. So this is also a creation of imagination and fantasy by author and it makes children so excited about this novel and understanding of magic. The children use to go to school for half of the day and when they read that to learn magic there is a school it can create a new imaginative and fantastic school in their mind. To divide students as per their abilities is the real part of this school and its atmosphere that students get their position as per their abilities so they are not under pressure.  So here Rowling keeps eye on psychological aspects too. Students are sorted by Gryffindor’s sorting hat which was a very old tradition of Hogwarts. 

Magic in ‘Harry Potter’:

          In the Harry Potter series created by J. K. Rowling, magic is depicted as a supernatural force that can be used to override the usual laws of nature. Many fictional magical creatures exist in the series, while ordinary creatures sometimes exhibit new magical properties in the novels' world. Objects, too, can be enhanced or imbued with magical property. The small percentages of humans who are able to perform magic are referred to as witches and wizards, in contrast to the non­magical muggles. In humans, magic or the lack thereof is an inborn attribute. It is inherited, carried on "dominant resilient genes". Magic is the norm in the children of magical couples and less common in those of muggles. Exceptions exist: those unable to do magic who are born to magical parents are known as squibs, whereas a witch or wizard born to muggle parents is known as a muggle ­born, or by the derogatory term "mudblood". While muggle­ born are quite common, squibs are extremely rare. Let’s have look on some magical things of this novel which makes the entire series more magical.

Magical Wand:

          Magic wand is just like a dream come true for any children. Just wish and shake magic wand and your works are done in seconds. Isn’t it sounds cool than any other thing? Children are in need of such magical and fantastic things which can make them think. In this entire novel series this wand is the main thing for any Witch or Wizard and they win or lose battle is mainly depends on their wands only. Even some strict rules are also followed by Wands that as they were alive they select their own masters. Mr. Ollivander, who makes wands for student of Hogwarts and Harry also buy wand from him and even his parents were also uses wands made by Mr. Ollivander. If one Wizard or Witch Disarm another Wizard or Witch with the help of magic wand then that disarmed Wizard or Witch’s wand accept winner Wizard or Witch as its master. This is the main rule of Wizard world. Every wand is unique in itself and if two wands are similar then they cannot destroy each one. Even in last part the main story is about Deathly Hallows and one of the most important Hallow is Elder Wand, world’s most powerful wand, which was needed by Lord Voldemort to kill Harry Potter. So this thing shows that how a small thing just like a wand can add some magical elements in this novel.

Invisibility Cloak:

If we ask to children that what is the most magical and loveable trick is for them then certainly a single answer will came that to become invisible from this world. If you can do some good work and the even you are not allowed to do it but you want to do it for good sake then invisibility cloak can help you. Harry’s father has such a precious invisibility cloak but it was taken by Dumbledore for some work and after wards in Christmas he gifted it to Harry because Harry’s father was died in fight with Lord Voldemort. As per our thinking this thing becomes more precious for Harry in the whole novel series and he come to know about many truths just because of this invisibility cloak only. The Cloak of Invisibility is a magical artifact used to render the wearer invisible. It is also the third and final of the three Deathly Hallows, and in The Tale of the Three Brothers, was the only Hallow that Death did not manufacture upon his encounter with the Peverells, it having been already in his possession at that time; He had to give it up to fulfill Ignotus' request to evade death until the end of his mortal days.  This is another magical object which certainly attracts children.

Deluminator:

It is creation of Dumbledore and it was given to Ron after Dumbledore’s death by himself only. It catches the light surround it and it can create light and darkness with just a single click only, so this magical object also add some magical moods to this novel.  

Sorting Hat:

As we further know students of Hogwarts are divided into four houses and so for putting them into write house this hat was put on any particular student’s head and this heat can speak so after analyzing student’s mind and capacity it puts students into different houses. The Sorting Hat is notorious for refusing to admit it has made a mistake and sticking by its original decision, even when it is obvious the student has been placed in the wrong House. The Hat has made few errors over the centuries it has worked in Hogwarts.  Now here we can see that how magical it is that a hat can speak and analyzes students’ minds and put them under particular houses. So this magical object also can motivate children and it becomes memorable for them.

Photographs and Portrays:

The photographs and portraits in the world of wizards are not stationary like in the Muggle world. They move around within the frame and from one portrait to another, and are also able to talk if they are developed in a certain potion. A portrait of the Fat Lady is used in Hogwarts to cover the door to the Gryffindor common room and opens only when she is given the password. Also, there are various paintings of old Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts in Dumbledore's office, and he is shown to be in discussion with them from time to time. He also uses the portrait of Phineas Nigellus, Sirius Black's great grandfather, to communicate with Sirius and to keep a watch at the Order's Headquarters through another portrait of Phineas in the house. The headmaster portraits are special, not simply due to the fact that they appear in them because of their death. The reason for this is that part of their soul stays behind in their portrait.      It is so magical for children.

Hermione's handbag:

 In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hermione used an Undetectable Extension Charm on her beaded handbag, significantly enlarging the bag's internal dimensions without affecting its physical size. As well, the mass of the objects placed in her handbag is negated, making the bag easy to carry. Bags similar to this appear in other contexts, such as the "bag of holding" in Dungeons and Dragons or the "magic satchel" in many other games. Hermione uses it to carry everything they need when they travel across the United Kingdom on their hunt for Horcruxes. It is like surprise for any person, especially children.

Floo Powder:

Floo Powder is a glittering powder used by wizards to travel and communicate using fireplaces. It was invented by Ignatia Wildsmith and named after the flue, which is the passageway that leads from a fireplace to the chimney and allows hot gases to escape. It helps person to go from one place to another place. How exciting to fly with help of powder. 

Arthur Weasley's Flaying Car:

Arthur Weasley owned a Ford Anglia 105E that he subsequently enchanted; Consequently, the vehicle can fly, become invisible, and carry the entire Weasley family in spite of its formerly none chanted interior dimensions (also the Undetectable Extension Charm), among other abilities. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the car is borrowed by Fred, George and Ron, who use it to rescue Harry from the Dursleys' house. Ron and Harry later steal the car in order to return to Hogwarts after the gate to Platform 9¾ is sealed by Dobby (a house Alf). After they arrive at school, landing in the Whomping Willow, the car ejects Harry, Ron, and their luggage, then flees into the Forbidden Forest, ignoring Ron's pleas for it to come back. Mr. Weasley soon faces an inquiry at the Ministry of Magic, as seven Muggles saw the car flying across the countryside, and is forced to pay a large fine.

Conclusion:

          "You are protected, in short, by your ability to love! The only protection that can possibly work against the lure of power like Voldemort's! In spite of all the temptation you have endured, all the suffering, you remain pure of heart, just as pure as you were at the age of eleven, when you stared into a mirror that reflected your heart's desire, and it showed you only the way to thwart Lord Voldemort, and not immortality or riches."    —Dumbledore to Harry

Here Dumbledore tries to convince Harry and make him understand about difference of Evil and Good and also power of love. So it can be message for children in one or another way. So here we can easily say that Harry Potter is really children’s literature. It is not just only children’s literature but then even children has their own understanding and personal reason of loving Harry Potter and his magical and fantasy worls in fantastic way.

                                                                                                 

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Web Resources:

o   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter

o   http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Harry_Potter

o   http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_HarryPotter.html

o   http://www.cuttingedge.org/news/n1390.cfm

o   http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Magic

o   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_in_Harry_Potter

o   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spells_in_Harry_Potter

o   http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/is-harry-potter-classic-childrens-literature/2011/07/16/gIQA0RS1HI_blog.html

o   http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo5809646.html

o   http://childliterature.net/childlit/fantasy/harry.html

o   http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/25655141?sid=21106067006313&uid=4&uid=3737528&uid=2