The theoretical part of the research has revealed the notion of colour terms, its functions and the impact of colours on human psyche. Colour can influence a person's physical and emotional state, and therefore is an important part of the conceptual picture of the world. Colours play an important role in creating an image. It has long been proven by science that a particular colour scheme has a huge impact on a person’s emotional background: invigorates, soothes, makes a person cheerful or aggressive, increases sensitivity to external influences or dulls sensations. The research is rapidly growing and evolving, that is why more and more scholars are interested in the theory of colour. The practical part of the study focuses on analyzing colour symbolism in Harry Potter novels. In books, colours represent certain things and events. J.K. Rowling uses different colours to create vivid images of their characters and scenes.The author dresses characters in different colours to highlight their position in the society. Moreover, Hogwarts Houses have various colours to show the moral qualities of its students.
Harry Potter novels are one of the most popular books in the world. The books combine the intricate plotting of mystery with the scope of fantasy and character development that is so appealing to the readers. J.K. Rowling also uses a lot of symbolism in her novels to give some events or things a deeper meaning. The perception of the books changes a lot when you know
all the symbols the author uses. Harry Potter novels have a lot of hidden meaning that the readers should learn to decipher. The colours in the books have a symbolic meaning in everything, starting from clothes and finishing with magical creatures. The novels tell us a lot about different aspects of British society. Harry Potter enlist British moral ideals, such as education, bravery and most importantly friendship.
Table of Contents
1. CULTURAL ASPECT OF COLOUR SYMBOLISM
1.1 The importance of colour in fiction
1.2 Colour and human emotions
1.3 The influence of colours on the psycho-emotional state of people
1.4 The picture of colour symbolism in literature
1.5 Conclusion to the first chapter
2. COLOUR SYMBOLISM IN HARRY POTTER NOVELS
2.1 The Significance of House Colours
2.2. Magic and non-magic colours in Harry Potter novels
2.3 The colour symbolism of eyes
2.4 The colour of spells
2.5 The colours of beasts and animals
2.6 Colour as a part of the national picture of the world in Harry Potter novels
2.7 Conclusion to the second chapter
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the role of colour symbolism in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels, aiming to define how linguistic characteristics of colour contribute to the construction of a conceptual world-view and impact the reader's perception of characters and events.
- The theoretical foundation of colour symbolism and its influence on human psycho-emotional states.
- The function of colour in J.K. Rowling's literary characterization and world-building.
- The correlation between specific colours and magic vs. non-magic manifestations.
- Analysis of colours as indicators of morality, House affiliation, and character traits in the Harry Potter series.
- The link between British cultural identity and the symbolic use of colour within the novels.
Extract from the Book
2.4 The colour of spells
Magic spells are an essential part of Hogwarts School. Young wizards and witches learn them from the early age from the Book of Spells. Spells help students to defend themselves. Frequently magic words are presented as being part of a divine, secret or empowered language. Incantations are attached to a magic wand used by wizards, witches. There are 2 kinds of magic: good and dark. The colours of spells are also very different.
The opposite colours in Harry Potter are red and green. Red symbolizes all the good in the world and green represents the evil [43]. This opposition is also seen in the colours of spells. There are a number of good charms, that protect or help wizards. Their colour is almost always red. "Stupefy" or a Stunnning Charm makes a victim unconscious and stops objects from moving. Its colour is red and it is usually used by good wizards, as it does no harm, only protects them from the enemies.
"STUPEFY! " roared twenty voices — there was a blinding series of flashes and Harry felt the hair on his head ripple as though a powerful wind had swept the clearing. Raising his head a fraction of an inch he saw jets of fiery red light flying over them from the wizards’ wands, crossing one another, bouncing off tree trunks, rebounding into the darkness [23]. "
Summary of Chapters
1. CULTURAL ASPECT OF COLOUR SYMBOLISM: This chapter reviews the history of colour theory, ranging from Aristotle to contemporary linguistic studies, establishing colour as a fundamental element of human emotion and cultural expression.
2. COLOUR SYMBOLISM IN HARRY POTTER NOVELS: This chapter applies the previously established theoretical framework to J.K. Rowling’s novels, analyzing how colour is utilized for house affiliation, spell classification, creature characterization, and reflecting broader themes of the British world-view.
Keywords
Colour symbolism, J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter, linguistic representation, world-view, magic, House colours, colour psychology, literature, colour epithets, cultural identity, spell casting, symbolism, semiotics, colour associations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores how colour is linguistically and symbolically used in the Harry Potter series to construct the fictional world and influence reader perception.
Which thematic areas are primarily addressed?
The study covers the psychology of colour, colour symbolism in literature, the categorization of magic versus non-magic colours, and how these symbols reflect cultural and moral values.
What is the ultimate research objective?
The goal is to determine the symbolic meaning behind colour characteristics and their overall impact on the world-view presented in J.K. Rowling’s works.
Which methodologies are employed in this research?
The thesis utilizes theoretical analysis of literary sources, generalization, comparison, description, and concretization to evaluate the text.
What does the main body of the work examine?
The main body focuses on the lexical means of expressing colour symbolism, providing examples from the novels regarding House colours, spells, beasts, and the national picture of the world.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include colour symbolism, Harry Potter, world-view, House colours, and linguistic representation.
How are Hogwarts Houses distinguished by colour?
Houses are connected to specific primary and secondary colours, such as Gryffindor (red and gold), Slytherin (green and silver), Hufflepuff (yellow and black), and Ravenclaw (blue and bronze), which represent different personality traits and elements.
What role does the opposition of red and green play in the series?
The author uses red and green as binary opposites to signify the constant competition between good and dark magic, seen in house rivalry, defensive versus dark spells, and the nature of different creatures.
How are character names linked to colour symbolism?
The names Albus (meaning white/purity) and Rubeus (meaning red/ruddy) are intentionally chosen by Rowling to mirror alchemical traditions and highlight the complementary nature of the two characters.
What specific function does the colour pink serve in the novels?
While pink is often associated with sweetness, the author uniquely subverts this by using the colour to depict characters like Dolores Umbridge, associating her wardrobe with cruelty and abuse of power.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2020, Colour terms in "Harry Potter". The influence of colours on the human psyche, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1106098
