1. Introduction
It’s beyond doubt that J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books are one of the biggest surprise and success in literature history. They influenced the youths’ reading habits in a never known way.
What is this great success founded on? This question can’t be answered sweepingly. The reasons are many-sided.
In my opinion, an important reason is the combination of the youths’ real world with the fantastic and mystic world. The youths find their real experiences at school, with parents, friends and enemies combined with a realm of witchcraft, symbols superhuman skills and dangerous adventures.
But a lot of youths know a big part of the mystic world, too. Subconsciously the old fairy tales and legends are waked up again. And so the fascination from childhood days is swinging in the background while reading Harry Potter. The youth find again well-known symbols and myths, e.g. mystic numbers, ghosts, struggle between good and evil, transformation and invisibility, animals like dragons, owls, rats and mystic places like a dark wood, an old hut, secret passageways etc. But they discover or learn about new aspects of the mystic world by reading Harry Potter, e.g. the wish for never ending life, the philosopher’s stone, desire and craving, meaning of unicorn or the search for wisdom. They get new experiences and see some new aspects of their own life. These delicate net of myths and symbols woven in the books make they very exiting for adults, too.
Besides some new ideas, there are a lot of traditional symbols and myths with different origins and meanings. In this paper I am describing only the most important symbols and myths. I am going to explain the general meaning from history and the specific meaning in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
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Table of Contents
Preface
1. Introduction
2. Symbols and Myths
3. The Good and the Evil – The General Conflict in Harry Potter
4. Mythic and Symbolic Things
4.1. The Philosopher’s Stone
4.2. The Mirror of Erised
4.3. The Sorting Hat
4.4. Mythic Numbers
5. Persons and Figures
5.1. Magicians and Wizards
5.2. Witches
5.3. Giants
5.4. Ghosts
5.5. The Man With Two Faces
6. Skills
6.1. Never Ending Life
6.2. Flying
6.3. Going Through Walls
6.4. Spells
6.5. Doing Magic
6.6. Being Invisible
7. Animals and Mixed Creatures
7.1. Dogs
7.2. Dragons
7.3. Trolls
7.4. Unicorns
7.5. Centaurs
8. Epilogue
Objectives and Topics
This paper aims to explore the deep-seated integration of mythological and symbolic elements in J.K. Rowling’s "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone." The research addresses how these traditional literary and cultural motifs serve to bridge the gap between the reader's mundane reality and a fantastic, magical world, ultimately examining their influence on personality development and the narrative structure of the story.
- The synthesis of traditional myths with modern youth experiences.
- The duality of good versus evil and its personification in literary figures.
- The symbolic significance of objects, such as the Philosopher's Stone and the Mirror of Erised.
- The structural role of mythic numbers and mystical creatures.
- The analysis of superhuman skills and their relation to human desires.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1. The Philosopher’s Stone
The Philosopher’s Stone is in the centre of the first book’s attention. According to other sources the best explanation is to be found in the book itself: “The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.” (238) The highest aim of alchemists was to find inspiration and to understand deep inner correlations in nature and human being. In figurative meaning the one who reached inspiration own the Philosopher’s Stone.
Nicolas Flamel, a real fourteenth century alchemist, was one of the alchemists who tried to create a Philosopher’s Stone. In Harry Potter he own the only Stone currently in existence. Because he and his wife are still alive and in “a well-organized mind” (320). Voldemort is searching for the Stone to extend his existence and come into power. The way of his search, however, is wrong, and so he must not get the Stone. Harry prevents him to get it. Flamel and his partner Prof. Dumbledore decide to destroy the Stone to prevent further abuse. Dumbledore says, “You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing.” (320) It’s a brilliant comparison with other discoveries like generation of energy by burning fossil resources, nuclear fission or genetic engineering. At first glance they are a blessing, but their abuse can destroy the earth. So, the Philosopher’s Stone is a symbol for the search for all comprehensive knowledge and for the responsible use of it. I think it is one of the most important messages in this book.
Summary of Chapters
Preface: The author explains the personal motivation for choosing the topic, highlighting the fascination with the book’s wealth of myths.
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the success of the series, attributing it to the combination of real-life experiences and a mystic world.
2. Symbols and Myths: Provides a theoretical overview of how symbols and myths function in human culture and literature.
3. The Good and the Evil – The General Conflict in Harry Potter: Discusses the central struggle between light and dark forces and their personification in the series.
4. Mythic and Symbolic Things: Analyzes specific objects such as the Stone, the Mirror of Erised, and the Sorting Hat, alongside the role of symbolic numbers.
5. Persons and Figures: Examines archetypal characters including wizards, witches, giants, and ghosts.
6. Skills: Explores supernatural abilities like flying, invisibility, and magic, relating them to fundamental human desires.
7. Animals and Mixed Creatures: Investigates the symbolic importance of dogs, dragons, trolls, unicorns, and centaurs.
8. Epilogue: Concludes the analysis by reinforcing how Rowling uses traditional symbols to deepen the reader's understanding of the narrative.
Keywords
Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Myths, Symbols, Alchemy, Good vs. Evil, Archetypes, Philosopher’s Stone, Magic, Wizardry, Folklore, Literature, Identity, Human Desire, Fantasy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the wealth of traditional myths and symbols embedded within the first Harry Potter book, explaining their cultural origins and their specific meanings within the narrative.
Which themes are central to the work?
The central themes include the dual nature of good and evil, the transition from childhood to adulthood, the symbolic significance of objects and numbers, and the representation of archetypal figures like wizards and witches.
What is the author's research goal?
The author seeks to demonstrate how these mythological elements make the story relatable to both youths and adults, providing a deeper understanding of the book's success and its underlying messages.
What methodology does the author use?
The author employs a literary analysis approach, drawing upon historical and cultural symbol lexicons to interpret specific narrative elements found in the text.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body systematically analyzes key symbols (Stone, Mirror), archetypal characters (Giants, Ghosts), various magical skills (Invisibility, Flying), and symbolic creatures (Unicorns, Centaurs).
Which keywords characterize this analysis?
The work is characterized by terms such as myth, symbol, alchemy, archetype, literature, good vs. evil, magic, and fantasy.
How is the Philosopher's Stone interpreted in the book?
The author interprets the Stone not just as a magical object, but as a symbol for the quest for comprehensive knowledge and the potential dangers of its irresponsible use.
What role do mythic numbers play according to the text?
The author explains that numbers like three, four, and seven are used to structure the world of Harry Potter, symbolizing concepts such as unity, completeness, and initiation stages.
- Quote paper
- Volker Geyer (Author), 2001, Myths and Symbols in J.K. Rowling´s Harry Potter and the Philosopher´s Stone, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/2883
