This paper should primarily deal with the Greek mythology that occurs in the final book of the Harry Potter series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, written by Joanne K. Rowling. It will show how deeply Miss Rowling immersed herself in Greek mythology in order to find suitable names for her characters, which myths she revived in her novel, which creatures are mythology-related and what magic and objects were inspired by Greek mythology. Furthermore it will also touch on the story of the Deathly Hallows itself in order to recall what happens and who wins the fight between Good and Bad.
This paper aims to determine how much Greek mythology plays a part in J. K. Rowling’s book, and the extent to which these uses tally with their Greek origins, based on comparisons between literature that deals with Greek mythology and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
In sum, the paper will show by what measure Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is inspired by Greek mythology, and how much the story has in common with the ancient Greek tales.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Definition: Myths
3 Brief Summary of Harry Potter
4 Mythical Naming
4.1 Main Characters
4.1.1 Hermione Granger
4.1.2 Minerva McGonagall
4.2 Minor Characters
4.2.1 Alecto Carrow
4.2.2 Merope Gaunt
4.2.3 Narcissa Malfoy
4.2.4 Andromeda Tonks
4.2.5 Nymphadora Tonks
4.2.6 Argus Filch
4.2.7 Sybill Trelawney
5 Mythology related Creatures
5.1 Centaurs
5.2 Giants
5.3 Basilisk
5.4 Phoenix
5.5 Griffin
5.6 Spiders (Acromantula)
5.7 Werewolves
6 Mythology inspired Objects
6.1 Invisibility Cloak
6.2 Magical Wand
7 Magic
7.1 Transfiguration
7.2 Shape – Shifting
8 Hogwarts
9 Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
This academic paper examines the extent to which J.K. Rowling incorporated elements of Greek mythology into the final installment of her series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." The study explores the narrative parallels, character development, and magical foundations that link the Wizarding World to classical ancient legends.
- Mythological etymology and character archetype alignment.
- Classification of magical creatures and their mythical origins.
- The influence of Greek motifs on magical objects and artifacts.
- Comparative analysis of magical practices like Transfiguration and Shape-Shifting.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1.1 Hermione Granger
Hermione was the beautiful daughter and only child of Menelaos, king of Sparta, and his wife Helen of Troy, a woman of breath-taking beauty. In Greek mythology she was promised to Orestes by her grandfather, but during the Trojan War, her father promised her to Achilles´s son Neoptolemos. Neoptolemos claimed her as his wife, so she went with him. However, he was killed in Delphi, so Hermione was able to resume her marriage with Orestes and gave birth to a son.
The origin of the name Hermione comes from the messenger-god Hermes. Hermes was the son of Zeus and one of his many affairs, called Maia; one of the Pleiades. Hermes was mischievous, and was said to be the protector of travelers, for whom he removed stones from roads. His passion for sports and music lead to the invention of several music instruments and the invention of the Greek Alphabet, Astronomy, weights, and measures and numbers are also among his achievements. All in all, Hermes is said to be the god of theft and intelligence.
Hermione Jean Granger is the only daughter of two dentists. She is a Muggle-born witch, and as such the fact that she is also a witch is very surprising. Hermione is exceptionally bright, hard working, bossy, loyal and brave. She is top of every class she takes, but is also thought to be a know-it-all. Her favourite class is Arithmancy, a method of fortune-telling based on names and numbers. She always shows true loyalty towards the people she loves and would by no means turn over to the dark side. Even when she is tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange, she does not betray her friends and their plans. Hermione likes to rely on logic as well as her magical powers.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the significance of the Harry Potter series and sets the research focus on identifying influences of Greek mythology in the final book.
Definition: Myths: Provides a concise academic definition of what constitutes a myth based on dictionary references.
Brief Summary of Harry Potter: Offers an overview of the overarching plot, focusing on Harry's journey to defeat Lord Voldemort and the significance of the Horcruxes.
Mythical Naming: Explores the etymological and thematic connections between names in the Harry Potter series and characters in Greek mythology.
Mythology related Creatures: Analyzes various creatures in the series, such as Centaurs and Phoenixes, and compares them to their counterparts in ancient legends.
Mythology inspired Objects: Examines magical artifacts like the Invisibility Cloak and the Wand, tracing their conceptual roots back to classical Greek mythology.
Magic: Discusses the mechanisms of Transfiguration and Shape-Shifting in the Harry Potter series compared to divine or magical transformations in myths.
Hogwarts: Compares the residence of the Greek gods, Mount Olympus, with the magical setting of Hogwarts castle.
Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, confirming the deep integration of classical elements throughout Rowling's work.
Keywords
Greek Mythology, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Deathly Hallows, Transfiguration, Magical Creatures, Etymology, Ancient Legends, Hogwarts, Wizarding World, Shape-Shifting, Classical Antiquity, Mythical Archetypes, Literature Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this paper?
The paper examines how J.K. Rowling utilizes and adapts Greek mythology within the final Harry Potter book to enrich her world-building and character design.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the etymological origins of character names, the classification of mythological creatures, the history of magical objects, and the parallels in magical abilities.
What is the research goal?
The goal is to determine the extent of the influence of ancient Greek tales on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" through comparative literary analysis.
Which scientific method is applied?
The work employs a comparative method, analyzing specific elements within the Harry Potter universe against documented records of Greek mythological figures, creatures, and narratives.
What is the focus of the main body chapters?
The main chapters systematically break down character traits, biological and magical creatures, legendary objects, and specific types of magic to find structural and thematic similarities between the two worlds.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key concepts include mythology, literature analysis, magical world-building, and classical antiquity.
How does the author characterize the influence on specific characters like Alecto Carrow?
The author argues that Alecto Carrow reflects the nature of the Erinyes (Furies) as punishers, yet she is presented as potentially even more bloodthirsty than her mythological counterpart.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the location of Hogwarts?
The author concludes that Hogwarts shares a commonality with Mount Olympus in that both are hidden, beautiful, and serve as central, protected spaces, despite their differences in vulnerability to natural disasters.
- Citation du texte
- Patrizia Hannemann (Auteur), 2015, The Greek Mythology in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/295799
