With her Harry Potter novels, Joanne K. Rowling created a magical world including an enormous variety of fantastical characters, creatures, objects, and events. But not everyone immediately notices that a lot of those not only arose from her own imagination, but have their origins in history, mythology, and folklore. Hardly any other literary work disposes of such a huge collection of real mythology, history, and folklore, and it is nearly impossible to examine all characters’, creatures’ and objects’ roots. That’s why this paper will focus only on one aspect, namely the mythology appearing in the novels.
When dealing with this topic, some questions arise, that shall be answered in this paper: Which myths, of which kind and origin appear in the stories? How does Rowling use, embed, and modify them and how does this affect the stories?
To answer these questions first it is important to define the term myth. Then some mythic structures appearing in the novels will be examined, followed by a selection of mythic creatures, and mythic characters. Here some chosen creatures and characters out of the novels, as well as their mythical equivalents will be presented and compared to each other. Finally a conclusion will summarize the most important facts and answer the leading questions.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What is a myth
3. Mythical structures in Harry Potter
3.1 The archetypal hero
3.2 The motive of good vs. evil
4. Mythical creatures
4.1 The Centaurs
4.2 The Unicorn
4.3 The Basilisk
4.4 The Phoenix
5. Mythical names and characters
5.1 Minerva McGonagall
5.2 Argus Filch
5.3 Professor Quirrel
5.4 Gilderoy Lockhart
6. Conclusion
7. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how J.K. Rowling integrates, modifies, and embeds elements of real-world mythology, history, and folklore into the Harry Potter series. The central research objective is to analyze the extent to which these mythological roots enrich the narrative and provide deeper layers of meaning for the reader through character development, mythical structures, and fantastic creatures.
- Analysis of the hero archetype and the duality of good versus evil.
- Exploration of mythical creatures and their adaptations from classical mythology.
- Investigation of character nomenclature and symbolic connections to mythical figures.
- Assessment of how prior knowledge of mythology enhances the reading experience.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 The Centaurs
The centaurs have their origins in Greek mythology and were “fabulous creature[s] of Thessaly that [were] part horse and part man [and they] have often been associated with sexual licence and violence” (Willis 43). These centaurs lived in herds in the mountains of northern Greece and led a wild and lawless life. They were fond of alcohol, especially wine, tended to be boisterous, violent, and quick to anger, and often seduced human women. Thus they fought a lot of battles with humans. (Colbert 52)
But there also were exceptions. Some centaurs rebelled against the lifestyles of their fellow species and preferred a life of virtue and scholarly contemplation. The most famous of this was Chiron, who was known for his wisdom, kindliness and civilized manner. He was skilled in medicine, hunting, herbology, astrology, and divination, and was the teacher of many great heroes, such as Heracles and Achilles. (Kronzek, Kronzek 36)
Centaurs also appear in Harry Potter and at first glance don’t seem to have much in common with the violent centaurs of Greek mythology. They live in the Forbidden Forest and have their first appearance in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone when Hagrid asks them what happened to the hurt unicorn. The centaurs, called Ronan and Bane, appear to be friendly and polite, for they wish Hagrid a good evening and ask him if he is well (Rowling, Philosopher’s Stone 184-185). Hagrid explains that they mostly keep away from the humans and stay together with themselves, but that they are always there to answer his questions, if he has some. He describes them as “deep, mind, centaurs [which] know things” and as “ruddy star-gazers” (Rowling Philosopher’s Stone 185).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the scope of the study regarding the presence of mythology in the Harry Potter novels and establishes the guiding research questions.
2. What is a myth: Defines the term myth and discusses the general characteristics and cultural functions of traditional mythological stories.
3. Mythical structures in Harry Potter: Examines how the series utilizes archetypal hero patterns and the Christian-influenced duality of good versus evil.
3.1 The archetypal hero: Discusses the hero's journey in relation to Otto Rank’s psychoanalytic theories of the birth of the hero.
3.2 The motive of good vs. evil: Explores the central conflict in the series and how character alignment reflects this binary struggle.
4. Mythical creatures: Provides an overview of the wide variety of fantastical beings derived from real-world mythology.
4.1 The Centaurs: Compares the behavior and symbolism of the centaurs in the series to their classical Greek counterparts.
4.2 The Unicorn: Analyzes the depiction of the unicorn, focusing on its purity and healing properties derived from historical and Christian symbolism.
4.3 The Basilisk: Details the evolution of the basilisk from an ancient "king of serpents" to its portrayal in the Harry Potter narrative.
4.4 The Phoenix: Explores the phoenix as a symbol of death and resurrection, specifically focusing on Fawkes and his role in the series.
5. Mythical names and characters: Analyzes how Rowling uses naming conventions to mirror the traits of mythical and historical figures.
5.1 Minerva McGonagall: Explores the connections between the deputy headmistress and the Roman goddess Athena.
5.2 Argus Filch: Examines the parallel between the Hogwarts caretaker and the hundred-eyed watchman of Greek mythology.
5.3 Professor Quirrel: Investigates the dual nature of the character as an embodiment of the Roman god Janus.
5.4 Gilderoy Lockhart: Draws comparisons between the arrogant teacher and the narcissism of the Greek youth Narcissus.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes how the synthesis of traditional myths and original ideas contributes to the depth and appeal of the Harry Potter universe.
7. Bibliography: Lists the academic sources and primary texts consulted for the analysis.
Keywords
Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Mythology, Folklore, Archetypal Hero, Good versus Evil, Mythical Creatures, Centaurs, Unicorn, Basilisk, Phoenix, Character Development, Symbolism, Greek Mythology, Literary Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic work?
The work explores how J.K. Rowling utilizes real-world mythology, history, and folklore to enrich her fantasy narrative in the Harry Potter series.
Which specific themes are addressed in the study?
The paper focuses on mythical structures, the evolution of magical creatures, and the symbolism inherent in character names and traits.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how Rowling adapts ancient myths to her own created world and how this adaptation affects the stories and the reader's experience.
What methodology is employed to analyze these elements?
The author performs a comparative literary analysis between the source material in the novels and the original classical, Christian, and folk myths.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
It covers theoretical definitions of myths, the hero archetype, the struggle between good and evil, detailed comparisons of creatures, and analysis of specific characters.
Which terms characterize this research?
Key terms include archetypal hero, good versus evil, classical mythology, fantasy literature, and symbolic narrative.
How does the author characterize the centaurs in the Forbidden Forest?
The author notes that while they differ from the violent Greek centaurs, they share traits with the wise centaur Chiron, specifically through their focus on divination and celestial observation.
What symbolic meaning is attributed to the phoenix Fawkes?
Fawkes represents traditional themes of resurrection and death, but also serves as a symbol of loyalty, which mirrors the mission of the Order of the Phoenix.
How does Professor Quirrel embody the god Janus?
He embodies Janus through his two-faced nature—literally having two faces and figuratively representing the transition between the timid teacher and the dangerous villain.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Cindy Härcher (Autor:in), 2014, Myths in "Harry Potter". How Joanne K. Rowling uses real Mythology in her Novels, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/307971
