J.K. Rowling started her series as a story for children but is her protagonist, to whom many refer to as hero, really a hero and can the Harry Potter series be seen as children’s literature?
This question will be answered in this work with firstly looking at the characteristics of children’s literature and if Rowling used them in her novels or not with a closer look on Rowling’s plot and setting as well as her representation of love, death, and trauma. Rowling places her story in a boarding school with dangerous and unknown animals and creatures and her protagonists are wizards. Her main protagonists an eleven-year-old orphaned boy who must live with his miserable relatives until he discovers that he must fulfil a greater destiny.
Furthermore, the endings of her books will be analyzed whether they are closed or open because although she knew that the series should consists of seven novels in total, she did not know how successful her novels might be and if she will get the opportunity to write more books. According to that, the endings will also be examined on whether they have happy endings or not since they picture different outlooks on the story due to the plot that is set up by Rowling.
Table of Contents
- I. Introduction
- II. Children's Literature
- 2.1 What is Children's Literature?
- 2.2 The Plot
- 2.3 Hogwarts as Setting
- 2.4 Topics and their Representations
- 2.4.1 Love
- 2.4.2 Death
- 2.4.3 The Fight against Evil and its Consequences
- 2.5 And they lived happily ever after?
- III. The Hero
- 3.1 What makes a Hero?
- 3.2 Harry Potter
- 3.3 The Hero's Journey/ Harry's Journey
- 3.4 Relationships
- 3.4.1 Friends
- 3.4.2 Foes
- IV. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This work aims to determine whether the Harry Potter series qualifies as children's literature and whether Harry Potter himself can be considered a heroic figure. It will analyze the series through the lens of children's literature characteristics, exploring Rowling's plot, setting, and thematic representations of love, death, and the fight against evil. The analysis will also examine Harry's character arc in relation to the classic hero's journey and his relationships with friends and foes.- Defining characteristics of children's literature and their presence in the Harry Potter series.
- Analysis of Harry Potter's character arc and his alignment with archetypal heroic figures.
- Examination of the themes of love, death, and the fight against evil within the narrative.
- Exploration of the series' setting and its impact on the overall story.
- Analysis of the narrative structure and its impact on the reader.
Chapter Summaries
I. Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the analysis by outlining the phenomenal success of the Harry Potter series, briefly highlighting J.K. Rowling's personal journey and the global impact of her work. It introduces the central question of the thesis: whether the series truly constitutes children's literature and if Harry Potter is a hero. The introduction establishes the scope of the analysis, focusing on elements such as Rowling’s plot, setting, character development, and thematic representations to answer the posed questions. The success of the books and their impact on readership are highlighted, foreshadowing the in-depth examination of these elements in subsequent chapters. II. Children's Literature: This chapter delves into the defining characteristics of children's literature, providing a theoretical framework to analyze the Harry Potter series. It examines various aspects, including plot structure, setting choices (such as the unique world of Hogwarts), the representation of key themes like love, death, and the fight against evil, and the nature of the narrative conclusions (happy endings versus open-ended narratives). This chapter lays the groundwork for a comparative analysis by establishing clear criteria against which Rowling's work will be measured. III. The Hero: This chapter shifts the focus to the central character, Harry Potter. It explores the characteristics of a hero figure, applying these criteria to Harry's journey throughout the series. The chapter utilizes Joseph Campbell's concept of "the hero's journey" as a framework to analyze Harry's experiences, exploring his development, relationships, and overall arc. This chapter will also examine Harry's significant relationships, including both his friendships and his conflicts with his adversaries, assessing their influence on his character development and his journey as a hero.Keywords
Children's literature, Harry Potter, hero, J.K. Rowling, hero's journey, love, death, evil, Hogwarts, fantasy, coming-of-age, friendship, narrative structure.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Harry Potter Series as Children's Literature
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an academic analysis of the Harry Potter series. It includes a table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The analysis aims to determine if the series qualifies as children's literature and if Harry Potter is a heroic figure.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores several key themes prevalent in the Harry Potter series, including love, death, the fight against evil, and the concept of heroism. It investigates how these themes are represented within the narrative and their impact on the overall story.
What is the scope of the analysis regarding children's literature?
The analysis examines the Harry Potter series through the lens of children's literature characteristics. It investigates the plot structure, setting (particularly Hogwarts), character development, and thematic representations to determine if the series aligns with the established criteria of children's literature.
How does the analysis approach the character of Harry Potter?
The analysis focuses on Harry Potter's character arc, examining his journey and development throughout the series. It uses Joseph Campbell's "hero's journey" as a framework to assess Harry's experiences, relationships (both friendships and conflicts), and overall alignment with archetypal heroic figures.
What aspects of the narrative structure are considered?
The analysis considers the overall narrative structure of the Harry Potter series and its impact on the reader. This includes the plot structure, the use of setting, and the nature of the narrative conclusions (happy endings versus open-ended narratives).
What are the main chapters covered in the analysis?
The analysis is structured into four main chapters: an introduction setting the context and research questions; a chapter dedicated to defining characteristics of children's literature and applying them to the Harry Potter series; a chapter analyzing Harry Potter's character arc as a hero; and a concluding chapter. Each chapter delves into specific aspects of the series, building on previous sections to present a holistic analysis.
What is the significance of the setting, Hogwarts, in the analysis?
The unique setting of Hogwarts plays a significant role in the analysis. It is examined as a crucial element contributing to the overall narrative and its impact on the characters and themes.
What keywords are used to describe this analysis?
Keywords used to describe this analysis include: Children's literature, Harry Potter, hero, J.K. Rowling, hero's journey, love, death, evil, Hogwarts, fantasy, coming-of-age, friendship, and narrative structure.
- Quote paper
- Laura Commer (Author), 2017, Harry Potter. A hero of children's literature?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/999793
