[stylist] Literary Merits in Harry Potter

Wed Sep 1 03:51:37 UTC 2010

I am a little biased. I grew up reading Harry Potter, so in a way not only
is it an amazing series to me, it was a kind of security blanket. I started
reading in second grade, and was a junior in high school when the series
ended.

I believe Rowling has a unique ability. I haven't studied the differences
between different kinds of fiction, but I have read some books that annalize
the series and its historical references. The historical and mythological
references are intriguing to me, and helped me understand what, as a child,
I took for an amazing imagination. As for her writing ability, I am quite
impressed. Rowling has an ability to draw in readers of all ages, which not
many can do, in my opinion. I think most authors have a particular audience
that they write for, but Rowling found her readers in so many different
groups. I believe this is do to the amount of suspense, romance, action,
foreshadowing, and the way she dropped clues, but kept us guessing. I also
think that her writing changed throughout the series to reflect the change
in the characters. It seems to me that her writing aged with Harry.

Just a few thoughts. I do think that Bridget is right, the 7th book was
amazingly written!

Aziza
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Joe Orozco
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 1:34 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Literary Merits in Harry Potter

Remind me again what literary fiction means exactly?  I heard the concept
thrown around my English classes but am ashamed to admit I never truly
understood what it meant.  My understanding is that literary fiction is its
own genre, which makes no sense to me.  I personally enjoy writing for the
sake of writing.  In my mind, I will either develop characters and plots
well, or I won't.  But I guess before I can contribute to the discussion, I
need to be set straight on what it is we're discussing.

Great topic.

Joe

P.S. The Twilight series is not as great as Harry Potter but is still good.
David Andrews admitted to reading it and enjoying it, and I just had to
check it out for myself after an endorsement from a guy like David...

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves,
some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org 
[mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 3:17 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: [stylist] Literary Merits in Harry Potter

Hey gang,

To bring a discussion back around to writing and literature, I pose
something for contemplation.

I recently finished a class (and it was an upper level class) on Harry
Potter.  The instructor, who actually is not a fan of most fantasy,
designed the course after students complained about not having enough
special topic courses in literature.  The class has grown in popularity
since its inception and is now offered once a year.

The objective of the class is to bring literary awareness to the series
through reading and discussing the seven books, creating dialogues
between classmates involving examples from the text, reading critical
sources on Rowling and the series, and finally writing a character
analysis (mine was on Bellatrix Lestrange).

Now, I enjoy Harry Potter and was already a fan who had read many of the
books more than once before taking the class, but I did not fully
realize the historical and mythiclogical sources Rowling drew upon to
write her series.  Once I began to study the background of Rowling and
where she found many of her inspirations, I could not believe the
magnitutde of what she accomplished.  Her series is so intertwined with
historical and mythiclogical references, it is astounding how
intelligent Rowling is, and I am impressed by her level of research for
a young adult series.  From the meaning of names, to the use of real
historical figures, to the existence of imaginative creatures, Rowling
created a world with characters readers have to come to love and
identify with.

However, I still wonder if the writing itself suggest a literary genius.
Clearly it is a good story that millions love, but box office success
does not always mean writing has literary value.  As I read through the
books again, I found myself irrited with some inconsistencies, and the
writing at times felt immature.  Some of the books are better written
than others, in my opinion, such as the first book, The Sorceror's
Stone, and the last book, The Deathly Hallows.  Maybe this is because
less time is spent on teen-age romance, and more focus is placed on the
central plot.  I recently found a quote by Stephan King claiming that
the difference between Rowling and the author of the Twilight series, is
that Rowling can write.  This is funny to me, and I do agree with it,
but I still wonder just how great Rowling is.

I enjoy reading Rowling's work, but then I read other young adult
writers such as Donna Jo Napoli or even C. S. Lewis or Patrick Rothfuss
(whose book, The Name of the Wind, has been dubbed the adult Harry
Potter) and I notice a difference in the writing.  Rowling does
foreshadowing and metaphor very well, but I would not refer to her
writing as literary fiction.  Rowling's use of language is simple, and
many of the sub-plots are immature.  She does develop characters well,
and she provides an element of mystery in all the books.  Often, Rowling
has the ability to evoke emotions too.

So I wonder what others think on this matter.  Where do you stand on the
argument, and what are your feelings.  If you stand in favor of Rowling,
where do you find evidence of this?

Enjoy!  *smile*

Bridgit
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