Chat about Harry Potter with K-State English Professors
July 24, 2007
Harry Potter fans who have awaited the newest book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, can pick up their copy July 21. 49abcnews.com invites you to put down the book for a couple minutes and take part in our online conversation with Harry Potter experts Philip Nel and Karin Westman. Join the online community and these two Kansas State University professors in what promises to be an active discussion on the saga and the hype surrounding its release. Please submit your question early to ensure it will be answered. And we'll see you right back here Tuesday.
Moderator: Good afternoon Harry Potter fans! Welcome to today's chat with K-State professors Philip Nel and Karin Westman. My name is Nellie Ryan and I will be the moderator for today's chat. Welcome Philip and Karin!
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: PN: Thanks for having us! KW: Great to be here!
Moderator: We will go ahead and proceed with our first question.
lizdodds: What do you think is behind the success of the Harry Potter series? Do you think that succes will continue even as the series ends?
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: PN: Narrative, character, and imagination. Rowling tells a great story -- a mystery, very suspenseful. She creates realistic characters who we recognize and care about. And she has envisioned fully a detailed magical universe that we enjoy returning to. KW: The realism of the series is important as well. The fact that she places her characters into situations that her readers may experience as well -- school, work, marriage, war -- also makes the series very successful. Her ability to combine a variety of past literary and cultural narratives contributes as well.
Muggle: I was wondering what you thought about the similarities between Voldermort and Hitler.
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: KW: The connection between Voldemort and Hitler is purposeful, according to Rowling. She is interested in representing the consequences of mis-used, dangerous power, including fascism, both in the past and today. PN: Making Voldemort a half-blood is her way of showing that "blood status" is purely a way of bullying people -- there's no inherent consistency to the idea. Similarly, in the case of Hitler, his Aryan fixation was not consistent with his own racial background (he wasn't 100% Aryan, just as Voldemort is not pureblood).
rockchalk: What parallels do you see happening in the Harry Potter books and what is happening in our lives today?
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: PN: A war against terror is being fought through questionable means. Just as Scrimgeour imprisons people to make it look as though the battle against Voldemort is going well, the U.S. government imprisons people (in Guantanamo, and in secret sites around the world) to make it appear that we are making progress in the war on terror. The Ministry and the U.S. government use anti-democratic means in the name of protecting democracy. KW: As in our world today, the wizardng world struggles to balance the rights of the individual with protection for all.
oread: I've avoided the Harry Potter books and movies at all costs so far. However, it sounds like the books are getting darker and more interesting as the series progresses. Do you think it would be worth jumping in somewhere in the middle or back end of the series? If so, where do you recommend starting?
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: KW: We'd recommend starting at the beginning, because part of the experience of the series and its themes is seeing the world through Harry's eyes as he grows up. The first book emphasizes his initial wonder with the wizarding world, and subsequent books show his growing knowledge (and dis-enchantment) with parts of that world. That said, we've both taught the third book on its own in our classes here at K-State, and students who had not read the earlier books enjoyed the third and then launched into the whole series.
Moderator: It seems like Rowling ties the series to real-life people and events. Here is an interesting question from a fan.
hblake73: What political events in history could Rowling be alluding to when the Ministry refuses to believe that Voldemort has returned? What political figures could Rufus Scrimgeour be compared to?
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: PN: In an earlier answer, I've already suggested a comparison between Scrimgeour and Bush, although in some ways I wonder if a comparison between Scrimgeour and Cheney might be more apt. KW: Scrimegour may also suggest British political leaders such as Tony Blair. However, less than one particular political figure, Rowling asks readers to consider the power that comes with political office in challenging times.
Moderator: Even though there are many fans of the Harry Potter series, there are some that oppose it.
hblake73: How do you respond to people who think reading Harry Potter is anti-Christian?
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: PN: If parents are concerned that their children may be getting anti-Christian messages from the Harry Potter novels, we would advise them to read the novels with their children. Then, they can talk about the novels with their children and suggest to them what is worth taking away from the novels and what might be best left behind. If you've read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it's fairly tricky to advance the argument that these novels are anti-Christian. Harry's final confrontation with Voldemort is very Christ-like -- that is, Harry takes on the role of a Christ figure here. For further resources on Christianity and Harry Potter, we recommend Connie Neal's books on the subject.
hblake73: Do you think that the Harry Potter series fits the "monomyth" pattern?
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: KW: As many of our students have remarked, Harry's journey towards adulthood does have parallels with many long-standing narratives of Western culture. In following this pattern, Rowling is in a great literary tradition.
rachel23: Do you think JK Rowling should start another series? If she did, do you think the huge success of Harry Potter would make it difficult (or greatly hinder) her chances of creating other successful novels, series or not?
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: PN: I think that JK Rowling should write whatever she likes. She's said that she plans to write in a different genre -- she's not going to write more fantasy because she doesn't feel she can top Harry Potter. (And who can blame her for this stance?) I don't think she'll be hindered from creating other successful novels. If Harry Potter's fans see the name "JK Rowling" on a book, they will buy it. KW: Rowling has said that she plans to take some time off and recover from the 17-year experience of creating and writing the Harry Potter series. Last year, she mentioned in an interview that she had started a book for younger readers -- not fantasy -- and so may return to that project. I'm looking forward to whatever she decides to offer us next!
hblake73: Do you have any reading suggestions for readers now that the Harry Potter series has ended?
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: PN: We recommend Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy (first book is The Golden Compass, the film of which will be coming out in Dec.); Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy; Diana Wynne Jones' Howl's Moving Castle, The Dark Lord of Derkholm, and The Year of the Griffin. Those are contemporary works. Going back in literary history, we recommend E. Nesbit's Psammead Trilogy (Five Children and It, Phoenix and the Carpet, The Story of the Amulet); C. S. Lewis's Narnia books; Roald Dahl's Matilda, and James and the Giant Peach. KW: Another series of books we recommend would be the authors whom Rowling has mentioned as favorites: the works of Jane Austen (Rowling's favorite author) and the works of Roddy Doyle (Rowling's favorite living author).
Moderator: Philip and Karin also teach a Harry Potter course at K-State. What can students expect to learn from this particular class?
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: PN: My syllabus is on-line here http://www.k-state.edu/english/nelp/rowling/f2006.html KW: My syllabus is on-line here http://www.k-state.edu/english/westmank/spring_07/engl440.s07.html Students will have the opportunity to learn about the series within the context of literary history, both the past (Rowling's antecedents and influences) and the present (Rowling's contemporaries), as well as discussing the series itself. We also discuss responses to the series and the Harry Potter phenomenon.
jbrand: Hello. I think the whole series is brilliant! But, why was Petunia so anti-wizard? A beloved sister was a witch and Petunia considered her a freak. Is this just the Muggle mindset, or was Petunia jealous of her sister's magical talent?
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: PN: jbrand, I think you may have answered your own question. Look at the "Prince's Tale" chapter in Deathly Hallows. That suggests that Petunia is jealous of Lily's abilities. KW: Since the Dursleys are our main representatives of Muggle culture in the series, I think Petunia also represents, as you suggest, a Muggle mindset. I wonder what she *almost* said to Harry before she left Number 4 Privet Drive at the start of Deathly Hallows....
Moderator: I would like to thank everyone for participating in today's chat, especially our guests Philip and Karin.
Philip Nel and Karin Westman: PN: You're welcome! We had fun! KW: Thanks for the good questions, and happy re-reading!
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