HNRS 30001001: HOW TO READ HARRY POTTER LIKE A PROFESSOR

Dr. Heath A. Diehl Bowling Green State University, Spring 2012

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Foster, Chapter 12: Is That a Symbol? 1. To get us started, lets think about one of the more obvious symbolic objects in the fourth Harry Potter novelthe Golden egg that Harry must, in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, retrieve from beneath a dragon and must, prior to the second task, solve in order to succeed in his rescue of Ron from the Merpeople. 1a. Have you ever encountered golden eggs before in literature? If so, then in what context and what have they been used for and/or used to represent in those previous encounters? Do you see any relationship between those previous uses of golden eggs and J. K. Rowlings use of the golden egg in GOF? 1b. What are eggs generally used for? What are the characteristics of eggs? Do any of the general uses for eggs or characteristics of eggs give you insight into what the Golden egg might symbolize in GOF? 1c. What does the color gold mean or symbolize? Do any of the generic meanings of the color gold offer you insight into what the Golden egg might symbolize in GOF? 1d. What kinds of factors have shaped your personal interpretation of the symbolic meanings of the Golden egg? Can you think of other objects (in GOF and/or in one of the three previous books of the series) that hold some symbolic significance? What are those objects? And what do they symbolize for you? (e.g., the Goblet of Fire, Tom Riddles diary, the Mirror of Erised, etc.) 2. With the last book (i.e., Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), we discussed the significance of location (i.e., how placeeither literal or figurativecan signify, or symbolize, something beyond itself, whether that something is characterization, foreshadowing of an important plot element, theme, or so on). Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire centers on the events of the Triwizard Touranment, each of which takes place in a different location in and around Hogwarts. For each of the tasks of the Triwizard Tournament, consider the symbolism of the location(s) within which it takes place by considering and responding to the following questions: 2a. Task #1Quidditch Stadium 2a1. What is J. K. Rowling doing with this location (symbolically-speaking)? 2a2. In what ways is a stadium or an arena typically used? Do you see any relationship between the general uses of stadiums/arenas and the current use of the stadium as the setting for the first task of the Triwizard tournament? 2a2. In what ways have stadiums and/or arenas been used in literature? What have these spaces symbolized in other works of literature? Do you see any relationship between those previous uses of stadiums/arenas in literature and the current use of the stadium as the setting for the first task of the Triwizard tournament? 2a3. How has J. K. Rowling previously made use of the Quidditch stadium? What has taken place in this stadium? And what have those events symbolized? Do you see any relationship between those previous events

(previous uses of the Quidditch stadium) and the current use of the stadium as the setting for the first task of the Triwizard tournament? 2a4.What else can we bring to bear on the Quidditch stadium that might yield up meaning? 2b. Task #2Lake 2b1. What is J. K. Rowling doing with this location (symbolically-speaking)? 2b2. In what ways is a lake or more generically body of water typically used? Do you see any relationship between the general uses of lakes or bodies of water and the current use of the lake as the setting for the second task of the Triwizard tournament? 2b2. In what ways have lakes or bodies of water been used in literature? What have these spaces symbolized in other works of literature? Do you see any relationship between those previous uses of lakes or bodies of water in literature and the current use of the lake as the setting for the second task of the Triwizard tournament? 2b3. How has J. K. Rowling previously made use of the lake? What has taken place in/around this location? And what have those events symbolized? Do you see any relationship between those previous events (previous uses of the lake) and the current use of the lake as the setting for the second task of the Triwizard tournament? 2b4.What else can we bring to bear on the lake that might yield up meaning? 2c. Task #3Maze 2c1. What is J. K. Rowling doing with this location (symbolically-speaking)? 2c2. In what ways is a maze typically used? Do you see any relationship between the general uses of mazes and the current use of the maze as the setting for the third task of the Triwizard tournament? 2c2. In what ways have mazes been used in literature? What have these spaces symbolized in other works of literature? Do you see any relationship between those previous uses of mazes in literature and the current use of the maze as the setting for the third task of the Triwizard tournament? 2c3. How has J. K. Rowling previously made use of mazes or maze-like spaces? What has taken place in such locations? And what have those events symbolized? Do you see any relationship between those previous events (previous uses of mazes and/or maze-like spaces) and the current use of the maze as the setting for the third task of the Triwizard tournament? 2c4.What else can we bring to bear on the Quidditch stadium that might yield up meaning? Can you think of other locations (in GOF and/or in one of the three previous books of the series) that hold some symbolic significance? What are those locations? And what do they symbolize for you? (e.g., The Chamber of Secrets, The Shrieking Shack, the secret tunnels in and out of Hogwarts, etc.) 3. Later in Chapter 12, Foster explains, The . . . problem with symbols is that many readers expect them to be objects and images rather than events or actions. Action can also be symbolic (105). Consider the symbolic implications and meanings of the following actions/tasks of the Triwizard Tournament:

3a. Task #1Retrieve a Golden Egg from a Dragon 3b. Task #2Retrieve Something Youll Sorely Miss from Merpeople 3c. Task #3Traverse the Maze (and its Obstacles) and Reach the Goblet Can you think of other significant actions/events (in GOF and/or in one of the three previous books of the series) that hold some symbolic significance? What are those actions/events? And what do they symbolize for you? (e.g., the weighing of the wands, the Yule Ball, the first trip to Hogsmeade, etc.) 4. For me, one of the most symbolic scenes of this novel occurs in the graveyard where Riddles father is buried and where Voldemort is reborn. Consider the symbolic meanings of the following aspects of that scene: 4a. The performance of the rite of rebirth on Riddles fathers grave 4b. The various aspects of the ritual itself: 4b1. Adding the [b]one of the father, unknowingly given to renew your son 4b2. Adding the [f]lesh of the servant, willingly given to revive your master 4b3. Adding the [b]lood of the enemy, forcibly taken to resurrect your foe 4c. Priori Incantatem 4d. The murder of Cedric Diggory 4e. The use of Wormtail as the means to rebirth Can you think of other aspects of this scene that hold some symbolic significance? What are those aspects and what do they symbolize for you? 5. Wandsneed I say more? To what use (or uses) are wands generally put (outside of literature)? To what use (or uses) are wands generally put (within literature)? To what use (or uses) does J. K. Rowling put wands in her Harry Potter series? What kinds of symbolic meanings might wands hold in this series? Are those meanings different for different characters? Do those meanings shift depending on how the wand is being used? On the material make-up of a specific wands? (i.e., the wood from which it is crafted, the material at its core, the length and flexibility, etc.) Do those meanings shift depending on context? What other factors might impact the symbolic meanings of wands in the Harry Potter series? 6. In his book, Foster suggests that a novel is a network of meanings and significations that permits a nearly limitless range of possible interpretations (99100). Consider the implications of Fosters claim here. For example, if literary interpretation permits a nearly limitless range of possible interpretations (emphasis added), then are there such things as incorrect interpretations? What kinds of factors limit the type of interpretations we can yield from a literary text? Furthermore, Foster suggests that [o]ne of the pleasures of literary scholarship lies in encountering different and even conflicting interpretations, since the great work allows for a considerable range of possible interpretations (105). Do you agree with this claim? Why or why not? And, finally, if literary interpretation is so open-ended and

relative (so to speak), then what (if anything) is the value of English studies and literary scholarship? For Future Reading: What kinds of potentially symbolic objects might we want to watch for in future books of the series? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ What actions/events that occur in future books of the series potentially hold symbolic meaning? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________