The Creation of Harry Potter

Harry Potter is maybe one of the most influential piece of literature of all time. The
whole brand is estimated to be worth $24 billion. I was interested in doing my P3 on this
topic because Harry Potter is more than just a book series about a young boy wizard, it
has become a worldwide phenomenon. There is a theme park, a movie series, even food
and merchandise from the story. This to me is interesting, so I did this project to find out
more about it. There is more to Harry Potter than just a good story. J.K. Rowling has
created a Harry Potter empire. What I loved about the book is that if I had a long day at
school, it would be the perfect book to just sit down and read. What was so nice about it
was that J.K. Rowling’s magical world was completely believable, and everybody likes
a fantasy story that you can believe in.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joanne “Jo” Rowling, aka, J.K. Rowling, was born on July 31 1965. She is
best known as the author of the famous Harry Potter book series. She is
the only self-made billionaire author ever. She has sold more than 400
million books. Her books have been translated into 69 languages, and have
been published in over 200 different countries.

But she was not always the multi- millionaire

she is today; in fact, she was about as close as you could
be in Britain to being homeless. After her mother died of multiple
sclerosis, she moved to Portugal to escape the pain. While there
she married a television journalist named Jorge Arantes. With him she
had her first child Jessica. But then, 13 months and a day after they
were married, Jo left Jorge and moved to Edinburgh Scotland, to
live near her sister. While there she was working as a secretary,
barely making enough money to pay for food. During this time, she
was also diagnosed with clinical depression.

Just when she was about to give up, Harry Potter popped into her head on a train to
London. From then on, she would get her daughter to sleep, and then go to a café
and write. She finished her first book in a café called the elephant house. She then
called her agent who began searching for a publisher.

She was turned away twelve times before she finally found a
publisher: Bloomsbury books. They were mesmerized by the

The World of Harry Potter 1 of 14

fantastical tale and decided to have it published. However, the publisher thought that it
was a book that would appeal to boys, and did not want them to know that the writer
was a woman, so they made Jo write her initials on the books.

She only had one initial because she didn’t have a middle name, so she took the name
Kathleen from her favourite grandmother, thus, J.K. Rowling. Now Jo is living in
Edinburgh Scotland with her husband Neil, and her kids: Jessica and Mackenzie.
Although she is a multi-millionaire, she still occasionally takes the bus!

STORY SYNOPSIS:

Background and Settings:

Harry Potter is about a young boy who finds out he is a wizard when
he is eleven years old. He is told about a school called Hogwarts
that teaches Withcraft and Wizardry. Young wizards from the ages
of eleven to seventeen attend this school for seven years, learning
about the world of magic, how to use magic and how to be prepared
for it.

Harry Potter lives in an amazing world of witchcraft and

wizardry. Unlike some fictional books where there are
alternate universes or fictional pasts or futures, The world
of Harry Potter co-exists with ours. For instance, Diagon
Alley, the magical shopping district, is found by entering a
pub called the Leaky Cauldron (which also has a secret way
only wizards can get in) and going over to a brick wall
behind the pub, where if you tap your wand on it then the bricks open up into Diagon
Alley.

There is also a magical hospital called St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Injuries and
Maladies. To get there, you must find an old abandoned clothing shop and say the secret
code to one of the mannequins in the window. Many places are even recognizable in the
real world. Platform 9 ¾ , the train platform that goes to Hogwarts, is found by running
through a pillar in between platform nine and ten in King’s Cross Station.

In Harry’s first year, in the book The Philosopher Stone, Harry learns that his parents
were killed by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, and that he tried to kill him to, but for
some reason, the spell rebounded off and hit Voldemort, wiping him almost completely
from existence. Also, someone has stolen the philosopher’s stone, a tool that allows you
to live forever as long as it is in your possession.

The World of Harry Potter 2 of 14

 In the second book, The Chamber of Secrets, a chamber created by one of the
founders, Salazaar Slytherin, has been opened, thus making Hogwarts a very
dangerous place. A note written on a wall in blood says: “THE CHAMBER OF
SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED, ENEMIES OF THE HEIR BEWARE.” This
may cause Hogwarts to close forever.

The third book, The Prisoner of Azkaban, is the only book in the series where
Voldemort is only mentioned. This book focuses on the fact that Harry is
being hunted by a mass murderer named Sirius Black.

The fourth book is called The Goblet of Fire. In this book Hogwarts is hosting
the Tri-wizard tournament, a tournament that involves the three European schools of
magic, Durmstrang, Beaux Batons and Hogwarts. The tournament consists of three tasks
that must be fulfilled by one champion from each school. Also, Harry finds out that
Voldemort has come back, and is indeed returned to his full form.

The Order of the Phoenix is the name of the fifth book. The Minister of Magic refuses to
believe that Voldemort is back, making both Harry and Dumbledore look like fools.
However, at the end of the book, the Ministry of Magic is attacked by Voldemort, and
the Minister can no longer deny what is going on.

The sixth book, The Half-Blood Prince, focuses a lot on the personal lives of the
characters, and give the history of Voldemort’s life. The main part of the story is at the
end, when Snape kills Dumbledore.

The seventh and last book, The Deathly Hallows, is the only book that doesn’t
take place in Hogwarts, because Harry Ron and Hermione are hunting down
pieces of Voldemort’s soul, which must be destroyed as to kill Voldemort
permanently. All mysteries throughout the series come together in this book.

In the epilogue, it is sixteen years after Harry’s last year of school. Harry is
married to Ginny, Ron’s younger sister, Ron to Hermione. It takes place on platform 9
¾ , where the grown-up characters are sending their kids off to Hogwarts. The last
words in the book are: “Harry’s scar had not pained him in over sixteen years. All was

Book Names (In order) Publishing Book Covers (US & UK)

Harry Potter and The Bloomsbury Publishing,

Philosopher’s Stone Jun.30,1997

The World of Harry Potter 3 of 14

Harry Potter and The Bloomsbury Publishing,
Chamber of Secrets July.2,1998

Harry Potter and The Bloomsbury Publishing,

Prisoner of Azkaban Jul.8,1999

Harry Potter and The Bloomsbury Publishing,

Goblet of Fire Jul.8,2000

Harry Potter Order of the Bloomsbury Publishing,

Phoenix Jun.21,2003

Harry Potter and The Bloomsbury Publishing,

Half- Blood Prince Jul.16,2005

Harry Potter and The Bloomsbury Publishing,

Deathly Hallows Jul.21,2007

The World of Harry Potter 4 of 14

CHARACTER OUTLINE:

Dumbledore: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. For most

of the series, he is the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts.
As part of his back-story, it is revealed that he is the founder and
leader of the Order of the Phoenix, an organisation dedicated to
fighting the bad guy of the series, Lord Voldemort. Rowling stated
she chose the name Dumbledore, which is an Early Modern English word for
"bumblebee" because she "imagined him walking around humming to himself".

Hermione: Hermione Jean Granger is one of Harry’s best friends. She appears in the
first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, as a new student on her
way to Hogwarts. Her parents are “Muggles”, meaning they have no magic.
After being saved in the girls' bathroom from a mountain troll by Harry and
Ron, she becomes close friends with them and often uses her quick wit and
encyclopaedic knowledge to help them. Rowling has stated that Hermione
resembles her at a younger age, with her insecurity and fear of failure.

Rubeus Hagrid: The character is usually addressed only by his surname.

Hagrid is the half-giant Keeper of Keys and Grounds, gamekeeper and,
starting in Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry, the Care of Magical Creatures teacher. Later in the series, it is
revealed that Hagrid is also a member of the Order of the Phoenix.

Draco Malfoy: Draco is a Slytherin student in Harry Potter's year. He is

frequently accompanied by his two accomplices, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory
Goyle, who act as bodyguards. Although Draco is often regarded as a
cowardly bully who uses manipulation and verbal taunts to denigrate his
victims, he reveals an ability to cunningly wield magic. Malfoy served as the
main antagonist of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Harry Potter: The books cover seven years in the life of Harry Potter
who, on his eleventh birthday, learns he is a wizard. He attends Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn magic under the guidance of
the kind headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Harry also discovers that he is
already famous throughout the wizarding world, and that his fate is tied
with that of Lord Voldemort, the universally feared Dark wizard who killed
Harry's mother and father.

Severus Snape: In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Snape is built
up to be the primary villain until the final chapters. As the series progresses,
Snape's character becomes more layered and complex, and Rowling does not

The World of Harry Potter 5 of 14

fully reveal the details of his true loyalties until the end of the final book, Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows. Snape appears in all seven novels of the series.

Lord Voldemort: Voldemort first appeared in Harry Potter and the

Philosopher's Stone. Voldemort appeared either in person or in flashbacks in
each book and film adaptation in the series, except the third, Harry Potter
and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where he is only mentioned. Voldemort has
been voted number one in polls for literary and film villains.

Ron: Ronald Bilius "Ron" Weasley is Harry’s best friend in the Harry Potter
book series. His first appearance was in the first book of the series, Harry
Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as the best friend of Harry Potter and
Hermione Granger. He is a member of the Weasley family, a pure blood
family, who reside in "The Burrow" outside Ottery St. Catchpole. Along with
Harry and Hermione, he is a member of the Gryffindor house. Ron is present
in most of the action throughout the series due to his friendship with Harry.

The Culture of Harry Potter:

INFLUENCE ON READING FOR KIDS

List of Awards:
1997 Nestle Smarties Book Prize
1998 British Book Award
1998 Nestle Smarties Book Prize
Children’s Book Award
1999 Nestle Smarties Book Prize
2000 Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year Award
2006 Book of the Year

Positive Influences

Joanne Rowling has written one of the most famous children’s books of all time. It has
had a huge impact on how kids read and choose their books. J.K. Rowling has also
become a role model for millions of kids around the world. In an interview with Oprah
Winfrey, she explained how she had kids come up to her on the street telling her that she
was there childhood. Jo says that that was one of the most touching things fans had said.
Kids also use Harry Potter to escape if they are having a tough time with school or with
their personal life. Certainly for me it was nice to just disappear into the wizard world
and fantasise how fun it would be to actually be a wizard.

The World of Harry Potter 6 of 14

Negative Influence

There are many parents or guardians who believe that Harry Potter is too dark a book for
the age group it is aimed at. They say it focuses on some things that young children
shouldn’t be exposed to and maybe it is. Jo Rowling said herself: “If a parent says that
this is too dark for my child or, that they’ll talk about it, maybe read it together, that’s
fine. In fact that’s great. If they read it together that would be perfect.” Where Jo doesn’t
agree is with the large Christian community that believes that the topic of witchcraft and
wizardry is an “evil” topic and that Harry Potter is the “devil”.

Some Catholic schools in the states have band Harry Potter from the school libraries
because of its dark topics. That to J.K. Rowling is “Nonsensical.” Witchcraft and Magic
is a popular topic and a part of our culture. In two hundred, three hundred years, there
will be another book about witchcraft and wizardry and people will still be interested
because it is something that we have had in our lives for generations, and is something
we are interested in.

The Business of Harry Potter

PUBLISHING

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published by Bloomsbury, the publisher of
all Harry Potter books in the United Kingdom, on 30 June 1997. It was released in the
United States on 1 September 1998 by Scholastic—the American publisher of the books
—as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Thinking that American
readers would not recognize the word "philosopher" with a magical theme,
Scholastic insisted that the book be given the title Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer's Stone for the American market.

The second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was originally published in
the UK on 2 July 1998 and in the US on 2 June 1999. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban was then published a year later in the UK on 8 July 1999 and in the US on 8

The World of Harry Potter 7 of 14

September 1999. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was published on 8 July 2000 at
the same time by Bloomsbury and Scholastic. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
is the longest book in the series at 766 pages in the UK version and 870 pages in the US
version. It was published worldwide in English on 21 June 2003. Harry Potter and the
Half-Blood Prince was published on 16 July 2005. The seventh and final novel, Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was published 21 July 2007.

All the books together have made over $400 million.

MOVIES

Late in 1997, film producer David Heyman's office received a copy of the
first book in what would become Rowling's series of seven Harry Potter
novels. The book was put on the low priority shelf, where it was
discovered by a secretary who read it and gave it to Heyman with a
positive review. This influenced Heyman, who had originally hated "the
rubbish title", to read the book himself. Impressed by Rowling's work, he
began the process that was to lead to one of the most successful franchises in movie
history.

Heyman's enthusiasm led to Rowling's 1999 sale of the film rights for
the first four Harry Potter books to Warner Brothers for a reported £1
million (US$2,000,000). A demand Rowling made was that the principal
cast be kept strictly British, allowing nevertheless for the many Irish
actors such as the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and for casting of
French and Eastern European actors in Harry Potter and the Goblet of
Fire where characters from the book are specified as such. Rowling was hesitant to sell
the rights because she "didn't want to give them control over the rest of the story" by
selling the rights to the characters, which would have enabled Warner Brothers to make
non-author-written sequels.

The World of Harry Potter 8 of 14

 Name Budget Revenue

The Philosopher’s Stone $125,000,000 $974,733,550

The Chamber of Secrets $100,000,000 $878,643,482

The Prisoner of Azkaban $130,000,000 $795,634,070

The Goblet of Fire $150,000,000 $895,921,036

The Order of the Phoenix $150,000,000 $938,212,738

The Half-Blood Prince $250,000,000 $933,959,197

The Deathly Hallows P.1 $240,000,000 $945,823,492

Total $1.145 billion $6,362,927,565

Although Steven Spielberg initially negotiated to direct the first film, he

declined the offer. Spielberg wanted it to be an animated film, with
American actor Haley Joel Osment to provide Harry Potter's voice.
Spielberg contended that, in his opinion, there was every expectation of
profit in making the film, and that making money would have been like
"shooting ducks in a barrel. It's just a slam dunk. It's just like withdrawing a billion
dollars and putting it into your personal bank accounts. There's no challenge".

In the Rubbish Bin section of her website, Rowling maintains that she has no role in
choosing directors for the films, writing "Anyone who thinks I could (or would) have
'veto-ed' him needs their Quick-Quotes Quill serviced." After Spielberg left, talks began
with other directors, including: Chris Columbus, Terry Gilliam, Jonathan Demme, Mike
Newell, Alan Parker, Wolfgang Petersen, Rob Reiner, Tim Robbins, Brad Silberling,
and Peter Weir. Petersen and Reiner then both pulled out of the running in March 2000.

It was then narrowed down to Silberling, Columbus, Parker and Gilliam. Rowling's first
choice was Terry Gilliam. However on 28 March 2000 Columbus was appointed as
director of the film, with Warner Bros. citing his work on other family films such as
Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire as influences for their decision.

List of Characters:

The World of Harry Potter 9 of 14

 Harry Potter-Daniel Radcliffe

Hermione Granger-Emma Watson

Ron Weasely- Rupert Grint

The World of Harry Potter 10 of 14

 Albus Dumbledore - Michael Gambon

The World of Harry Potter 11 of 14

 and the late Richard Harris

Draco Malfoy - Tom Felton

Severus Snape – Alan Rickman

Hagrid – Robbie Coltrane

Voldemort – Ralph Fiennes

The World of Harry Potter 12 of 14

MERCHANDISE:

The Potter empire has swept throughout over 200 countries. Almost anything
you can think of, it’s been “Potterized” Right now on itunes you can buy
Harry Potter audio books and download them onto your ipod. There countless
amounts of books by other authors that are about the world of harry potter,
the business of Harry Potter, even Encylopedias on Harry Potter such as “The
Complete Idiot’s Guide to the World of Harry Potter”.

There are Home Furnishings of Harry Potter. Harry Potter couches, tables,
chairs, everything. Harry Potter food such as Pumpkin Juice and Butterbeer, or
Fizzingwizzbees. There is Harry Potter jewelry like charms or harry Potter
inspired earings pins and more. You can even buy a time turner necklace.

There are thousands of Harry Potter collectibles such as the time

turner to intricate wandwork, Yule ball earings, Godric Gryffindors
sword, even a wizard chess set. The actors even have their own action
figures. It is such a huge empire that has expanded across the globe and
continues to do so.

Conclusion:

Harry Potter’s influence has changed the way people think about books and writing. It
has changed the style of writing. A lot of children’s books that have been released after
Harry Potter show a connection to the plot line of Harry Potter. Without Harry Potter, I
think it is safe to say that there wouldn’t have been a Twilight, or a Percy Jackson.

The movie series is the highest grossing of all time, more than Star Wars or James Bond.
It is amazing to think that all this came from an idea from a single human being.
Especially considering the tough time she was going through when she thought of it.

The World of Harry Potter 13 of 14

You could walk up to anyone on the street today and if you asked them who Harry
Potter was, even if they hadn’t read the book, would probably say: “Yeah, of course I
know who Harry Potter is!” If you drew a boy with glasses and a lightning shaped scar,
most people would be able to tell you who it is.

In conclusion, I think that J.K. Rowling will go down in history with authors like Mark
Twain and Charles Dickens. In a hundred years from now, people will still be reading
her books. She will always be remembered as the creator of the Harry Potter

phenomenon .

The World of Harry Potter 14 of 14