tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32362551.post6695661072207936586..comments2023-12-13T16:57:33.142-06:00Comments on Blogodidact: Harry Potter and the Literature for Children vs. the Childish LiteratiVan Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32362551.post-25694453657325602702007-07-22T17:55:00.000-05:002007-07-22T17:55:00.000-05:00Van...what a great piece to extract from the Potte...Van...what a great piece to extract from the Potter books...it shows the real intent behind Rowling's writings; not just some fluffy bunch of kiddie adventures like "the Goonies", but an almost operatic tale of coming of age, and good vs evil. <BR/><BR/>Harry's gradual realization of just what power he really has over his enemy reminds me so much of the evolution of Tolkien's Frodo, from simple village-dwelling hobbit to fearsome, determined warrior who marches into Mordor determined to succeed or die trying. Does he have his moments of doubt and wavering? Certainly; but in the end the inner fire that has been ignited within him cannot be extinguished. I see the same thing in Lucas's Luke Skywalker; once he realizes who he really is and what he must do, no one can stop him, even through his own moments of doubt and his many mistakes. The person who cannot see this but instead sees witchcraft and sorcery and lots of "no-no's", is failing to see the forest for the trees in a very big way, and would seem to me to be almost obsessively-compulsively occupied with religious correctness rather than the overall story being told. What a tragedy to be that blind. Such a person reminds me a lot of Thomas Gradgrind, the mine operator in Dickens' "Hard Times", who is obsessed with facts, facts, facts, and who is totally blind to any transcendant truths or deeper meanings. Unfortunately it seems that both the Left and the Right are populated by lots of Gradgrinds, who used microscopes instead of their own eyes to read books like this, or the Tolkien ones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32362551.post-59211842147589207012007-07-21T12:53:00.000-05:002007-07-21T12:53:00.000-05:00Joan,There is certainly no reason why someone shou...Joan,<BR/>There is certainly no reason why someone <I>should</I> read the Harry Potter books as opposed to some of the other valuable works available to them. My gripe is with the poser-fluff who try to denigrate it with a sniff, because it is imaginative literature, or because it is written for kids. Idiots. Good Literature is Good Literature, and as long as you read some of it, I don't think it matters all that much which ones you do or don't read, except in the pleasures of being able to chew them over with others who have read the same. <BR/><BR/>In most cases, what you read is a matter of what catches and jibes with your current interests, and there's nothing wrong with not having an interest in these books. If I hadn't had the kids to read the first two books to, and if they hadn't <I>demanded</I> that I read the third... which took awhile for me to yield to, I wouldn't have read them either. As Johan said, there are many other books on my list to read, and far too little time to read them all, to be distracted by Childrens literature - but I'm very glad I did.<BR/><BR/>Without looking for them, most of the jewels (or facets of a single large Jewel..?) within these stories could be easily overlooked (on the conscious level, anyway) as simple items of an adventure story, but as with all good lit, there is much more living beneath the surface, waiting for a visitor willing to engage it.<BR/><BR/>I'm leaving too much out with the elipses, and without the entire context of the preceding story and books to support it, this probably falls flat, but is one of my favorite parts from the second to last book (as I impatiently await the UPS truck to bring the last). Harry's unimpressed to learn that the 'power' he has behind him, that his life and his friends life relies upon, is 'love'. Professor Dumbledore is trying to get him to look beyond mere strength, and realize the true power he is supported by,<BR/><BR/><I>"... If he had not forced your mother to die for you, would he have given you a magical protection he could not penetrate? Of course not, Harry! Don't you see? Voldemort himself created his worst enemy, just as tyrants everywhere do! Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back! Voldemort is no different! Always he was on the lookout for the one who would challenge him. He heard the prophecy and he leapt into action, with the result that he not only handpicked the man most likely to finish him, he handed him uniquely deadly weapons!"<BR/>"But —"<BR/>"It is essential that you understand this!" said Dumbledore, standing up and striding about the room, his glittering robes swooshing in his wake; Harry had never seen him so agitated. "By attempting to kill you, Voldemort himself singled out the remarkable person who sits here in front of me, and gave him the tools for the job! It is Voldemort's fault that you were able to see into his thoughts, his ambitions, that you even understand the snakelike language in which he gives orders, and yet, Harry, despite your privileged insight into Voldemort's world (which, incidentally, is a gift any Death Eater would kill to have), you have never been seduced by the Dark Arts, never, even for a second, shown the slightest desire to become one of Voldemort's followers!"<BR/>"Of course I haven't!" said Harry indignantly. "He killed my mum and dad!"<BR/>"You are protected, in short, by your ability to love!" said Dumbledore loudly. "The only protection that can possibly work against the lure of power like Voldemort's! In spite of all the temptation you have endured, all the suffering, you remain pure of heart, just as pure as you were at the age of eleven, when you stared into a mirror that reflected your heart's desire, and it showed you only the way to thwart Lord Voldemort, and not immortality or riches. Harry, have you any idea how few wizards could have seen what you saw in that mirror? Voldemort should have known then what he was dealing with, but he did not..."</I><BR/><BR/>There is much in that apparent bauble, which I enjoy holding up to the light to see the jewel glittering within...<BR/><BR/>Damn slow UPS trucks.<BR/><BR/>DOORBELL!!! WHAT TIMINT!!!Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32362551.post-2395699759817781452007-07-21T10:21:00.000-05:002007-07-21T10:21:00.000-05:00I agree with the Swede. I've never even seen or pi...I agree with the Swede. I've never even seen or picked up a Harry Potter book. Never seen the movies, either. And about the same time as Johan, I discovered C.S.L., Tokien, Van Morrison, and George MacDonald. Balms for the mind and soul that already knew the Mystery, just didn't have the permission and freedom to investigate it fearlessly.<BR/><BR/>And besides, if you've ever engaged in truly transcendent spiritual warfare, all the mumblings of "magic" are just that, and easily defeated, dismissed, and dispatched. It holds no mystery or interest for me, but not for lack of imagination. Just for lack of a challenge.<BR/><BR/>:)Joan of Argghh!https://www.blogger.com/profile/14729682908266300507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32362551.post-90072042207184088612007-07-20T18:17:00.000-05:002007-07-20T18:17:00.000-05:00Comment to err ducks - a tour de Van.Comment to err ducks - a tour de Van.Mizz Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02325435271880036807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32362551.post-86326757192583631312007-07-19T15:32:00.000-05:002007-07-19T15:32:00.000-05:00eredux,Wow, did you ever wander into the wrong blo...eredux,<BR/>Wow, did you ever wander into the wrong blog.<BR/><BR/>I've got one <I>BIG</I> carbon footprint, and do all I can to make it bigger and bigger. I already guzzle as much gas as I need, and recycle nothing but air. <BR/><BR/>I get no thrill from knowing the demographics of how foolish and gullible people can be, wasting their resources by buying into 'feel good' green siren songs.<BR/><BR/>How is seeing the distribution curve of fools going to help me to use up my resources more wisely?Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32362551.post-50304339390618220872007-07-19T13:50:00.000-05:002007-07-19T13:50:00.000-05:00Check out this US Carbon Footprint Map, an interac...<A HREF="http://www.eredux.com/states/" REL="nofollow">Check out this US Carbon Footprint Map</A>, an interactive United States Carbon Footprint Map, illustrating Greenest States to Cities. This site has all sorts of stats on individual State & City energy consumptions, demographics and State energy offices, State Taxes and more down to the local US City level...<BR/><BR/>http://www.eredux.com/states/ereduxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04007193642340819995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32362551.post-71980818032318847782007-07-19T11:29:00.000-05:002007-07-19T11:29:00.000-05:00I actually read this review the other day, and mus...I actually read this review the other day, and must agree with Johan.<BR/><BR/>I read the first few Potter books, and enjoyed them. I tend to lose interest in really drawn out series, though, so I haven't kept up with them. From what I've heard of the latest movie, I'm more inclined to actually watch it, though.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32362551.post-5324003206468101142007-07-17T18:44:00.000-05:002007-07-17T18:44:00.000-05:00Thanks Johan!"Reasons? I don't have time, I got mo...Thanks Johan!<BR/><BR/>"Reasons? I don't have time, I got more important reading to do right now, and since I read Tolkien for the first time in 1986 or so, I have not been able to really appreciate other "fantasy" litteratur."<BR/><BR/>Those are good reasons, and were mine also - like I said, I just got sucked into Potter from reading them to the kids. <BR/><BR/>I'm semi-dreading this weekend, because from the point UPS shows up with our Amazon order, our house is going to grind to a screaching halt.<BR/><BR/>Got to watch out for those bedtime stories!Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32362551.post-53997723346582919832007-07-17T17:22:00.000-05:002007-07-17T17:22:00.000-05:00I have just one word to this post: WOW!Myself, I d...I have just one word to this post: WOW!<BR/><BR/>Myself, I don't know if I like the Potter books or not, because I've not even considered reading them. Reasons? I don't have time, I got more important reading to do right now, and since I read Tolkien for the first time in 1986 or so, I have not been able to really appreciate other "fantasy" litteratur. I found them just so... simple, like pale shadows, compared to the "master of fantasy litterature".<BR/><BR/>Liked the first Potter-movie though, but haven't seen any of the others yet, guess I'll at least have to do that :)<BR/><BR/>Anyhow, I can fully agree with you in your view of litterature here, great post!Kaffepaushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12345465424685778306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32362551.post-27042627555599615732007-07-17T17:20:00.000-05:002007-07-17T17:20:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kaffepaushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12345465424685778306noreply@blogger.com