Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born on July 31, 1965 at Yate General Hospital in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire. Throughout her young life, she attended Wyedean Comprehensive and then Exeter University where she earned degrees in French and Classics. She became a bilingual secretary and quickly learned that this career was not meant for her. After this, she worked as an English teacher in Portugal and then eventually a French teacher to support herself and her daughter.
Rowling’s heroine is Jessica Mitford, a human rights activist, because “she is a brave and idealistic person.” She continues to say that these are characteristics she admires in people. Rowling enjoys British comedy, such as Monty Python. If she ever has any free time, she enjoys traveling if she can bring her daughter along. Contrary to popular belief, Rowling did not begin writing Harry Potter on napkins, she actually wrote in notepads. She wishes to end that myth.
In an interview, when asked how she came up with the idea of Harry Potter, she answered that the idea just came to her. She began writing and outlining the plots of the first five books when she was on a train to Manchester. Rowling and her husband divorced and she and her young daughter moved to Edinburgh in the UK where she finished and published her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This book was later published in America as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. It took several attempts for this book to be published, as she was turned down by many publishing companies. Eventually, from her own persistence, the book was published by Bloomsbury.
In the Harry Potter series, Rowling finds herself most resembling Hermione both in looks as well as personality. She also believes her daughter is taking on the same characteristics and traits. When she was younger, she did not enjoy sports, nor was she good at them. In the same interview as above, she explains that this is why she chose to have a sport such as Quidditch and flying, because these are things she’s always wanted to do.
It is extremely interesting to me that these books are banned in the US. Children are so compelled by reading these novels that they read them over and over again. Why would we take that away from them? The very core of this series is imagination and creativity, something that all children have. Shutting down that creativity is a huge mistake in my mind because it turns them away from reading. They are writing about what they are reading in Harry Potter and reading about the writing. Isn’t this what educators have been trying to accomplish for many years?
This leads me to educational implications. I think that there is often a huge barrier between the home and school, so a positive way to get parents involved in their children’s education is to bring the series into the classroom. If parents were to read the series along with their children who are reading it in school, it could create more discussion for parents and children as well as a clear understanding for why children love reading it so much. Teachers could have students write letters to J.K. Rowling about what they liked about the series, what they wished went a little different, biographical questions, etc. Central themes throughout the entire series are loyalty, friendship, survival, and many more. These themes could be explored along with other books such as The Lord of the Rings or classical literature. In the series, the characters are so deeply developed. An activity to develop characters in student stories would be to explore the characters in Harry Potter and study how these characters develop, grow and change.
Discussion Questions on Harry Potter:
1. Throughout the series, Harry and his friends are constantly fighting for their own survival. How do you think children can identify with this fight for survival? Or do you think they don’t relate to this? Could this be a reason for the constant admiration of the series from children everywhere?
2. What examples of loyalty are prominent in the series and do you think children and adults would act the same way or would they fend for themselves if it meant life or death? What are your ideas on Snape and loyalty?
3. Even in a magical world, there are still groups of people who are discriminated against. Why do you think J.K. Rowling chose to incorporate this theme in her novels? Do you think there could be a real world without prejudice?
Interactive Websites/Lesson Plans
http://www.teach-nology.com/themes/lang_arts/potter/
http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/home.asp
Interviews With Rowling
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8599597/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVfD3LMk6Fw
Fanfiction:
http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/
The discussion question on loyalty struck me because it is a major theme in the Twilight series as well. I wonder is this is a theme that particularly speaks to the young adult reader. It is certainly highly valued in peer relationships, and in families and families going through trauma (divorce, abuse..) Just wondering...
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting, having never read the Harry Potter series, that Rowling incorporates discrimination even in a magical world. Even though it is fiction, you still need real-life connections to help both the plot and the reader. My question is do you think young adoloscent readers pick up on the discrimination or just assume that one is good and one is bad? There has always been a good side and bad side, especially throughout history, so I wonder if they just accept that trend as is without necessarily processing it.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking to your first discussion question, I don't know if children really do relate to the subject of a fight for survival. But I don't think relating is the only criteria for people liking a book. I remember reading this when I was eleven years old and still today I had and have no prior experiences that help me to be sympathetic to Harry's plight. But I still love it! I think that's because the book opens up so much of a person's imagination that the reader can just pretend. The reader can say to herself "What would I do in this situation?"
ReplyDeleteI really love that Rowling designed this series to deal with so many complex, real-life issues. Having read the entire series multiple times (because I started when I was 10), I really see the effort and mastery that went into crafting these books--the smallest detail from the first or second book can be a truly revealing element of foreshadowing for events in the later installments. Although Harry Potter is banned in classrooms, I think the fact that he is a pop culture icon makes these books a great reference point for many of the issues that we want students to identify in other genres.
ReplyDeleteI really disagree with Harry Potter being banned in classrooms. I have listened to arguments about not using the books because of wizardry and how it goes against some religions. As an educator I do not think this is a strong argument because students are exposed to many things that are worse than wizardry. Students should be able to read a book for enjoyment without the notion that it will change or alter their belief system. If the argument is that a book can change a student's thoughts in a negative way, then there is even more of a reason for students to read the book in school so that an educator can guide them through it and discuss the issues. If not, do we ban the Wizard of Oz because of the Wicked Witch? What about fairy tales like Snow White where the Queen has a magic mirror and other fairy tales where the evil villain can change appearance?
ReplyDeleteI think loyalty is a big topic that should be discussed in multiple genres with adolescents. Although I have not read this series, yet ( I want to watch the next 2 movies, on book seven first ), I see that many of the book series available for the adolescent reader involve the issue of loyalty. Reading the comments left y others, both Twilight and the Percy series have this issue as a good conversation starter. And I agree with Mike about what will be banned next? I understand the conflict with wizardry, but banned? Isn't that a little harsh for a best-selling, record-braking, highly sought after reading series? As Ali mentioned, there is much to be said about the intricacies laid out throughout the series, and the discussions that this, and others like it, could bring to the classroom. I'm not saying that schools should devote a course to the Potter Bible, but it seems that there are elements that this series shares with many others that aren't banned, and that it even does a better job addressing.
ReplyDeleteIt's so great for students to know Rowling's methods for writing. Knowing that she outlined the first five books on a train highlights an important part of writing.
ReplyDeleteAs well as reading, writing always will play a crucial role in the classroom, so it's great that you included the fan fiction too.