ReadWriteThink.org and the ALA website are great resources for Banned Books Week (Sept 24-Oct 1st).
Here are a couple of blog posts about my two of favorite banned books:
Tag Archives: J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter Lives On
Image via Wikipedia
Today newscasters are lamenting the END of the Harry Potter franchise. While the movies may be ending, Harry Potter will live on! Here are three ways fans will continue to experience Harry:
1) While the movie franchise may be ending, the Harry Potter e-book revolution is just beginning. In October of this year J. K. Rowling will launch a new chapter in Potterdom with POTTERMORE. Profits from POTTERMORE and the e-books will carry Harry to new heights! Learn more at: http://www.pottermore.com/.
2) The theme park in Orlando, Florida will carry on. http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/
3) The fans that run The Leaky Cauldron will continue with LeakyCon their annual charity conference. LeakyCon 2011 blasted off on July 13, 2011. Follow the convention at: http://www.leakycon.com/.
Rather than mourn today’s release of Part II of the final Harry Potter movie, The Deathly Hallows, I am celebrating by gathering a few of my favorite articles regarding the Harry Potter series. Each article builds upon the one before it. The links and information are divided into three sections:
- Reading With Harry!
- Ban Harry?
- The Novels: Further Discussions
Bear in mind that many of the articles contain SPOILERS, but even if you haven’t read the series, I would encourage parents and educators to explore the deeper meaning of the books through these articles.
1. READING WITH HARRY!
http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0908/features/ivory_tower.shtml
This article, Harry Potter and the Ivory Tower, is written by my favorite writer for Potter analysis, John Granger. (Yes, that is his real last name! He is not related to Hermione.) Visit his blog at: http://www.hogwartsprofessor.com/johngranger/.
I agree with Mr. Granger that Harry Potter was inspired by great literature. I especially enjoyed his comparison of the Potter books to Jane Austen. For more information, read John Granger’s Book:
Harry Potter’s Bookshelf: The Great Books Behind the Hogwarts Adventures.
Before we continue into the next section (Ban Harry?), you need to understand the importance of symbolism. This article discusses the alchemical tradition in English literature. http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=16-09-034-f
2. BAN HARRY?
Is Harry Potter evil? This is the fundamental question swirling around the controversial series. Here are two articles that address that question. The first explores a statement J.K. Rowling made with respect to witchcraft in the stories: “Witchcraft is just a metaphor for this other world of possibilities, beyond convention, that the mind can reach.” Read the full article at: http://www.hogwartsprofessor.com/witchcraft-is-just-a-metaphor/
The next link (http://thinkingmatters.org.nz/tag/harry-potter/) will provide you with three short essays. The first, Is the Magic of Harry Potter Evil, emphasizes the importance of understanding the symbolism in the books. If you continue scrolling down, two more articles present themselves. Muggle Matters: Is Harry Potter a Doorway to the Occult explores five reasons why Harry is NOT evil. Continue scrolling down for the final article: Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows: A Christian novel?
I’ve visited more than 525 elementary schools across the United States in the past ten years, and reactions to Harry Potter are always mixed. Sadly, some schools have banned Harry Potter. The next article addresses and rebukes many of the specific arguments used to ban Harry.
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/features/essays/issue13/BookBanning
Image via Wikipedia
3. THE NOVELS: Further Discussion…
Harry Potter and…
(1) The Philosopher’s Stone (aka The Sorcerer’s Stone)
http://www.synaxis.org/catechist/SorcerersStone.pdf
This PDF is a brief study guide created by David Elfering of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Omaha.
(2) The Chamber of Secrets
http://www.george-macdonald.com/resources/granger.html
Another John Granger article entitled: Harry Potter and the Inklings: The Christian Meaning of the Chamber of Secrets. One of my favorite quotes is in this article:
A very famous writer once said, “A book is like a mirror. If a fool looks in, you can’t expect a genius to look out.” –J. K. Rowling on NBC’s Today Show, 10/20/2000
(3) The Prisoner of Azkaban
http://canadianchristianity.com/cgi-bin/na.cgi?film/harrypotter-prisoner
(4) The Goblet of Fire
http://journals.sfu.ca/pgi/index.php/pacificamyth/article/viewArticle/10/55
(5) The Order of the Phoenix
http://www.hogwartsprofessor.com/guest-essay4-st-norbert-and-the-canons-regular-of-premontre-reflections-on-a-bishop-a-headmaster-and-the-twelve-uses-of-dragon’s-blood/
(6) The Half-Blood Prince
http://www.hogwartsprofessor.com/is-dumbledore-a-christ-figure-in-half-blood-prince/
(7) The Deathly Hallows
The Deathly Hallows Lectures online at:
http://www.hogwartsprofessor.com/deathly-hallows-20-discussion-points-an-introduction/
Or Read John Granger’s Book- The Deathly Hallows Lectures: The Hogwart’s Professor Explains the Final Harry Potter Adventure
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/features/essays/issue27/the-forbidden-forest
http://www.hogwartsprofessor.com/deathly-hallows-part-1-a-readers-movie-notes/
LONG LIVE HARRY!
Tammy Carter Bronson 