Continuing my series about the foreshadowing in Harry Potter I am realizing that it makes complete sense that several of the titles have won various awards for Young Adult Mysteries. Normally, I wouldn't have classified these books as mysteries, but each one of them actually is. This is why foreshadowing is so well done in the books. J.K. Rowling leaves us clues to understand the truth and we can figure it out if we try hard enough.
Scabbers illness was one of the examples. Hermione eventually figured out that Scabbers illness was tied to the escape of Sirius Black. Turns out Scabbers was ill because he was stressed out that he old friend was going to come and kill him. Not without good cause since that was exactly what Sirius had in mind. Throughout the book there are clues that not all is right with Scabbers. When he is examined at the Magical Menagarie Rowling points out that Scabbers is missing a toe. This was foreshadowing the revelation that all that was found of Peter Pettigrew was his finger. Finally, when Scabbers is revealed to be Pettigrew in Animagus form it is fully revealed that Pettigrew cut off his own finger to fake his death.
Hermione is the voice of reason and faith again. Her unwavering faith in Crookshanks turns out to be well placed. Crookshanks was the trustworthy one all along and it was Scabbers that was untrustworthy. As demonstrated by the Sneak-a-scope going off when Crookshanks attacks Scabbers. Hermione incedentally is one who's faith in Snape was well placed. She trusts him right up until he kills Dumbledore in Book 6. She believes all along that Dumbledore must have reasons for trusting Snape.
Rowling also gave us some good foreshadowing with the names on the Marauder's Map. When Harry asked Lupin if he knew these folks he demures but admits that he does know them. As the authors of the Marauder's Map are revealed to be none other than James, Sirius, Remus and Peter the names Prongs, Padfoot, Moony and Wormtail make sense and had been a clue as to what was going on all along.
I recently posted in a discussion on GoodReads.com that J.K. Rowling doesn't really trick us. The bad guys are bad guys. I may have to retract that statement. In this book there were clues all along that Sirius wasn't out to get Harry. For example, He apparently went after Ron, but didn't kill him even though he hadn't been reluctant to kill innocent Muggles years before. Well this as all a clue that he wasn't in fact after Ron or Harry nor had he killed any innocent Muggles. He was after Pettigrew. Even with these clues, I don't think I expected Sirius to be good and I certainly didn't suspect Ron's rat. But it is clear that Rowling planned from the beginning the storyline with Pettigrew. She was certain to have him present in all the books and that we knew that he had been in the family for a long time. Rowling shows her craft and foresight in this book.
Rowling also has some great word play in this book. The names on the Marauder's Map was a fun play on words. The code names for each Animagus form are clever and engaging. Crookshanks, with his bowed legs ( Crooked shanks) also imply he may be some kind of a crook and possibly untrustworthy, distracting us from the true sneak, Scabbers. Dementors who suck out life's happiness imply that to be unhappy and focus on the negatives of life is truly demented. Remus Lupin was like Sirius Black an interesting word play. I mentioned in an earlier post that Sirius is the dog star and well he's a black dog. Remus was the name of the brother to Romulus for whom Rome was named. Both brothers were, according to legend, suckled by a wolf which gave them great strength and wisdom to lead the people. Lupin is a form of lupine which means wolf-like. His whole names indicates that he is a were-wolf.
Rowling sures gives us lots to think about which makes these books fun to come back to even when they mystery is over and we know what the result will be it's still draws us in as the The Grim drags Ron under the Whomping Willow and out to the shrieking shack.
Well, see you in Hogsmeade.
Thinking about what I teach and why I teach it
6 years ago
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