Contrasted Worlds In The Fiction Of J K Rowling

Thesis (M.A.) from the year 2001 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,1, Saarland University, 52 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: In my thesis, I will analyse the two contrasted fictional worlds that Rowling has created in the first four Harry Potter novels: the mundane Muggle world in which Harry first grows up and the fantasy world he enters once he has learned that he is a wizard. At first, I will establish a theoretical background, dealing with fantasy literature in general. I will give an idea of what constitutes a fantasy world and present several definitions of "fantasy" or "the fantastic". I continue with an attempt to define and locate the two worlds in the Harry Potter novels and to find out how they relate to one another. Inspired by Rosemary Jackson's theory about the fantastic as subversion, I would like to find out whether the wizarding world has any subversive potential. I will analyse why it initially appears subversive and whether or not it lives up to this impression. This will involve an examination of the educational and political system of the wizarding world. I will have a look at the concept of family that the novels promote, and questions of gender will be raised. The central question is: what does it mean to be different in the wizarding world? Is the wizarding world more open to otherness than the Muggle world seems to be? *** In meiner Magisterarbeit analysiere ich die beiden gegensätzlichen fiktionalen Welten, die Rowling in ihren Harry-Potter-Romanen geschaffen hat. Dabei bezieht sich die Arbeit auf die bis zum Erscheinungsdatum der Arbeit veröffentlichten Bände 1-4. Zunächst gebe ich einen sehr kurzen theoretischen Überblick über Fantasy-Literatur im Allgemeinen und und stelle verschiedene Definitionen des Fantastischen vor. Ich beschäftige mich mit der Lokalisierung und Beschaffenheit der beiden kontrastierten Welten in HP und erläutere, in welcher Beziehung sie zueinander stehen. Anknüpfend an Rosemary Jackson's Theory vom Fantastischen als Subversion, untersuche ich, ob Rowlings Zauberwelt tatsächlich subversives Potential besitzt. Dabei unterziehe ich das Schulsystem und das politische System der Zauberwelt einem kritischen Blick. Ich analysiere außerdem das Familienbild, das die Romane entwerfen und beschäftige mich mit Gender-Fragen. Die zentrale Frage ist, wie mit Anderssein in der Zauberwelt umgegangen wird.

The seven books in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series bring together a variety of aspects of young adult fiction and portray youthful rebellion as well as cultural containment and an adolescent's negotiations through these conflicting forces. This detailed study of Harry Potter explores the limits of the formulaic structure of adolescent fantasy fiction and also examines the impulse of exploration, subversion, and resistance contained within the formula. Within both subversion and containment in the narrative, young adult fantasy becomes an embodiment of the experience of adolescence--its angst, rebellion and also its journey of personal maturation.

This indispensable source guide to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels has been revised and updated with information relating to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The titles in the 'Inspirations Series' includes themes from the worlds of sports, ideas, arts, politics, history, science, popular culture and even world faiths and philosophies.

Harry Potter and Beyond explores J. K. Rowling's beloved best-selling series and its virtuoso reimagining of British literary traditions. Weaving together elements of fantasy, the school-story novel, detective fiction, allegory, and bildungsroman, the Harry Potter novels evade simplistic categorization as children's or fantasy literature. Because the Potter series both breaks new ground and adheres to longstanding narrative formulas, readers can enhance their enjoyment of these epic adventures by better understanding their place in literary history. Along with the seven foundational novels of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and Beyond assesses the extraordinary range of supplementary material concerning the young wizard and his allies, including the films of the books, the subsequent film series of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the theatrical spectacle Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and a range of other Potter-inspired narratives. Beyond the world of Potter, Pugh surveys Rowling's literary fiction The Casual Vacancy and her detective series featuring Cormoran Strike, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Through this comprehensive overview of Rowling's body of work, Pugh reveals the vast web of connections between yesteryear's stories and Rowling's vivid creations.

“Jordan has come to dominate the world Tolkien began to reveal.” —The New York Times on The Wheel of Time® series Explore never-before-seen insights into the Wheel of Time, including: - A brand-new, redrawn world map by Ellisa Mitchell using change requests discovered in Robert Jordan's unpublished notes - An alternate scene from an early draft of The Eye of the World - The long-awaited backstory of Nakomi - 8 page, full color photo insert Take a deep dive into the real-world history and mythology that inspired the world of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time®. Origins of The Wheel of Time is written by Michael Livingston, Secretary-General of the United States Commission on Military History and professor of medieval literature at The Citadel, with a Foreword by Harriet McDougal, Robert Jordan's editor, widow, and executor of his estate. This companion to the internationally bestselling series delves into the creation of Robert Jordan’s masterpiece, drawing from interviews and an unprecedented examination of his unpublished notes. Michael Livingston tells the behind-the-scenes story of who Jordan was, how he worked, and why he holds such an important place in modern literature. The second part of the book is a glossary to the “real world” in The Wheel of Time. King Arthur is in The Wheel of Time. Merlin, too. But so are Alexander the Great and the Apollo Space Program, the Norse gods and Napoleon’s greatest defeat—and so much more. Origins of The Wheel of Time provides exciting knowledge and insights to both new and longtime fans looking to either expand their understanding of the series or unearth the real-life influences that Jordan utilized in his world building—all in one, accessible text. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

'A fantasy, a vivid dream...inventive and brilliant' Guardian Henri has a passion for Napoleon - but Napoleon has a passion for chicken. As soldier and emperor butcher their way across Europe, glory falls to ruin and love turns to hate. But, when Henri encounters the red-haired, web-footed Villanelle, he discovers in her an equal. Together they abandon their pasts, and flee to the Venetian canals to meet their singular destiny in the city of chance and disguises. 'A deeply imagined and beautiful book, often arrestingly so.' New York Times

Harry Potter is an ordinary boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs at his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon's house, which he thinks is normal for someone like him who's parents have been killed in a 'car crash'. He is bullied by them and his fat, spoilt cousin Dudley, and lives a very unremarkable life with only the odd hiccup (like his hair growing back overnight!) to cause him much to think about. That is until an owl turns up with a letter addressed to Harry and all hell breaks loose! He is literally rescued by a world where nothing is as it seems and magic lessons are the order of the day. Read and find out how Harry discovers his true heritage at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, the reason behind his parents mysterious death, who is out to kill him, and how he uncovers the most amazing secret of all time, the fabled Philosopher's Stone! All this and muggles too. Now, what are they?