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17 June 2014
MYTH AND SYMBOLS IN HARRY POTTER
The Harry Potter book and movie series is a very popular institution. Underneath it all the series is unavoidably mythic and full of symbols. It beings with Harry himself, who is a typical mythic hero. During the series he is involved with typical archetypal characters such as the wise old mentor played by Dumbledore and the evil character Lord Voldemort. J.K. Rowling, the author, creates an entire mythic world full of new beings and mythic beings of old lore.
Some examples of this is the author's reference to Mermen from classical literature along with the Veela of Bulgaria (Colbert 245). There are also Grindylow from Britain and Irish Leprechauns. There is a Cerberus from the King Arthur legends and representing the Greek mythology there are centaurs. There are kelpies swimming in a well, elves, and a basilisk. There are Manticores from Asia and kappas from Japan (Colbert 139).
Fawkes flies in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Pr...
The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter
Lord Voldemort on the back of Professor Quirrell's...There are giants, doxies, and dragons. Adding to the well-known mythic beings, are also the author's own creations from her mind only. For example she introduces and strange hybrid of a Manticore and Firecrab which she calls a Blast-Ended Skrewt.
Rowling often uses mythical creatures as comic relief in her books. There is Dobby the house elf who is the ultimate trickster also. She makes fun of the titles of books that the ridiculous teacher Gilderoy Lockhart has written like "Break with a Banshee" and "Gadding with Ghouls". Cornish pixies are seen as nuisances like mosquitoes and gnomes are pests in the garden. On the flip side, the things that Muggles (non-magic folk) believe to be mythical are actually real.
The author takes her mythical world and also makes it mirror the real world. The wizards have regular jobs,