[HPforGrownups] Re: Dumbledore and the 'rules' of fiction

[Neil Ward]

No: HPFGUIDX 1166

Susan said:

>>>>>NEVER INSULT ALBUS DUMBLEDORE IN FRONT OF ME

I'm sorry Susan, I'll try not to get in front of you.  I love Dumbledore
too, but as the old saying goes: 'The show ain't over 'til the fat lady sings'. 

>>>>>Someone posted a very eloquent and scholarly post on one of the Harry
Potter lists about how fiction works..

Good for them.  They should get a Nobel prize if they can define "how
fiction works". In my opinion, fiction is about imagination and there should
be no rule book. Why not break moulds and challenge conventions?  I do agree
that there has to be some integrity to the characters and plot, however, and
that we have to trust the portrayal of Harry Potter at least.  With the
other characters there are most likely secrets to be unearthed: some good,
some bad. 

>>>>>>Therefore, Albus Dumbledore is good. He is the great opponent of Lord 
>Voldemort, just as Gandalf is the Enemy of Sauron.

Hmmmm.  That's rather a bald statement given that we're only on Book IV in
the series. I'd say you're almost certainly right, but you're not certainly
right.  

Why does everyone keep mentioning "Lord of the Rings"?  JK Rowling has said
herself that she was not much of a reader of fantasy, so there is no reason
to assume that LOTR was a major influence [correct me if I'm wrong] any more
than there is to assume she has followed a 'how to write fantasy and these
are the rules' guide book.

Neil (a scientist - what did you expect?)   


            Flying-Ford-Anglia

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   "Then, dented, scratched and steaming, 
   the car rumbled off into the darkness, 
   its rear lights blazing angrily"

 [Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]

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