LOTR, Snape, Dumbledore, & Kidlit deaths

[Trina]

No: HPFGUIDX 1263

> > Killing off a major character in GoF was a major turning point; 
you just do not do that in 99% of children's literature<<

I don't know what books y'all read as children, but in my favorite 
series of books as a youn'un, major characters did die, leaving me in 
a wretched predicament if I happened to be reading during silent 
reading period at school.  It's very difficult to indulge in tears of 
grief if you're sitting at a school desk. (Unexpected tears at 
Matthew's death in _Anne of Green Gables_ in the 7th grade comes to 
mind.) But then again, I liked to read novels from a previous age, 
one in which people died from diseases in childhood.  Therefore, the 
authors wrote of death as a natural part of life (which it is) 
without considering what "damage" it may cause the delicate young 
psyches of the readers.  I hope I'm making sense here.  Please let me 
know if I am not.

As yet another HP addict who has not read LOTR, let me add that all 
the discussion of parallels between the two series is flying clear 
over my head.  I read the Hobbit in High School and enjoyed it.  Went 
to read one of the others and felt as if someone had picked me up and 
dropped me in darkest Africa, I was so lost.  Said book is now unread 
in a box in my spare room closet.  Perhaps I'll give it another go 
now, since its virtues are being extolled with such vehemence here.

As for Snape and Dumbledore.  I think neither is as good or as bad as 
we have been lead to believe. Snape is inexplicably cruel to students 
not in Slytherin, as we all know.  I'd love to know why. Jealousy out 
of being stuck in Slytherin house himself, maybe?  Being thwarted at 
every turn by others when something he desires comes up? I don't 
know. Dumbledore I have to trust. I don't know exactly why.  Perhaps 
because he has a sense of humor?  He certainly hasn't done anything 
to make suspect he is working for the Dark side.  He knows more than 
he lets on , that is true.  Does he know the future?  Does he have 
plan to defeat Voldemort only he knows?  We shall see.  I like the 
ambiguities floating around and the shades of grey in the 
background.  They add dimensions and facets to the series.

Trina (who has lately been lurking, but always present in spirit)