Does JKR's Narration Fit The Mold? (long)

[Rosemary]

No: HPFGUIDX 1794

	Sorry it took me so long to respond to thisI had to get my thoughts in
order. What strikes me is how many conventional elements JKR actually
uses. I dont think there is anything wrong with this. Conventional is
just another way to say classic. The only difference with trickster
stories is that a secondary character is married and crowned instead of
the central protagonist, who rides off into the sunset (or the sequel). 
	If you want academic respect for heroic fantasy adventure stories you are
facing an uphill battle. Classically trained professors are (or were)
taught to regard anything later than Homer as derivative and sad endings
as superior to happy ones.   Tolkien had a lot to say on this subject,
read "On Fairy Stories" and "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics"
	What * is * unconventional about JKRs plots is the timing. In a
conventional /classic plot theres a midpoint -- exactly half way
through the story something happens which fundamentally changes the
heros perception of the problem and puts the hero on course to confront
the villain. This is step thirteen in Ebony's list.  For example, in Return
of the Jedi, it is just halfway through the film that Luke finds out for
certain that Darth is his father, Leia is his sister, and "It is I who
must face Vader"
	What JKR does is push this point almost to the end of the story. The
turning point in SS is Harrys realization that Hagrid has betrayed
Fluffys secret and the stone is in peril. "And Im going out of here
tonight and Im going to try and get to the Stone first."  That doesnt
happen till a week before the end of term and about forty pages from the
end. JKRs artistry consists in maintaining our interest over an
unusually long arc, then rushing events to their conclusion, which is
why the final chapters of her books are so intense.  
	The method has some drawbacks. Events pile up so furiously at the end
that its hard to follow the action. I had to read the conclusions of
all the books several times before I felt I understood what was
happening.  Also, the delays dont always seem logical. Why didnt
Quirrel decoy Dumble out of the way and go after the stone as soon as
hed found out how to get past Fluffy (9 weeks before!), why didnt
Pettigrew flee Hogwarts as soon as he realized Black was in the area,
why didnt the false Moody arrange to give Harry a portkey as part of
one of the earlier tasks? CoS seems to have the best handle on this,
with the intervals resulting from Riddle having to wait till someone
writes in the diary. On the other hand, Voldemort and his minions
needn't behave like human beings --  a long period of inactivity
preceding a sudden, violent strike is very snake like.  
		Pippin