Dead Narrative Sources in lit (PoV)

[cornflower_o_shea]

No: HPFGUIDX 31211

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "ftah3" (Mahoney) <ftah3 at y...> wrote:

> I believe also that the fact that POV *is* third person, though in 
a 
> sympathetic/opinionated form, is used to do some things besides 
> nurture the bond between the reader and Harry.  
> 
> It's used to give the reader a broader perspective.  It allows the 
> reader to either stay completely within the Harry-centric realm of 
> understanding (i.e., see no further than sympathy with Harry nor 
the 
> scope of his own vision), or else move beyond what Harry sees and 
> understands at any given moment to what may be occuring in the big 
> picture.
> 
> On one hand, that comes into play when the focus is on a different 
> character entirely, i.e. Uncle Vernon or the Riddle's 
groundskeeper.  
> The reader benefits from exposition Harry misses; it gives *us* 
> clues, or background, even if things remain more mysterious to the 
> hero.

Yes, I agree. It is also used to set up the contrast between Harry 
and the others; so we get these non-Harry non-Hero chapters right at 
the beginning of PS and GoF to lead into our introduction to Harry. 
This works to particular effect, I think, because after those 
chapters we see Harry at his lowest and most vulnerable, stuck in 
the cupboard, or alone in his room with his scar burning. In other 
words we are able to watch Harry journey towards his heroicness, and 
even in GoF that journey is still surprising. We know Harry is a 
hero from the other books, but JK makes it new and surprising all 
over again by using that contrast and setting up the journey from 
Harry's most vulnerable point. Also, it helps us understand why 
Harry would still doubt himself, despite his prior achievements.  

> It's as if a child or young adult and an adult were 
> conversing as if each is smart enough to understand the other ~ 
> granting different levels of understanding, but still mutual 
> intelligence.  Er, if that makes any sense.  

Total sense to me! Well put! :) Cheers!

- Cornflower O'Shea

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"Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" -Albus Dumbledore

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