Average Harry? (was: International Conference Discusses HP, Tolkien)

[Caius Marcius]

No: HPFGUIDX 18737

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Ebony Elizabeth Thomas" <ebonyink at h...> 
wrote:
> Hi Jim and list:
> 
> Jim wrote:
> >I just found a good article about the recent International Congress
> >on Medieval Studies held at Western Michigan University in 
Kalamazoo,
> >MI.
> >
> >http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/12/arts/12MIDD.html (site 
registration
> >required)
> >
> >Here's a quote from the story:
> 
> 
> Oh, but Jim, I think that you're overstating here.  :-)  
Superheroes come 
> from a venerable tradition as well... one that is just as worthy 
and even 
> older than the everyday hero (whose heroism, it can be stated, 
separates 
> them from the pack anyway).  Protagonists with extraordinary 
abilities are 
> directly descended from folkloric archetypes.
> 
> And Harry's extraordinary as well

Another parallel would be King Arthur, who according to legend was 
regarded by all as a seemingly nondescript sort of kid until he 
unknowingly removed Excalibur from the stone.  This aspect of Arthur- 
gawky kid on the verge of discovering his destiny -  is dealt with 
very well in TH White's The Sword in the Stone.

  - CMC