Long Grim Analysis (was Very Little Foreshadowing?)

[caliburncy at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 25463

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., cynthiaanncoe at h... wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., caliburncy at y... wrote:
> > But 
> > I wanted a single, good example of first-time foreshadowing AT 
IT'S 
> > VERY BEST.  
> Luke, 
> 
> If you're still out there, I'm wondering about 
> foreshadowing/misdirection in the books.  There are times when JKR 
> foreshadows (first-time), but then seems to use something 
> (misdirection?  author prophesy?) to throw us off the trail.  
> 
> Best example that occurs to me is the Grim in PoA.  We are told 
again 
> and again that Harry sees a black dog, then nearly gets killed.  But 
> we are also told early and often that Trelawney (who speaks often of 
> the Grim) is a fraud.  We also have Harry seeing a Grim in a book in 
> Diagon Alley, which suggests that it really is a death omen.  I 
doubt 
> anyone guessed that Sirius was the Grim, so what are the techniques 
> that make this storyline work?
> 
> Cindy

Ooh, a challenge to put my categorizations to the test!  Neat! . . . 
(ponders) . . . Gee, I hope they don't fail.

Okay, it seems to me that the best way to discuss this is 
chronologically with all the relevant instances (translation: 
everywhere the Grim is brought up) from the book quoted and then 
commenting on them as we go.  There are page numbers if you want to 
follow along, but they're for the First American Edition (hardcover). 
 Sorry about that for people with other editions: I'll give the 
chapters as well to help you guys out.  Anyway, I'm doing full quotes 
so cross-referencing shouldn't be necessary at all unless you want to 
review the larger context.

Also, I use capital letters in place of italics in these quotes, since 
this mailing list doesn't handle italics AFAIK.  And any edits to make 
the context clear are in brackets.

One last note (I swear!), before I start, is that since the Grim is an 
omen and omens are real-life foreshadowing, the appearances of the 
Grim are all supposed to look like first-time foreshadowing, but in 
the mechanics of the story they may not really function this way as 
literary devices (if that makes sense).  I have tried to point out 
when I think this is the case.

*****

CHAPTER 3, PAGE 33

Harry saw, quite distinctly, the hulking outline of something very 
big, with wide, gleaming eyes.

-----

This is the first appearance of the Grim (Sirius).  At this point, we 
know nothing about it at all, not even that it is a dog.  This is 
first-time foreshadowing and it raises the story question of "What is 
it that Harry saw?"  No explanations are provided yet.

*****

CHAPTER 3, PAGE 34

   "There was a big black thing," said Harry, pointing uncertainly 
into the gap.  "Like a dog . . . but massive . . ."

-----

Harry now tells us what he saw, answering our earlier story question 
more or less, but raising another one (almost an extension of the old 
one) which is basically "What is the significance of the dog?"  For 
this reason, this is also first-time foreshadowing.  Notice we again 
have no implied explanation for this new question.

*****

CHAPTER 4, PAGE 53-54

   But Harry wasn't listening.  His eyes had fallen on another book, 
which was among a display on a small table: DEATH OMENS: WHAT TO DO 
WHEN YOU KNOW THE WORST IS COMING.
   "Oh, I woudn't read that if I were you," said the manager lighty, 
looking to see what Harry was staring at.  "You'll start seeing death 
omens everywhere.  It's enough to frighten anyone to death."
   But Harry continued to stare at the front cover of the book; it 
showed a black dog large as a bear, with gleaming eyes.  It looked 
oddly familiar. . . .

-----

Finally, we are given an alleged explanation for the dog, that it is 
some kind of death omen.  This is second-time foreshadowing really, 
but it is disguised to look like first-time foreshadowing in a way, 
since even though we've just been given an explanation, it's not 
really an answer to our story question, therefore it makes you wonder 
even more.  The fundamental question remains, perhaps slightly 
modified to "What is the significance of the dog being a death omen?" 
or, if you make the intended next step, "Is Harry going to die?"

*****

CHAPTER 4, PAGE 54-55

   "It can't have been a death omen," [Harry] told his refelection 
defiantly.  I was panicking when I saw that thing in Magnolia 
Crescent. . . . It was probably just a stray dog. . . ."
   He raised his hand automatically and tried to make his hair lie 
flat.
   "You're fighting a losing battle there, dear," said his mirror in a 
wheezy voice.

-----

This is not really foreshadowing, but as it's reflecting upon the 
above scene with the DEATH OMENS book, it certainly bears inclusion.  
Here Harry tries unsuccessfully to convice himsef that the dog is not 
a death omen.  Of course, JKR does want us to believe that it is a 
death omen, so why does she do this?  Because a failed attempt to 
provide another explanation subconciously lends credence to the 
original explanation in people's minds.  Also, on a side note, I have 
to give a nod to JKR for a cute piece of double entendre on the 
mirror's part.

*****

CHAPTER 4, PAGE 68

[But first, the context, because here it's quite important.  Harry was 
just reflecting on how everyone is scared for him since Sirius Black 
is after him and they don't think he can protect himself.  Now then:]

   Unbidden, the image of the beast in the shadows of Magnolia 
Crescent crossed his mind.  WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU KNOW THE WORST IS 
COMING. . . .
   "I'm not going to be murdered," Harry said out loud.
   "That's the spirit, dear," said his mirror sleepily.

-----

This is not exactly foreshadowing either: like the above quote it 
continues rehashing the "Is Harry going to die?" question and not 
answering it, which is actually to good effect because it creates a 
little bit of tension on the point, like a dissonant note that just 
won't resolve (for any music folks out there).  But it's not total 
repetion, because it establishes a connection that, heretofore, wasn't 
technically put forth in the text.  This is the implication that there 
is a connection between Sirius Black being after Harry and Harry's 
seeing the death omen.  The vast majority of people will have already 
made this connection, however.  Notice that the implied connection 
though, is the most obvious one (which eventually proves false): that 
Harry might be killed by Sirius.  No hints are given that there might 
be another reason (that Sirius IS the death omen).  Therefore this is 
a piece of misdirection, giving a perfectly viable alleged explanation 
to the significance of the death omen.

*****

CHAPTER 6, PAGE 107

   "My dear," Professor Trelawney's huge eyes opened dramatically, 
"you have the Grim."
   "The what?" said Harry.
   He could tell that he wasn't the only one who didn't understand; 
Dean Thomas shrugged at him and Lavender Brown looked puzzled, but 
nearly everybody else clapped their hands to their mouths in horror.
   "The Grim, my dear, the Grim!" cried Professor Trelawney, who 
looked shocked that Harry hadn't understood.  "The giant, spectral dog 
that haunts churchyards!  My dear boy, it is an omen--the worst 
omen--of DEATH!"
   Harry's stomach lurched.  That dog on the cover of DEATH OMENS in 
Flourish and Blotts--the dog in the shadows of Magnolia Crescent . . . 
Lavender Brown clapped her hands to her mouth too.

-----

Once again, not really foreshadowing (though it's supposed to look 
like more first-time foreshadowing, yet another indication Harry is in 
danger).  This is the first time that the omen is given a name: the 
Grim.  We don't yet know that Trelawney is a fraud (though a few might 
already be suspicious), so this seems to confirm everything.

*****

CHAPTER 6, PAGE 109

[This, BTW, is one of my favorite scenes in the entire series.]

   "Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and 
we were reading the tea leaves, and--"
   "Ah, of course," said Professor McGonagall, suddenly frowning.  
"There is no need to say any more, Miss Granger.  Tell me, which of 
you will be dying this year?"
   Everyone stared at her.
   "Me," said Harry finally.
   "I see," said Professor McGonagall, fixing Harry with her beady 
eyes.  "Then you should know, Potter, that Sibyll Trelawney has 
predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this 
school.  None of them has died yet.  Seeing death omens is her 
favorite way of greeting a new class.  If it were not for the fact 
that I never speak ill of my colleagues--"
   Professor McGonagall broke off, and they saw that her nostrils had 
gone white.  She went on, more calmly, "Divination is one of the most 
imprecise branches of magic.  I shall not conceal from you that I have 
very little patience with it.  True Seers are very rare, and Professor 
Trelawney--"
   She stopped again, and then said, in a very matter-of-fact tone, 
"You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if 
I don't let you off homework today.  I assure you that if you die, you 
need not hand it in."
   Hermione laughed.  Harry felt a bit better.  It was harder to feel 
scared of a lump of tea leaves away from the dim red light and 
befuddling perfume of Professor Trelawney's classroom.  Not everyone 
was convince, however.  Ron still looked worried, and Lavender 
whispered, "But what about Neville's cup?"

-----

Now we discover that Trelawney is a fraud, which seems to shed some 
doubt again on the death omen thing.  So what's the point of this 
scene (beyond the humor and the characterization of Trelawney and 
McGonagall, etc.)?  Surely JKR isn't trying to sow doubt?  Does she 
want us to figure it out?  Well, yes, she is trying to sow doubt and, 
no, it's not so that we can figure it out.  Actually it's because 
things that are CERTAIN go out of your mind and therefore you don't 
worry about them as much, even if they're bad.  If we were too sure 
about Harry's death omens, we wouldn't dwell on them in the same way 
(not knowing is much worse than knowing).  But if the author casts 
just a TINY bit of doubt, without it being enough to really cause the 
reader to question, then they think about it even more--and worry even 
more that (in this case) the death omens might be real--after all it's 
not JUST Trelawney who's seen one--and Harry might die.  Notice that 
JKR casts doubt on the truth of the death omens, but never leaves it 
at that.  She always casts doubt on the doubt as well.

And nothing here causes you to question the connection between Sirius 
and the Grim at all.  We still are made to assume that the Grim (if 
it's real) is there as an omen to Sirius perhaps killing Harry.  That 
false assumption we made is left unchecked on purpose, as it must be. 
 If JKR had ever called it into question, even for a second, she might 
have tipped people off.

*****

The extension of this last scene, which I WAS going to quote (since my 
list is supposed to be comprehensive) but am now not going to since 
this is already long and it's the same thing, is where Hermione and 
Ron find out that Harry saw the Grim in Magnolia Crescent and argue 
over whether it means anything or not.  My comments for this last 
scene basically apply to it as well.  That's because they're part of 
the same idea (the one scene immediately follows the other)

*****

CHAPTER 9, PAGE 178

[A]nother flash of lightning illuminated the stands, and Harry saw 
something that distracted him completely--the silhouette of an 
enormous shaggy black dog, clearly imprinted against the sky, 
motionless in the topmost, empty row of seats.

-----

After letting talk about the Grim slip to the back of our minds for a 
little while, BOOM!, it's back, and this time it's not just talk, but 
another appearance.  Again this is supposed to look like first-time 
foreshadowing of something, perhaps the fact that he falls of his 
broom later when he sees the dementors.  But it's not really.

*****

CHAPTER 10, PAGE 184

   [Harry] hadn't told anyone about the Grim, not even Ron and 
Hermione, because he knew Ron would panic and Hermione would scoff.  
The fact remained, however, that it had now appeared twice, and both 
appearances had been followed by near-fatal accidents; the first time, 
he had nearly been run over by the Knight Bus; the second, fallen 
fifty feet from his broomstick.  Was the Grim going to haunt him until 
he actually died?  Was he going to spend the rest of his life looking 
over his shoulder for the beast?

-----

This makes a firm text connection between the appearance of the Grim 
and Harry's near-fatal accidents.  Most readers could guess this 
anyway.  But notice that they specifically explain the two incidents. 
 Why?  Do they have to?  Couldn't we figure out which ones they mean 
pretty easily?  I suspect it's because the first example, the idea 
that he might have been run over by the Knight Bus is kind of weak.  
Really he probably wasn't in much danger here (though Ernie IS a 
questionable driver).  To a certain extent, Harry's twisting his 
evidence to fit his conclusions.  So if the reader remembered the 
Knight Bus incident on their own, than they might realize it's a 
somewhat weak example and dismiss it.  But when it's there on text 
people accept it less questioningly.  I know that sounds crazy, but 
psychologically it seems to be true.  Anyway, this particular bit is 
just my opinion and less firmly rooted as some of my other comments in 
this analysis.  Maybe I shouldn't have included this.  Someone's sure 
to disagree with me vehemently.  Oh well.  (Puts on blindfold)  Fire 
away!

*****

CHAPTER 15, PAGE 298

Harry felt his heart sinking.  He was sure he knew what was coming--
   "There is something here!" Professor Trelawney whispered, lowering 
her face to the ball, so that it was reflected twice in her huge 
glasses.  "Something moving . . . but what is it?"
   Harry was prepared to bet everything he owned, including his 
Firebolt, that it wasn't good news, whatever it was.  And sure 
enough--
   "My dear. . . ," Professor Trelawney breathed, gazing up at Harry. 
 "It is here, plainer than ever before . . . my dear, stalking toward 
you, growing ever closer . . . the Gr--"
   "Oh, for GOODNESS' sake!" said Hermione loudly.  "Not that 
ridiculous Grim AGAIN!"

-----

This scene is clearly comical, and it makes us experience the near 
tediousness Harry feels at the whole prospect.  Accordingly, nothing 
really new is revealed here.  It's more of the same.  But perhaps the 
casual dismissal is also a 'reverse set-up' for when, five pages 
later, we have yet another revelation about the Grim . . . 

*****

CHAPTER 15, PAGE 303

   Harry set down his goblet and was about to turn back to his bed 
when something caught his eye.  An animal of some kind was prowling 
across the silver lawn.
   Harry dashed to his bedside table, snatched up his glasses, and put 
them on, then hurried back to the window.  It couldn't be the 
Grim--not now--not right before the match--
   He peered out at the grounds again and, after a minute's frantic 
searching, spotted it.  It was skirting the edge of the forest now. . 
. . It wasn't the Grim at all . . . it was a cat. . . . Harry clutched 
the window edge in relief as he recognized the bottlebrush tail.  It 
was only Crookshanks.
   Or WAS it only Crookshanks?  Harry squinted, pressing his nose flat 
against the glass.  Crookshanks seemed to have come to a halt.  Harry 
was sure he could see something else moving in the shadow of the trees 
too.
   And just then, it emerged--a gigantic, shaggy black dog, moving 
stealthily across the lawn, Crookshanks trotting at its side.  Harry 
stared.  What did this mean?  If Crookshanks could see the dog as 
well, how could it be an omen of Harry's death?

-----

FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY we get some true foreshadowing again.  (Yes, 
you can still have foreshadowing this late in the book.)  This is 
first-time foreshadowing.  It raises not just one, but two brand new 
story questions and turns everything upside.  First of all, it raises 
the question of what the connection is between Crookshanks and the 
dog.  Second, it raises Harry's question: If Crookshanks can see the 
dog, isn't it real and therefore not an omen?  JKR finally casts some 
GENUINE doubt on the death omen theory, and now she can afford to 
because we're getting to the end and the pieces are just barely 
starting to fall together.  But it's still too early for the reader to 
really guess the truth.  No explanation is given to this until the 
fun, fun conclusion just a little later so it is here we will stop.

*****

I hope that helped but I'm not sure it really answered your question 
that well.  If it didn't, let me know and I'll do what I can.  Anyway, 
this was fun to do, I only hope that it isn't TOO boring to read.  :-)

-Luke