Harry's Intelligence

[ftah3]

No: HPFGUIDX 32595

theo_kestrel wrote:
> > 
> > I'm curious to know what people's thoughts are on the subject of 
> > Harry's intelligence. Harry is often described as being eerily 
> > similar to his father in many ways, in regards to looks, 
Quidditch 
> > skill, and even personality traits. Being the son of his father, 
> who 
> > was Head Boy in his time, and his mother, the Head Girl, I'm 
> curious 
> > why his own academic achievements seem to be less than impressive 
> > when compared to his parents. Is he simply not as intelligent as 
> his 
> > parents? 

zoehooch wrote:
> I have come to believe that Harry is a tremendously gifted wizard 
and 
> will continue to get even greater with more study. But like many 
> people, the classroom bores him silly, but when he's faced with a 
> real-world situation, that is, a real-wizard-world situation, he 
does 

I also take into account that Harry has spent his life being told 
he's worthless.  In which case, it doesn't suprise me that, upon 
being thrust into a brand new and strange world, he doesn't jump out 
and take chances in trying out his abilities, because I don't expect 
him to have enough self-confidence.  Rather, he happened upon 
something that came naturally to him ~ broom-riding/Quidditch ~ and 
now feels that it's the only thing he's good at (which he thinks to 
himself at one point...can't remember where) despite the fact that he 
hasn't actually applied himself to his classes.

On the other hand, we have seen that when he does work at his other 
wizarding skills, he succeeds admirably.  He summons a Patronus, 
which Lupin admits is an extremely difficult spell to perform even 
for a studied wizard.  He manages to summon his broomstick to him in 
GoF, after practicing at it.  I guess it just seems that while 
spellcasting et al don't come as naturally to him as Quidditch, it 
doesn't mean he's stupid or incapable of using sophisticated wizard 
skills; it just means, imho, he hasn't worked at it hard enough, 
whether because the classes are bored or he doesn't want to try and 
fail, or both/neither/plus some.

Er.
Mahoney