A superfluous point

[dfrankiswork at netscape.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 40288

Pippin originally wrote, in connection with the analysis of minor clues:

"Every sentence serves a purpose, whether it's to entertain, inform, persuade or confuse."

and Dicentra bridled (what does this look like? I'm not sure if I've seen anyone bridle IRL - could you do one of your text diagrams, Dicey?).

So how could we possibly demonstrate that a sentence does not entertain?  If we think that a sentence is completely superfluous, does that mean that it has fulfilled JKR's purpose to confuse us?  How uninformative does a statement of 'fact' have to be, to not inform?  (Incidentally I think JKR does start to build Amos Diggory's character in the Portkey chapter - his remark about Harry falling off his broom is nicely done.)

IOW, I think Pippin's list of purposes is so all-embracing that I'm not sure it, er, serves any purpose.

David


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