[HPforGrownups] Re: Trelawney--Where did I hear that name before (Sibyll)

[eloiseherisson at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 44354

Regarding Sybill Trelawney, Athena writes:

> Ar um, I think you are overlooking something obvious here.  Like 
> Greek mythology.  According to my handy dandy dictionary the word 
> sibyl means:
> One of a number of women regarded as oracles or prophetesses by 
> ancient Greeks and Romans.
> 
> Although the actress part of Trelawney might be appropriate, I think 
> the Occum's razor leads us to think that Sibyll for her first name 
> is that of traditional meaning.  Just as Sprout is a suitable name 
> for the professor of Herbology.


I don't think either of us was missing anything, actually.
We were discussing the significance of 'Trelawney', not 'Sybill'.
Is there *anyone* on this board who doesn't realise the significance of her 
first name?
Did *either* of us (Suzanne or myself) suggest that it wasn't significant?
It's one of the most obviously meaningful names in the books.

But a frequent topic of conversation is whether or not she is a *true* seer 
(at least most of the time). Allying 'seer' with 'actress' suggests an answer 
to that.
OTOH, it may purely be a name chosen for its regional colour, or one JKR 
likes, or the name of a friend, whatever. If you read my posts you will 
realise that I keep a pretty open mind on a lot of this name meaning stuff. 
If it's really obvious, OK, but (as for Arabella, for instance) there are a 
clutch of suitable meanings, although I may favour one, I don't dismiss the 
others out of hand.

But just because 'Sybill' has a significance, it doesn't mean that 
'Trelawney' doesn't.

Eloise
Who has known what a sybil is for longer than the likes to confess.






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