[HPforGrownups] JKR influenced by Frankenstein? Stone and Elixir

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 51783

On 7 Feb 2003 at 0:51, bookworm417 bookworm-417 at cox. wrote:

> I've just started reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein for school, 
> and was reminded of HP by names ending in -us.  I know that 
> that those names are not an unusual occurence. But what 
> REALLY caught my eye was this, near the end of chapter 2: 
> "Under the guidance of my new preceptors I entered with the 
> greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher's stone and 
> the the elixir of life; but the latter soon obtained my undivided 
> attention." Page 26 1991 Bantam edition
> I searched the archives and no Frankenstein showed up ( I hope 
> I spelled it right!) and thought I'd share. I'm a high school student 
> and had never heard of the philosopher's stone or elixir of life 
> until HP; I assumed JKR had made them up!  Are they common 
> fictional elements or historical objects or....?

They are quite well known in mythology. According to much alchemical legend, the 
Philosopher's Stone was created by Albertus Magnus, something around 1250, and it 
appeared in a lot of alchemical works from soon after that.

The Elixir of Life was associated with the Philosopher's Stone and likewise appears in 
quite a bit of alchemical literature - Count Allesandro Cagliostro and his wife Lorenza 
Felicani travelled around Europe selling people the supposed secrets of both, in the late 
18th Century. 

A lot of the things JKR refers to in her books are drawn from history and mythology - and 
many have also been used by other authors along the way.

Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately |webpage: http://www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       |email: drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200

                       "Almighty Ruler of the all;
                 Whose power extends to great and small;
                 Who guides the stars with steadfast law;
                   Whose least creation fills with awe;
                     Oh grant thy mercy and thy grace;
                     To those who venture into space."