[HPforGrownups] Re: A midget in glasses,

[Falcon]

No: HPFGUIDX 51006


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: serenadust <jmmears at comcast.net> 
  To: HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 12:33 PM
  Subject: [HPforGrownups] Re: A midget in glasses,



  Jo Serenadust

  >Sorry to keep flogging this comatose horse, but I still think that 
  >in the context Trelawney is using "mean" she "means" that Harry is 
  >short (not the mathematical "mean" ie average).

  Me: Mathematical or not, when "mean" is used in conjunction with "stature" it is describing a person's average height. The context is that she is talking about his physical description. "Mean" when used to describe someone refers to their average size. It don't matter how much you disagree with it, that's the way it is. Sorry to be like this, but it seems like no one is willing to let the boy grow. Most want him to remain short and skinny, when his father was tall, so he could very well get tall. I don't know what the British consider average height, maybe someone could enlighten us. I see Ron as around 6 feet tall, and Harry is probably between 5 feet 7 inches, and 6 feet tall. That's about average.

  GoF Chapter 13

  "I was saying that Saturn was surely in a position of power in the 
  heavens at the moment of your birth...Your dark hair..your mean 
  stature...tragic losses so young in life... I think I am right in 
  sayin, my dear, that you were born in midwinter?"

  "No," said Harry, "I was born in July."

  (This exchange cracks both me and Ron up)


  Jo Serenadust>

  >She is describing Harry's distinct characteristics as evidence for 
  >his having a midwinter birthday.  I don't see why she would mention 
  >his "average" height as a distinguishing characteristic for those 
  >born in midwinter.  In addition to Ron's "midget in glasses" joke, 
  >Harry keeps mentioning his own lack of height in relation to others, 
  >all through the book.  Of course, I agree that compared to Ron, 
  >nearly everyone is probably short, but Harry has been described as 
  >being small in each of the first 3 books, and is described 
  >as "skinny" in the second chapter of GoF (although admittedly it 
  >doesn't mention his height in this passage). 

  I don't doubt that at 14/15 he could still have a huge growth spurt 
  that would close the gap between himself and his peers, height-wise, 
  but I still think that Trelawney is describing Harry's stature as 
  small, rather than average.

  Jo Serenadust

  Me: I could agree, except that she used "mean" instead of words to describe smallness like; "diminutive," or "miniscule." Mean is average when referring to a person's description. I hate to be this way, but it is. It don't matter how much you don't like it, "mean" equals "average" when you use it to describe a person. I know Harry can still grow and catch up to his peers. I did it. At 14 I was 5'5", then at 16 I was 6 feet. At 17 I was 6' 2 1/2. I started life as smaller than the other kids. I was 5'3 when I was in 7th grade by 12th grade, I was 6 feet 3 and three quarter inches. I didn't start really growing until I was 15. Harry's dad was tall, it's not inconceivable that Harry will be tall too.



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