Wands, Writing, Sir Cadogan, and Poetry (an essay?)

[Arachne Webbstir]

No: HPFGUIDX 59127

I'm not sure if the following could be classified as an essay, OT Chatter, 
or what.  All I  know is that it's my first attenpt to post on the HPFGU 
book forum.  Advice from your staff what to "do" with it would be welcome!

Poetry is a form of transfiguration.  Using metaphors, one thing can be 
turned into something else quite
different, like "the sun *is* a  yellow flower", or "a flower *is* a sun".

Wands are very like pens or pencils that can work word "magic".  In 
Rowling's wizarding world, the former implements have a core like the ink or 
lead running through the middle of the latter.

The care and forethought needed when writing with quills and ink may teach 
young wizards and witches to also practice care in using magic. ( Look at 
the messes Muggles can get into by sending hasty e-mails!)  In interview 
quoted in biography by Mark Shapiro, J.K. ROWLING: THE WIZARD BEHIND HARRY 
POTTER, page 86, Rowling said, although she could now afford a computer, she 
still prefered writing longhand on paper (at least before she wrote 700-plus 
page GOBLET OF FIRE).

Charms class "swish and flick" motions resemble those loosening exercises 
for pen and ink calligraphy that I recall from classroom days long before 
children pecked at a computer keyboard  instead of learning "penmanship".


A poet (a term that includes writers of poetic prose) could be defined as 
someone who makes connections that most other people don't--but once 
demonstrated, can be seen by many.
Sir Cadogan (the "painted" knight who guides 3rd year Ron, Harry, and 
Hermione to Sibyll Trelawney's tower classroom) has been linked to the White 
Knight in ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS.  But has anyone also tied him to  
CADOGAN GUIDE TO SCOTLAND?

That travel book guided me to Transfiguration Professor McGonagall's 
namesake, who it calls "Scotland's worst poet"--although he's quoted a lot 
in its pages anyway!  I later found other HP researchers made the link 
between poet and professor, although apparently through other resources.  By 
the way, double checking my spelling just now reminds me of Hagrid's saying 
he couldn't "spell" Voldemort--could Rowling have intended a double meaning 
in that remark?

A relative of mine wrote hundreds of poems and songs (not in English, so I 
won't quote any), as well as playing nine musical instruments and being a 
chess master and surveyor.  (Sounds like a Chocolate Frog biography, but 
it's true.)  Perhaps I share some of his way of seeing unusual likenesses, 
also known as similes and  metaphors.  A writer whose book earned favorable 
remarks in LE MONDE newspaper--something not easy to do-- said images/verses 
I wrote, before I knew of my relative's work, was a true poem.

If others feel I possess poetic perception, I hope to share more of my 
thoughts (insights?) on Rowling's work in the near future.

Thanks for reading my first post on the HP forum,

ARANITA WEBBSTIR

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