[HPforGrownups] Out of Harry's Head

[marilyn at gehennom.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 60559

> In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, vjmullen <vjmullen at k...> wrote:
> > Chapter 1 of GoF is different, though; the point of view is that of 
> > Frank Bryce for the entire chapter after the narrator's 
> > introduction. ...edited...
> > 
> > My question is simply "what" ? what is so important in the Riddle
> > house scene that we have to see it filtered through Frank Bryce's 
> > eyes instead of Harry's? ...edited...
> 
> bboy_mn: 
> JKR breaks a several of these rules (see rule 29), as well as breaking
> some of the standard element of style, although they are more the
> techincal rules than gross mis-applications of language like number 1.
> Yet, she is an excellent writer. 
> 
> So voice and POV can be broken if done properly. Just as parenthesis
> can be used if done correctly. It just that so few writers do it
> correctly, that they created a general rule against it.
> 
> The beginning of GoF, in a sense, is like the start of a whole new
> story; also a well written story. It lulls into complacency, it leads
> us down the garden path, then when we are captivated by the new story,
> and we are least expecting it, she snaps us back to the Harry Potter
> story. The point of this shift from my point of view, is the marvelous
> scensation I got when this mysterious but none the less interesting
> side track suddenly snapped back into Harry's head. What a rush!
> Pretty clever I would say.

I completely agree that it was a well-executed deviation.  GoF has some
horrific things in it, and that first chapter sets amazing tone for the
darkening subject matter as Voldemort begins to regain power.  The pure
*unsettling* nature of having a non-Harry perspective in such a *scary*
chapter (I was the only one awake in a very dark and quiet house after a
wild midnight party; it was thundering outside--I was completely covered
with chills) was a killer detail.  

Apologies for the "me too!" nature of this post :)
(And eagerly anticipating an even more exciting midnight party in 
4 days, 22 hours, and 41 minutes!)--
marilyn

-- 
http://marilyn.suburbanjihad.net/
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