Origin of name Fawkes

[erisedstraeh2002]

No: HPFGUIDX 54313

Lee (beanneboy) wrote:

> Now did JKR say in that interview that whoever originally named the 
> phoenix 'Fawkes', do so because of the actual event of the
> gunpowder plot? OR... Did JKR name it Fawkes when writing the 
> books, with relevance to the historical origin of the event, but 
> with no real bearing to the books themselves ??? In which case the 
> timeline of the Gunpowder Plot would be of no real significance. 

Now me:

Here's the excerpt from the interview, but unfortunately, it doesn't 
conclusively answer your question.  I believe it's the latter 
scenario you posed, and that the timing of the actual historical 
events are not significant.

Q: "What is Bonfire Night?"

JKR: "Good question! We celebrate November 5th in Britain every year. 
There was a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The ringleader 
of the plot was called Guy Fawkes (spot any Harry Potter 
connection?!), and we burn him in effigy and set off fireworks to 
celebrate not losing our government."

(see: http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/author/transcript2.htm)

~Phyllis