[HPforGrownups] Why Ravenclaw? was, Re: Does the sorting hat sort?

[Iggy McSnurd]

No: HPFGUIDX 84854

> Cheekyweebisom:
> First of all, I want to say that I really enjoyed your entire post.
> I even agreed with most of it! How rare! Now, on to my response:

Iggy here:

*grin* I hope you're saying that it's rare for you to agree with all of a
post, rather than anyone almost agreeing with all of one of *my* posts.  = )

Thanks for the positive feedback, btw...

> Cheekyweebisom:
> I really like your analysis of Luna.
*remainder of paragraph snipped*

Iggy here:

Thanks.  Actually, I am a big fan of mythology and folklore, particularly
the Greco-Roman, the Norse, and the Native American styles.

Ravens are usually portrayed in many old myths as being wise, intelligent,
and prophetic at times... adding in the tickster aspect when you get mostly
to the Native American lore.  The supposed source of this knowledge and
wisdom is wide and varied, often depending on the folklore you're dealing
with. Most tend to point out that ravens and crows are eveywhere, and that
they see things most don't because of this.  There's also an aspect of their
knowledge that is supposedly gained from seeing crows and ravens pluck the
eyes of the dead from the aftermath of battle.  Legend had it that ravens
did this because, with consuming the eye, you also gained the knowledge of
everything those eyes witnessed.  (This is most predominant in Norse
myths... partly because they were often in battle, and partly because Odin
had two crows/ravens that were his constant companions and spies.)

This is how I see Ravenclaw House as being... They focus more on the
intelectuall and studious nature, yet every once in a while, the trickster
pops his head up and says "Remember, I belong here too..."  A trickster, to
me and to a lot of lores, isn't always the one who plays pranks on other
people or causes trouble.  They can also be the ones who are wise enough to
see the folly of others being too serious, they have wisdom that comes from
being able to laugh at themselves as well as others, and they often guide
others into situations where being too serious or driven narrows the mind to
the point where that person will get into trouble.  This is the way the
Raven works.  (Coyote, on the other hand, works in a much different way, but
with similar lessons.  Trust me, I know...  all too well.  *sigh*)

I do not see Rowena Ravenclaw as being stuffy and overly serious.  I see her
as being more like Professor Flitwick who, in my mind, is a perfect Head of
Ravenclaw.  He's very knowledgable, adept at what he does, has hidden
talents, has an often hidden wisdom, but he can also laugh at things around
him, appreciate a good prank, and enjoys the simple things... like a nice
Shirly Temple... As the saying goes:  "All work and no play makes Jack a
dull boy."  Anyone who's truly intelligent and wise understands thay play is
at least as important as work.

> Cheekyweebisom:
> Your post made me start thinking about another Ravenclaw, though.
> That's right -- Cho.
*rest of paragraph snipped*

Iggy here:

Ummmm... to be entirely honest, I haven't the foggiest idea either.  I have
a couple of possible ideas, however...

First, she picked up on lessons in the DA quickly enough, and was one of the
few who apparently could create a corporeal Patronus.  (Which, as an
interesting side, makes me wonder what Neville's Patronus would be...)  This
indicates a reasonably strong mind.  She also possibly works hard when we
can't see it.

As for her silly, weepy, girl aspect... well, not only is she a girl going
through puberty (and, ladies, weren't you a bit weepy and silly when *your*
hormones were flooding your system... even if you are intelligent?) but is
also still trying to deal with the fact that Cedric died, yet she also had
strong, mixed feelings for Harry...  That's enough to scramble anyone's
cranial eggs...

I hate to say the last option I can come up with... since I don't agree with
the stereotyping stuff (which is pretty evident in my posts lately...) but
she *is* Asian... and there's the classic thing of Asian students being very
intelligent and well learned... (A classic joke reply to anyone in the US
finding out an Asian is in one of their classes is "Well, there goes the
grading curve.")


Other than that, I hope that Cho shows us why she's in Ravenclaw within the
next two books, or I'd be inclined to chalk up a miss on the Sorting Hat's
part...


Iggy McSnurd