Voldemort vs. Riddle

[Sophia Runyan]

No: HPFGUIDX 79855

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "acciosirius" 
<jendiangelo at c...> wrote:
> Ravenclaw Bookworm:
> 
> > I was skimming SS last night and noticed in the first chapter 
that 
> > Dumbledore tells McGonagall that he has been trying for years to 
> get 
> > people to call LV by his "proper name: Voldemort."  Contrast that 
> > with the battle in OoP when Dumbledore keeps calling him "Tom."
> > 
> > Is that because it would be confusing to introduce too many facts 
> at 
> > the beginning of the first book?  Or is there a more subtle 
reason 
> > for Dumbledore's (and JKR's) wording?
> 
> Me (AccioSirius Jen):
> 
> My guess is that Dumbledore knew Lord Thingy personally as "Tom 
> Riddle", so that's what he calls him when they meet in the MoM. But 
> Dumbledore also realizes that no one else in the WW recognizes Lord 
> Voldemort as Tom Riddle, so he refers to him as Lord Voldemort when 
> around other wizards (they would think that was his "proper" name). 
> (Boy, I really need a nap, because I'm confusing myself again!)
> 
> Just my babbling thoughts... AccioSirius Jen

Concerning the use of Voldemort's name, Dumbledore says (in PS/SS or 
CoS; sorry, can't think of exactly where) that "fear of the name 
increases fear of the thing itself".  
Hope that answers your question.

Sonia
Lurker Extraordinaire