Time-turning as literary device

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 108620

Valky wrote originally:
> > > Please, I have absolutely no idea where anyone gets the notion 
> > > that time travel has been overextended in the story.
 
SSSusan responded:
> > I would be VERY happy indeed if there is no more use of time-
> > turning or polyjuice.  And it's not the quantity of chapters in 
> > which they've been used.  It's because of what HunterGreen 
> > said:  they were used as a narrative device, and once is  enough 
> > for some of us.
> > 
> > For some, these parts of the storyline are fun, adventurous and 
> > a challenge to figure out.  For others, they feel like "deus ex 
> > machina"--almost like a cop-out.  "How can I get X to happen 
> > when it's really not very likely or possible?   
> > Do you see what I mean?  
 
Valky Now replying:
> I do see what you mean Susan, and I agree, but I also don't agree.
> 
> I agree that there is a  plot instrument role to the timeturner in 
> POA and I can understand that when percieved *only* as this that a 
> timeturner is a flat out, cop out.
> 
> However, I disagree that the time turner is ever intended to be 
> the deus ex machina of any plot, past or future in the books.. duh 
> I am so lame, go the puns Valky :P
> 
<snip>
> What I mean here is that DD controlled the three hours of the POA 
> finale as an observer carefully recognising what was out of place 
> and where. For DD to have done so much overseeing was probably 
> exhausting. I expect you wouldn't wake up the next day with a plan 
> to repeat living it from all angles like you did yesterday, so I 
> suspect he doesnt make a habit of doing it. But, I believe maybe 
> that he recognised the gift in Hermione, again demonstrated more 
> vividly by the movie when she sees herself and knows quickly not 
> to interfere. 
<snip> 
> So I hope that you understand all I am really saying is I strongly 
> disagree that POA's finale contained any undertones of a cheesy 
> out, if anything JKR has set the stage for a warning for those 
> that would percieve time travel as anything of that sort at all.


SSSusan:
I *definitely* don't think there was anything cheesy about the 
finale of PoA--I totally agree with you there.  And maybe it's wrong 
of me to worry that JKR might use time-turning again in such a way 
that I'd be annoyed...because the VAST majority of the time I have 
really enjoyed the way she's told the story, and I have faith in her 
ability to maintain that.  (Hence, my confidence that she can weave 
an "elegantly simple" conclusion to the series that's a real WOW! 
but still beautiful in its simplicity--but that's another post. :-
))  

I guess in spite of this confidence I have in JKR, I do still also 
have a bit of a worry that if the time-turning shows up AGAIN I'll 
be feeling, "Been there, done that."  You know?  I want something 
new, fresh, creative...just like she's provided for us each time so 
far.  You've got an interesting take on the time-turning in PoA and 
in general, so I guess I should just have more faith!

Siriusly Snapey Susan