Is Snape intelligent?

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 111384

Totorivers:
> > And sorry too if I seem harsh, but Snapethesuperspy sometimes 
> > gets on my nerve, especially as he is shown in canon to be 
> > rather mediocre, and to not think things through. And please 
> > give me quote of Snape being particularly witty or something, 
> > because it is an assumption everyone makes, and there *are* 
> > scenes where Snape seems particularly dumb.
 
 
Alla:
> OK. I.Do. Not. Defend. Snape. often. :o)Not at all, but today is 
> one of those days.
> 
> I am with Nora Renka on this one. For the life of me, I don't see 
> where many Snape fans find IceKing!Snape in canon.
> 
> Snape, as Shrieking Shack and Occlumency failure shows can be 
> very, very emotional, IMO, BUT he is very intelligent too.
> 
> Hmmm. Quotes? How about Snape being the one who figured out that 
> Quirrell is up to something? Of course, the fact that he probably 
> did not go to Dumbledore does not speak in his favor. :o)

SSSusan:
Ah, but there are those who believe he DID go to DD!  I didn't at 
first, but someone [Pippin, perhaps?] pointed out that after the 
foiled make-Harry-fall-from-his-broom incident, Quirrell apparently 
didn't try any more funny business until the end of the year's 
attempt for the stone (when DD as gone, btw).  So perhaps Snape DID 
report in!  **And note** that this nitpick takes *nothing* away from 
your point about Snape's intelligence here.

Alla: 
> How about Snape being up to the task to prepare Wolfsbane for 
> Remus?

SSSusan:
Yes, something I mentioned earlier, too.  And I would add the above 
saving Harry incident as evidence of Snape's intelligence as well.  
It was he, after all, who was smart enough to figure out what was 
happening AND knew how to handle it.

I don't think a character's getting on your nerves equates with his 
being "dumb," Totorivers.  You're asking for canon evidence of his 
intelligence, and several people have provided examples. I mentioned 
his being a potions *MASTER*, his ability to brew the wolfsbane 
potion, and the fact that he clearly knows his stuff in class [think 
of the times when he can tell in an instant, simply by looking at a 
cauldron, precisely what step of the process has been missed or 
which ingredient's measurement has not been accurately figured].  I 
would like to set the same task to you.  If you really think Snape 
is so dumb or "mediocre," show us canon for it, please.

Siriusly Snapey Susan