The kappa mistake (was Re: Snape and Lupin's Character Arcs)

[Hannah]

No: HPFGUIDX 119342


> > Nora wrote:
> > > You have to love how JKR lets us know about how well 
> Snape actually  teaches in that class, though.  There's really no 
> other way to read  the revelations (annotated to make sure the 
> reader does not miss it)  in Fantastic Beasts that Snape, taking 
> off points in the class about Kappas, is actually wrong himself. 
> <snip>
> > 
> > Carol asks:
> > Are you sure this isn't just another example of JKR blaming the
> > character for her own inconsistency <snip>> not to mention 
> that it's out of character for him to make a pronouncement of that 
> sort without being right. And the Pensieve scene seems to 
> indicate that he really is knowledgeable about DADA.
> 
Pippin replied:
> Pippin thinks it's only inconsistent if you believe that once a 
> character is established as knowledgeable, he can't be wrong. I 
> think Snape made the same sort of mistake Hermione did with 
> those runes at the end of OOP. He just got mixed up. He 
> probably wouldn't make the same kind of mistake at potions, but 
> that only goes to underline Dumbledore's homily about the 
> things we want most being the worst for us. Despite what Snape 
> thinks, he's more suited to teaching potions than DADA. 
> 
<snip>

Hannah: Weighing in a bit late here, hoping not to get caught up in 
the crossfire ;-)  I don't see why Snape's one little error here has 
to be considered such a big thing.  And Snape said the kappa 
was 'more commonly found in Mongolia.'  Not that it was originally 
from there (which is what it says in FBawtFT).  Maybe it has been 
hunted down in Japan, and now is more widespread in Mongolia?  And 
he also doesn't say *where* it is less common than in Mongolia 
either.  So technically, we don't know for sure that he's wrong.

But anyway, that possibility aside, the guy made one mistake, in a 
subject he was only covering for.  And JKR goes to pains in OotP to 
point out (via Umbridge) that (from a purely facts-into-head pov) 
his classes are actually good; the students all learn, and are even 
advanced for their stage.  Although Umbridge is horrible, her 
assessments of the various staff are actually quite accurate - 
Trelawney and Hagrid are poor teachers.  For instance, she doesn't 
seem to give MM a bad report, even though she personally dislikes 
her.  

Snape also did a good job at the duelling club (what a shame there 
only ever seemed to be one of those...).  I think the problem with 
Snape teaching DADA is nothing to do with his teaching style (and 
no, I'm not by any means saying that his methods of humiliation etc. 
are right in my book) or with any lack of knowledge.  The problem 
lies in his dark past, and, of course, in the difficulty of Spy!
Snape teaching defence against LV's main weapons.  I still think 
he'll get the chance to show whether he can or can't teach DADA in 
book 7.

Hannah