The meanings of the titles

[davewitley]

No: HPFGUIDX 90367

Continuing the thread Amy Z raised a few days ago about titles.

Do the titles of the books have a significance beyond the obvious?

The old Stoned!Harry theory (described at 
http://www.hpfgu.org.uk/faq/hypotheticalley.html#ps ) suggests that 
the Philosopher's Stone is a metaphor for Harry himself.  He is the 
thing that defeats the death of the wizarding world.

Harry is held back by his Dementor-induced memories in POA, and 
people have commented before on the parallels between Sirius' and 
Harry's position at the beginning of the book.  He eventually frees 
himself with his Patronus.

Is the goblet of fire the one with the names coming out of it, or 
the one that Voldemort himself emerges from in his evil sacrament 
('flesh of the servant, willingly given')? (Question: was 'Doomspell 
Tournament' a working title or the one originally intended but 
changed because of a leak?)  In the story, Harry's name comes out of 
the goblet and, much later, Voldemort is reborn; in the wider story 
arc, as Voldemort rises again from his submerged life, so Harry 
rises as the champion to counter him.

This are the easy ones.  I see a parallel between the Chamber and 
Harry's own heart, partly via the religious references to the Mosaic 
tabernacle which is surely a pattern for the individual's heart 
journey into the presence of God.  However, it's less clear to me 
that this is what the book is 'about'.  In a sense Tom's diary is a 
chamber of secrets, too - at least it is what contains the secrets 
that are most important in the context of the story arc as a whole.

The Order of the Phoenix I have more trouble with.  I can't see a 
convincing meaning beyond the surface one.  There is a latent theme 
of unity (think of the Sorting Hat's song) even though it is mostly 
worked out through examples of disunity and disconnection.  One 
could argue that by 'ignoring' Harry over the year Dumbledore has 
handed over leadership of the fellowship of the good to Harry, 
nucleated in the six who visit the MOM and extended in the DA.  I 
dunno.

Any thoughts?   Is there a series of double meanings in the titles?  
If so, does it point to anything?  Religion?

David