Snape's Destiny/JKR quotes
koinonia02
Koinonia2 at hotmail.com
Thu Jul 8 16:27:17 UTC 2004
No: HPFGUIDX 105078
--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com
"justcarol67":
> If the pattern of the DADA teacher dying or losing his/her job at
> the end of the book holds true, Snape can't be the DADA teacher
>in Book 6, as JKR has stated in an interview that he'll play a key
>role in Book 7. (If he becomes DADA teacher in Book 7, I'll worry
>about his survival. As it is, we have what amounts to a promise
>that he'll survive past the end of Book 6.)
> I know you haven't forgotten this exchange, but others may not be
> familiar with it:
> Q: "There's an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape."
> JKR: "He, um, there's so much I wish I could say to you, and I
>can't because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that
>question, can I just say to you that I'm slightly stunned that
>you've said that and you'll find out why I'm so stunned if you read
>Book 7. That's all I'm going to say."
Steve/asian_lovr2
> Thanks for that quote and the link, I wasn't aware of the
>particular statement. That certainly weakens my positions. I have >
been pretty strongly advocating Snape as DADA teacher and Snapes
>dying in book 6. While you haven't shot that down completely, you
>have certainly weakened my it and given me pause for doubt.
> It is possible that Snape will die in book 6, and it is his STORY
>that will continue in book 7.
"K":
Ah, it's that quote again. ^-^ This is the interview people use to
show Snape will fall in love in book 7 and/or that he will be
redeemed. You must go back to that interview and read again. Some
important information was left out that Carol quoted. Let me also
say that the last time I quoted this interview, I was told that one
should hear the audio version so you might want to find it and
listen for yourself.
The Connection
12 October 1999
J.K. Rowling Interview Transcript
HOST: What about Snape?
JKR: Snape is a very sadistic teacher, loosely based on a teacher I
myself had, I have to say. I think children are very aware and we
are kidding ourselves if we don't think that they are, that
teachers do sometimes abuse their power and this particular teacher
does abuse his power. He's not a particularly pleasant person at
all. However, everyone should keep their eye on Snape, I'll just
say that because there is more to him than meets the eye and you
will find out part of what I am talking about if you read Book 4. No,
I'm not trying to drum up more sales, go to the library and get
it out. I'd rather people read it.
HOST: One of our internet correspondents wondered if Snape is going
to fall in love.
(JKR laughs) Who on earth would want Snape in love with them?
That's a very horrible idea.
HOST: There's an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape.
JKR: He, um, there's so much I wish I could say to you, and I
can't because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that
question, can I just say to you that I'm slightly stunned that
you've said that and you'll find out why I'm so stunned
if you read
Book 7. That's all I'm going to say.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...ransc.html
"K":
Someone asks if Snape is going to fall in love. JKR responds with
wondering who would want Snape in love with them. It's a horrible
idea. (Shame on her!)
The person doing the interview then makes a statemnent about a
redemptive pattern and Snape. JKR then responds by saying there's so
much she would like to say but it would ruin...It is at this time
JKR then goes back to the original question of Snape falling in love.
~JKR: I promise you, whoever asked that question ( if Snape is going
to fall in love)...
It is to this question that she says:
~ can I just say to you that I'm slightly stunned that you've
said that and you'll find out why I'm so stunned if you read
Book 7. That's all I'm going to say.
She never says Snape will fall in love in book 7. This could be
anything from Snape is/was/will be/will never be in love. The only
thing JKR says about redemption is that she can't tell.
Steve/asian-lovr2:
> It is possible that Snape will die in book 6, and it is his STORY
> that will continue in book 7.
"K":
I do believe that is a possibility though I hope it's not the case.
I also think Snape will get his chance at the DADA job but I'm not
sure which book that will be. I also want to say that it's Harry who
appears to be a natural at the Dark Arts.
Here is a list of all the interviews with JKR where she mentions
Snape. It's possible there are some I have missed.
~*~ 1999 ~*~
Amazon UK
ca. 1999
Amazon.co.uk: Are your characters based on people you know?
Rowling: Some of them are, but I have to be extremely careful what I
say about this. Mostly, real people inspire a character, but once
they are inside your head they start turning into something quite
different. Professor Snape and Gilderoy Lockhart both started as
exaggerated versions of people I've met, but became rather different
once I got them on the page. Hermione is a bit like me when I was
11, though much cleverer.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...-staff.htm
(Same as The Daily Telegraph July 10 1999 -no longer on qq ???)
Family Education
Summer 1999
Harry Potter Author Works Her Magic
Katy Abel
Q: Who's your favorite character besides Harry Potter?
A: It's very hard to choose. It's fun to write about Snape because
he's a deeply horrible person. Hagrid is someone I'd love to meet.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...n-abel.htm
The Connection
12 October 1999
J.K. Rowling Interview Tran*****
What about Snape?
JKR: Snape is a very sadistic teacher, loosely based on a teacher I
myself had, I have to say. I think children are very aware and we
are kidding ourselves if we don't think that they are, that
teachers
do sometimes abuse their power and this particular teacher does
abuse his power. He's not a particularly pleasant person at all.
However, everyone should keep their eye on Snape, I'll just say
that because there is more to him than meets the eye and you will
find out part of what I am talking about if you read Book 4. No,
I'm
not trying to drum up more sales, go to the library and get it out.
I'd rather people read it.
One of our internet correspondents wondered if Snape is going to
fall in love.
(JKR laughs) Who on earth would want Snape in love with them?
That's a very horrible idea.
There's an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape
JKR: He, um, there's so much I wish I could say to you, and I
can't because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that
question, can I just say to you that I'm slightly stunned that
you've
said that and you'll find out why I'm so stunned if you read
Book
7. That's all I'm going to say.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...ransc.html
The Record, Northern NJ
14 October 1999
Students Meet the Real Wizard Behind the Harry Potter Craze
By Leslie Brody
Professor Snape, she said, was based on a teacher she despised: "The
great thing about becoming a writer is you can get revenge on
everyone."
www.quick-quote-quill.org...brody.html
The Star-Ledger, Newark, NJ
16 October 1999
Harry Potter's creator meets her public - Author J.K.Rowling answers
questions from students at a school in Montclair
By Mark McGarrity
Q. Julia Moore asked, "Are any of the stories based on personal
memories or people you know?"
A. Rowling said, "Hermione is an exaggerated version of me when I
was 11. But I was never that clever or annoying." She also reported
that Professor Snake is based on a chemistry teacher who hated her
and made her life miserable. "The great thing about being a writer
is that you have a chance to get back at those people who wronged
you," she said.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...rity2.html
The Boston Globe
18 October 1999
All about Harry Potter from Quidditch to the future of the Sorting
Hat
By Stephanie Loer
Dursley is a place in Britain as is Snape.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...-loer.html
Press Club
20 October 1999
J.K. Rowling Interview Transcript
SB: Why in the first book does Harry's lightening scar flash, or
when he gets his lightening scar flash, when Snap looks at him?
JKR: Snape.
SB: Snape.
JKR: Okay, this is a
[laughter]
SB: I have a problem as well!
JKR: He's sleep deprived, he's got five-month old twins.
Um
*exasperated noise* If anyone hasn't finished reading book one,
would they please put their fingers really tightly in their ears
now, if they don't want the ending ruined? Really tightly now,
cause this is a question about the ending. Um
Quirrell had the
back
of his head to Harry at the point when Harry looked at Snape so
someone else was looking at Harry through a certain turban. See what
I mean? If you've read it, you understand, and if you haven't
read
it, you're going what? But that's okay.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...ransc.html
~*~ 2000 ~*~
*America Online,
October 19, 2000
Chat Tran*****
(Same as AOL Chat 19 October 2000-www.quick-quote-quill.org...-
aol.html)
Ms. Rowling, where do you come up with those names of the
characters, like Quidditch?
Quidditch is a name I invented. I just wanted a word which began
with the letter 'Q' (I don't know why, it was just a whim). Many of
the names are taken from maps -- for instance, Snape, which is an
English village.
Why did you make Quirrell the bad guy instead of Snape?
Ms. Rowling, which character besides Harry is your favorite, and why?
Because I know all about Snape and he wasn't about to put on a
turban.
Ms. Rowling, which character besides Harry is your favorite, and why?
I think that would have to be Hagrid -- but I love Ron and Hermione
too, and I also love writing characters like Gilderoy Lockhart,
Snape, the Dursleys... it's such fun doing horrible things to them.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...t-aol.html
*AOL Chat
19 October 2000
Ms. Rowling, where do you come up with those names of the
characters, like Quidditch?
Quidditch is a name I invented. I just wanted a word which began
with the letter 'Q' (I don't know why, it was just a whim). Many of
the names are taken from maps -- for instance, Snape, which is an
English village.
Why did you make Quirrell the bad guy instead of Snape
Because I know all about Snape, and he wasn't about to put on a
turban.
I think that would have to be Hagrid -- but I love Ron and Hermione
too, and I also love writing characters like Gilderoy Lockhart,
Snape, the Dursleys... it's such fun doing horrible things to them.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...t-aol.html
Scholastic EToys, Fall 2000
and
Scholastic
Fall 2000
Interview Tran*****
Many of the names are invented, for example "Quidditch"
and "Muggle." I also collect unusual names, and I take them from all
sorts of different places. "Hedwig" was a saint, "Dumbledore" is an
old English word for "bumblebee," and Snape is the name of a place
in England.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...etoys.html
www.quick-quote-quill.org...astic.html
Barnes and Noble Chat
20 October 2000
(Same as Transcript of Yahooligans! Chat with J.K. Rowling
October 20, 2000 ? www.quick-quote-quill.org...gans.html)
Why does Professor Dumbledore allow Professor Snape to be so nasty
to the students (especially to Harry, Hermione, and N
JKR: Dumbledore believes there are all sorts of lessons in life;
horrible teachers like Snape are one of them!
The character of Professor Snape fascinates me. Will you reveal his
back story further in the next Harry Potter book?
JKR: You will find out more about Snape in future books. Keep an eye
on him!
www.quick-quote-quill.org...noble.html
Larry King Live
October 20, 2000
KING: Now they're doing a movie, now. I ran into Mr. Rickman, who is
going to be one of the stars of the movie.
ROWLING: Yes, he's playing Snake. Good choice.
KING: You are a name freak.
ROWLING: I am a bit of a name freak. A lot of the names that I
didn't invent come from maps. Snape is a place name in Britain.
Dumbledore means -- dumbledore is an old English dialect word for
bumblebee, because he is a musical person. And I imagine him humming
to himself all the time. Hagrid is also an old English word. Hedwig
was a saint, a Medieval saint.
I collect them. You know, if I hear a good name, I have got to write
it down. And it will probably crop up somewhere.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...ryking.htm
~*~ 2001 ~*~
Comic Relief
March 2001
Live Chat
How old are Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape
JKR: Dumbledore's about 150 years old... wizards have a longer life
expectancy than us Muggles, Snape's 35 or 6.
http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2001/0301-comicrelief-
staff.htm
BBC
02 November 2001
J.K. Rowlng: "Fans will be happy"
JK also revealed she gave some of the actors some top secret
background information that will emerge for the rest of us in later
books.
She said she thought it was important to tell them so they knew
their characters better:
"I did give certain information to Robbie Coltrane, the background
story about Hagrid and I gave Alan Rickman a little bit on Snape,"
she told Newsround's Lizo Mzimba.
"But no-one should go out and kidnap them because they won't talk!"
www.quick-quote-quill.org...1-bbc.html
Blue Peter question-and-answer session with JKR
JKR. Erm, I, I, kind of collect unusual names. You have to be very
careful about telling me your name if you do have an unusual name
because I'll probably put you in a book <laughter> ... and I make a
lot of the names up. But mostly maps. Maps are a great source for
names ...
BPP2. Really?
JKR. Yeah. Dursley and Dudley and Snape are all, erm, places I can't
visit anymore obviously.
f3.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/4KG...ePeter.htm
(under 'FILES' on HPFGU -must be a member to access - not sure how
reliable the transcript is.
~*~ 2003 ~*~
BBC News
June 19, 2003
Jeremy Paxman
JEREMY PAXMAN: Are we going to discover anything more about Snape?
JK ROWLING: Yes.
JEREMY PAXMAN: And Harry's mother? Did he have a crush on Harry's
mother or unrequited love or anything like that?
JK ROWLING: Hence his animosity to Harry?
JEREMY PAXMAN: Yes.
JK ROWLING: You speculate?
JEREMY PAXMAN: I speculate, yes, I'm just asking whether you can
tell us.
JK ROWLING: No I can't tell you. But you do find out a lot more
about Snape and quite a lot more about him actually.
www.quick-quote-quill.org...paxman.htm
Royal Albert Hall Appearance
June 26 2003
Q&A with Stephen Fry
SF: Where as most of the character, like Snape for example, are very
hard to
love but there's a sort of ambiguity I think is probably the best
word you can't quite decide, there's something rather sad about
Snape as well,
something very lonely and you kind of, although he turns out to of
course have such a wicked past and it's fascinating to watch how he
you know, in the first book we thought he was the evil one and a
aprt form Voldemort the most evil and in the second we thought that
and slowly we just get this idea that maybe he's not so bad after all
JKR: Yeees. You shouldn't think he's too nice, let me just say that.
SF: Right I shall bear that in mind. Worth watching Serverus Snape
JKR: He's worth keeping and eye on, definitely
JL: Prof Snape has always wanted to be the defence against the dark
arts teacher. In book 5 he still doesn't get the job Why does
Professor Dumbledore not allow him to be the defence against the
dark arts teacher?
SF: There
JKR: <sighs> That is an excellent question and the reason is that, I
have to be careful what I say here, the reason is that to answer it
fully would give and awful lot away about the remaining two books
but when Professor
Dumbledore took Professor Snape on to the staff and Professor Snape
said I'd like to teach defence against the darks arts please and
Professor Dumbledore felt that that might bring out the worst in
Professor Snape
<laughs> Somewhat
JKR: So he said I think we'll let you teach potions and see how you
get along there
SF: Hmm. Now Snape, we talked a little about him before. There's
something about the letter S isn't there?
JKR: Yes there is
SF: Especially with an N in with it. You can't help saying it
without snarling
JKR: I could have very easily have called him Snicket but Snicket is
a funier, kinder word
SF: And sneeze and sneer and Snape and
JKR: And snarl
SF: Yes and of course the founder of the house was
JKR: Salazar Slytherin
SF: Salazar Slytherin another snaky thing
JKR: Very snaky
SF: Snakes feature a lot. Is Parselmouth a real thing or did you
make that up?
JKR: Parselmouth is an old word for someone who has a problem with
their mouth like a hair lip
www.quick-quote-quill.org...ll-fry.htm
June 20th 2003 The Times
no longer listed/don't know if there are Snape references
~*~ 2004 ~*~
J.K. Rowling's World Book Day Chat: March 4, 2004
Ernie: I wonder if you can let us know what form will Professor
Snape's Boggart and Patronus take? I am very curious.
JK Rowling replies - Well, I'm not going to tell you Ernie, but
that's because it would give so much away. I wonder whether Ernie is
your real name? (It was my grandfather's).
Kyla: What made Sirius decide to send Snape to the Willow?
JK Rowling replies - Because Sirius loathed Snape (and the feeling
was entirely mutual). You'll find out more about this in due course.
Ali: Why specifically does Dumbledore trust Snape?
JK Rowling replies - Another excellent and non-answerable question.
I shall merely say that Snape has given Dumbledore his story and
Dumbledore believes it.
Megan: Is there a link between Snape and vampires?
JK Rowling replies - Erm... I don't think so.
HarriFreak: Who is the 'one that never will return' deatheater?
JK Rowling replies - You have to work it out, but a lot of fansites
have got it right.
www.the-leaky-cauldron.or...y2004.html
JK Rowling Official Website
Section: F.A.Q.
Who is your favourite character?
I love: Harry, Hermione, Ron, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Ginny, Fred,
George and Lupin. I love writing (though would not necessarily want
to meet) Snape. My favourite new character is Luna Lovegood.
www.jkrowling.com/textonl...w.cfm?id=8
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