Whose point of view ? (A Challenge!) LONG

[aleesahn]

No: HPFGUIDX 106606

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "aleesahn" wrote:
> My challenge is this:
> Taking into consideration both aspects of the limited omniscient 
> narrator (limited range and selective views into HP's inner life)
> can we list our top five desired mysteries solved, with an end run 
> around one or both of these aspects of the limited omniscient POV?
> To make this more challenging I'm thinking in terms of specific, 
> cited, cannon references.
> 
> Off to work on my own challenge,

Ok, so I'm responding to my own post here to get the ball rolling!

Top Five "Mysteries I Wish Could be Solved by Bending the POV Rules"

*Note: This list differs from a top five/ten list of what we hope to 
have resolved in the next book (or by the end of the series), in 
that these are mysteries that could have been solved with POV 
violations, but that might never be solved with the established 
narrative arch. Of course they could be solved other ways, besides 
the POV bending scenarios here, and we can always hope


*Note #2: My intention here is not to reopen these (very well and 
thoroughly debated) controversies on the list, but rather to 
pinpoint those mysteries JKR has (intentionally or not) set up with 
her choice of POV. In case you see a mystery on this list that you 
aren't familiar with, or want to get more background on, I suggest 
you peruse the FAQ, the Fantastic Posts and Where to Find Them, and 
the Harry Potter Lexicon to get the scoop.

5) Is Mrs. Longbottom sending a coded message to Neville with her 
gum wrapper gifts, or just offering tokens of her (befuddled) 
affection?
In OP, Chapter 23, Neville visits his parents at St. Mungo's and his 
mother gives him a gum wrapper as a parting gift.
 
Thoughts I want to read: Mrs. Longbottom's 

What I would hope to see revealed: Is she thinking, "With that final 
wrapper Neville will have all the elements of my code in hand! If 
only he can interpret the poignant symbolism of the creased foil 
markings
" or is she just listening to softly playing, interior 
elevator music?

4) Who does Hermione fancy?
In OP, Chapter 16, at the Hog's Head, Hermione lets slip that Ginny 
is dating Michael Corner.

Conversation I want to overhear: Ginny telling Hermione that she had 
started seeing Michael.

What I would hope to see revealed: How does Hermione take the news 
that Ginny is "moving on" from Harry? Is Ginny's decision the result 
of some advice from Hermione? Is Hermione indifferent? Is she 
*relieved*?

3) What was the deal struck between Dumbledore and Petunia?
In OP, Chapter 2, Petunia receives a Howler saying, "Remember my 
last!" from Dumbledore as Mr. Dursley is throwing Harry out.

Thoughts I want to read: Petunia's after the Howler message is 
delivered.

What I would hope to see revealed: Petunia's memory of the letter 
Dumbledore tucked into Harry's blankets when he left him on the 
Dursley doorstep as an infant. Petunia's memory of her last 
conversation/interaction with her sister before she was killed- does 
she regret anything lost in that relationship? What _is_ it exactly 
that will come down on Petunia's head if Harry is kicked out: the 
wrath of the OOP/DD? A beyond-the-grave curse from her sister? 
Exposure of Dudley to risk?


2) Sorting Hat and the Qualities of the Houses
In SS/PS, Chapter 7, we hear the Sorting Hat's conversation with 
Harry when he gets sorted into Gryffindor. 

Conversation(s) I want to overhear: The sorting of Hermione (how 
does the hat balance intelligence with courage? or other competing 
traits?), the sorting of some Hufflepuff students (are they placed 
for their virtues, or b/c they're not an obvious fit for the other 
houses?)

What I would hope to see revealed: The nature of sorting- is it more 
about the student's choices in a tie (as with Harry) or more about 
the founder's respective requirements? What is the deal with 
Hufflepuff: unsung heroes or leftovers?

1) What is DD's connection to socks?
In SS/PS, Chapter 12, DD answers Harry's question about what DD 
would see in the Mirror of Erised by saying, "I? I see myself 
holding a pair of thick, woolen socks."

Thoughts I want to read: DD's

What I would hope to see revealed: Either DD is thinking, "Hehehe, 
good one, Albus! Now, where did I stash my bag of lemondrops?" or he 
is thinking, "Ah, yes the socks of destiny! How I long to possess 
those! Why if could only have those socks, I could know/control/have 
power over X! That would be the day!" In other words: is this a joke 
or a clue?

I left the mysteries of why Snape returned to the good side, and 
what DD meant when he said "in essence divided", off my list because 
I _do_ think we will learn these answers by the end of the series 
without JRK tinkering radically with the POV. (Yes, I know that 
Hermione's feelings probably fall in this category, too, but I want 
to know _now_!) :-)

Anyone else, anyone?

-Aleesahn