CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 21, The Eye of the Snake

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 102968

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Dicentra spectabilis"
<dicentra at x> wrote:
> Chapter 21 Summary -- The Eye of the Snake
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> 1. How is the following passage emblematic of the relationship 
> between Ron and the twins?
> 
> 'Oi!' bellowed Ron, finally losing patience and sticking his head
> out of the window, 'I am a prefect and if one more snowball hits 
> this window -- OUCH!'
> 
> He withdrew his head sharply, his face covered in snow.
> 
> 'It's Fred & George,' he said bitterly, slamming the window behind
> him. 'Gits ...'
> 

asian_lovr:

The first thing it shows me is that Ron is capable of fulfilling his
Prefect role when the need arises. I have no problem with Ron having
been appointed a Prefect, although I suspect I'm in a minority on that.

As far as Fred and George, I think very few younger brothers, and
especially a youngEST brother, would be able to exert any control over
older brothers. Life just doesn't work the way; at least, it doesn't
work that way for guys.

> 2. Is it significant that the first Thestral appears between two yew
> trees?
> 

Asian_lovr2:
Sorry, I missed that on my first three reads. I'm sure my eyes took it
in, but my brain didn't register it. Great symbolism, thanks for the
heads-up.


> 3. If Harry saw Cedric die, why didn't he see the Thestrals at the
> end of GoF? Just kidding!!  See the OoP FAQ for the answer.
> 

Asian_lovr2:
What? You mean someone's already answered that question?


> 4. JKR very deliberately prevents Hagrid from naming the 'stringy
> Slytherin boy.' Who could he be and why keep his name secret? 
> 

Asian_lovr2:

I think JKR did it because she knew it would drive us crazy. Actually,
I think she didn't name him because he is going to be significant in
the next book (or two). The usual suspects are Blaise Zabini (sounds
like a mafia Don) and Theodore Knott. And the suspected purpose of
this character thus far are, he is the good Slytherin, and/or he is
the person who changes houses.

This character must have kept a very low profile relative to Harry.
Harry has been in class with him for 5 years and still doesn't know
his name. That strongly indicates that this mystery boy has never
given Harry any grief.


> 5. Why might Ron have forgotten to tell Harry that he was invited to
> The Burrow for Christmas?  Why does Hermione roll her eyes?
> 

Asian_lovr2:

He's a boy, ...'nuff said. Hermione roles her eye because she knows a
typical boy when she sees one.


> 6. Is it significant that Luna points out the mistletoe to Harry?
> 

Asian_lovr2:

Seriously, I think it is first to bring up the 'Nargles' and to point
out the mistletoe. Cute how Harry jumps away from the mistletoe
thinking Luna might have 'girly' ideas. So, it's just an informational
setup for the actual Cho->Mistletoe->Nargles->KISS.


> 7. Cho turns on the waterworks and the Cedric-talk as a way to bust
> a move on Harry. What in sam hill is she thinking? Does Hermione 
> explain it correctly?
> 

asian_lovr2:

I know you are just being light-hearted, but I will say that I don't
think the 'waterworks' are a calculated move on Cho's part. Boys that
age, as we clearly see, are not very good at offering emotional
sympathy and comfort. 

I think Hermione's explanation is right on the money. Cho without a
doubt has liked Harry for a long time, but Harry's delay in asking her
to the Ball, left an opening for Cedric to enter the picture. Let's
face it, Cedric was probably a great guy from a girl's perspective;
handsome, intelligent, sensitive, outgoing, polite. The kind of guy
you can take home to Mom.

So she certainly liked Cedric, but still has feelings for Harry;
guilt, desire, need for emotional support and connection, etc, etc....
Hermione got it right.


> 8. Why oh why does the kiss take place off stage? How could JKR *do*
> this to me?
> 

asian_lovr2:

I've notice something about JKR's writing style, a characteristic that
I've always admired; it's extremely compact. If you go back to any
book and count the pages that comprise one of your favorite scene, I
think you will be surprised at how few pages it is. 

One of the most powerful effects of this compact style is that JKR
gives us just enough information to stimulate our imaginations. Many
authors practice, and many students are taught, the fine are of
creating a mental picture as you write, consequently, every page is
filled with long endless descriptions of the texture and color of the
carpet, the detailed nature of the sunlight filtering in through the
windows; every little detail is spelled out. Which means there is very
little left for my imagination to do. 

Let's look at a couple examples. If you add up all the information in
all the books describing Ron, I think you will find a very very sparse
description. Just the basics; tall, gangly, big feet, and red hair.
Now compare that sparse desciption with your mental image of Ron.
Where did all those precise details and that vivid image come from?
JKR gave you just enough to activate your imagination, which filled in
the blanks in fine rich detail. 

I think you can apply this exercise to just about anything or anyone
in the books. How detailed is JKR's description of Hogwarts? Not very.
How detailed is her description of 12 Grimmauld Place? Not very. How
detailed is her description of the robes people wear? Not very, yet we
all have a very definite idea of what they are suppose to look like. 

Imagination is a wonderful thing, and it's a master storyteller who
knows how to tap into it.


> 9. Why is Harry so sure he wasn't just dreaming about the snake? Why
> does McGonagall so readily believe him?
> 

Asian_lovr2:
Tough question, but it seems very true that Harry can distinguish
between random normal dreams, and when he is having a 'living' dream.
Perhaps it is based on a much stronger sense of physical awareness and
physical presences. In the 'snake' dream, Harry very much feels the
snakes body, and is very aware of himself and where he is at. 

Why did McGonagall believe him? I think it is because Dumbledore has
told her about Harry's connection to Voldemort, and as others have
pointed out, Dumbledore, and therefore those close to him, have been
waiting for something like this to happen. They suspected that now
that Voldemort was in his body again, the connection between Harry and
Voldemort would grow stronger, and even reach the point where
Voldemort became aware of Harry's presence in his mind.


> 10. How can we readers tell that the snake vision is not just a 
> dream?
> 

Asian_lovr2:

Interesting question... I think we the reader can also see the
vividness, and the full presence of Harry and his full awareness in
the dreams. They are not a random jumble of thoughts; they play out in
near realtime in rich detail. 


> 11. Snake!Harry can 'see objects around him shimmering in strange,
> vibrant colours.' Why?
> 

Asian_lovr2:

I thought you would never ask. As a gross generalization, snake have
heat sensing vision; in a sense, infra-red vision that allows them to
see in near darkenss. The simmering strange vibrant colors are
temperature gradients.


> 12. 'Harry longed to bite the man ... but he must master the impulse
> ... he had more important work to do ...' What work?
> 

Asian_lovr2:

Others have already answered this. Voldemort was possessing the snake
in order to gain stealth entrance to the Ministry of Magic either to
reconnoiter the place and get enough information to plan an effective
attack, or possibly to steal the Prophecy orb himself. 

To grabbed the Prophecy, I suspect he would have had to exit the
snakes body. Once he had grabbed the Orb, I have to wonder if he would
be capable of holding on to it when he re-enter the snakes body? 

If he was unable to re-enter the snakes body, he would have lost his
element of stealth, and would have stood a very strong chance of being
spotted or captured.


> 13. Is this the first time Voldemort knows the Order is guarding the
> Prophecy?
> 

Asian_lovr2:

I believe the Order, or at least Hermione, suspect that Sturgis
Podmore was under the Imperious Curse when he was captured. And, I
believe by this time, Bode had already tried to get into the Dept of
Mysteries and it's safe to assume he was also under the Imperious
Curse. That's pretty strong evidence that Voldemort and the DE's knew
where the Prophecy was.

But, even with that evidence, it's not clear that V and the DE's knew
that the Dept of Mysteries was under constant night guard. I think for
sure after Mr. Weasley's attack, they knew that for a fact, but before
that is debatable.


> 14. What do we learn here about the limits of Invisibility Cloaks?
> 
> ...edited... 
> 
> --Dicey Elf

Asian_lovr2:

Well, we know that the I-Cloak doesn't mask heat. Personally, I don't
think the I-Cloak is perfect. I think there may be slight visual
aberrations that let very very preceptive people like Dumbledore
become aware that people are hiding there. In Hagrid's hut when the
Minister of Magic visits to take Hagrid to Azkaban, it seems that
Dumbledore is aware that Harry and friends are there. I personally
don't believe the Dumbledore can see through the I-Cloak, but he is a
very preceptive man, I think he picks up subtle clues that other less
aware people miss. The movement of a foot on the floor. A bow or bend
in the floor boards. Slight and very subtle visual distortions, etc....

Mostly speculation, but the snake certainly confirm that the I-Cloak
can be circumvented by a good Infra-red detection charm.

Just a thought... or two.

Steve/asian_lovr2