Book titles - Thoughts and Ideas

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 103750

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "meriaugust" <meriaugust at y...>
wrote:
> Hey all. Hoping here that this is OT enough not to attract the wrath 
> of the List Elves. I was thinking about the book titles and how they 
> related to the stories that they belonged to. Here's a quick 
> summation (not that you guys need it, but just to show my point): 
> 

asian_lovr2:

What could be more ON TOPIC than a discussion of the books themselves.


> Sorcerer's/Philospher's Stone: This is what was being hidden at 
> Hogwarts, a massive plot point, ...
> 
> Chamber of Secrets: Where the Basilisk was hidden, and very nearly 
> where Harry and Ginny could have died. ...
> 
> Prisoner of Azkaban: The only novel named after a character ..., 
> one who, ..., isn't even physically seen until the very last 
> chapters. ...
> 
> Goblet of Fire: A relatively minor player in the novel, the Goblet's 
> one reason for involvement in the plot is to be hoodwinked by 
> Crouch!Moody and get Harry into the tournament. I always thought 
> that HP and the Triwizard Tournament would have been a better 
> title, ...
> 

asian-lovr2:

One comment here, a comment which I admit is a bit of a diversion. In
a sense, to my way of thinking, the appearance of the 'Goblet of Fire'
is a pivotal moment in the book. It's our first big 'OH CRAP!' moment
when we know that something is definitely wrong. Prior to that, to my
recollection, we have nothing but minor skirmishes and distractions. 

At the moment that Harry's name comes out of the Goblet, the true
story begins. It's the point at which the minor details, clues, and
curiosities from earlier in the book suddenly have value and meaning.
It's the point at which all minor details, clues, and curiosities that
follow gain their meaning.

Like I said, things like the apearance of the Dark Mark at the QWC are
just interesting curiousities. I'm sure Harry was concerned about it,
but it wasn't really causing him any trouble. In fact, he and Ron
clearly don't see what the big deal is. But when his name came out of
the Goblet, as Sherlock Holms would say, 'the game was afoot'.

While the Goblet itself is an indicental artifact, the scene in which
the Goblet spits out the names sets the whole 'game afoot'.

That doesn't address your original point, but I felt it was a note I
had to make. 


> Meri:
>
> Order of the Phoenix: The group dedicated to the eradication of LV 
> and only the second title to be mentioned in a previous book ... 
> The Order ... will probably play a huge role in the upcoming books. 
> 
> So what can we deduce from HP and the Half Blood Prince? Well, who 
> ever it is doesn't stand a good chance for survival: the Prisoner of 
> Azkaban has allready died, as have a few members of the Order. Any 
> other thoughts related to the title? Could the Chamber (or even the 
> Stone or the Goblet) be back for more action? Who knows? 
> 
> Meri

asian_lovr2:

To preface my opinion on the next book, I would like to add these links-

Section: Extra Stuff
Opening Chapters of Philosopher's Stone
http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=1

Section: Extra Stuff
The Opening Chapter of Book Six
http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=6

JKR had verions of the first chapters of PS/SS but, among other
readson, didn't use them because they gave away to much info. The
first part of PS/SS was difficult to write and to read partly because
she had to give out a great deal of information, but had to hide much
more. 

In that first chapter of PS/SS we are introduced to the Dursleys, but
more importantly are given our first explanation of what happened to
Harry's parents, and to Voldemort. That gives me the gut feeling that
the first introductory chapters of the '...Half Blood Prince' will be
an expansion of that explanation of Harry's parents, Godric's Hollow,
and the backstory on Voldemort, but more importantly, the backstory on
Tom Riddle.

I foresee the book starting with an expansion of Tom Riddle's early
history that gradually, as it develops and the detail are filled in,
makes the transition to the story of Harry's parents, eventually
leading to the night at Godric's Hollow.

Exactly who will give us this information, I'm not sure; could be the
narrator similar to the beginning of Goblet of Fire, could be an early
heart-to-heart with Dumbledore, could be Lupin. Those seem like the
most likely candidates. 

>From this I'm sure you can see that my belief is that Tom Riddle is
the Half Blood Prince. I think we will see a lot more of Voldemort in
this next book, although the bulk of it could be in narrative. 

Beyond Merlin himself, the four original founders of Hogwarts are
probably the closest thing the wizard world has to royalty, and Tom is
related to Slytherin, who may or may not have been good, but he was
certainly great. 

Although, I will note that through out fictional history, wizards and
kings have always been closely associated. During those times when the
reigning king was not persecuting wizards, the Kings and Queens were
usually seeking out the wise council of wizards and valued them greatly.

Given the closeness of Royalty and wizards (Merlin & King Arthur), I
don't think we can rule out the possibility of a real Crowned Prince
entering the picture. Although, if it turns out to be Prince William,
that will be, without a shadow of a doubt, another one of those 'OH
CRAP!' moments.

I am working on the idea of a possible encounter between Harry, Ron,
and Hermione, and Prince William and Prince Harry/Henry. For reference
to the ardent shippers, Ginny is dating Prince Harry (met him at a
disco), and later, Hermione is dating Prince William (met him at the
King's ball). Sorry for the side track.

Just passing it along.

Steve/asian_lovr2