often used device

[samnanya]

No: HPFGUIDX 114151

Carol:
While a number of people on this list think that Harry will
go through the veil and return (like Odysseus or Orpheus
from Hades), I'm hoping that JKR won't inflict such an
often-used device on us. 

Kelsey:
I don't think that Harry's descent into the literal 
underworld/Hades/Death would be an "often-used device".
For mythology, a resounding yes. But for more modern
literature, I'm not so quick to agree.
 
Samnanya
The literal underworld was explored recently in the Amber
Spyglass, the third and concluding volume of the His Dark
Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. And, given that there
is a persistent rumor that the Gilderoy Lockhart character
was modeled after PP, I would bet that JKR just might
think twice before going into that well worn territory in a 
trite and unoriginal way.

 -------------
 
Kelsey
On the point of the room itself and the veil, because so
little of it is explained in OOP, I wonder if it was a 
teaser or an introduction because of its future importance.

Samnanya