Am I the only one... (Hermione and Multiple Intelligences)

[Schumar1999]

No: HPFGUIDX 135020

As far as Hermione's "stagnating intelligence", Del says <snip>:
So, I'm still not convinced.

Schumar's response: Neither am I. 

First of all, every single one of Del's reasons for showing Hermione IS a clever and 
extraordinary witch who can think outside of the box are true. I want to add about how 
Hermione got the idea to have Harry teach the DA group (something that Hermione 
planned and organized all on her own) ... she valued what Harry taught them so much that 
she was even able to show Harry how what Snape was saying related to what Harry taught. 

And let's look at Hermione's giftedness and the some of multiple intelligences, as outlined 
by Howard Gardner. 

Linguistic Intelligence -- Hermione does indeed show a sensitivity to written and spoken 
language and she uses books and language to accomplish her goals. It is clear that she is 
the best writer of the trio, as she has always been editing their written homework. She 
even thought outside the box in HBP to look up students with the name Prince in the 
library. She must have extraordinary intelligence in this and the next area to be able to 
come up with a jinx that no one can counter.

Logical-Mathematical Intelligence - Hermione is the only one of the three that has 
continued with the mathematical magic classes, particularly Arithmency. Of course, we 
have seen her use and value logic back since PS/SS... how she was impressed with Snape's 
potions protection of the stone (logic being something many wizards lack), and she used 
logic in working out how the basilisk was able to get to its victims (the pipes). Although 
she hasn't gotten nearly the results Harry has with the help of the HBP, Hermione is smart 
enough to get farther on everything than anyone else in the class.

Interpersonal Intelligence - I don't necessarily think this her greatest strength but she 
does some things well. She gets the Harry/Cho and even the Ginny/Harry relationships 
spot on... but she doesn't understand that Hogwarts' house elves really don't want to be 
free or that Harry really has a reason to worry about Malfoy.  I think that Hermione does 
show Intrapersonal intelligence and understands herself and her feelings, but she 
recognizes that Ron is not there yet. And yes, bright girls like Hermione do act foolishly at 
times. 

Speaking of House Elves, another aspect of giftedness is having Social Intelligence, and 
working to understand what's going on in the world (as she clearly did with being the only 
one who read Hogwarts, A History) and improve the conditions of others. She even stated 
how she would like to do something more with S.P.E.W. after Hogwarts. 

So, yes, there are other intelligences that Hermione doesn't necessarily have great 
strengths in, namely Bodily-Kinesthetic, and though she is clearly good at the Naturalistic 
areas, Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology (both of which she received "O" O.W.L.s) 
-- she doesn't seem to have as much interest in them as she does in the more Logic/
Mathematical areas. 

Now it gets personal for me. I am an educator of Gifted/Talented youth, and my job is 
looking for and developing these talents in others. It is clear to me that Hermione 
posesses the above average ability and -- perhaps most importantly -- the creativity and 
the commitment to task -- that prove she is truly a Gifted Witch. Even if she's not as good 
at Potions as Snape was, there is nothing tangible that I can see to really suggest her 
inteligence is waning. 

Marianne S.