Spoiler! Book Seven Title Thoughts

Fri Dec 22 03:18:33 UTC 2006

No: HPFGUIDX 163061

SPOILER!

I haven't read the other threads, so as not to prejudice my thoughts 
one way or another, so please forgive me if I've duplicated someone 
else's thoughts.

The Deathly Hallows.  When I read about the title, my first thought 
was, "Sounds a lot like Godric's Hollow."  Then, I thought of All 
Hallows Eve, when the spirits of those departed are believed to 
return to earth.  I also thought about the term "hallowed" as used in 
the Bible to mean holy (as in the land you stand on is hallowed 
ground, hallowed be Thy name, etc.). I definitely believe that there 
will be some "crossing over" in this last book, probably on Halloween.

But the "Deathly" part is what makes it intriguing. Deathly, 
according the the Merriam-Webster dictionary online, means "fatal; of 
relating to or suggestive of death."  One one hand, the phrase 
Deathly Hallows almost seems redundant because souls/spirits would by 
definition be persons who have already died.  Unless the 
souls/spirits can help to cause someone's death? Perhaps Voldemort's?

I keep returning to what I see as the relationship between the 
previous titles and Harry's journey.  In one way or another, the 
titles have related to someone or something that has moved Harry 
further along in his journey toward the final confrontation with 
Voldemort.  So, how does "Deathly Hallows" fit in that scheme?

Perhaps the Deathly Hallows is the collective name of the spirits who 
help Harry in the final book to kill Voldemort and avenge the people 
he loves?  Or perhaps a combination of Dumbledore's Army and the 
Order of the Phoenix? 

Or perhaps the place of the final confrontation -- the "real" name of 
the Department of Mysteries??? 

Just some random, excited thoughts from someone who hasn't posted in 
a while.

Angie