Patronus forms (Was: book jacket, stag/ woman's face on the back cover?)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 167259

Ryan wrote:
> *(snip)*
> > I do think however, that the form of the patronus is linked to the
inspiration for the Patronus. Which makes me wonder why Ron's patronus
is a Jack Russell terrier and Cho Chang's is a swan.
> 
Ceridwen responded:
> Jack Russells are tenacious and hyper.  My friend has a blind Jack
Russell, but that doesn't stop her: she will still chase down any
strange dog she smells on her lawn.  She is loyal; brave; and 
fearless, which is not always the same thing as brave.  Maybe this 
characterizes Ron.
> 
> As for Cho, I think her Patronus was a hint that she was still loyal
to and in love with Cedric, since swans mate for life (or at least, 
I've always heard that they do).
<snip>

Carol notes:
I wonder if we're not confusing the concepts of Animagus and Patronus
here. A Patronus, according to JKR, is a "spirit guardian," a
protector rather than an indication of the caster's personality and
character, as the Animagus form clearly is. Sirius Black's Animagus
form, a Grimlike black dog, reflected his personality and character,
just as Peter Pettigrew's rat form reflects his, but I doubt that
their Patronus forms were identical to their Animagus forms. By the
same token, Harry's Patronus form reflects his father's personality
and character, not his own. I'm no expert on animal symbolism, by any
means, but I *think* that the stag (besides being an obviously
masculine symbol) suggests courage and nobility but also possibly
arrogance or pride. I think that Harry's own Animagus form, were he to
develop one, would be a lion rather than a stag (the Gryffindor
symbol, with its well-known implications of courage and kingliness).
Tonks's (new) werewolf Patronus obviously reflects Lupin rather than
some aspect of her own personality.

Thanks for your insights into Jack Russell terriers. I think that a
Jack Russell sounds like a good "spirit guardian" for Ron, who is
brave but not fearless, but could use a fearless protector. I think
Hermione's otter could be Ron at his playful best, minus any of the
less pleasant traits that might be associated with their weasel
cousins. I'd like it if Cho's Patronus somehow connoted faithfulness
to Cedric (or Cedric himself, but I think it's a feminine symbol).

If we see a unicorn Patronus in DH, it will probably be Snape's and
will mean that the Lily/Snape faction is right about Snape's loving
Lily--Lily as Snape's spirit guardian. Personally, I'd rather that
Snape's Patronus would connect him somehow with Dumbledore, reflecting
his undying loyalty to the man he had to kill--a Phoenix Patronus
resembling DD's, or even DD's Patronus transferred to Snape, or even a
lowly "dumbledore" (bumblebee).

Again, a definition and etymology may prove useful:

Main Entry: pa·tron
Pronunciation: 'pA-tr&n, for 6 also pa-'trOn
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin &
Latin; Medieval Latin patronus patron saint, patron of a benefice,
pattern, from Latin, defender, from patr-, pater
1 a : a person chosen, named, or honored as a special guardian,
protector, or supporter <snip>

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/patron

So Patronus is related to the concept of patron saint and, perhaps not
coincidentally in Harry's case, to "father." The -us ending is
masculine, but possibly that's a technicality. I see no reason why
Lily, represented by a female unicorn, could not be Snape's (new?)
Patronus if that's the direction that JKR wants to take the story. But
I doubt very much that Snape's Animagus form, if he had one, would be
a unicorn!

I just found this description of owl symbolism, which describes what I
think would be the perfect nonDumbledorean Patronus for Snape (but
doesn't necessarily sum up informed opinion on the subject--I don't
know how authoritative the webmaster is: "Owl--Silent and Swift
Movement, Seeing Behind Masks, Keen Sight, Messenger of Secrets and
Omens, Shape-Shifting, Link Between the Dark, Unseen World and the
World of Light, Comfort with Shadow Self, Moon Magick, Freedom, Silent
Wisdom, Nocturnal Vision, Healing Powers, Magical, Detachment, Change,
the Mystery of Magic, Omens, the Arts, Watchfulness, Night Magicks,
Truth, Patience." 

http://onespiritx.tripod.com/magick18.htm

More likely, though, the owl is McGonagall's Patronus rather than
Snape's given the mythological connection between Minerva and owls.

Carol, wishing that we knew McGonagall's Patronus form, which would
answer some of our questions on the subject, especially if it's *not*
a cat