Storytelling in Harry Potter (2 of 2) (long)

[or.phan_ann]

No: HPFGUIDX 171304

Sorry I've taken a while to reply, Jo. I've been away from the 
computer.

Jo said:
> PS can be seen as a two part book. The first half up to the       
> chapter on the Hogwart's express is essentially set up. At the    
> time of my first reading it seemed excessively long, in retrospect 
> that's because JK was setting up the whole series. 
> From "The Journey From Platform 9 ¾" onwards the book becomes more 
> of an adventure with an active hero. Harry is active within the 
> scope of his experience and age. 

Ann:
True. PS/SS as part of the series is a very different beast to PS/SS 
read alone, and yes, overplotly stuff is going on there, but my 
point was purely about there being nothing about Quirrel in there. 
Of course the troll fight (f'rinstance) is crucial to the series.

Jo: 
> JK has stated that HBP and DH can be viewed as two halves of the 
> same book, compare that to the two halves of PS and HBP would     
> equate to the set up phase and DH to the adventure commencing.    
> <snip> in DH it seems likely that we will learn about HRX/Lily's  
> eyes/Snape's childhood trauma along the way, and that's what will 
> make the HRX hunt interesting.

Ann:
Interesting point, and I bet Goddlefrood was pleased to see it, but 
in my opinion that only goes so far. For instance, later in PS/SS 
Quidditch is just as important to Harry as the Stone is, and we're 
expecting Voldemort to be more important than Quidditch in DH... <g> 
OK, that's pushing it, but you know what I mean.

I'm not an English major either (incidentally), and my grand plot 
definition doesn't seem to have been very helpful to anyone. 
Sistermagpie in Message 170909 called the series "recognition 
dramas" and that's much better in my opinion. 

Ann