Storytelling in Harry Potter (1 of 2) (long)

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 170852

Ann:
> This is because in my opinion a plot is neither "a sequence of events
> in a fictional work", nor is it necessary for a work. My personal and
> idiosyncratic definition of a plot is "The sequence of events in a
> work resulting mainly from the protagonist/s's actions, other
> characters' reactions, and the setting – as opposed to events
> programmed by the author, the narrator's choice of what to narrate,
> and so on – which are visible to the reader and directed towards
> reaching the work's most important narrative strand". 

Pippin:
According to your definition, if I understand it correctly, almost
no mystery or detective fiction would have a plot. The action is
usually driven by the villain. He always controls events
and knows more about what is going on than the main 
character does, at least until the villain is revealed and his 
plots are foiled. 

The mystery plots of the Potter books certainly follow this
pattern. However, the books are also bildungsroman, and
the bildungsroman plot is character driven. Each book
begins with Harry feeling  some weakness or lack in
himself,  which he through his actions remedies by the end. 

For example in PS/SS, Harry thinks he can't  be any kind
of wizard, much less the great wizard Ollivander reveals he's
expected to be. But through his actions he learns the meaning 
of courage and friendship, and these teach him what
greatness truly is.

Stated so baldly it sounds trite. Plots usually do. But
JKR is never so obvious.  Harry never says to himself 
"What I've got to do is make some really good friends and
learn to be brave." But he shows through his actions that
making friends and learning to be brave are important to him.

Pippin