A few words, once again

justcarol67 justcarol67 at yahoo.com
Wed May 30 16:10:43 UTC 2007


No: HPFGUIDX 169519

Carol earlier:
> > > > Another favorite moment, one that makes me smile, is Harry
> > > > remembering "Nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak,"
> 
> > > Bart:
> > > Am I STILL the only person who does NOT think it's a coincidence
that those 4 words contain the letters, "D,U,M,B,L,E,D,O,R and E"????
> 
> > Julie:
> > Those 4 words also contain the letters T,O,M,R,I,D,D,L,E. Coincidence?
> 
Mark: 
> 
> Maybe it's the letters that are missing that are important:
> 
> C,F,G,H,J,P,Q,S,V,X,Y,Z
> 
> Wow HJP the initials of our hero. Important, who knows?
<snip>
>
Carol responds:
For the record, I listed the "few words" as a favorite Harry moment
because they caused Harry to smile amid his tears at Dumbledore's
funeral. They're also one of my favorite Dumbledore moments because
they so brilliantly illustrate his eccentric sense of humor (as does
his Gryffin-door knocker). I think, like the Drooble's gum wrappers
that Alice Longbottom gives Neville, that they convey a sentiment, a
character trait, in a single, brilliant, memorable stroke. I don't
think they're an anagram for anything, and I don't think they need to be. 

I do think the moment is important as it's part of our first glimpse
of Dumbledore and first impressions are lasting impressions, right or
wrong. (We see only a few of his many facets, but we don't forget that
eccentric sense of humor even in HBP. And at those few times when the
twinkle in his eyes goes out, we feel the intensity of the anger that
overwhelms his gentler side and sense the power concealed beneath the
twinkle.)

Go ahead and search for anagrams if you must. Sigh. I know you're not
deliberately trying to spoil the moment for me. But I do think it's a
coincidence that "Dumbledore" and all those other words are contained
in that collection. I think JKR chose "a few words" that she loves for
their oddness and comic value to illustrate the same traits in
Dumbledore as he (mischievously and deliberately, IMO) takes the
phrase literally (and notes with satisfaction the surprise or
amusement on various faces).

Carol, wondering what would happen if a politician tried the same joke
in Parliament





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