[HPforGrownups] Re: Epilogue/ Horcruxes and Hallows

[Lee Kaiwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 183409

Alla:
I just realized (DUH Alla) that all that she did with this is (IMO)
to continue pattern with some previous books where the objects are
seemingly important, but it is really not about them at all.

CJ:
The word you're looking for is "MacGuffin". It's a term widely used in 
the movie industry (and now finding its way into literary discussions as 
well) for an item whose sole purpose is to kickstart or advance the plot 
in a meaningful way, but whose specific identity is unimportant. The 
term was popularized by Alfred Hitchcock who frequently used MacGuffins 
in his movies; e.g., the "government secrets" in North by Northwest (it 
never did matter what the papers were; they were simply the the plot 
catalyst). Other famous movie MacGuffins are the maltese falcon in The 
Maltese Falcon, the letters of transit in Casablanca, the sealed 
cannister in Mission: Impossible III (of course, some have suggested MI3 
itself was nothing more than a MacGuffin for Tom Cruise's career) or the 
"secret papers" in any of dozens of spy movies and novels.

Calling something a MacGuffin, BTW, is by no means necessarily an 
insult. MacGuffins can be very effective literary devices. After all, as 
you suggested, the Sorcerer/Philosopher's stone is indeed one.