CHAPDISC: DH32, The Elder Wand

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 184745

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Zara" <zgirnius at ...> wrote:
 
> 
> CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
> Chapter 32: The Elder Wand
 
> 
> 2) Speaking of this something, what are we to make of it? These 
same 
> eyes have been elsewhere described thusly: "They were cold and 
empty 
> and made you think of dark tunnels". (Empty things have *nothing* 
in 
> them.)

Hickengruendler:

I think it is meant to symbolize, that Snape does have feelings, or a 
soul, as Alla put it. For all these years, Harry always has seen 
Snape as a sort of monster, a man without feelings. But here he feels 
real pity for him, even before knowing, that Snape didn't betray 
Dumbledore, and therefore it fits, that he saw something else in 
Snape's eyes. A glimmer of humanity, maybe?
  
> 3) What was your reaction to Snape's death on your first reading of 
> it? Did the following chapter change your view? Does it affect you 
> differently on rereading?

I expected, that he would die. But I was utterly shocked by the 
reason. I think this is one of the times, where JKR really manages to 
make Voldemort loathsome and horrid. And I think it's a fitting 
contrast to the fact, that Snape was allowed to sit next to Voldemort 
in the opening chapter of the book.  

 
> 5) Will Zara ask a question that is NOT about Snape? Erm, right, 
yes, 
> well
Personally, I prefer the battle scenes in this chapter to the 
> ones in the previous one, even though the last chapter was named 
> after the battle. Which is your favorite scene of the first part of 
> the battle (feel free to name one from the previous chapter!)? Why?

Trelawney smashing the crystall balls on the Death Eaters. It's so 
incredibily funny. Luna giving Harry new hope during the Dementor 
attack is great as well.
 
> 6) The Death Eaters brought a giant to the battle, and Grawp fought 
> him to defend the school. As payoff for Hagrid's back-story, Mme. 
> Maxime, "Hagrid's Tale", and the Grawp subplot in OotP, was this 
> sufficient for you? Why or why not?

For me, it was enough. I did not need to see any more of Grawp.

 
> 8) What was your reaction to Hagrid's defense of the giant spiders 
> and its results?

At first I was incredibily annoyed. But I think it is possible, that 
he was talking to the spiders and tried to stop them hurting the 
children. At least I hope so. What I did find interesting is, that 
they didn't eat him. Maybe they really did feel some loyalty for him 
as well, just as Aragog did?
 
> 9) How cool was it that Hermione defended Lavender from Greyback? 
> (Or, why was it not cool?) Why do you suppose Rowling chose 
Trelawney 
> as the person to finish him off?

I loved the scene. And I think JKR chose Trelawney to show, that even 
people like her have her worth and could be helpful. Greyback is 
around in later chapters again, though. So he isn't finished off, yet.

Thanks @Zara for the great questions and the summary.

Hickengruendler