[HPforGrownups] Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 18: Dobby's reward

[Sheila Douglas]

No: HPFGUIDX 189316




> sile_dubhghlase:
> I hope I'm doing this right:

Potioncat:
Yes, done very well indeed.
<Snip>

Potioncat:
I'd like to know what Percy thinks of Snape. He presents this information in
a matter of fact way. The wording is very clever on JKR's part. Using Dark
Arts rather than Defense against the Dark Arts gives Snape's knowledge a
sinister slant. It's difficult to know if Percy intended Dart Arts or DADA
because the clas itself is sometimes referred to in the shorted form of Dark
Arts.

It will also be reinforced later by Sirius in his comment about Snape's
skills when he arrived at Hogwarts

sile_dubhghlase:
I think Percy respects him as a Hogwarts teacher, but I don't think Percy's
blind to Snape's prejudices, such as his cruelty to the Gryffindors, his
bias for his Slytherins, or his overall nasty demeanor. As for his
suspicions about Snape's dark leanings, past or present, I doubt Percy has
an opinion one way or the other because it would never occur to him that
anyone that sinister would ever be allowed to teach at Hogwarts. I think
Percy might be in awe of Snape's knowledge of the Dark Arts in a purely
academic sense, but that's about it.
It wouldn't surprise me that Sirius would make some kind of snide comment
about Snape's DADA skills. In OotP Chapter 28, Snape's Worst Memory, pages
641-44 (Scholastic) or pages 564-67 (Bloomsbury), we find Severus and the
Marauders engaged in the written portion of their Defense Against the Dark
Arts OWL. When Flitwick calls the time and collects the papers, Snape's the
first one out of the hall, but he lingers in the shadows to hear what James
Potter and his friends have to say about it. They're obviously aware that
Snape's listening in because they're tossing the answers to the questions
around like they're child's play, knowing DADA is a subject Snape struggles
with.
We have another clue about Snapes DADA skills, or lack thereof, in PoA
Chapter 9, Grim Defeat, pages 172 (Scholastic) or page 129 (Bloomsbury),
Snape has to take over Lupin's DADA classes for a few days. Remus has
already taught them about Kappas, Red Caps, and Grindylows. Snape criticizes
Lupin's grading of a paper about Kappas as he moves up and down the aisles.
Very poorly explained...That is incorrect, the kappa is more commonly found
in Mongolia...Professor Lupin gave this an eight out of ten? I wouldn't have
given it a three..." In reality, the Kappa is a Japanese water-demon, MOM
Classification XXXX, according to "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,"
page 23.
In conclusion, I'd have to say that Snape may know a lot of dark MAGIC, but
that's about it. He's not qualified to teach DADA at all, at least as the
curriculum stood at that time. Overall, I don't believe Snape is qualified
to teach anything, and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near children.






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