“Why is Fred Called ‘Rodent’?”

August 11, 2008 by 10 Comments

“Hi, John, this is Don from Portland, first time caller, long time reader, big ditto head, especially on the alchemy. Loved Finding God in Harry Potter and gave it to my church lady neighbor.”

Welcome , Don. Thanks for joining us. What’s your Deathly Hallows question for the Hogwarts Professor?

“Well, I’m trying to figure out why on the PotterWatch broadcast in Chapter 22, ‘The Deathly Hallows,’ ‘River’ Jordan calls Fred ‘Rodent’ instead of ‘Rapier.’ What’s up with that? I’m guessing it has something to do with his death in the Battle of Hogwarts. Am I close?”

Great question, Don. Let’s talk about that broadcast and the chapter it is in: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Deathly Hallows Discussion Points

Rickman Refuses To Talk About Snape

August 11, 2008 by 6 Comments

“I never talk about Harry Potter because I think that would rob children of something that’s private to them.”

“I think too many things get explained, so I hate talking about it. Some child would read something I said and go, `You mean it’s not in my head, I’m not imagining that.'”

“So pardon me if I don’t talk about it. Until (the [7 1/2] Potter film franchise) is over, it should be left uncommented.”

Any actor that refuses to talk about himself or a role can’t be all bad. I’m trying, though, to picture the child he is discussing who also reads newspapers and I’m having a hard time imagining the boy or girl described. Your thoughts?

Filed Under: Hog Pro Notes

Israel Bans Arabic Harry Potter

August 11, 2008 by 5 Comments

It seems to be more about Israel refusing to buy books and products from Syria and Lebanon (even if sold through Jordan), but the story has a Death Eater/Dark Lord feel to it as presented.

Your thoughts, please.

Filed Under: Hog Pro Notes

(5) Potter Movies = (0) Oscars

August 8, 2008 by 21 Comments

So why is that? Three guesses: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Unlocking Harry Potter

The King of the Golden River – Ruskin

August 8, 2008 by 1 Comment

Another tale of three brothers, subtitled ‘The Black Brothers: A Legend of Stiria,’ this fairy tale by the very young John Ruskin (1841) should get you in the mood for Tales of Beedle the Bard. I couldn’t find a version online with Dumbledore’s commentary so I hope we can fill it in. My bet is that Ruskin, as a serious reader of Coleridge and as a Romantic in recovery from consumption, wrote this with the Dantean three layers: narrative line, moral line, and almost invisible alchemical artistry to transform our vision in a kind of esemplastic epiphany. Let me know what you see, especially in the description of the glacier and the transparency of nature.

The King of the Golden River

By John Ruskin [Read more…]

Filed Under: Hero's Journey, Hog Pro Notes, Traditional Symbolism