Blog 8: Analysis of Nesbit, Lewis, and/or Rowling-
After reading all three novels assigned by Nesbit, Lewis, and Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was definitely my favorite book. The Magicians Nephew came in second, and was followed by The Phoenix and the Carpet in third. As a result, I have chosen to do my analysis on Harry Potter. There are many different themes that run through harry potter, anything from relationships to different nationalities, and even race, all of which we discussed in class. One steady theme that I recognized throughout the whole book was that of growth.
I felt this theme, or idea, was shown constantly in the book. Whether it be the relationship Harry had with Ron and Hermione, or the one he had with Mad-eye Moody. Each one grew in its own unique way, and this was especially true for Harry’s relationship with Cedric Diggory.
Both boys were chosen to represent Hogwarts for the tri-wizard tournament, but from the start there was a dislike for Harry which was shown in the pins that the students wore. These pins read, “Support Cedric Diggory—the real Hogwarts champion!” and when pressed flashed another saying, “Potter stinks”. When it came down to it though, Harry was the first to reach out to Cedric and warn him of their first task, which were the dragons. As the story progressed, Harry then is stuck with solving the golden egg, but Cedric is the one to give him advice and help him complete the task. The last task is where the true growth between the two boys is seen. In the end, Cedric is killed, but Harry is the one who brought his body back with him, and was visibly upset about the series of events which unfolded.
While I felt that Cedric’s and Harry’s relationship was the one that grew the most in this book, there were also others that were very important and influential on the book. These included relationships among Dumbledore, Mad eye Moody, Krum and Hermione, and many more.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Blog 7B-Notable Moment: Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
Blog 7B-Notable Moment: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the series written by J.K. Rowling. In this book, Harry Potter is chosen to compete in the Triwizard Tournament and the way in which he was selected for this tournament was very unique. First of all, Harry’s age proved to be a factor in him actually being able to put his name in the Goblet of Fire for the tournament. This is because Dumbledore stated,
“To ensure that no underage student yields to temptation, said Dumbledore, I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire once it has been placed in the entrance hall. Nobody under the age of seventeen will be able to cross the line.”
This quote is significant because it shows that Harry was not the one who put his name in the Goblet of Fire, it had to be someone else. The following night when the Goblet of Fire chooses Harry Potter, it is evident that he is an exception to the rule in more ways than one. His name somehow getting placed in the goblet is one exception, his age is seen as another, with him only being fourteen at the time. Also, there are normally three magicians who are chosen to compete, but Harry is the fourth. Lastly, because Harry’s name was placed in the Goblet he has to compete in the tournament till the very end. It is ironic how during the feast,
“Harry thought briefly of Dumbledore’s insistence that nobody under seventeen should submit their name, but then the wonderful picture of himself winning the Triwizard Tournament filled his mind again…he wondered how angry Dumbledore would be if someone younger than seventeen did find a way to get over the Age Line…”
This quote is just one example of the foreshadowing that J.K. Rowling uses to show to the reader that there are exceptions to the rules and Harry Potter proves that he is an exception.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the series written by J.K. Rowling. In this book, Harry Potter is chosen to compete in the Triwizard Tournament and the way in which he was selected for this tournament was very unique. First of all, Harry’s age proved to be a factor in him actually being able to put his name in the Goblet of Fire for the tournament. This is because Dumbledore stated,
“To ensure that no underage student yields to temptation, said Dumbledore, I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire once it has been placed in the entrance hall. Nobody under the age of seventeen will be able to cross the line.”
This quote is significant because it shows that Harry was not the one who put his name in the Goblet of Fire, it had to be someone else. The following night when the Goblet of Fire chooses Harry Potter, it is evident that he is an exception to the rule in more ways than one. His name somehow getting placed in the goblet is one exception, his age is seen as another, with him only being fourteen at the time. Also, there are normally three magicians who are chosen to compete, but Harry is the fourth. Lastly, because Harry’s name was placed in the Goblet he has to compete in the tournament till the very end. It is ironic how during the feast,
“Harry thought briefly of Dumbledore’s insistence that nobody under seventeen should submit their name, but then the wonderful picture of himself winning the Triwizard Tournament filled his mind again…he wondered how angry Dumbledore would be if someone younger than seventeen did find a way to get over the Age Line…”
This quote is just one example of the foreshadowing that J.K. Rowling uses to show to the reader that there are exceptions to the rules and Harry Potter proves that he is an exception.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Blog 7A-Anticipating the Novel: Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire
Blog 7A: Anticipating the Novel-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
I am finally getting around to writing this blog for anticipating the Harry Potter book that we will be reading this week for class. Of course I have heard of Harry Potter, and I have read some of the books, but I did not get around to reading this book in my childhood. I believe that I stopped after the second or the third book in the series. I know most of these books are a continuation of the previous one before so it will be interesting to read the fourth book in the series.
Also, along with it being the fourth book, The Goblet of Fire was also made into a movie some five years later. It will be interesting to see some of the differences between the movie and book since I already watched the movie. Although this is one of the longer books, I think that it will be one of the more enjoyable ones since I am already familiar with it.
I am finally getting around to writing this blog for anticipating the Harry Potter book that we will be reading this week for class. Of course I have heard of Harry Potter, and I have read some of the books, but I did not get around to reading this book in my childhood. I believe that I stopped after the second or the third book in the series. I know most of these books are a continuation of the previous one before so it will be interesting to read the fourth book in the series.
Also, along with it being the fourth book, The Goblet of Fire was also made into a movie some five years later. It will be interesting to see some of the differences between the movie and book since I already watched the movie. Although this is one of the longer books, I think that it will be one of the more enjoyable ones since I am already familiar with it.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Blog 6B-Notable Moment: The Magician's Nephew
BLOG 6B: Notable Moment - The Magicians Nephew
In the Magicians Nephew, a notable moment that stuck out for me was when Digory is instructed by Aslan to go to the place where he can get an apple to protect Narnia from the witch. In this scene, Digory is able to go through the gates and enter this place where he grabs an apple and stuffs it into his pocket. We later discover that the witch has already made it to this place and she is eating the apples which are for bidden. The sign on the entrance gate read:
“Come in by the gold gates or not at all,
Take of my fruit for others forbear,
For those who steal or those who climb my wall
Shall find their heart’s desire and find despair.”
Digory realizes that he is able to take some of the fruit and bring it back to Aslan, but he is not to eat any himself. This scene shows that Digory is smart in the way that he follows all the rules written on the gate. The witch, on the other hand, is selfish and tries to get Digory to eat an apple himself. She also tempts Digory with the idea that he could sneak off and bring an apple home to his mother and heal her. These nasty words by the witch show that there is evil in this second world, and although it may be hard, resisting temptations can be for the best.
This proved true for Digory because Aslan let him take an apple and bring it home to his mother to help heal her. All in all, I felt that this notable moment showed that Digory had grown as a person and was able to resist the witch in her evil ways and do the right thing, which was not eat the apples in the situation at hand.
In the Magicians Nephew, a notable moment that stuck out for me was when Digory is instructed by Aslan to go to the place where he can get an apple to protect Narnia from the witch. In this scene, Digory is able to go through the gates and enter this place where he grabs an apple and stuffs it into his pocket. We later discover that the witch has already made it to this place and she is eating the apples which are for bidden. The sign on the entrance gate read:
“Come in by the gold gates or not at all,
Take of my fruit for others forbear,
For those who steal or those who climb my wall
Shall find their heart’s desire and find despair.”
Digory realizes that he is able to take some of the fruit and bring it back to Aslan, but he is not to eat any himself. This scene shows that Digory is smart in the way that he follows all the rules written on the gate. The witch, on the other hand, is selfish and tries to get Digory to eat an apple himself. She also tempts Digory with the idea that he could sneak off and bring an apple home to his mother and heal her. These nasty words by the witch show that there is evil in this second world, and although it may be hard, resisting temptations can be for the best.
This proved true for Digory because Aslan let him take an apple and bring it home to his mother to help heal her. All in all, I felt that this notable moment showed that Digory had grown as a person and was able to resist the witch in her evil ways and do the right thing, which was not eat the apples in the situation at hand.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Blog 6A: Anticipating the Novel-The Magician's Nephew
Blog 6A: Anticipating the Novel: The Magician’s Nephew
The Magician’s Nephew is a novel that was published in the Chronicles of Narnia Series. While I have heard of this series of books, I have yet to read them all, but I have read one, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The book that we are reading, The Magician’s Nephew, is the sixth book published in this series, and is about the journey of two children. Their Uncle Andrew is the magician who sends the children to another world. This book not only explores the fantasy world, but it also has many elements in it which are similar to C.S. Lewis’s life.
The children are similar to C.S. Lewis in that they are growing up in the early 1900’s in London, the same time that Lewis was. Also, both the children and Lewis lose their mothers in early childhood, and their fathers live in another country as they grow up. The children and Lewis, on a lighter note, both wanted a pony when they grew up. Lastly, this book has a little more humor and is a little lighter in tone compared to the other books in the series perhaps due to Lewis as a older man reflecting back on his childhood.
Judging from the cover, it is clear that there is an aspect of fantasy in the book by the horse with wings, and the children riding it over a vast countryside with mountains, trees, and water. I then went on to read the first line, last line, and ninety-ninth page to anticipate the novel in a new way. The first line opens the story up nicely and clearly stating that the story begins when my grandfather was a child, illustrating to the reader that the book happened a while ago. The last line, and the ninety-ninth page were both quotes so it was harder to comprehend these. All in all, I look forward to reading the book and seeing what new adventure lies ahead of me.
The Magician’s Nephew is a novel that was published in the Chronicles of Narnia Series. While I have heard of this series of books, I have yet to read them all, but I have read one, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The book that we are reading, The Magician’s Nephew, is the sixth book published in this series, and is about the journey of two children. Their Uncle Andrew is the magician who sends the children to another world. This book not only explores the fantasy world, but it also has many elements in it which are similar to C.S. Lewis’s life.
The children are similar to C.S. Lewis in that they are growing up in the early 1900’s in London, the same time that Lewis was. Also, both the children and Lewis lose their mothers in early childhood, and their fathers live in another country as they grow up. The children and Lewis, on a lighter note, both wanted a pony when they grew up. Lastly, this book has a little more humor and is a little lighter in tone compared to the other books in the series perhaps due to Lewis as a older man reflecting back on his childhood.
Judging from the cover, it is clear that there is an aspect of fantasy in the book by the horse with wings, and the children riding it over a vast countryside with mountains, trees, and water. I then went on to read the first line, last line, and ninety-ninth page to anticipate the novel in a new way. The first line opens the story up nicely and clearly stating that the story begins when my grandfather was a child, illustrating to the reader that the book happened a while ago. The last line, and the ninety-ninth page were both quotes so it was harder to comprehend these. All in all, I look forward to reading the book and seeing what new adventure lies ahead of me.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Blog 5B: Notable Moment-The Phoenix and The Carpet
Blog 5B: Notable Moment-Phoenix and the carpet
The notable moment that I chose from the Phoenix and the Carpet came from the first chapter titled the egg. In this chapter the children discover the Phoenix that hatches from the egg, and I feel that as the reader, I was able to see the fantasy aspect of the book. This, in turn, allowed me to get more involved in the adventures that the kids would soon embark on.
The following quote shows the first impression that the children have of the Phoenix when it hatched from the fiery egg. “They were not astonished, but they were very, very interested. They looked at the bird, and it was certainly worth looking at.” The children are amazed with this bird, and at that moment the story of the Phoenix and The Carpet begins. The children are told of the magic powers of the carpet, and the ability of it to grant three wishes. They are also informed about the life of the Phoenix, and soon learn about his personality and traits he has.
The Phoenix, the mythical character in this book, is a very conceited and outspoken individual who believes he is entitled to just about everything. It is interesting that these qualities are given to the main character that the book is centered on because of the message it may be giving to children. The following excerpt shows the conceited nature of the bird. “My fame has lived then for two thousand years, it said. Allow me to look at my portrait.” In this quote, the Phoenix has just been hatched and is talking about himself when he says that the fame has lived for two thousand year. These characteristics which are noteworthy to the Phoenix may be intentionally assigned to the bird to illustrate or portray a certain type of individual in society. This bird may stand to illustrate a greater theme of the division of social classes in society which I may choose to go into detail later on in my analysis.
The notable moment that I chose from the Phoenix and the Carpet came from the first chapter titled the egg. In this chapter the children discover the Phoenix that hatches from the egg, and I feel that as the reader, I was able to see the fantasy aspect of the book. This, in turn, allowed me to get more involved in the adventures that the kids would soon embark on.
The following quote shows the first impression that the children have of the Phoenix when it hatched from the fiery egg. “They were not astonished, but they were very, very interested. They looked at the bird, and it was certainly worth looking at.” The children are amazed with this bird, and at that moment the story of the Phoenix and The Carpet begins. The children are told of the magic powers of the carpet, and the ability of it to grant three wishes. They are also informed about the life of the Phoenix, and soon learn about his personality and traits he has.
The Phoenix, the mythical character in this book, is a very conceited and outspoken individual who believes he is entitled to just about everything. It is interesting that these qualities are given to the main character that the book is centered on because of the message it may be giving to children. The following excerpt shows the conceited nature of the bird. “My fame has lived then for two thousand years, it said. Allow me to look at my portrait.” In this quote, the Phoenix has just been hatched and is talking about himself when he says that the fame has lived for two thousand year. These characteristics which are noteworthy to the Phoenix may be intentionally assigned to the bird to illustrate or portray a certain type of individual in society. This bird may stand to illustrate a greater theme of the division of social classes in society which I may choose to go into detail later on in my analysis.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Blog 5A: Anticipating the Phoenix and the Carpet
Blog 5A: Anticipating The Phoenix and the Carpet
The Phoenix and the Carpet, written by E. Nesbit, is actually the second book in a trilogy to Five Children and It. This book seems as though it will focus more on the magic aspect of fantasy. The back of the book did not have that much information as to what the book is about. It makes a reference to a magic carpet, but little is explained in reference to characters.
Because I was unable to find a lot of information on the book I looked it up online and found that the book was written in 1904, more than 100 years ago. There are five main characters in the book, and the book follows the adventures of these characters. The story focuses around this carpet that was ruined in a fire, and was then replaced and found to have magic powers. This magic carpet has the power to transport the children anywhere they want and grants then three, and only three wishes a day.
In conclusion, I think this book will be a quick read. Judging from the length of the book and the setup of the chapters, this book will hopefully be another interesting book that will be a fun read.
The Phoenix and the Carpet, written by E. Nesbit, is actually the second book in a trilogy to Five Children and It. This book seems as though it will focus more on the magic aspect of fantasy. The back of the book did not have that much information as to what the book is about. It makes a reference to a magic carpet, but little is explained in reference to characters.
Because I was unable to find a lot of information on the book I looked it up online and found that the book was written in 1904, more than 100 years ago. There are five main characters in the book, and the book follows the adventures of these characters. The story focuses around this carpet that was ruined in a fire, and was then replaced and found to have magic powers. This magic carpet has the power to transport the children anywhere they want and grants then three, and only three wishes a day.
In conclusion, I think this book will be a quick read. Judging from the length of the book and the setup of the chapters, this book will hopefully be another interesting book that will be a fun read.
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