tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1798065526948874468.post2993160607267224893..comments2024-02-25T06:30:53.030-06:00Comments on Alison Can Read: More Harry Potter Questions to PonderAlisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10161357580448621274noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1798065526948874468.post-67314572890908698542012-10-28T10:05:31.627-05:002012-10-28T10:05:31.627-05:00I remember reading an interview with JK, where she...I remember reading an interview with JK, where she said she always knew Sirius was going to die, which I never really got until last year when my mom died. I feel a little silly admitting this, but there's time were I've compared what I'm feeling now to how I felt after Sirius died. It just didn't seem real that because Sirius fell through a curtain he died, and yet he did, and same with my mom. I haven't read the books, or seen the movies in the last year since it happened. But I have a feeling the next time I do, they'll hit me a little differently.Shoshanahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15707241263291051104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1798065526948874468.post-62102119728875868062012-10-25T00:22:11.382-05:002012-10-25T00:22:11.382-05:00Dang, this is reminding me how much I miss reading...Dang, this is reminding me how much I miss reading essays and analyzing the HP series inch by inch. You are so very thoughtful in your questions and answers, Alison! I wish I could be so well spoken when it comes to the details of analyzing the series. But yeah, obviously I agree with everything you're saying. Cried at the same parts. Agree that Snape's death was the most tragic.Ayleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07639250102446794830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1798065526948874468.post-81965708095182686232012-10-23T15:36:05.145-05:002012-10-23T15:36:05.145-05:001. At first, I'm not sure what he thought of h...1. At first, I'm not sure what he thought of him, other than just the son of Lily and James Potter. But, as he got to know Harry more and more, and especially after seeing how badly the Dursleys took care of him, I think he genuinely cared for him and that's why it was hard for him to tell him "everything" in the beginning.<br /><br />2. I think it grew into genuine like, or at least respect. I think Snape felt taken advantage of sometimes.<br /><br />3. Dumbledore's death, Hedwig's death, Dobby's death, and from the Snape's memories in Deathly Hallows to the end.<br /><br />4. Dobby was the hardest for me. So was Hedwig's because Harry didn't have time to mourn her and that just makes me sad.<br /><br />5. I'm not sure. It would've been difficult that's for sure, what with Harry's distrust of him. I think Snape always knew he was a deadman. He just had to hold out long enough for Harry to get a hold of his memory.<br /><br />6. I don't know. I just don't know about that one.Jenni Elysehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08403700912436098391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1798065526948874468.post-50599450831887814792012-10-23T10:01:37.590-05:002012-10-23T10:01:37.590-05:00Ahh, I so got to read this book. And as for Dumble...Ahh, I so got to read this book. And as for Dumbledore, I think he knew what he had do to. Sometimes we have to make a scrafice, just like he did. In the end, it was worth it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06256994715274614059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1798065526948874468.post-71506312323037578842012-10-22T16:41:48.754-05:002012-10-22T16:41:48.754-05:00Reading through all your answers makes me realize ...Reading through all your answers makes me realize how much I NEED to read the series again! HBO's been playing a bunch of the movies and, of course, ABC Family plays the marathons but the movies just aren't the same. The books are so nuanced and amazing. (How can someone write like that? I MUST KNOW THE SECRET JO ROWLING!!)Mary @ BookSwarmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04099395167194720599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1798065526948874468.post-5161460685135915732012-10-22T15:41:14.797-05:002012-10-22T15:41:14.797-05:001. I think that Dumbledore genuinely did care for ...1. I think that Dumbledore genuinely did care for Harry, he was not just raising him like "a pig for slaughter", but he did try to prepare Harry through the Pensieve memories of Voldemort and by getting Snape to teach him Occulumency, etc. He couldn't treat Harry like an 11-year old boy forever, and I think that in the end, he knew that the hardships of Harry's life (like living with the Dursleys) would make him a better person and more able to make the sacrifice Dumbledore knew he would have to make in order to destroy Voldemort.<br /><br />2. I agree with you on this-- I think Snape came to see Dumbledore as a mentor and as a wise man, if not a friend. I was always surprised by how completely Dumbledore trusted Snape as well, when in the fifth book he didn't even feel that he could trust Harry, because of Voldemort being inside his head.<br /><br />3. I cried when Sirius died... when Dumbledore died, and in fact during the whole Lightning-struck Tower scene. I wept like a baby on and off during the whole Deathly Hallows-- because it was the last Harry Potter book(!), and I wasn't ready to part with the series or characters at all.<br /><br />4. I thought Tonks and Lupin's deaths were somewhat pointless. This was particularly obvious in the movie, where they basically had no proper death scene whatsoever. Snape's death scene is the saddest after Dumbledore's (which is just shocking and heartbreaking)... I hated how powerless he seemed against Voldemort, and when he gives Harry his memories a moment later and stares into his (Lily's) eyes is just an incredibly emotional scene.<br /><br />5. I hated Snape's death... but I can't think of another good way for all that information to be imparted to Harry. I don't know; I definitely can't do magical things with plot like JK Rowling can.<br /><br />6. I think Snape, Snape as he was just before he died, would ultimately have appreciated Harry's naming Albus Severus after him. (Though I agree with Erin-- Severus is a terrible name!) I smiled when I read that in the epilogue-- it seemed sweet and just right somehow. <br /><br />Had a lot of fun reading/answering this; only wish I'd had time to write out more detailed answers! Hope you post another soon. :)<br /><br />Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18414324160166322024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1798065526948874468.post-80776379872962675662012-10-22T13:30:16.379-05:002012-10-22T13:30:16.379-05:00I seriously need to reread this series. I can'...I seriously need to reread this series. I can't even remember the last time I read one of the books, it's been years! And I'm clearly missing out on all the character nuances and subtleties that make the series so special:) Snape is one of my favorite characters just because he is so layered, and I love all the questions you raised with regard to him!Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14199685365145765394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1798065526948874468.post-50653285787587738442012-10-22T12:19:47.488-05:002012-10-22T12:19:47.488-05:00These are great questions! I'll try not to wri...These are great questions! I'll try not to write a book! (I do that, you know.)<br />1. I actually don't like the 'pig to the slaughter' analogy to describe Dumbledore. He was such a loving, wise person that I think he always loved Harry and while he knew Harry would play a role later on, I think he was grooming him for manhood and to be good, not to be a sacrifice. I think good evidence of this is the (totally tragic) end of book 5 where D explains everything to a very angry Harry and he is totally wiped out by having finally discovered that either Harry or Vold. must die. I didn't get the sense that he knew that all along and it messed him up as much as it did anyone else.<br />2.Not sure how Snape felt about D. I think I agree with you--he revered him and was unfailingly loyal, but also saw him as an equal, not a mentor.<br />3.I tend to cry whenever there's a cool line! One of my faves is when Harry successfully gets the memory from Slughorn and admonishes: "Be brave, Professor. Be brave like my mother." *Tears!* Dobby's death always gets me too. Not when he dies, or their reactions, or when they dig the grave, but when I read what's written on the stone. It's all over at that point! And the very end when he says his kid is named after a slytherin who was the bravest man he's ever known. Tearing up even now thinking of it! <br />4.Not sure. Maybe Sirius, just because Harry felt it so keenly. I agree with your points about Fred, though, and Remus and Tonk's deaths really got to me too!<br />5.I agree this was the best possible way to reveal Snape's backstory. It wouldn't have packed nearly the same punch if he had survived.<br />6. I actually don't think Snape ever hated Harry. Of course their was bitterness because of how he felt about Lily, but I think he had to really latch onto those old feelings in order to make himself be mean to Harry. A few times, we see his true feelings slipping through, such as in the Chamber of Secrets when Filch's cat is petrified, and Snape starts out defending Harry. When Harry is shocked, Snape realizes his mistake and quickly changes his tune to one of bitterness and accusation. I think he had to keep up appearances and did it by being mean to Harry, though that's not how he really felt. I think it was portrayed well in film because when he gives Harry his tear, there's nothing but desperation and compassion on his face. Before he dies, he's desperate that Harry understand who he really is and why he's done the things he has. He cares enough about Harry to care what Harry thinks. I also think Snape wouldn't have left the death eaters and become loyal to D without learning forgiveness. I think Harry naming his kid after Snape was the perfect way to end the Harry/Snape rivalry story and that Snape would not only have appreciated the gesture, but been glad that Harry completely understood him and felt compassion for him. I totally loved the way Rowling handled that! :D<br />Great post!Liesel K. Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03860816358217211833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1798065526948874468.post-10779228775756597872012-10-22T09:39:07.200-05:002012-10-22T09:39:07.200-05:001. I think Dumbledore always saw Harry as ‘part of...1. I think Dumbledore always saw Harry as ‘part of the plan’ but later on in the series he eventually came to love him as his own son, like you had mentioned in your own answer. Still . . . I think Dumbledore used Harry a lot and quite often put him in too many dangerous situations but in any case he was also preparing Harry for the ultimate battle with Lord V. as well which kind of fitted into the whole grand scale of things, you know?<br /><br />2. I think Snape didn’t care much for Dumbledore in the beginning, at least not until Harry came along and changed things at Hogwarts. I think once Harry was there and allowed all of the plans to be set into motion, that was when Snape had a much greater respect for Dumbledore and finally realized that Dumbledore had a lot of faith in Snape despite what others may have thought about Snape himself which made him see Dumbledore was a friend to confide in, especially when it concerned Harry.<br /><br />3. The death of our favourite Wesley twin was a moment that made me cry. It was just too much to handle because I expected him to LIVE!<br /><br />4. All of the deaths were sad but I think Snape’s death really did it for me. He was the character that evolved so much in the series and . . . man it was even sadder when I watched his death in the final movie!<br /><br />5. I think there was no other way but to kill Snape off. It was meant to happen to make us readers understand his character more . . . especially in his final moments. THAT was when we saw the true Snape and even if he were to survive . . . I still don’t think he would have told Harry absolutely EVERYTHING since he’s not the one to be so open with people (not to mention Harry) but maybe more so about how he met Harry’s mother etc.<br /><br />6. I think Snape would have killed Harry for giving the child such an awful name. haha. That’s just my opinion because it was an awful name . . . Snape would've been prouder if it was just his name. haha.<br /><br />Once again, great post!Erin W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12057902364536764649noreply@blogger.com