At the age of six, Joanne Kathleen Rowling2 wrote her first short story about a
rabbit named Rabbit, who had the measles and was visited by his friends. Amongst
them was a little bee called Miss Bee.
However, she never told anyone about her “burning ambition”3 to become a
writer, not even Ms Shephard, her English teacher at Wyedean Comprehensive School.
Ms Shephard was a great influence on young Joanne as “she inspired trust”4.
Shephard’s comments on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone “meant more to
[Joanne Rowling] than any newspaper reviews”5.
After finishing secondary school and her studies in French and Classics at Exeter
University, Joanne Rowling started to work as a research asssistant at Amnesty
International which was a “very, very interesting place to work”6, but at the same time a
huge mistake, because Joanne Rowling admits that as a secretary she would be
anybody’s “worst nightmare”7.
It was during a delayed train journey from Manchester to King’s Cross Station in
London, when she was obviously hit by magic. The story about a little orphan named
Harry Potter, who has to live with his old-fashioned relatives and finds out that he is a
wizard, came to her mind. And because she had no pen or notebook with her, she had to
think it. So, Hogwarts - School of Witchcraft and Wizardry came to life in her
imagination, and as she invented it, it “felt like research”8. “It was a question of
discovery why Harry was where he was, why his parents were dead”9. At the end of the
journey she knew “it was going to be a seven-book series”10. The next five years, while she moved to Portugal, got married, had a baby, got
divorced and moved back to Britain, she continued writing the first book of the series
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (HP1)11 which she finished in 1995.
2 see Picture 1
3 Lindsey Fraser, Conversations with J.K. Rowling, New York 2001, p.22.
4 ibid, p. 19.
5 ibid, p. 19.
6 ibid, p. 36.
7 ibid, p. 35.
8 ibid, p. 39.
9 ibid, p. 39.
10 ibid, pp. 39.
11 see Picture 2
Table of Contents
- Joanne K. Rowling - The Creator of Harry Potter
- Publishing History of the Harry Potter Series
- Central Themes of Harry Potter
- Good vs. Evil
- Growing-Up
- The Internet
- Commercialisation
- Voices against Harry Potter
- Christian Fundamentalists and the FFL
- Plagiarism?
Objectives and Key Themes
This text aims to explore the phenomenal success of the Harry Potter series by examining the author's background, the publishing history of the books, and some of the key themes within the series. It also briefly touches upon the commercial aspects and some criticisms leveled against the books.
- Joanne K. Rowling's background and the genesis of the Harry Potter idea.
- The rapid rise to success and international impact of the Harry Potter books.
- Key themes within the Harry Potter series, such as good versus evil and the process of growing up.
- The commercialization of the Harry Potter franchise.
- Criticisms of the Harry Potter series, including religious objections and allegations of plagiarism.
Chapter Summaries
Joanne K. Rowling – The Creator of Harry Potter: This chapter details the early life and career of Joanne Rowling, highlighting her childhood interest in writing, her time at university, and her work at Amnesty International. Crucially, it describes the inspiration for the Harry Potter series, which came during a delayed train journey, and how the initial idea for the seven-book series developed in her mind. The chapter emphasizes the formative experiences that shaped Rowling's writing and the process of creating her fictional world. It connects Rowling's personal experiences and ambitions to the eventual success of her work.
Publishing History of the Harry Potter Series: This chapter traces the publishing journey of the Harry Potter books, from Rowling's initial submissions and rejections to the phenomenal global success of the series. It recounts the pivotal moment when Bloomsbury accepted the manuscript, and the subsequent surge in popularity and international distribution. The chapter highlights the significant financial support received by Rowling from the Scottish Arts Council and the remarkable speed at which the series gained recognition in the US market. The evolution of the series' publishing and sales figures illustrates the rapid expansion of the Harry Potter phenomenon.
Central Themes of Harry Potter: This section delves into the core thematic elements of the Harry Potter books. While the specific themes explored are not explicitly detailed here, it establishes that "Good vs. Evil" and "Growing Up" are key recurring motifs within the narrative. This chapter serves as a brief overview and introduction to a deeper discussion that would likely be present in the full text, setting the stage for a more comprehensive analysis of these and other recurring themes in the series.
The Internet: [This chapter summary is omitted due to the limited information available in the provided text. It appears to be focused on the online impact and presence of the Harry Potter franchise.]
Commercialisation: [This chapter summary is omitted due to the limited information available in the provided text. It appears to be focused on the business aspects of the Harry Potter franchise.]
Voices against Harry Potter: This chapter examines the criticisms leveled against the Harry Potter books. It focuses on two main sources of contention: concerns raised by Christian fundamentalists and groups like the Focus on the Family (FFL), and allegations of plagiarism. The chapter likely explores the nature of these criticisms and the responses they generated, providing context for the controversies that surrounded the series' success. This is a significant section as it explores the cultural impact of the books beyond simple popularity and commercial success.
Keywords
Joanne K. Rowling, Harry Potter, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, publishing history, commercial success, themes, good vs. evil, growing up, Christian fundamentalism, plagiarism, international phenomenon.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of the Harry Potter Phenomenon
What is the main focus of this text?
This text analyzes the phenomenal success of the Harry Potter series. It explores various aspects, including the author's background, the publishing history of the books, key themes within the series, commercial aspects, and criticisms leveled against the books.
What are the key themes discussed in the Harry Potter series according to this preview?
The preview highlights "Good vs. Evil" and "Growing Up" as central recurring themes within the Harry Potter narrative. A more in-depth discussion of these and other themes is promised in the full text.
What information about Joanne K. Rowling is provided?
The text details Rowling's early life, career, inspiration for the Harry Potter series (during a delayed train journey), and the development of the seven-book series. It connects her personal experiences and ambitions to the success of her work.
What does the text cover regarding the publishing history of Harry Potter?
This section traces the publishing journey from initial submissions and rejections to global success, highlighting Bloomsbury's acceptance of the manuscript, the rapid rise in popularity, international distribution, and the significant financial support received by Rowling. The evolution of sales figures illustrates the expansion of the Harry Potter phenomenon.
What aspects of the commercialization of Harry Potter are mentioned?
While a full chapter summary is omitted due to limited information in the preview, the text indicates that the commercial aspects of the Harry Potter franchise will be discussed in the complete work.
What criticisms of the Harry Potter series are addressed?
The preview mentions criticisms from Christian fundamentalists and groups like Focus on the Family (FFL), as well as allegations of plagiarism. The full text will likely delve into the nature of these criticisms and the responses they generated.
What is the role of the internet in the context of this analysis?
The preview mentions a chapter dedicated to the internet's impact on the Harry Potter franchise but lacks detailed information on this topic.
What keywords are associated with this text?
Key terms include: Joanne K. Rowling, Harry Potter, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, publishing history, commercial success, themes, good vs. evil, growing up, Christian fundamentalism, plagiarism, and international phenomenon.
What is included in the provided preview?
The preview offers a comprehensive overview, including the title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. This serves as a structured introduction to the complete text.
What is the intended audience for this text?
The text is intended for academic use, focusing on the analysis of themes in a structured and professional manner.
- Citar trabajo
- Isabel Zosig (Autor), 2003, The Phenomenon "Harry Potter" - The Secret of its success, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/23788
