Blog Post 1 - Rosmarin

I've always focused on the Harry Potter series as a coming of age story. Although this type of convention is old and has been told countless times, this series' particular appeal comes from Harry starting out as a total stranger to the world he's 'destined' to be a part of. The first two books have a lot to do with Harry experiencing all things magic for the first time and the book is fascinating to read since the reader and Harry are sharing a sense of wonder. In The Sorcerer's Stone this is best seen in Harry first trip to Diagon Alley. This is Harry's first real exposure to the wizarding world and had it been a normal day for him the reader would likely feel disconnected by the culture shock. When Hary is seeing something for the first time the reader is as well. This can also be seen during Harry's arrival at the Burrow in The Chamber of Secrets. While de-gnoming a garden may be a boring chore to Ron, Harry still wants to help since living in a magical household is new to him. By allowing Harry and the reader to share the same knowledge from the start, Harry's coming of age into the world of magic is much more meaningful.