Blog Post 1 — Emily Begley

Books 1 and 2 of the Harry Potter series do such much more than tell a story. They create and build upon Rowling’s unique magical world while giving readers crisp and vivid details that bring that world to life. One of the most impressive aspects of these installments is the number of genres they adhere to; as discussed in class, Harry Potter cannot be limited to just one category of story telling. The mystery genre has always been the most intriguing to me, even as I’m rereading the books for the third (and in some cases fourth) time.

Some mysteries in the books are obvious: questions surround the Sorcerer’s Stone in Book 1, while the mysterious Chamber of Secrets lies at the heart of Book 2. But smaller questions Rowling asks in these novels are oftentimes more endearing than major plot points. Who did Hagrid receive the dragon egg containing Norbert from? Who originally opened the Chamber of Secrets? How did Ginny come into possession of Tom Riddle’s diary?

One of the best things about rereading the books is picking up on lines that foreshadow information given further along in the plot. For example, Rowling alludes to the fact Quirrell is “two faced” at multiple points throughout Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Although Rowling’s characters (and presumably readers) assume Quirrell is nervous because of his first-hand experience with the dark arts, we find out otherwise at the end of the novel. Looking back, Quirrell’s partnership with Quirrell is clearly effecting his actions throughout the book. “A pale young man made his way forward, very nervously. One of his eyes was twitching” (70). We also see Harry’s reaction to Quirrell at Hogwarts, when Harry believes Snape is causing his scar to sear. “It happened very suddenly. The hook-nosed teacher looked past Quirrell’s turban straight into Harry’s eyes — and a sharp, hot pain shot across the scar on Harry’s forehead” (126).

Of all the genres the Harry Potter series can be sorted into, the mysteries it presents, both big and small, are some of its most interesting aspects.