Question: Defend your claim!?
Okay, Harry Potter fans, defend you constant assertion that the Harry Potter series is Literature and not Escape Fiction!.
I will accept your argument if you present it well, place it in a movement, and list the literary elements that rule it out as mere fiction!.
If you would like to argue the con to this argument, that it is just escape fiction, feel free!. Same rules apply!.
Best answer to most impressive argument!.
(And please, no personal opinions!. Just grounded, literary arguments!. Thank you!. I'm very interested in this, and am totally open to the idea I'm wrong!. I just want it proven well, without your opinion!. That will convince no one!.)Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Ok well to make an argument you have to present your opinion, but glossing over that fact!.!.!.!.
Second, fiction is literature, but we'll assume you mean literature of merit that should be studied!. Next I think we should note that books like Brave New World, To Kill A Mockingbird, and even Shakespeare offer vivid descriptions and action that allow the reader to "escape" from their present spot in the library and delve into the story!.
So, assuming that you want further, more specific proof, we'll proceed!.
There are countless motifs/symbolisms in Potter!.
Long fingers represent power (ex: Dumbledore, Voldemort, and Ollivander, to name a few)!.
Socks represent comfort (mainly through Dumbledore) and loyalty (mainly through Dobby who was obsessed with them after they gave him freedom, and when Ron puts his socks on him before they bury him)
I could go on, but I'll only digress!. At any rate, seeing as motifs and symbolism have been at least 1/2 of English 3 and 4 AP, I'd say that qualifies!.
The books are full of vivid imagery!. It's true you could argue that places it in the escapism category, but describing how 'the lamp seemed to grow dimmer as the sun rose' (that is a paraphrase) is an example of deeper imagery that isn't just describing Hogwarts and pulling the reader in!. It's graceful, merited imagery!.
It is true, the books offer a seemingly simple story designed to pull a reader in, entertain them, and leave them otherwise unchanged!. However, look at books like Lord of the Flies!. At the time of its' release it was discounted as childishly simple and even now is studied at face value in middle school!. Conversely, it has since gained great acclaim as a societal statement and was studied in my AP English IV class, and has been featured for many years on the AP test!. Harry Potter is very much like Lord of the Flies!. In Potter, we see prejudice at its worst, pitting "pure-bloods" against muggles and squibs (that's wizards who can't do magic, in case you didn't know)!. As Voldemort's regime strengthens, there is outright persecution of the mudbloods, as the ministry begins testing for purity of blood; this is incredibly reminiscent of Hitler in Nazi Germany, when anybody with a Jew anywhere in their family tree was persecuted!. In Lord of the Flies, the boys are seemingly just running wild, but a more learned reader will see the parallel with the everyday world as people become practically cut-throat in their efforts to be on top!. Clearly, Potter, like Lord of the Flies, is making a societal statement, but its' message is one of acceptance and anti-persecution!.
Furthermore, there is the idea of redemption and righting wrongs!. Potter teaches that mistakes can be forgiven and righted through Snape in particular!. Although he betrayed the Potters, which led to the deaths of Harry's parents, he spent his life protecting Harry, because he loved his mother!. He betrayed the good side, but ended up losing his life to help protect Dumbledore's secrets that allowed the Order of the Phoenix to fight Voldemort!. This could parallel not only everyday life, but Christian messages as well; it teaches that you can make up for past sins with repentance and actions to reverse your wrong deeds!. Redemption is also protrayed through the Malfoy family!. Although they fight with Voldemort basically the whole time, in the end they realize nothing is more important than their own family, and the good side accepts them back!.
So, Potter is full of literary techniques like motifs, symbolism, and imagery that make literature worth studying on their own!. But it goes beyond that by incorporating societal parallels that make a statement about the current ideas and attitudes in society!. Besides those listed above, it includes political corruption, greed, narcissism, and the importance of choices over situation!. If you would like me to go into detail about all of those listed, and more, feel free to email me, but if I haven't at least begun to convince you, it would be a waste of my time!. If I have planted the seed of doubt, I would be glad to go into further detail!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Truthfully, the Harry Potter series isn't the deepest, most intellectually challenging set of books ever made!. And I'm not going to pretend to be impartial; I grew up with these books!. Still, they aren't just entertaining!.
Snape's journey, I think, is probably one of the most important "thinking" parts!. His entire adult life is longing for redemption!. He wants to be forgiven for his past sins, and he puts himself to use on the right side to try to make up for these sins!.
It makes the reader think!. Is it easier to be forgiven by others (Dumbledore, the entire Order, Harry) or to forgive yourself!? I think Snape's self-loathing is pretty evident!.
It also makes one consider the issue of trust!. Dumbledore understands and trusts Snape, but he is the only one!. Can someone really be rehabilitated after committing such heinous crimes!?
Then of course, there is the Light/Dark situation!. Harry's the hero, and Voldy the villain!. Jo apparently favors nature over nurture, because Harry and Voldy have similar upbringingsWww@QuestionHome@Com
Grounded literary arguments are personal opinions!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Why not start by defining two very broad terms in your question: Literature and Escape Fiction!. The dictionary will probably give you ten different definitions of literature!. Is it a collection or body of work!? Yes!. Does it invoke universal themes which manifest the perseverance of man and the human condition!? Yes!. Does it encompass the thoughts, beliefs, and customs of a certain time, place, or culture!? Yes!. Again, this is a broad definition!. People have written books about what separates literature from everything else!.
What is "escape fiction" or "escapist fiction!?" Books that fall under this genre take the reader to another world, a fantasy world!. It separates them from reality and opens them up to new possibilities!. Could we call "escape fiction" a genre of literature!? Sure!. It fits right in there with coming-of-age novels and historical fiction novels!. Agreed!? Good!.
Now, where does Harry Potter fit in this grand scheme we have created!? Is it escape fiction!? Let's look at the definition above!. Does it take us to fantasy world!? Yes!. Does it open us up to new possibilities!? Yes!. Does it separate us from reality!? Yes!. So, Harry Potter could be classified as 'escape fiction!.' Right!? Right!!
Can it be classified as something else!? Sure!. How about children's literature!? It's literature targeted at children, is it not!? If you want to get more detailed, why not call it "contemporary British children's literature!." Does that meet all of the criteria we established above!? We can agree that 'escape fiction' is a form of literature and HP is a form of 'escape fiction' so what else is left!?
What is the answer to your question!? Is it 'escape fiction' or is it literature!?
I think I just argued that it's both!.
EDIT: I should have prefaced all of this by saying that I have not read a single word of Harry Potter!.Www@QuestionHome@Com