Death in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series

by Dedria Bryfonski (Editor)

Overview

One of the most beloved franchises in history, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series follows a trio of wizards-in-the-making through their years at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This expansive edition provides background on the life of British author J.K. Rowling and the influences that shaped her work. The book features eleven articles that explore political issues as portrayed in her Harry Potter series of novels, tackling topics such as race relations and human rights. The volume also examines politics in the twenty-first century.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737740226
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	12/11/2008
Series:	Social Issues in Literature Series
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	15 - 17 Years

About the Author

B01

Table of Contents

Introduction 11

Chronology 15

Chapter 1 The Background of J.K. Rowling

1 The Life of J.K. Rowling Young Adults Major Authors and Illustrators for Children 20

2 Events in J.K. Rowling's Life Shaped the Harry Potter Books Sean Smith 30

Chapter 2 Harry Potter and Political Issues

1 The Harry Potter Books Critique Bureaucracy Benjamin H. Barton 46

2 The Harry Potter Books Exemplify Tony Blair's New Labour Politics Jeremy Gilbert 59

3 The World of Harry Potter Mirrors Traditional British Liberalism Barry Rubin 64

4 The Politics of Harry Potter Are Not Progressive Dana Goldstein 73

5 The Harry Potter Books Take a Complex View of Race Andrew Blake 78

6 The Postcolonial World of Harry Potter Giselle Liza Anatol 85

7 Reactions to Harry Potter Reflect Global Differences and Similarities Daniel Nexon 97

8 The Harry Potter Books Reflect an Increasingly Dangerous World Nathaniel Rivers 104

9 Rowling Uses Terrorism to Create Fear in the Harry Potter Books Julia Turner 108

10 Rowling Critiques Britian's Handling of the War on Terror Judith Rauhofer 111

11 Human Rights Are at the Core of Harry Potter Rachel Dempsey 124

Chapter 3 Contemporary Perspectives on Political Issues

1 Children's Fears of Terrorism Increased After 9/11 Joy J. Burnham 128

2 Suspending Civil Liberties Does Not Stop Terrorism Leonard Pitts Jr. 134

3 Terrorism Needs to Be Fought with Military Goals and Advancement of Human Rights Paul Starr Michael Tomasky Robert Kuttner 138

4 Ethnic Separation Is a Nonviolent Form of Ethnic Cleansing Ralph Peters 148

5 Redefining Ethnic Conflict Charles King 157

6 Culture, Not Race, Will Determine If Democracy Will Succeed Lawrence E. Harrison 168

ForFurther Discussion 180

For Further Reading 182

Bibliography 183

Index 187

Editorial Reviews

Review: Political Issues in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series "An enlightening entry for Harry Potter devotees, particularly those wanting to write term papers on the series."—School Library Journal, April 2009

From the Publisher

Gr 10 Up

An enlightening entry for Harry Potter devotees, particularly those wanting to write term papers on the series. Following a discussion of Rowling and the events that shaped her life, 11 articles present arguments that her work carries personal political perspectives, criticizes the British government's handling of the War on Terror, and takes a "complex view of race." The last chapter, "Contemporary Perspectives on Political Issues," contains entries on terrorism, civil liberties, and ethnic cleansing that are not directly related to Harry Potter. The essays, written in clear, accessible language by professors, journalists, or directors of prominent social agencies, range in length from a few to 15 pages. The associations made between the plots, characters, settings, and events of the series and real life are quite interesting and provocative. Obviously the essays make little sense without knowledge of the books. Discussion questions are appended. While not an essential purchase, these far-reaching perspectives are individual interpretations of Rowling's works beyond the magic and wizards.-Joanne K. Cecere, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, NY

School Library Journal