Harry Potter and Myth: The Legends behind Cursed Child, Fantastic Beasts, and all the Hero's Journeys

by Valerie Estelle Frankel

Overview

Adoring fans have explored much about Harry Potter, especially his classic hero’s journey. However, many don’t notice how the other characters suffer through the same struggle at every stage of life – one Dumbledore and Neville Longbottom pass but Draco Malfoy and Voldemort do not. Exploding into the Wizarding World in 2016, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child offered an unusual double hero’s journey for Albus Severus and Scorpius and a twisted antiheroine’s journey for Delphi. This book demystifies all these, unveiling the nostalgic symbolism behind the play’s auguries, baby blankets, and time-turners. 2016 also introduced Ilvermorney, the American Hogwarts, and its valiant, loving founder Isolt Sayre. Uncovering her folklore and symbolism reveals a secret war between the Celtic old world and the bold pioneer spirit of the new. Meanwhile, Rowling’s original characters overturn Greek, Roman, Norse, and Celtic myths, even as Harry unites King Arthur’s hallows and claims the sword as destined king. Revisioning folklore from England to Africa is one of Rowling’s talents, especially in Beedle the Bard. Rowling also nods to history, from Voldemort’s World War II childhood and Nazi prejudice to the dazzling glitter of the 1920s, setting for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. For serious fans, an entire world of mythology waits below the surface of the ever-expanding Potterverse.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940153910321
Publisher:	Valerie Estelle Frankel
Publication date:	09/28/2016
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	594,676
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	5 - 11 Years

About the Author

Valerie Estelle Frankel has won a Dream Realm Award, an Indie Excellence Award, and a USA Book News National Best Book Award for her Henry Potty parodies. She's the author of 75 books on pop culture, including Doctor Who - The What, Where, and How, History, Sherlock: Every Canon Reference You May Have Missed in BBC's Series 1-3, Homages and the Highlands: An Outlander Guide, and How Game of Thrones Will End. Many of her books focus on women's roles in fiction, from her heroine's journey guides From Girl to Goddess and Buffy and the Heroine's Journey to books like Women in Game of Thrones and The Many Faces of Katniss Everdeen. Once a lecturer at San Jose State University, she's a frequent speaker at conferences. Come explore her research at www.vefrankel.com.