The following essay aims to find answers to the question of how the combination of several different genres contributes to the fascination of the Harry Potter novels. This will, due to space restrictions, be achieved through an exemplary analysis of the three genres that were amongst the most frequently mentioned in connection with the Harry Potter books: Fantasy, the folktale, and the school story.
Before taking a closer look at the three major genres of Harry Potter, the following chapter will first of all briefly define the concept of genre in general, give a short explanation of how genres can be used in terms of marketing strategies and of how they can influence the reader. The main emphasis of the essay will be on the following three chapters that are more or less constructed equally and contain in each case one of the above-mentioned genres. In the first part of each chapter, the genre will be defined and examined according to its origins, followed by an analysis of the main characteristics that constitute each genre. Subsequently, the characteristics of each genre will be analysed within Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, to show that Rowling’s book series actually incorporates the different genres. Finally, it will be illustrated, how the three different genres affect the reader, leading to the fascination of the novels. As the fantasy genre influences all the others, this genre will be presented first and the most extensive, followed by the folktale and ultimately the school story.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Concept of Genre and its Marketing Functions
3 The Genre of Fantasy Fiction
3.1 Historical Roots and Definition
3.2 Characteristics
3.3 Elements of Fantasy Fiction in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
3.4 Positive Effects of Reading Fantasy Fiction
4 Folktales
4.1 Historical Roots and Definition
4.2 Characteristics of the Folktale
4.3 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as a Folktale
4.4 Positive Effects of Reading Folktales
5 The School Story
5.1 Definition and Historical Roots
5.2 Characteristics of the School Story and their depiction in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
5.3 How School Stories Affect Their Readers
6 Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
This essay explores the reasons behind the international success of the Harry Potter book series by analyzing how J.K. Rowling effectively combines multiple literary genres to captivate a diverse audience. The study investigates the interplay of fantasy, folklore, and the traditional school story to explain the fascination with Harry Potter.
- The role of genre as a marketing and reader-influence tool.
- Core characteristics of fantasy fiction and their application in the series.
- Structural similarities between Harry Potter and traditional folktales.
- The influence of the boarding school setting on narrative depth and reader identification.
- Psychological effects of reading these combined genres on different age groups.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Characteristics
As mentioned before, one of the main characteristics of fantasy fiction is the creation of a Secondary World that differs to a more or less great extent from the real world. Depending on the relation between Secondary World and real world, fantasy fiction can operate on three different levels that are as follows (cf. Haas 2001, 22):
The author does not create a Secondary World where the reader is taken into but lets impossible or supernatural creatures or objects enter the real world (e.g. Mary Poppins).
A character living in the real world enters the Secondary World. The two worlds are made distinct and set apart from each other but still are somehow connected. This connection is frequently expressed through defined gateways, through which the protagonist is enabled to enter the Secondary World (e.g. Alice in Wonderland).
The reader is left with no reference to how both worlds are connected with each other, as the Secondary World is set apart from the real world with no visible link. In this case, there are no characters travelling between the two worlds and the Secondary World seems to be the real and the only world. Characters that live within this world often develop their own languages (e.g. The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings) (cf. Little 2002, 36).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the Harry Potter phenomenon and outlines the essay's goal to analyze the combination of fantasy, folktale, and school story genres.
2 The Concept of Genre and its Marketing Functions: Defines the term genre and explains its role as a marketing instrument that shapes reader expectations.
3 The Genre of Fantasy Fiction: Explores the historical roots, definitions, and core elements of fantasy, illustrating their significant presence in the first Harry Potter novel.
4 Folktales: Examines the narrative structure of the folktale and demonstrates how Rowling utilizes these typical patterns to deepen the reader's identification with the protagonist.
5 The School Story: Analyzes the traditional boarding school genre and how Rowling transforms it by blending it with elements of fantasy to appeal to a wider, international audience.
6 Conclusion: Summarizes how the intentional fusion of multiple genres is a key factor in the series' worldwide popularity and its ability to appeal to diverse readerships.
Keywords
Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Genre, Fantasy Fiction, Folktale, School Story, Secondary World, Literary Analysis, Marketing, Reader Identification, Moral Development, Childhood, Popular Literature, Narrative Structure, Voldemort
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work primarily about?
This paper examines how J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series successfully blends various literary genres to create a global phenomenon that appeals to readers across different ages and backgrounds.
What are the central thematic fields addressed?
The central themes include the structural definition of literary genres, the mechanics of fantasy fiction, the archetypal nature of folktales, and the educational and social environment of the traditional school story.
What is the primary research question?
The primary aim is to explain how the combination of different genres—specifically fantasy, the folktale, and the school story—contributes to the immense fascination and success of the Harry Potter novels.
Which scientific methods are used?
The author employs a literary analysis based on secondary literature to define genres and compares these theoretical definitions with specific content, character arcs, and structures found within the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body is divided into three distinct chapters, each defining one of the three major genres and analyzing how Rowling incorporates their key characteristics and themes into the narrative of the first book.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Harry Potter, genre fusion, fantasy, folktale, school story, Secondary World, and literary success.
How does the secondary world in Harry Potter differ from other fantasy tropes?
Rowling's Secondary World is distinct because it is heavily connected to the real world through defined gateways, creating a contrast between modern technology and the medieval-like atmosphere of the wizarding world.
Why is the folktale aspect important for reader engagement?
The folktale elements, such as the journey of a young, ordinary hero and the clear struggle between good and evil, allow for easier emotional identification and provide a sense of justice that reassures the reader.
How does the author characterize the school story elements?
The author highlights that the boarding school setting focuses less on academic education and more on social dynamics, extracurricular activities, and the challenges of growing up, which resonates with both students and adults.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Natalie Schneider (Autor:in), 2018, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. A Combination of Genres, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/452052
