Danielle Doster Mrs. Traner Honors English 11 8 June 2015

  Harry Potter’s narrative represents the archetypal hero’s journey because of his meeting of a mentor and his struggle with evil. Archetypal

 “’He accused me of being Dumbledore's man through and through.’ ‘How very rude of him.’ ‘I told him I was.’” (The Half- Blood Prince 234) Dumbledore represents Harry’s mentor on his hero’s journey. Rufus Scrimegeor, current Minister for Magic, states the comment as an insult for Harry’s noncompliance with his proposition, but Harry is simply following his mentor’s guidance. Joseph Campbell, author of states a mentor is “a seasoned traveler of the worlds who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice that will help on the journey” (Campbell). “Being Dumbledore’s man” is a culmination of their relationship over the six years and the countless pieces of advice Dumbledore has given Harry. The Meeting of the Mentor

  “Evidence from Text” (Author’s Last Name/First Part of Citation Page Number).  Analysis  Uses key words and concepts from the literary theory.  Provides additional research to support claim with an in-text citation. (Schoolrack.com/Doster – Lit. Theory Articles) Reason #2

  Thesis Statement for that theory. Literary Theory Used Picture

  “Evidence from Text” (Author’s Last Name/First Part of Citation Page Number).  Analysis  Uses key words and concepts from the literary theory.  Provides additional research to support claim with an in-text citation. (Schoolrack.com/Doster – Lit. Theory Articles) Reason 1

  “Evidence from Text” (Author’s Last Name/First Part of Citation Page Number).  Analysis  Uses key words and concepts from the literary theory.  Provides additional research to support claim with an in-text citation. (Schoolrack.com/Doster – Lit. Theory Articles) Reason 2

  Both Archetypal and Marxist lend themselves to my interpretation, but I find that Archetypal theory fits with greater ease into the Harry Potter Series. J.K. Rowling calls on numerous unconscious symbols and characters to tell her story of “the boy who lived” and they all are able to be explored and analyzed. Marxist, although interesting, does not hold up well when you see that the text often does describe the violence Muggles committed against Wizards, such as the tragic circumstances with Arianna Dumbledore. Although, the actions of Grindelwald and his slogan “Magic is Might” provide an interesting Marxist perspective, I prefer the universality of the archetypal criticism for the Harry Potter Series. Evaluation

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