3) General guides about the Harry Potter series
A number of general guides have been published which provide further insight into
the books, particularly in the creatures and names Rowling uses in the books. The authors of
these texts provide information for the readers of the Harry Potter series so that they may get
more meaning from the text. These writers generally have the ideological presupposition that
the readers of the Harry Potter series will gain more from the novels by comprehending more
obscure details including the apparent meaning of characters’ names in the book, the history
of alchemy and the myths that involve creatures mentioned in the books. These guides stress the importance of intertextuality, which is “The production of meaning from the
interrelationships between audience, text, other texts, and the social –cultural determination
of significance” (Stephens, 1992, p.84). They assume, perhaps rightly, that modern youth are
not as well educated in the classic literature as older readers may be and therefore they want
to assist readers in gaining more from the Harry Potter series. Through this intertextuality we
gain greater meaning for ourselves (Nodelman, 1996, p. 22).
These books include The sorcerer’s companion: A guide to the magical world of
Harry Potter (Kronzek & Kronzek, 2001), Ultimate unofficial guide to the mysteries of Harry
Potter (Waters & Mithrandir, 2002-2003), New clues to Harry Potter: Book 5: Hints from the
ultimate unofficial guide to the mysteries of Harry Potter (Waters & Mithrandir, 2003), The
magical worlds of Harry Potter (Colbert, 2001) and A muggle’s guide to the wizarding
world: Exploring the Harry Potter universe (Boyle, 2004). David Colbert’s book is the most
useful in amplifying meanings that can be found within the text of the Harry Potter series. He
is particularly vehement in stressing the literary traditions Rowling draws upon - the tales,
myths and legends that are relevant to her work, and the literal meaning of Latin words used
in the books. His notes on the real-life alchemist, Nicholas Flamel, and the use of the
Archetype hero story plot structure found in Rowling’s works are particularly valuable.
Granger (2002) also mentions this connection (p. 26-27), as does Houghton (2001, pp.16-18,
pp. 35-36). Houghton also comments on the importance of myths in assisting us in reaching
an understanding of some profound truths about human existence (pp. 36-41). Allan and
Elizabeth Kronzek (2001) are particularly emphatic regarding magical connections in the
Harry Potter narratives, while Galadriel Waters’ and Astre Mithrandir’s books (2002-2003,
2003) are aimed at the youth audience, as they call their readers “Harry Potter Sleuths”. Their
books provide a chapter by chapter guide to each Harry Potter novel offering clues, Rowlinguistics (names used by Rowling that originate in French, Latin and other languages),
and miscellaneous curiosities and oddities.
A more specialist guidebook is Roger Highfield’s book The Science of Harry Potter
(2002). While limited to the area of science it is useful in that it provides insights into topics
such as astrology, the history of witchcraft, alchemy, etc. It also provides an understanding of
the connection between science and much of the magic exhibited in the book series.
A number of general guides have been published which provide further insight into
the books, particularly in the creatures and names Rowling uses in the books. The authors of
these texts provide information for the readers of the Harry Potter series so that they may get
more meaning from the text. These writers generally have the ideological presupposition that
the readers of the Harry Potter series will gain more from the novels by comprehending more
obscure details including the apparent meaning of characters’ names in the book, the history
of alchemy and the myths that involve creatures mentioned in the books. These guides stress the importance of intertextuality, which is “The production of meaning from the
interrelationships between audience, text, other texts, and the social –cultural determination
of significance” (Stephens, 1992, p.84). They assume, perhaps rightly, that modern youth are
not as well educated in the classic literature as older readers may be and therefore they want
to assist readers in gaining more from the Harry Potter series. Through this intertextuality we
gain greater meaning for ourselves (Nodelman, 1996, p. 22).
These books include The sorcerer’s companion: A guide to the magical world of
Harry Potter (Kronzek & Kronzek, 2001), Ultimate unofficial guide to the mysteries of Harry
Potter (Waters & Mithrandir, 2002-2003), New clues to Harry Potter: Book 5: Hints from the
ultimate unofficial guide to the mysteries of Harry Potter (Waters & Mithrandir, 2003), The
magical worlds of Harry Potter (Colbert, 2001) and A muggle’s guide to the wizarding
world: Exploring the Harry Potter universe (Boyle, 2004). David Colbert’s book is the most
useful in amplifying meanings that can be found within the text of the Harry Potter series. He
is particularly vehement in stressing the literary traditions Rowling draws upon - the tales,
myths and legends that are relevant to her work, and the literal meaning of Latin words used
in the books. His notes on the real-life alchemist, Nicholas Flamel, and the use of the
Archetype hero story plot structure found in Rowling’s works are particularly valuable.
Granger (2002) also mentions this connection (p. 26-27), as does Houghton (2001, pp.16-18,
pp. 35-36). Houghton also comments on the importance of myths in assisting us in reaching
an understanding of some profound truths about human existence (pp. 36-41). Allan and
Elizabeth Kronzek (2001) are particularly emphatic regarding magical connections in the
Harry Potter narratives, while Galadriel Waters’ and Astre Mithrandir’s books (2002-2003,
2003) are aimed at the youth audience, as they call their readers “Harry Potter Sleuths”. Their
books provide a chapter by chapter guide to each Harry Potter novel offering clues, Rowlinguistics (names used by Rowling that originate in French, Latin and other languages),
and miscellaneous curiosities and oddities.
A more specialist guidebook is Roger Highfield’s book The Science of Harry Potter
(2002). While limited to the area of science it is useful in that it provides insights into topics
such as astrology, the history of witchcraft, alchemy, etc. It also provides an understanding of
the connection between science and much of the magic exhibited in the book series.
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