Harry Potter and the Quest for Values:
How the boy wizard can assist young people in making choices
How the boy wizard can assist young people in making choices
ABSTRACT
The Harry Potter series has been a phenomenal publishing success for their author J.
K. Rowling. This thesis argues for the use of these books as a worthwhile teaching asset,
especially in the promotion of values in our schools. It particularly focuses on the use of these
books for Values Education in the curriculum area of Religious Education.
While the world continues to change and evolve there are some aspects of our
societies that remain unchanged and the power of stories is one of these stable forces. This
thesis looks at the importance of stories in teaching our youth about values, especially
Christian values. It also provides research on how critics and youth have responded to the
stories about Harry Potter through undertaking a review of critical comments and by actually
asking young people what they feel about aspects of the novels.
Comment is made on what Christian values can be found in the Harry Potter series
and how they are shown through the choices characters make. This thesis also looks at how
the power to choose is a fundamental basis of Christian religion and that through our choices
we live out our humanity. Mention is made of Values Education in both State and Catholic
schools and how, in recent years, we have seen increased moves by both Federal and State
Governments to instigate Values Education programmes in Australian schools. This study
also looked at how curriculum changes in Tasmania, at both State and Catholic levels,
encourages the teaching of values through the use of resources that connect with our young
people and teaching strategies that encourage higher-order thinking skills.
An analysis is also made regarding the connection between the Harry Potter series
and the hero journey motif. This connection provides some answers as to why the series is so
popular and why our youth feel some connection to the characters in the books.
The Harry Potter series has been a phenomenal publishing success for their author J.
K. Rowling. This thesis argues for the use of these books as a worthwhile teaching asset,
especially in the promotion of values in our schools. It particularly focuses on the use of these
books for Values Education in the curriculum area of Religious Education.
While the world continues to change and evolve there are some aspects of our
societies that remain unchanged and the power of stories is one of these stable forces. This
thesis looks at the importance of stories in teaching our youth about values, especially
Christian values. It also provides research on how critics and youth have responded to the
stories about Harry Potter through undertaking a review of critical comments and by actually
asking young people what they feel about aspects of the novels.
Comment is made on what Christian values can be found in the Harry Potter series
and how they are shown through the choices characters make. This thesis also looks at how
the power to choose is a fundamental basis of Christian religion and that through our choices
we live out our humanity. Mention is made of Values Education in both State and Catholic
schools and how, in recent years, we have seen increased moves by both Federal and State
Governments to instigate Values Education programmes in Australian schools. This study
also looked at how curriculum changes in Tasmania, at both State and Catholic levels,
encourages the teaching of values through the use of resources that connect with our young
people and teaching strategies that encourage higher-order thinking skills.
An analysis is also made regarding the connection between the Harry Potter series
and the hero journey motif. This connection provides some answers as to why the series is so
popular and why our youth feel some connection to the characters in the books.
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