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JULY 18, 2006 at 9:25 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: Newswise via Yahoo! News
A few weeks ago Harry Potter author JK Rowling appeared on the Richard & Judy show and announced to the world that two more characters have died than she originally planned in the last book. Fans have been grappling with who is going to die for weeks, and now James Krasner, professor of English and British Victorian literature at the University of New Hampshire insists
that Harry will not be killed off in the last book.
According to Prof. Krasner:
There's no way Harry will die. Harry won't die largely because these are comic stories, like Dickens' novels, in which good has to win.
Whenever an author's books become very popular in his or her lifetime, as is the case with Rowling, a tug of war starts between the author and the fans about who the characters really belong to. Rowling, like Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes), is trying to assert her control. She’s reminding us that Harry is her character, not ours; she can kill him if she wants to. Doyle actually did kill off Sherlock Holmes, but Rowling won’t go that far because she cares about Harry. Conan Doyle was really sick of Holmes.
Krasner also points out:
Rowling caused a media sensation when she said a "major character" would die in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Rumors targeted Harry’s best friend, Ron Weasley, but in the end, it was it was Sirius Black, who Krasner says "was an important supporting character, but not really a major character like Ron."
Krasner's thoughts on who will die in the last book:
Lord Voldemort has to die. And Snape, who is really fighting for good despite all appearances, will likely die. Neville Longbottom is really the chosen one, so I suspect he'll die.
UPDATE: So far, most of you agree with him. In our ongoing death poll (now with over 20,000 responses), 60% say Harry will survive the series.
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Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1600
jenn007a says:
I really hope that he is right and that Harry wont die! But i also agree with him in that Voldemort and Snape will die. Neville dying is something that i didnt think of before now, but it could be him.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 7:58 PM EST
Wizengamot Member
Points: 3231
Jencameby says:
I really hope that she does not kill Harry off, that will be a huge disappontment! I understand that she doesn't want others to expand on her work, but I think she is brillent and can work it out so she ends the series without killing Harry off.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 8:02 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1918
not*so*sweet*strawberry says:
There's no way Harry will die. Harry won't die largely because these are comic stories, like Dickens' novels, in which good has to win.
he could still die, but good wins
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 8:16 PM EST
Witch
Points: 686
StormbreakerGirl says:
He's right! harry can't die! He just can't! Fans will be so angry at Jk Rowling, she can't make him die!
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 8:26 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 12
*So IN L O V E With DAN* says:
ok seriously people. It sounds to me like most of you want harry to die in the next book. I agree with the professer. Harry most definately won't die. Like he said, jk cares to much about harry. He made some very goods points and you all don't need to go biting his head off for saying what he feels.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 8:31 PM EST
Student
Points: 258
Brittany** says:
I personaly think Harry will die because J.K Rowling started writing Harry Potter around the same time her mom died.
But he does have a good point... I hope Harry doesn't die though.
Brittany**
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 8:37 PM EST
Witch
Points: 566
lupinsgal24 says:
I really hope she doesn't kill Harry. It would make the whole journey he's been on a waste. Good has to come out on top... it gives us all hope.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 8:42 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 377
Michelle&Felicis:) says:
But for god's sake
How can HE know who's gonna die and who's gonna live?
Rowling could do anything, I mean, it's HER story, and she has enough money to feed her daughter, her daughter's daughter and her doughter's daughter's son! COME on, if she killed Harry, the story would end right there, in the sixth book, but if she doesn't, she'd have to make a HUGE effort to END the story for once and for all.
So what diference does it make?
Personally, I think that whatever she does to any character will be for some reason, and for a GOOD one.
I mean, she has been BRILLIANT with all 6 books.
Why not with the 7th one aswell?
And this gentleman is not a wizard, as far as I know, he can't do Legilimency, can he?
*Artichoke heart*
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 8:46 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1437
allilau says:
The truth of what we know from JKR is that the final chapter (which deals with the survivors aftermath,) has already been written. Regardless of waht Mr Krasner sttes, no-one but JKR actually knows what will happen. These predicitons are as 'real' as any of ours and we can't presume to know anything anything, where would be the joy in our speculation if we did...
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:01 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 392
A_Mom_Like_Molly says:
To be completely honest, I think Harry is going to die. He could defeat Voldemort and later die from the injuries, or as I had thought after Order of the Phoenix came out, he could take Voldemort and himself through the same veil that killed Sirius.
As for this professor, I have to agree with others who have said that it doesn't seem as though he's actually read the books all the way through. I do not believe Neville is the chosen one. Agatha Cristie killed off Poroit (spell check) because she didn't want anyone to write about him after she had, and she wasn't tired of him. At least not that I know of.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:06 PM EST
Witch
Points: 870
caraMEL_penguin says:
I don't know... I don't think Neville will die because he IS NOT the chosen one... Harry is... But I think it is wise to say that Voledemort will die... maybe Snape... but I think that Wormtail will die... I really hope that Harry doesn't die though... <333
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:12 PM EST
Custodian of Miracles
Points: 3264
MadamDumbledore says:
Ooh this is very interesting.
The thing with JKR though, is that she is a contemporary, modern day author and we all know to expect the unexpected when it comes to her story telling.
Harry will live? Perhaps. But I still think - perhaps not.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:13 PM EST
Harry's Lost Brother
Points: 10058
American Harry Potter says:
I agree with him. She won't just kill him off. It's just too. . .well, obvious and easy. I think she will kill someone else, who, I don't know. . .
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:16 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2465
undisputed760 says:
Interesting, although i dont agree with everything. Neville is not the chosen one, and i dont know if harry will die or not. I just hope he doesnt. Im absolutly convinced ron will die though.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:22 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1161
princess165 says:
I'm not sure what to think of the professor, but it is alway interesting to hear different opinions on the matter. I hope he's right about Harry.
it's amusing to see various people come out to "analyze" the end of the series.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:36 PM EST
I Am Queen of My Castle
Points: 3672
Hecate3fold says:
I don't hold much store with this mans oppinion, and that's all it is, just his oppinion. Has he even read all the books? My oppinion is that he just wants publisity for himself, and I certainly won't let his views influence my own thoughts on the outcome of the seventh book. Nice try, whoever you are!!
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:42 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3245
Tenshi says:
Wow, I salute you! I don't think I could do that.. dedicate my life to analysing texts like that... Here's hoping he's right! =D
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:49 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3656
Anastasia Popovick says:
OK...so let's say this guys right. Makes me happy!!! BUT...
Just because he's a Professor and has studied literature for how ever many years...that doesn't mean JK can't change her mind now that he's made his predictions.
I mean if it were me, I would change it just to spite this Mr. Know-It-All.
While, this is a great way for the stories to end and I would love for them to end this way, it seems just a little too simple for me. A quick and easy fix to such a terrible threat to the world of Wizardry.
HHhhmmmm....me thinks a second. JK did say book seven would be shorter than the last two. Maybe it would be as quick and easy as this? Too much to ponder and really only one person knows the whole answer. We'll just have to wait and see.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:52 PM EST
Student
Points: 205
Loving HBP says:
I don't agree with Krasner at all. At first, I thought he had a point with Rowling carring about Harry too much to kill him, but then she started talking about how Snape was fighting for good, despite how it seems and that Neville was the chose one. Ok, what the heck would anyone but Rowling know that Snape was really a good guy? I mean, HELLO! Book 7 hasn't even come out yet, and this Krasner person is telling us how the story is supposed to go.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:54 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1970
Jekca says:
What he says makes sense, and so I really, really hope this is truth. I can't see both of Ron's parents making it. Maybe Percy? I dunno. There are so many characters. It wouldn't have to be a big one, I just cannot see the world without the trio.
Please be true!
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:09 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 35
lapis says:
I guess the expert hasn't read the books... or was misinformed about the chosen one. In any case, he's blown his credibility with me.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:27 PM EST
Squib
Points: 166
Ginny-Weasley89 says:
Wow that sure is a lot of predicting. i wouldn't be so sure i really have no idea whose gonna die.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:48 PM EST
Squib
Points: 159
MissHermioneGranger says:
I would really like to believe this lady, but I mean, who is she to say?? Her views are believable, but I mean, JK can do whatever she wants. As of now, only JK knows, and hopefully, we'll know within a year or 2!
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:54 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1227
I Who Lived..To Read says:
Ah, finally I can feel assurance. I hope Ron doesn't die; he's my favorite character... That would be pretty devastating if he died...
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:56 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1348
~*Veela Grl *~ says:
I would have never thought of killing Neville but it does sort of makes sense. I mean I hope they don't he's a cool character and but as far as I'm concerned they can kill anyone they want other than Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 11:20 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1348
~*Veela Grl *~ says:
I would have never thought of killing Neville but it does sort of makes sense. I mean I hope they don't he's a cool character and but as far as I'm concerned they can kill anyone they want other than Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 11:22 PM EST
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