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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, 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
Student
Points: 297
Hermione_Harry_Luna says:
I hope Harry doesn't die but that Prof. Krasner is acting like he wrote the books!!! It's JKR's books. She the one who knows if Harry is going to die or not!!!!
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 11:41 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1023
hpff_#1 says:
I'm still on the center of the fence with this question. I know Rowling would, if she had the chance to, kill off Harry but there is so much goin the other way. I've been thinking about what would be the aftermath of Harry dieing and if he was alive and both have been done and become cliched and we all know how Rowling likes to surprise us. I really don't know
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 11:47 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1675
lissir10 says:
Wow that is a very interesting theory(sp). It could be true!! Who knows!! haha I think Ron, Hermione, or Nevile will die. LV will die, Snape maybe, and umm.. people from the order and the minsistry. A whole bunch or people on the good and bad side. So I'm gonna stop guessing and let JKR write the book so it can come out!! haha
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 12:15 AM EST
Lupin's Eternal Love
Points: 3088
BlackKatL says:
Wow!!! Well I Want to *Belive* his theory is Right.....
But Only JKR has the true answer!!!! I only know for sure my
heart will break if Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny or Remus Lupin,
Die in book 7....... We still have a whole year to wait and see......
But in the mean time.... I can only Hope...... *Snifff,Snif*
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 12:18 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2495
Jbird says:
Wow it's like she's reading my mind. JKR will never kill harry and she's hinted to this a few times. But she always says that it's the classic good triumphs over evil scenario so he has to live. And I think she's right about Neville and Snape.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 12:19 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1499
Belle of the Ball says:
Those are very interesting theories. Although I'll just wait till the book because JKR likes to fool everyone and has come up with some very good surprises.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 12:20 AM EST
Substitute Chosen One
Points: 3021
Mr Fishbein says:
Well lets hope his predictions are right. I thought JKR was giving off way too many clues that she could kill him off anyway.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 12:55 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 462
DJan says:
HUrreyy thank god harry is not diying in next book.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 1:04 AM EST
Witch
Points: 690
Ginny_Weasley_Potter says:
This is not a bad idea. Sometimes I think that neville is acutally the choosen one, but I don't think so.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 1:06 AM EST
Witch
Points: 877
Jaci Scully says:
Now that he's said that, Harry will die because JK won't want to be so predictable. He's now jinxed it for all of us. Jerk.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 1:10 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 678
SirPhil says:
Up untill he said "Neville Longbottom is really the chosen one", I was in general agreement with him. We know that Harry is the chosen one DD said so and he gave evidience "and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not". The Prophecie is refering to his scar as the mark and the power into LV's mind and some of his power transfer (parseltung, ect.) If the "Dr." had read the books he would have known all this. Sheesh. I agree LV, the great evil will have to be destroyed. I also agree that Prof. Snape is actually loyal to DD, and the OotP but will most likely be killed.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 1:20 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2945
Ariana Dumbledore says:
Ok, so nobody can know for sure what's going on inside Jo's head, but I think that this proffesor guy has a genuine interest in HP. This is unusual, because usually, those who try to comment on the series or on Jo herself have never read the books. At least this guy has done that, so he is in a position to judge for himself as much as the rest of us.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 1:45 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1751
Lizzy Beth says:
Although I don't like it, Harry is a messianic symbol. So much points to it.
-His patronus (expecto patronum means I look for a saviour) being a stag, which first looks like unicorn first ... in medieval times both symbolic for Christ (not to mention his fathers animagus is a stag).
-This one may be a stretch, but possibly others will see what I'm saying. His mother died saving him, because of love. Harry has her eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul. They have the same sort of soul. So ... to me this says Harry would die, in love, to save someone.
-We know that he will defeat Voldermort using love ... "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son ..." Jesus, to Christians (I am one) died to save us out of love. sacrificial love.
I hate to say it, but I think Harry is going to die ... however, it doesn't mean he won't come back ... if he is indeed a messianic symbol ... who knows what'll happen. That's the fun of it!!
You'll have to stalk me if you wish me to see a comment on what I said. Sorry, I'm not subscribed to the topic.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 2:03 AM EST
Squib
Points: 171
toms_lilangel says:
I dont know what to think anymore!! We will just have to wait and see.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 2:26 AM EST
Points: 379
danie ruedz says:
This man has very good points.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 2:29 AM EST
Dumbledore's Muse
Points: 2959
Alchemical Auror says:
One of my favourite theories is that Harry will try and fail to murder LV, and then unexpectedly Neville will step up and complete the job...
I think we should stop arguing over who is going to die, just in case JKR cracks and it kills everyone just to spite us **laughs**
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 5:28 AM EST
Witch
Points: 936
Lilium says:
WOW!!! Things are getting a little crazy here! That guy seems pretty sure about his opinion! I don't believe Harry will die either but I don't agree with that: 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.. Good can win even if Harry dies...Of course Voldemort is going to die, but I don't want Snape or Neville to die...
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 5:34 AM EST
Head Boy
Points: 415
øffe-joe687½ says:
Just because the expert have written a book, dosent make him all-knowing.
I will only make a sigh of releif when i have read the 7th book, and can see that the Trio survives.
After that i hope that JKR will make a new book in the same universe. If we compare JKR´s fantasy-univers with Tolkiens fantasy-universe; If the Harry Potter books are more or less "the Lord of The Rings", then i hope that JKR will write her "own" books like "The Hobbit" and especially "The Silmarrilion". So i hope JKR will make books about when Snape, James, Lily, and Sirius was kids, and went to Hogwarts - But 7 books is not necesary, 2 books will do fine. The i also hope JKR will make a book like Tolkiens "Silmarillion", where she tells the backstory of the whole univers: how the magic nation was founded, how Hogwarts was founded, Who Merlin and the 4 heads of the hogwarts-houses was.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 7:03 AM EST
Witch
Points: 804
PadfootsGirl says:
I don't think this guy understands JKR at all! She is not like other authers, and follows her own patterns and her own rules. If she wants to kill Harry she will, and she'll have her reasons for it.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 7:21 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
smart hermione says:
ATTENTION: IF HARRY DIES, VOLDEMORT LIVES (or vice-versa). As it says in the prophecy; 'Either must die in the hands of the other for neither can live while the other survives'. So if jk kills Harry, Voldemort lives. And that would be like the worst way to finish the series. I mean, I know hat woul be realistic, seeing as in many books/stories the good guys win, but after seven whole books that would be too cruel.
Therefore, Harry can't die, unless;
a) Voldemort will live and jk has gone nuts.
b) The prophecy is't clear enough and I can't understand it.
I'd cry and cry and cry if Hermione or Ron die, but if they die, let them die together and after they hook up. For just one to live, would be too cruel for that charcter to witness her/his love die.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 8:00 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
smart hermione says:
AidanK :
I admit that what you said about Harry dies as he's killing Voldemort, would be an intersting way to finish the book. But doesn't the prophecy say that one of them as to die in the hands of the other? What do you think?
Enchanting Fairy: but how can the good win if harry dies? Look at the paragraph above and read the part about the prophecy, then tell me if you understand it like me, cause i want to get as many opinins as possible on this :-)
chinatown00x: please respond. I have to agree, that what you said about harry being a horcrux would be interesting. But the prophecy say; either must die in the hands of the other for neither can live while the other survives'. So if I understand correctly, one of them has to die (either). Correct me if I'm wrong. Also, if harry is a horcrux, he must destroy himself before he kills Voldemort, cause V's the last horcrux and only with the other six destroyed can he be mortal. So then, if harry kills himself, who's gonna kill Voldy? please reply :-)
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 8:15 AM EST
The Usual Suspect
Points: 3421
Orchid says:
Interesting thoughts, and I do hope that Harry will live. Don't want Neville to die, he could be very important to the plot regarding the whole prophecy thing.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 8:23 AM EST
Witch
Points: 748
Padfootgirlforever says:
Neville's not the chosen one. And Jo can go ahead and kill Harry off if she wants to. I think he'll die.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 9:11 AM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2874
Chogiiiirl says:
I like this theory, especially the part about Neville possibly dying. I think that Neville and Voldemort dying in a final battle with Harry would be a perfect ending to the story. I just don't want Harry to die!
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 9:25 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 334
~hp Roxx~ says:
Well!!If JKR wants harry to die ,he will surely die and whatever the proffesor says wont change anything.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 9:27 AM EST
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