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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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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
Witch
Points: 916
aishaishaisha says:
My theory is that Harry will die. But he will kill Voldemort first but in the last fight he has he'll kill Voldemort with like his dying breath but then no one will save him in time so he'll die. I want him to live but if I expect the worse I could be wonderfully surprised because I want there to be a Harry junior! L0L
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 10:24 AM EST
Grillows Girl
Points: 2785
Miss Baltimore Crabs says:
I don't think she'll kill off Harry either, but that professor really needs to get over himself... he seems to think he knows it all.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 10:53 AM EST
Witch
Points: 538
gracie lovegood says:
YAY!!! I never thought Harry would die anyway!!!
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 11:12 AM EST
Squib
Points: 157
KPotter says:
Is this her saying that she isnt going to kill harry or the dude???? I am just praying that Harry wont get kill because then i will cry like crazy!!!!!!!
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 11:30 AM EST
Witch
Points: 651
Therin Ennui says:
smart hermione, the prophecy says "neither can live while the other survives." This means that Harry can't live if Voldemort survives, and Voldemort can't live if Harry survives. That doesn't mean that if Voldemort dies Harry will live. Voldemort is going to die for sure, he's the only death that I think is a definite in the next book.
I actually think it's pretty likely that Harry takes out Voldemort by some heroic move that gets both of them killed (like, and this isn't originally my idea but I've clung to it, pulling him through the curtain at the Department of Mysteries). It sticks to the theme of making choices and sacrificing yourself for your friends.
Oh, and if you think the idea of Harry as a horcrux is interesting there is a very interesting (and very long) thread of theories related to it, called "Looking Back and Reaching Forward: a holistic theory" in The Library.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 11:30 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 75
happygolucky says:
What! Neville the chosen one oviously this guy is missing something and who really knows who's going to die but j.k.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 11:49 AM EST
The Dark Knight
Points: 5789
minister for magic says:
We still have to remember that this is Prof. Krasner opinion and what he thinks JKR is thinking.
I still have a feeling that Harry Potter will die but we will not know until we read it.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 12:01 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1018
ILuvHarryDiggoryKrum says:
INTERSTING VERY INTERSTING!!!!!
i dont know really..i think the man has a point but we never know..i definitally agree with everything 'Emma's Double' says..i agree with him and he has some very good points.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 12:03 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1482
*SmoraDora* says:
That was my exact thoughts! hmm...Good has to conquer evil...its just what happens. If harry dies.. Voldemort has to die with him. its the way it works...I also suspect that maybe lupin or someone else close to harry will die..but maybe not so much hermione and Ron..we shall see...we shall see.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 12:27 PM EST
LV Most Loyal DE
Points: 11473
Sinjin Of Montecore says:
How cool Harry wont die..........Harry wont Die.........
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 12:59 PM EST
Squib
Points: 199
GentleRose15 says:
Phew! Talk about a load of our minds!! At least our little friend's are all going to be safe& sound. (hopefully!)
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 1:05 PM EST
Witch
Points: 507
lady_moon says:
Most of what this guy says makes sense, but Neville is not the choosen one. I don't know how he got that, but Jo already sayed Neville wasn't the guy. He's entiled to his opinion though.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 1:14 PM EST
Student
Points: 286
Prue Witch says:
I think that harry should die no efence but its like in his blood to die...idk
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 1:33 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 531
Dark Lord Maethron says:
This guy's ideas are interesting, but I called that Dumbledore was going to die, so that means you all should listen and agree with my opinions too.
I disagree wholeheartedly. I hope JKR gets rid of Harry.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 1:33 PM EST
Witch
Points: 788
~HP fan #1~ says:
I so hope that he's right! Harry can't die. Voldemort has to die! His guesses seem pretty good. I CAN'T wait till the 7th book comes. I don't want it to be the last.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 1:39 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2108
phoenix_feathers says:
I'm sorry to say, but this guy sounds like a nutter. How is he to know what Jo will and won't do? I agree she feels deeply for Harry, probably more deeply than any of her faithful readers, but, in the end, she is an author, and she will make the final decisions. And for another thing, Sirius was a very big part in Harry's life. Harry looked at him as his father reborn, really, and he was devasted when he died. He also says that "these are comic stories". That, in fact, does not mean that good will not die to triumph over evil. As much as I don't want Harry to die, I can see how Jo could make him a sacrifice in order to defeat Voldemort. It really is her decision, and nobody can philosicize as to whether or not Harry will perish.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 1:46 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 453
sparkle_fairy92 says:
This is a good theory but anything can happen in JK's books... not like I want Harry to die, but if he does then I am gonna cry!!!!
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 2:11 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1457
Lexii*Chiita says:
Great, now I'm relieve, in the fact that Harry will not die, yet it has to be some of the bad ones and at least one of the good ones, I'm just glad that Harry will not die, yet it would be a terrible lost if he actually did but I think it's better that he stays alive :D I also hope that it's not one of his best friend (Ron/Hermione)or them both dying, now that would be awful :( yet now I'm happy to hear this news :D
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 2:11 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 92
Serpentess says:
I hope he's right. I think it would be sort of anticlimatic if Harry died.
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 2:12 PM EST
The Jedi Who Says Ni!
Points: 6699
Jel E.Bean says:
that would be cool if Neville really was the chosen one! I love things that aren't predicting.
and it would be such a cool twist!
Accio book 7!
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 2:31 PM EST
Fall Out Girl
Points: 3358
Fangs Up says:
Oh my gosh i hope harry doesnt die. if he does that will totally ruin the comeplete series!!! i hope neville doesnt die either!!!! wait a second...neville is so not that chosen one!!! jeez that guys really sure of himself to say those things!!!
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 2:41 PM EST
Student
Points: 278
AurraPhoenix says:
This Prof. Krasner has some interesting perspectives...but in the end, its just his opinion. However well educated that might be. He just gets picked up as "news", whereas our opinions tend to stay on the fan sites/threads.
Only JKR knows--so, I just hope she writes HER story. When it is out we will know!
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 3:08 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 314
steffy_loves_ron says:
I'm so sorry to disagree, but can you really be sure of what Jk Rowling think when she say this or that? She showed us many times that we were in the complete wrong direction so I think that the only one who knows if Harry will die or not is Jk herself, and only her. We can think whatever we want, we will only get the answer when the seventh book goes out, not before. This, is what I think. (Sure I HOPE Harry survives, but like I said...who knows.)
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 3:18 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 465
Emmy Potter says:
I really hope that Harry dies. It would just be so different and interesting. I mean, good could win, but Harry could sacrifice himself in doing so...
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 3:57 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2913
Pema says:
Not Snape! This is so sad! Well, the thought that Harry may not die in the end did actually brighten my day, but I still don't know how wholly I can believe it. Conan Doyle killed Sherlock Holmes because he was tired of him. Haha! Sounds pretty cynical though. Are these authors having a little TOO much fun? Hmmm...
Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 4:34 PM EST
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