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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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Witch
Points: 634
Tammyant says:
Oh...I really hope he's right! I don't underdtand why he says that Neville is really the chosen one. Didn't Dumbledore address that, and insist that Voldemort chose Harry? Sounds awful, but Neville can be the chosen one if it means he dies and Harry lives. Harry is the boy Who Lived. How can he possibly die???
Posted Jul 20, 2006 at 8:50 PM EST
Heiress of Gryffindor
Points: 3537
Nienna Narmolanya says:
Aww, that's sad. I didn't know that Sherlock died in the end. And he was sick of him? He created him! I hope that JK Doesn't kill Harry, and I hope that Krasner is right.
Posted Jul 20, 2006 at 9:56 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1829
Lady Leo says:
I agree that Voldy will probably die, and as well Snape will too. But i disagree on that she says the Neville is really the chosen one. Harry is the chosen one plain and simple. but i dont know if Neville will die though, that is a possibility...hmmmm.
Selene*
Posted Jul 20, 2006 at 10:15 PM EST
Student
Points: 258
*StarDust* says:
Well I really hope he's right!! I would be so sad if Harry died. And by what he was saying....It looked like he had a very good point.
Posted Jul 20, 2006 at 10:24 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 349
Danny's Number 1 Girl says:
I still think that Harry will have to die in the seventh book. I believe that the only way that Lord Voldemort will die is if Harry dies too. I think that J.K. Rowling does care about Harry but also cares about the wizarding community in general. If Voldemort lives so will Harry. If Voldemort dies so will Harry.
Posted Jul 20, 2006 at 10:34 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2401
tonks 27 says:
Oh my gosh, i really just don't think i'd be able to handle it if she kills harry off! or ron or hermione for that matter! but really, don't kill harry!
Posted Jul 20, 2006 at 10:43 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 81
The Scarlet Quill says:
This is ridiculous! Has this person even read any of the Harry Potter books? He is just making rambuctious guesses!
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 3:38 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
smart hermione says:
Therin Ennui: tell me about it! Hope it won't be a very long wait, although something tells me it will be...
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 4:59 AM EST
Student
Points: 212
pOiZoNouSGaL 30 says:
Thats a relief! i will die if harry dies!
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 6:43 AM EST
Witch
Points: 869
kat_snowyowl says:
I definately agree with him. I hope all the Weasleys survive too. That would be great. And Hermione has to survive so she can marry Ron and likewise Harry and Ginny! Woo!
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 8:33 AM EST
The Chosen Hobbit
Points: 2447
Enisnitch Baggins says:
Hmmm, it's good to know that some expert thought Harry won't die. I wish I could think the same.
As for Lord Voldemort die, he has to! It's a children book, and I just can't imagine any children book ended with the evil overlord still living
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 9:15 AM EST
Witch
Points: 842
[Abby DiNozzo] says:
Neville Longbottom is really the chosen one, so I suspect he'll die.
Goes to show how much they know -- Dumbledore specifically said that it could have been him or Harry (because of the whole parents who have thrice defied LV, dark hair, born that time of the year, whatever).
Duh!
And Snape, who is really fighting for good despite all appearances, will likely die.
Why's he presenting it like it's a fact? Maybe he's good, maybe he's bad, he can't say for sure.
*rolls eyes at how annoying this guy is*
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 10:25 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 421
Pochacca says:
Well this is a very interesting article. I hope this guy is right when he said that Harry Potter won't die. I agree with him when he said that Voldemort will die but I'm not so sure about Snape. But, I don't agree with him when he said that Neville is the "chosen one" and will die. I don't believe this because throughout the series Dumbledore seemed to have an atmosphere of wisdom and always being correct and Dumbledore always believed that Harry was the "chosen one". Plus, it would have been a waste of time showing all those memories to Harry if Neville was really the "chosen one".
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 10:28 AM EST
Student
Points: 251
Emily Rocks says:
I am suporting Prof. Thays true she cant kill though harry is hers.voldy has to die and acc to any literature good will survive and evil will die .so voldemort has to die
i am so attached to the character harry if he dies in the last book iam gong to really cry badly....:((
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 10:33 AM EST
Student
Points: 251
Emily Rocks says:
And profs please dont compare Harry with Sherlock Holmes.Sherlock holmes ia detective where as Harry is WIZARD!!!!!!
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 10:43 AM EST
Magical Sanitary Supplier
Points: 2518
5225 says:
Then this series will be like any other series, that's not fun. I would expect Ms. Rowling to give me the ultimate surprise (hopefully all die, that way, there will be no sequel or anything else.) For me, that the fair solution. (Sorry, people, You do have the right to be angry, but I am just expressing my opinion.)
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 11:29 AM EST
Witch
Points: 608
berries&cream says:
I hope he won't die!! I love this book!
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 12:53 PM EST
Squib
Points: 132
The Lightning-Struck Boy says:
Hhhmmmm maybe we should just wait and see what JKR writes... I hate speculating sometimes...
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 1:08 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 442
Teacher Herms says:
I do hope Harry doesn't die because the profecy says, "1 cannot live while the other survives." That hopefully means that Voldemort will die and Harry will live. I wonder who the other two people that Rowling killed off.
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 1:12 PM EST
Squib
Points: 165
Chantal Moonlight says:
Who know what Harry's fate will be. I've heard so many theories that I don't know what to beleive.
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 2:05 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 492
~Mrs. Black Wood~ says:
I completely and utterly agree with you, SlytherinsPerfectPrefect. That Professor bloke seriously needs to shut his mouth about things he doesn't know about. Neville, the real chosen one? Where did he get that from?! Also, the books are Ms. Rowling's and she can choose to do whatever she wants with the characters. Lastly, just who does this "Professor Krasner think he is? Calling the books comic stories?!?!?! It's an outrage! Preposterous, I tell you!
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 4:33 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 306
TooOldForHogwarts says:
First off, that professor is wrong so forget about him. Second though, how can all of you be so sure whether or not Hary will die? I mean in HBP we just learned about horcruxes, and while re-reading COS there is an exact definition of what a horcrux is: "Voldemort put part of himself . . in me?" said Harry. However, Voldermart went to Harry's house with the intention of killing him, not creating a horcrux. I would imagine some fore-thought and possible planning ahead may need to be done in order to create a horcrux. I wonder if one can be made without knowing it????? So see, there are both clues that Harry will die and that Harry will live.
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 5:50 PM EST
Ravenclaw Mastermind
Points: 9744
Heather Fowl says:
That guy does seem a little too sure of himself.
First of all, it turned out that Sirius was a major character. His importance grew in OotP (it's too bad he had to die at the end though).
Another thing, I thought it was clear that Harry was the Chosen One?
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 6:43 PM EST
Prof. of Cultural Literacy
Points: 4499
PowerGranger says:
Er, yeah, Neville isn't the chosen one, actually. But I do think he's in grave danger in book 7. It'll be very sad when he dies, but I agree he probably will. I do agree with Krasner on Voldemort and Snape. I go back and forth on Harry though. Yes, it would be extremely dramatic and sad if Harry died, but it would highlight a theme of JKR's -- good can prevail, but not without great cost. I'm holding onto the hope that JKR wants a less serious ending than the death of Harry though. We all know how much she loves him so it's hard to imagine her giving him that kind of end. Oh, the suspense! I'm sure I'll change my opinion a thousand times more by the time book 7 is out!
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 8:46 PM EST
Points: 745
deletethisaccountplease says:
I think Sirius was a important character. And who's this person to say if he will die or not. Its her choice not any one elses. But I do think Neville will die.
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 11:17 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 518
theduece says:
Either a survival or the death would be that of a hero and they would distroy each other. Personally I think that Harry will live.
Posted Jul 22, 2006 at 12:20 AM EST
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