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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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Wizard
Points: 513
Humphrey Belcher says:
Good, I hope he dosen't.I'd be really dissapointed if JK wrote about Harry for 7 books, then just killed him off.
Posted Jul 26, 2006 at 8:37 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1252
Angelina blu Johnson says:
How does Krasner know that Neville is really the Chosen one???!!!??!!?!
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 10:08 AM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
Angelina_smarty_Johnson: He doesn't. He doesn't understanf the Porphecy or how it works. And he is ment to be an "expert". *Shakes her head in disgust*
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 10:14 AM EST
Lady of Hufflepuff
(Moderator)
Points: 10339
Lady Lee says:
Obviously Voldermort will die. If he doesn't and Harry doesn't, then the prophecy won't be fulfilled. And I seriously doubt that JK would let Harry live just cause she cares for him! If she decides to, it's her choice. and I'll support whatever choice she decides on. It is after all, her story.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 8:46 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 800
Dr EraseR says:
*hysterical laughs* 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.!!!!!!!
Come on prof , you can't be serious, have you actually read the books???? JKR frankly tells us in OOTP that Neville can't be the chosen one. *spits on the ground in shame* just read the books,is that too much to ask *innocent angelic face*
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 8:58 PM EST
Student
Points: 254
**harrypotterfan** says:
Who is this guy? He doesn't even back up his points with credible reasons or things from the books and then he just tops it all off by saying that Neville is the Chosen one. Dude, he isn't, Harry is. You know the one with the scar. Which is proof that Voldemort chose him.
Posted Jul 28, 2006 at 11:54 AM EST
Student
Points: 254
**harrypotterfan** says:
I don't think this man is a really good professor.He cannot compare two extremely different authors who lived in times ages away from eachother, it doesn't make any sense.
But, it is true that normally one would like the book to end in good triumphing over evil. Jo told us herself that either Harry or Voldemort have to kill the other, so what would be the point if Harry died? Seven books for nothing. Nah, Voldemort is going to die and Harry is going to live. If Jo is feeling really cruel then I think she'll kill Harry too though.
Posted Jul 28, 2006 at 12:10 PM EST
Student
Points: 254
**harrypotterfan** says:
She won't write another book because she want us to imagine what Harry is doing in the future with Hermione and Ron. Ron says int he 4th book that the practise for the Tournament is good for when they are all Aurors. Then Hermione starts S.P.E.W. and in the 5th book tells us that she want something else which is worthwhile apart from being an Auror, which would be her campaign for elves' rights. Then in the 6th book Harry can suddenly continue his path towards being an Auror becasue he doesn't need an Owl in Potions. I think this is a confirmation of what he is going to be:an Auror.
What Hermione and Ron say is a foreshadowing of what they're going to be.
And I think that this could be right because of what Hermione says in the end of book 6. She says that Ron and her are always going to be with him no matter what.
Posted Jul 28, 2006 at 12:34 PM EST
Student
Points: 254
**harrypotterfan** says:
And the HP stories aren't comic stories either.What an insult. God proffy, who do you think you are, stating that the books are comic stories casually like that as if we don't know anything about books, yeah?
I Think Jo has two main words in her books and everything in the books just underlines her theory about them. Love and Friendship, and I think these are two very delicate subjects even though they seem extremely easy to understand.
Posted Jul 28, 2006 at 12:41 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 442
dalishka says:
Very interesting... Is true that she is reminding us all that Harry is her character... But personally I think Harry is going to die... I mean I wouldn't want a stupid end like " and they all live happily everafter..." If she is not going to kill Harry I hope she uses every bit of imagination shes got left and make a good end....
Posted Jul 28, 2006 at 1:18 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 392
laramy274 says:
When he said that Neville was the chosen one I stopped thinking this man has really read the books. I do believe Harry could (will) be killed in the 7th book.
Posted Jul 28, 2006 at 4:13 PM EST
Parselmouth
Points: 29083
Thestral Eyes says:
Conan Doyle was really sick of Holmes.
Well you never know, maybe Rowling will be tired of Harry potter what with all the attention and stress it gives. She has got a family to look after, and if he lives people will be nagging for more and more.
He probably wont die as shell be predictably good and let good win *grumbles* I for one hope she goes against this and has him die in the end too...happy endings are just so...blah.
And to snape dieing...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NO NO NO!
Posted Jul 29, 2006 at 6:38 AM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
Lady Lee: I total agree with you there! I think that Voldmeort would die otherwsie there would be another book, and as this would be the last book, Voldmeort has to die.
Posted Jul 29, 2006 at 6:10 PM EST
Lady of Hufflepuff
(Moderator)
Points: 10339
Lady Lee says:
Why thank you Eleanor for agreeing with me! I think we've had many talks before in a couple of the articles. And yes, there is no way for any person to predict what will happen because as it was pointed out, JK can do anything she wants to do. It is her story and as such, she can have Harry die (of course Voldermort will either die before or at the same time) at the ending if she so desires.
Posted Jul 29, 2006 at 7:08 PM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
Lady Lee: Exacly! Exacly my point! Harry Potter belongs to J K Rowling, and she, and no one else can decide what his fate is going to be!
Also yesterday (29th July) where were you? I tried to talk to you online, but you were ignoring me.
Posted Jul 30, 2006 at 5:31 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1596
Truska says:
If JKR kills Harry then it means that no one else can write about him, therefore showing that Harry is hers. He doesn't have to stay alive to be solely her character. This guy just seems so full of himself.
Posted Jul 30, 2006 at 6:18 AM EST
Witch
Points: 828
Elphaba_Thropp says:
I still don't know for sure but i'm guessing he'll survive. But then again....AArgh I don't know.
Voldemort will of course die and I think Snape will die doing the right thing. I will grieve forever if any of Harrys friends die. I think i'd still be devastated if Malfoy died as well. I still haven't got over Dumledore! RIP my friend.
Posted Jul 30, 2006 at 7:07 AM EST
Lady of Hufflepuff
(Moderator)
Points: 10339
Lady Lee says:
Eleanor sorry about that! I forgot to put up an away message so I just appeared as if I was around. *sheepish grin* And I was out and about for most of the day or just not at my computer.
Posted Jul 30, 2006 at 11:20 AM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
Lady Lee: That is no problem! I'm sure that I just missed the Away sign. Its no big deal. I'll speak to you online another time.
Posted Jul 30, 2006 at 2:20 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 64
hpfreak14 says:
Shut up Eleanor you don't know your talking about.:p;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Posted Jul 30, 2006 at 4:28 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 26
cindycleaver says:
Hey hpfreak14 is right about what he posted before (326-375) everyone who disagrees with him is just crazy!
Posted Jul 30, 2006 at 4:30 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2334
Chahat says:
Well I dont know Harry will die or not but more deaths isn't unavoidable since the books keep getting darker and Voldemort more powerful.
Although I am not to happy to say it but I guess there is a high probability Neville will die.
Posted Jul 31, 2006 at 1:05 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 53
Cassiopoeia Montague says:
This guy's a tool. Conan Doyle only ever pretended to kill off Holmes. What kind of literary expert uses references with which they are clearly unfamiliar?
Posted Jul 31, 2006 at 3:09 AM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
hpfreak14: Excuse me? What are you on about, and do you know that it is rude to tell people to "shut up".
Posted Jul 31, 2006 at 3:57 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1218
hermygrangergirl says:
Honestly, I don't think Hermy or Ron will die, because they'll end up getting married. :)
But possibly, I think Hagrid, Lupin, Ginny, Luna, Neville, or Draco might. And, I'm sad to say, after seeing what evil evil JKR did to DUMBLEDORE in book 6, seeing Harry leave us would not be too far-fetched. :(
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 2:25 PM EST
Student
Points: 205
Silverstormcloud says:
Dont Let HArry Die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 1:33 AM EST
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