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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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Student
Points: 205
Silverstormcloud says:
Dont Let HArry Die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 1:33 AM EST
Student
Points: 296
h.p. says:
I also think Harry won't die. If he does, the rest will live in despair after Harry being dead. And then she would get all these mad reviews from millions of people asking why she killed him off and it just wasn't right to. So I think that Harry won't die. Just my opinion.
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 5:45 AM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
hermygrangergirl: Yeah defintly! I hope that Ron and Hermione will get married, and that it would be shown in the epeloge.
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 8:08 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 487
crazy_purple_hp_freak says:
I do believe that Harry will survive the series...I think Krasner has a point about the tug of war between author and fans on this subject, as I know I won't be the only one tracking down JKR with a pickaxe (heh) if she kills off Harry...
What does he mean about Neville being the real Chosen One? *confuzzled*
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 11:30 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1174
Fleur Delacour* says:
I really hope that Harry will not die, but i think that he will not, but, i don't know, it depends, i highly think he will not, but, i doubt it.
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 8:46 PM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
crazy_purple_hp_freak: Yeah me too if that happens! To answer your question, it means that this "expert" doesn't understand the Prophecy, that is waht it means!
Tim Lovegood: Yeah, same here.
Posted Aug 5, 2006 at 6:05 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3651
Saint Hedwig says:
I thought almost exactly the same, including Sherlock Holmes (except I'm convinced that Snape is evil, and that Neville isn't the chosen one). But even though Conan Doyle killed off Holmes, there are still spin-off adventures of the famous detective around today.
!
Posted Aug 5, 2006 at 11:14 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 364
kappy says:
Well I hope that Krasner is right. I also think that Harry will survive, but I wonder who 2 main characters she has killed are???
Posted Aug 5, 2006 at 11:29 PM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
Saint Hedwig: Yeah I think you are right there. This "expert" don't know anything!
kappy: I'm sorry, how can he be right if he thinks that Neville is really the Chosen One??? He doesn't understand the Prophecy! That is why he said it!
Posted Aug 6, 2006 at 5:58 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 487
crazy_purple_hp_freak says:
Eleanor: hehheh...I'd laugh if he doesn't...or maybe its a theory?
Posted Aug 6, 2006 at 8:24 AM EST
Rickmaniac to the Core
Points: 2564
snaily says:
Prof Krasner has made some really valid points.
But after reading six of her books, anything can be made possible by JO !
Posted Aug 6, 2006 at 9:30 AM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
crazy_purple_hp_freak: Could be. But if it is, then he obvously doens't read Harry Pooter that much, because if he does he would see that his Theroy is incorrect.
snaily: Which points has he made that are valid? Not when they have come to Harry Potter he hasn't.
Posted Aug 7, 2006 at 7:21 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1815
hufflepuff_babe says:
Psh Harry survive?! Not likely considering that would leave everybody hanging and she would have to write more books. I believe that BOTH Harry and LV will die. Didn't think of that one eh?
Posted Aug 9, 2006 at 12:17 AM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
hufflepuff_babe: That would be a way to tie up that loose end, also it would also be a way to make sure that no one else could ever write another Harry Potter book. Personally, I don't want Harry to die, but then that is just me.
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 4:35 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1815
hufflepuff_babe says:
Eleanor: Yeah it would be terrible if Harry died but then again my favorite character did already die.
It just would make the most sense to me considering it's the only way to finalize her series.
Posted Aug 11, 2006 at 1:50 PM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
hufflepuff_babe: Oh yeah? Who was your favorite charater? So far (touch wood) none of mine have died.
Posted Aug 12, 2006 at 6:44 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1815
hufflepuff_babe says:
Oh Sirius. I just like him because he's a character with a lot of depth and I just like the way JK created him and put him into the plot. I wish he could come back.
I know some people also wish that of DD but I was not really immersed into his life.
Posted Aug 14, 2006 at 12:13 AM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
hufflepuff_babe: Yeah me too. But I liked Remus better. I hope that Remus doesn't die!
Posted Aug 14, 2006 at 4:47 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1815
hufflepuff_babe says:
Eleanor:
Yeah I like Remus also and I would be so sad if he died. I love Lupin/Tonks and that would be depressing for Tonks. She would need to go on suicide watch because she was soo depressed when Siri died!
Posted Aug 14, 2006 at 9:21 PM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
hufflepuff_babe: Yes defintly! I think that she very nearly did go sucidal. But I thought that at first she was really upset bevcause she was greaving for Sirrius. I didn't actually realise that she was greeving because Remus would go out with her! I was totally shocked when I found that out!
Posted Aug 15, 2006 at 2:18 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1815
hufflepuff_babe says:
Yes very sad. I really have hope for them so I don't know if he will die or not. I hope not!
Ah only two deaths and it's so hard to guess because there are so many characters.
Hehe just read your profile. It's amazing all of the people you can meet on HPANA. My friend was just in England for a soccer tour thing.
Posted Aug 15, 2006 at 5:50 PM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
hufflepuff_babe: That's cool! Where did she go to vist? Did she see London? I also hope you liked my profile.
What you say is true also. I think that there are so many charaters, I don't think we can decide who will be the two who will die. Also I personaly wouldn't want to decide that any way. It is too painful.
Posted Aug 15, 2006 at 5:56 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1815
hufflepuff_babe says:
Yes my friend visited London. She flew back this past Sunday actually. She also got to see a whole bunch of other cities because she was with a group and Shakespere's birthplace and Stratford upon Avon. They played some soccer games with a team there so I thought that was cool and a coach taught them some tricks and things.
Yes I agree, it is too hard to think about who will die. It is the final book which is even more depressing!
Posted Aug 17, 2006 at 12:52 PM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
hufflepuff_babe: That is totally right! We shouldn't think about who will die next in the books, and look more positive who we hope doesn't die!
That sounds really great what you friend did! I'm glad she had a great time! I don't think I have been to Stratford-Upon-Avon. If I did, then I was really young at the time. Where else did she go to?
Posted Aug 17, 2006 at 6:23 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1815
hufflepuff_babe says:
Yes you are correct, it's is better to think who will not die. I am definatly hoping Lupin stays alive!
Well my friend said she went to London and a couple of other cities but I don't remember exactally what the others were. I really want to travel to England because I never have. I have also thought about studying in either England or Mexico during college.
Posted Aug 18, 2006 at 12:54 AM EST
Order of the Phoenix
Points: 4073
Eleanor says:
hufflepuff_babe: I totally agree with you, as I really don't want Remus to die either!
I wouldn't mind going to Mexico. I learnt Spainish for 5 years, I have forgotten most of that now.
Where are you from, out of intrest?
Posted Aug 19, 2006 at 5:46 PM EST
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