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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: 596
SlytherinsPerfectPrefect says:
You have got to be kidding me... Who does this professor think he is?? They are JKR's books and she is the only one who knows who will die and who will live. And no, Neville is not really the chosen one, like JKR already told us. So, I believe this bloke should just put his nose back into school books where it belongs...
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:29 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2388
Hazeleyes1790 says:
Wow, you know tha is interesting. I think he has a point in who he said is most likely to die. I dont know, but i think i agree. I mean I LOVE neville but still, he was suppossed to be the chosen one. Wasnt he?
callie
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:34 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1375
Phoenix Phire says:
I hope Neville doesn't die!
It seems like this guy might have a point. He seems to know what he's talking about, but no one knows if Harry will live or die except for JK herself.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:35 AM EST
Siriusly Sanity Impaired
Points: 5393
katieboo says:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! oh my god!! who does this guy think he's kidding? does he even READ the books? *dies laughing*
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:37 AM EST
Witch
Points: 852
WitOfHermione says:
I think this Krasner guy is off his rocker. To make matters worse, JK hasn't finished the book yet. Now she might kill Harry off just to prove a point!
Nah, she wouldn't be that vindictive over a random professor who sounds like he didnt read the books thoroughly.
The only loophole in the theory that Neville is the chosen one is where Dumbledore states that when he makes mistakes, they tend to be larger than that of the average person. That would invalidate his insistence that the prophecy refers to Harry, however, I dont think this is likely.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:37 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 384
Hedwig101 says:
I agree, this professor doesnt have a clue! It was specifically stated by DD in one of the books that by choosing Harry, Voldemort made harry the chosen one! Nevil is highly unlikely (I wont say wont, because Im not the Ms. Rowling)to be the chosen one! It is also possible that Ms. Rowling loves the character of Harry so much that she kills him just so no other author can come in in the future and change his character! Also, good can still win with harry dying. He is not the only good one in the book you know!
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:38 AM EST
Keeper of the Faeries
Points: 5250
juliebug04 says:
He is just spouting opinions like we are...what the heck does he know??? Jo is the only one that knows what is going to happen to Harry. I'll just wait until I get Book 7, thanks. :o)
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:40 AM EST
Student
Points: 209
Gemma Gobstone says:
I think Harry will die but thats what I think, but this guy thinks he can say stuff like that! It's JKR's story, not his, no need to make it public dude...
Take care. Trains are evil.
Rach
I'm the new cancer
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:40 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 404
GinnyWP says:
"two more people have died than she originally planned"
I feel like people read over this and just say "Two important people are going to die! oh dear! oh No! It's probably Harry and Voldmort." etc.
I think the "than she originally planned" is important here. If she was going to kill Harry off, she was gonna do it from the beginning. Same with Voldmort.
Two more people die than she orinally planned. These are new deaths that have not been in the making since 1990.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:51 AM EST
Half-Blooded Fooch
Points: 2447
fooch48 says:
I hope these people are correct!
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 9:58 AM EST
Witch
Points: 543
HogwartsAhistory says:
I must agree with this artical. I think Longbottom will go because he is infact the chosen one! Harry has to show that good always wins over evil!
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:01 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 54
StormOfTheCenturyLuvOfDR says:
I know I have been fighting people at school who said that Harry would die, and the two other Potter fans in my class said Harry wouldn't die, so Potter fans win this round, and that should show a lot of people.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:01 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 79
Quidditch*Witch says:
Really, if Harry dies, it's anyone's guess.
And I do believe that expert is wrong in the first place about Neville, because didn't JK Rowling on her site dispell a rumour about Neville really being the chosen one (on the gossip section of her website, JKRowling.com)? He needs to do some more research.
I personally think Harry will die and hope he will only so that other authors can't mess up everything when they try to re-write books. Think of the Star Wars series. Some die-hard fans love it, but I stopped after the series was suppose to stop.
Also, Sirius may not be considered a major character by the general public, but perhaps to Rowling, he was only because he was one of the sole adult confidences that Harry had, and was practically his only 'family' (the Dursleys can hardly be called family).
And one more thing- even JK Rowling herself admitted that her stories were getting darker (mainly due to the death of her own mother influencing the books), so it's not like Dickens where the good has to win. Dickens novels, though excellent in terms of complex plots like Potter, can hardly be considered in terms of mood to be like Harry Potter novels.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:12 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1500
krystle_clear says:
I really dont care if harry dies or not, i just want the end of the story to be good, which i have no doubt in my mind it will be, heloo JKR is writing it! and even if harry did die, it doesent mean that evil 'wins', harry could die sacrificeing himself to kill LV, and then good wins, who does this prof guy think he is... certainly not JK
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:13 AM EST
Student
Points: 271
Germz says:
Well, I don't think thT nyone can tell if Harry will die or not exept JKR...and she's always full of surprises.
<3 Germz.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:15 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 770
A Gnameless Gnome says:
I like how he just throws in that "Neville is the Chosen One" randomly at the end without elaborating, as if to undermine his entire thesis.
Although I do agree with him that Harry probably won't die. It would be kind of weird to kill your viewpoint character, and I don't know what the best way is to do this kind of thing.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:16 AM EST
Dancing in the Rain
Points: 3120
~*harry's girl*~ says:
Who does this guy think he is? Thinks he's some all-knowing-better-than-you-smart-arse. *rolling of the eyes at this idiot* That almost makes me want Harry to die, just to show him that he doesn't know everything. Almost. But not really. =P
And Sirius is too a main character. Sirius. *tear*
And Neville isn't the chosen one. As Qui*dditch*Witch said I thought that was a false rumor on JKR.com...
I don't know why I don't like this guy...but I don't...which is weird...because you'd think I would...because he just said Harry would live...huh...I'm rather confused...
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:19 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1011
Fflewddur Fflam says:
This guy is a little delusional, but he has a point with what he says about Harry. The thing about Neville makes me wonder as to his credibility though.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:20 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 9013
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
Interesting perspective and well reasoned. I know that some will hand onto to this and hope it is correct. However, we will all know in about a year or so, then all speculation will be moot. Whatever the outcome it will be cast in stone.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:23 AM EST
Student
Points: 246
OliverIHeartYou says:
I don't really agree with this guy. I don't like the way he states his argument either, he's somewhat condescending. I think he's wrong about Neville also.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:32 AM EST
Witch
Points: 968
Jesyka Gronewg says:
I have to agree with Krasner, although I think it would be fantastic storytelling for Harry to die. It is possible that Neville is a horcrux, correct?
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:34 AM EST
Half-Blood Princess
Points: 2875
Katie Bloom says:
This guy is a little delusional, but he has a point with what he says about Harry. The thing about Neville makes me wonder as to his credibility though.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:35 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1426
~Hermione says:
I hope Krasner's right. I wish that Harry stays alive.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:38 AM EST
Student
Points: 213
Ginny_Weasley_504 says:
I respect his opinion and all but what he says is just an assumption. Harry Potter is way too unpredictable. I fuess we'll only know for sure when the book finally comes out...
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:41 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1158
fire_cookie says:
Well he's awfully sure of himself. I thought Sirius Black was a major character...
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:43 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1023
Magical Teapot says:
I truly believe that JK will not kill Harry. It just won't happen. I also believe that someone like Ron or Hermione (perhaps Neville) will have to die as much as I don't want them too.
Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:44 AM EST
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