In every book of Rowling’s Harry Potter Series, there are
numerous instances where suspense is used. We as the readers are given text
that helps to shape our expectations in a certain way.
In response to Lses’s statement about expectations rarely
being fulfilled in literary texts, I am on the fence. I have read literature
where initial expectations come true at the end, whereas I have also seen texts
where you are literally made to expect the plot or characters to go a certain
way, and come to discover that these expectations are basically a 180. I
believe that this type of writing (especially how Rowling uses it) is very
unique. More so when an author is able to walk a fine line and incorporate what
seems like just the perfect balance where she is able to craft a clear and
consistent storyline while at the same time incorporating text that causes the
reader to not know for certain what to expect as they continue to read.
The Harry Potter series raises many initial expectations for
the reader, some of which are subtle, while others are dramatic in form. A
subtle example can be found at the very beginning of book one. For a person who
is completely blind to the series, it is easy for one to expect that this is a
story about the life of Harry the “Muggle.” Up until Hagrid comes to Shell Cottage,
there is little to no mention of the wizarding world. I see that moment as a
turning point in the series because in essence it is introducing completely new
and foreign perspective on the series. With this, the reader can now develop
new expectations for the rest of the story. Another
I believe that expectations are only as imaginative and
predictable as the reader’s imagination.
No comments:
Post a Comment