Quiz Make up Blog post-Bethany Birdsell

Memory is a running issue in Goblet of Fire. We learn that wands, in a sense, have a memory. We learn about the Pensieve. Harry's scar seems to respond to dreams and the few vague memories he has of the night of his parents' death. Discuss what Rowling might be doing this. What, based on where we are in the series now and with a particular focus on Goblet of Fire, might one say about the function of memory, its implications, and uses versus dangers. Be specific and remember to meet the usual blog requirements of 350-ish words. 

It's been said that, in terms of history, if you don't learn from the past, you will be doomed to make the same mistakes. Memories are just personal interpretations and feelings from past events that a person has experienced. If a person didn't have any memories, they run the risk of repeating past mistakes. 

A good example of this is how Dumbledore uses the pensieve so as to store his memories. It also enable him to watch and learn from his past. He can study whats happened in his life, and others (if they permit him to) and possibly relearn things he may have consciously missed. The pensieve enables him to use his memories as a kind of visual history book of his life. By doing this, Dumbledore can possibly catch on to dangers he may never have noticed during the first "go through" of an event he experienced. He can also bring others with him, and they in turn can provide insight. Simply describing en event would bring about a kind of bias from the person describing what was going on. By actually seeing the event, the characters experience all sides of what is occurring. Harry, by experiencing the Barty Crouch Jr. trial, is able to understand a lot of things, (such as Barty Crouch Sr.'s true personality) and it also causes him to raise a few suspicions. It also helps to advance the plot! Memories are integral in the Harry Potter series, as a lot of necessary knowledge lies in the past. Unfortunately, as in Harry's case, seeing one memory is not enough to base anything off of, and ii doesn't provide ironclad certainty. Harry remained sadly misinformed about the complete past of Barty Crouch Jr. until it was almost too late. 


From an authors point of view, the use of the pensieve is a brilliant way to show flashbacks without them having the tacky implication of one. Also, by allowing people to be transported to the memory, an author is more able to describe the happenings with far greater detail. As mentioned, it eliminates bias, and is able to fully contribute to the story. Rowling uses memories to account for past actions, as well as to move the plot forward. Back stories can be tricky to lay out without deliberate dialogue. Simply placing characters in a past memory is a simpler way to provide the reader with necessary information!

Make-Up Post for Goblet of Fire

           Memories always reveal something about ones character. In wands, wizards can use a certain spell, priori incantato, to reveal the spells that were previously cast. In a way, this is similar to a memory. The spells that are revealed show something about the character of the wand, and since the wand chooses the wizard this in turns says something about the caster himself. The prior incantato spell only shows a physical representation of a memory. This in contrast to a person’s memory that is not physical.

            In “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” we are introduced to Dumbledore’s Pensieve. He uses the Pensieve as a type of reflective device, to look back at a memory and observe the event. Using the Pensieve, memories become more concrete, and the viewer can notice interactions or changes that alter their previous perceptions. Or as Dumbledore puts it, “I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind... At these times... I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one's mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one's leisure” (518-519). The function of a Pensieve is to make a person’s memories become physical. When one looks into the basin, they can see their chosen memory in a corporeal form. Just like the reflective surface of the Pensieve, the viewer can then use the physical representation of their memory to think about their experience.

            Lastly, Harry Potter has vague memories of his parent’s death. When he recalls these memories he feels physical pain in his scar. This scar is almost an echo representing these memories. The pain is a reminder of the event, and Rowling probably adds this connection to reinforce the relationship between Voldemort and Harry. Whenever Harry remembers a memory of his parent’s death, his scar hurts, and this causes him to think of the wand and the owner, Lord Voldemort, whom murdered his parents.  

Prisoner of Azkaban Zach Anderson

Sirius Black is a man with deep convictions who is willing to risk it all for justice even possibly going back to Azakaban just to see Wormtail die. He loves passionately as can be seen by the decision turn himself into an animagus just to keep Lupin company when he turned into a werewolf. It also can be seen when defending the Harry against Lupin when he turns into a werewolf losing his opportunity for revenge on Wormtail. But he also hates passionately as can be seen by his two attempts to kill Wormtail both directly after James and Lilly’s murder and his multiple attempts throughout the school year and leading Snape into the tunnel when they were at school as students. Sirius represents James to Harry in my opinion because as Harry finds out Sirius was his best friend. James and Sirius together made a brilliant but dangerous combination and this does not change when Harry come into contact with Sirius. It seems that every time that Harry came in contact with Sirius danger was present: outside the Dursely’s, at the quidditch match, his dorm room, and the final scene. Yet at the same time Sirius represents hope to Harry as is proof by his ability to conjure a full Patronus with the thought of living with Sirius. Yet Harry would not have had the ability to perform this without the help of Remus Lupin, a man who seems to dedicate his life to bettering others because he doesn’t have control of his own. Lupin does not choose to become a werewolf it choose him, (more particularly grey back did). Therefore he cannot find gainful employment, cannot go outside at a full moon, or get the respect of a majority of the wizarding community. Therefore I believe that the reason that he choose his first lesson to boggart’s because he wanted to empower his students to overcome and he choose the weakest in Neville to demonstrate. To Harry, Prof. Lupin represents the uncle that he never had. He can tell Harry about his past in a more objective way than anyone else to this point in the series, encourages Harry, and teaches Harry things other adults will not. He also represents power, he shows Harry that power unchecked (when he becomes a werewolf) is dangerous, some miss use it (Wormtail as potters secret keeper), and love/happiness overpower depression (Patronus overpower dementors). These are two complex characters that provide Harry with the support that he needs at this stage in his life and wizarding careers.