The wisdom of Harry Potter : what our favorite hero teaches us about moral choices

Format:

Book

Title:

The wisdom of Harry Potter : what our favorite hero teaches us about moral choices

Author:

Kern, Edmund M., 1963-

ISBN:

9781591021339

Publication Information:

Amherst, N.Y. : Prometheus Books, 2003.

Physical Description:

296 pages ; 23 cm

Contents:

1. Imaginatively updating an old-fashioned future -- 2. Plot threads and moral fibers -- 3. Harry Potter's morality on display : a primer on stoic virtue -- 4. Greed, conventionality, demonic threat -- 5. Imagination, history, legend, and myth.

Summary:

Edmund M. Kern argues that the attraction of these stories to children comes not only from the fantastical elements embedded in the plots, but also from their underlying moral messages. Children genuinely desire to follow Harry, as he confronts a host of challenges in an uncertain world, because of his desire to do the right thing. Harry's coherent yet flexible approach to dealing with evil reflects an updated form of Stoicism, says Kern. --from publisher description.

Personal Subject:

Rowling, J. K.-Ethics.

Rowling, J. K.-Characters-Harry Potter.

Potter, Harry (Fictitious character)

Rowling, J. K. (OCoLC)fst00401675

Potter, Harry (Fictitious character) (OCoLC)fst01073565

Subject(s):

Didactic fiction, English -- History and criticism.

Children's stories, English -- History and criticism.

Fantasy fiction, English -- History and criticism.

Ethics in literature.

Genre:

Didactic fiction.

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Fantasy fiction.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Woodburn Public Library	823.914 KERN	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

In this original interpretation of the Harry Potter sensation, Edmund M. Kern argues that the attraction of these stories to children comes not only from the fantastical elements embedded in the plots, but also from their underlying moral messages. Children genuinely desire to follow Harry, as he confronts a host of challenges in an uncertain world, because of his desire to do the right thing. Harry's coherent yet flexible approach to dealing with evil reflects an updated form of Stoicism, says Kern. He argues that Rowling's great accomplishment in these books is to have combined imaginative fun and moral seriousness.

Kern also shows adults how much they can gain by discussing with children the moral conundrums faced by Harry and other characters. The author outlines the central morals of each book, explains the Stoic principles found in the stories, considers the common critiques of the books, discusses Rowling's skillful blend of history, legend, and myth, and provides important questions for guiding children through Harry's adventures.

This fresh, instructive, and upbeat guide to Harry Potter will give parents many useful and educational suggestions for discussing the moral implications of this continuously popular series of books with their children.

Note: This book is not authorized, approved, licensed, or endorsed by J. K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any other individual or entity associated with the Harry Potter books or movies. Harry Potter is a registered trademark of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Author Notes

Edmund M. Kern is associate professor of history at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

The popularity of the Harry Potter series has created an abundance of both acclaim and criticism. While many argue that the books encourage moral complacency or interest in the occult, Kern (history, Lawrence Univ.) seeks to prove that the stories actually promote positive moral messages similar to Stoic virtues like constancy, endurance, perseverance, self-discipline, reason, solidarity, empathy, and sacrifice. Children are attracted to the fantastical elements of the stories along with Harry's quest to abolish evil in an uncertain world similar to their own. By comprehensively analyzing the ethical questions posed in Rowling's books, Kern explains that Harry shows children how to work through their problems rather than avoid them. The author rebuts many of the common critiques of the books and encourages parents to discuss the moral dilemmas of the stories with their children. Although insightful, this in-depth interpretation of Rowling's saga is written in an academic style that may alienate the average parent. However, given the popularity of anything Potter, this is recommended for both child rearing and popular culture collections.-Charity S. Peak, Regis Univ. Lib., Colorado Springs (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Acknowledgments	p. 11
Preface	p. 13
1. Imaginatively Updating an Old-Fashioned Virtue	p. 17
A Welcome Surprise and a Perilous Burden	p. 17
Popularity and Criticism	p. 21
What the Books Have to Offer	p. 24
Imagination at Play	p. 26
Imagination at Work	p. 32
The Kids in Your Life	p. 40
2. Plot Threads and Moral Fibers	p. 45
Little Whinging	p. 45
The Sorcerer's Stone	p. 49
Flight from Death	p. 53
The Chamber of Secrets	p. 56
House-Elves and Mudbloods	p. 61
The Prisoner of Azkaban	p. 63
A Law unto Himself	p. 71
The Goblet of Fire	p. 75
That's Not How It's Supposed to Work	p. 86
3. Harry Potter's Morality on Display: A Primer on Stoic Virtue	p. 89
Frustration	p. 89
Ambiguity	p. 93
Hard Questions and Adult Mentoring	p. 102
Constancy in the Face of Evil, and Other Virtues	p. 106
Growing Up, Growing Pains	p. 119
4. Greed, Conventionality, Demonic Threat	p. 129
Kids among the Critics	p. 129
A Culture of Consumerism	p. 138
Familiar (and Unexamined) Assumptions	p. 147
The Big Deal about Witchcraft	p. 158
Pluralism	p. 175
5. Imagination, History, Legend, and Myth	p. 179
The Familiar and the Fantastic	p. 179
The Uses of History, Legend, and Myth	p. 190
Social Realism	p. 208
The Problem of Evil	p. 212
Stoicism and Religion	p. 219
Being Enchanted	p. 222
Afterword: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix	p. 229
Notes	p. 247
Bibliography	p. 269
Index	p. 281

Available:*

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Table of Contents