Review Of Six Harry Potter Series

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Harry Potter series by English writer J.K Rowling opened a new saga in English literature. The first book in the series Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published in United Kingdom by Bloomsbury in1997. The same book was published under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by Scholastic in United States in 1998.The second book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was published on 2nd July 1998 and Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban came out in July 8th 1999 . The fourth book Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire published on 8th July 2000 created much hype than its predecessors with a fairly large volume. The successors Harry Potter and the Order Of The Phoenix (21st June 2003) and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (16th July 2006) kept the popularity as its predecessors.

The first six books in the Harry Potter series have collectively sold more than 326 million copies till date and been translated more than 64 languages. The seventh and last book in the series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is scheduled to be released on 21st July 2007. Publishers announced a record breaking 12 million copies for the first print run in US alone.

Harry Potter series opens with the celebration in the normally secretive wizard world for the destruction of the Dark Lord Voldemort. Lord Voldemort, who kills baby Harry Potter's parents, faces a counter curse while attempting to kill Harry. The orphaned Harry is left with a distinctive lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead and left to live with his muggle (common people) aunt and family.

Harry lives in a muggle world without realizing that he is a renowned wizard in another world. However as his eleventh birthday approaches he receives letters from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. The first six books of Harry Potter series narrates one year in Harry's life at Hogwart's school. Harry learns to overcome many magical, social, and emotional obstacles as he struggles through his adolescence.

Harry befriends with two of his classmates Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and finds his arch rivals in Draco Malfoy and Professor Severus Snape. Harry also faces his true enemy Voldemort from the first year at school and defeats him at each instance. . Harry gets the true guidance from the Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, meets his Godfather Sirius Black and finds his true love in Ginny Weasley. .

Harry Potter series explores the themes of friendship, ambition, choice, prejudice, courage, maturing into adulthood, love, moral responsibility as well as the complexities of death and grieving. These themes are set in a mysterious magical world with its own complex history, diverse inhabitants, awe-inspiring creatures, unique culture, and parallel societies. The novels belong to the fantasy genre. Even then it can also be considered as a Bildungsroman where the protagonist matures mentally through his experiences.

The narrative is narrative is a linear one spreading the awareness that Harry was born in 1980.(Harry Potter series commenced on 1991.) The stories are told from a limited third person point of view.The thoughts and plans of other characters are kept hidden until revealed to Harry. The style of narration is minimalist yet descriptive. Rowling has used everyday language and wordplay in her poplar series.(Eg. 'Madame Maxime' meaning Madam Principal, 'Peeves' meaning irritable, 'Argus' meaning Goddess Hera's 100 eyed giant etc). The series frequently employs irony. The novels feature ironic twists involving cases of mistaken identity and betrayal. Rowling has employed the myth and folklore elements abundantly in this fictional series. Many scholars have also commented on the Arthurian motifs in the Harry potter series.

There were minimal adverse criticisms against Harry Potter series that it encourage the interest in witchcraft in children. Even after these negative remarks of occult the success of Harry Potter series remain unbeaten. Once you start to read one of these books, you will be transformed into another world with a strange desire to explore the mysteries.

Bibliography

Rowling, J.K(1997).Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone(in English).London: Bloomsbury/New York City

Rowling, J.K (1998). Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (in English).London: Bloomsbury/New York City.

Rowling, J.K(1999). Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban(in English).London: Bloomsbury/New York City

Rowling, J.K(2000). Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire (in English). London: Bloomsbury/New York City

Rowling, J.K (2003). Harry Potter and the Order Of The Phoenix (in English).London: Bloomsbury/New York City

Rowling, J.K (2005).(in English). Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince London: Bloomsbury/New York City.

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