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Confronting reality by Reading Fantasy...


  We all live in what we believe to be 'reality’ but can never be sure whether this is definitively true. The Harry Potter series byJ.K Rowling, in particular blurs the line between myth, fantasy and reality.


¶   Potter as a hidden world, Mirrors, Senses, the Mind, Time, the expanding world of Harry Potter, Death, Identity and existence have been explored, drawing on ideas presented in the Harry Potter novels and supported by the topics stated above. Potter and other fantasy genre literature aid discussion of some difficult and complex aspects of reality by presenting characters who actively
wish to discuss these issues.

 ¶ The fantasy genre has been popular with young readers because “There is no end to the places fantasy can take us.”

¶ Fantasy stories such as the Potter novels can be unrealistic in their setting, but the messages depicted can be translated into everyday life and reality.

¶ Rowling’s use of magic is “Supernatural” or “Fictional Magic” where

"We all know this kind of magic is just fiction and does not happen in reality."

It may be that because fantasy novels such as Potter present scenarios that we know cannot happen in reality, they allow us to better understand our own reality by being
able to compare the two. This is also made more thought-provoking in the Potter series by the fact that the world is hidden within our own.

¶ The Potter series raises big questions on several issues, such as death, thoughts, memories and reality, etc.

◆ Some of the Examples of Fantasy in the Novel:-

1.  In"Chamber of Secrets" we are introduced to Tom Riddle’s diary. A normal diary in our reality records memories through the written word, but Riddle’s diary does far more; a fragment of Voldemort’s soul resides within the diary that preserves his sixteen year old self.


◆ Chapter 5 : Time

 The word time is widely used without too much thought being given to its 
definition: 
“Once upon a time”,
 “Time is money”,
 “Wasting time”, 
“Kill Time”, 
“Time flies,"
 “Try to save time”, and
 “Time on my hands”

all refer to the mysterious measurements called 'Time'.


¶ Time travel is possible in Potter although it is not widely broadcast. Hermione uses a Time - Turner
 an hourglass-like device that can turn time back an hour, enabling her to go back in time to 
attend several classes scheduled simultaneously. Hermione is secretly given the Time-Turner on condition that she uses it only for her studies as there are strict Wizarding laws about changing time. Hermione explains this to Harry in "Prisoner of Azkaban"  when they go back in time to save Sirius Black and Buckbeak the Hippogriff, 

" We're breaking one of the most important wizarding laws! 
Nobody's supposed to change time, Nobody!"

The main issue with time travel in reality is whether it makes sense or is even 
possible. In Prisoner of Azkaban, Hermione mentions in a statement to Harry what is 
known as ‘The Grandfather Paradox’, a paradox of time travel created by writer 
René Barjavel (1911-1985). 

Hermione states: ..…

" You might even attack yourself! 
 awful things have happened when wizards have 
 meddled with time....
 Loads of them ended up killing their past or  future selves by mistake!"

   It's impossible to use of Time - Turner to travel back by more than by few hours.

◆ References:- 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/11298/1/The_Illusions_of_Reality_-_Blurring_the_Line_between_Fantasy_and_Reality_in_J.K._Rowling%27s_Harry_Potter_Novels.pdf%3FDDD29%2B&ved=2ahUKEwioxIy_g5fnAhUHwTgGHXZqCzsQFjAAegQIAhAC&usg=AOvVaw18bZ9p2GgGqfbNNYQ3EzS0

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