World of Harry Potter

Analysis by Juli Griffo

Muggles Wizards/Witches Magical Creatures

Muggles

Example: YOU! (Probably) Harry Potter lives in the UK; Muggle culture is nearly identical to that of *us* but most closely related to a normal resident of England during the time period (approx. 1980-2008) Money, Politics, Computers, etc.

Wizards/Witches
Hidden, according to Wizarding Law, from the Muggles and regulated by the established Ministry for Magic (UK) Require wands to properly channel magic Underage magic is highly regulated Wizards/Witches can be born of Muggles (nasty term Mudblood) or 1 muggle parent & 1 wizard Half-Blood or a Pure Blood family Wizarding snobbery desires Pure Blood above all & also feel incredibly superior to muggles

*Special Wizards*
Half Wizard/Half magical creature ex: Hagrid (half giant) Wizards who have been magically changed ex: Remus Lupin (bitten werewolf) Animagus - Wizards who can shape change at will into an animal ex: Sirius Black (dog) or Professor Minerva McGonagall (cat)

Magical Creatures
House-elf: Slaves to human families, typically passing down through pure blood families offspring of house-elves are born into slavery. Can only be released if presented with clothing. Hippogriff: proud flying 4-legged creature Centaur: 4 legged highly sentient proud creatures who move in herds in the Forbidden Forest outside Hogwarts Goblins: proud, short, strict, makers of special metals, run the Gringotts Bank (safest bank in the world!), very envious of wizards

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Englands Magical School Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore 7 years of study - marked by 5th year OWLs (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) & 7th year NEWTs (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test) Prestigious school, but it is not a requirement for school age wizards to attend - can also consider attending schools in other countries, though a vast majority of English wizards have attended Hogwarts Four Houses which act as student families: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin -sorted on first day of first year

Ministry of Magic

Methods of entering the hidden building (as with St. Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies) are accessible for all levels of wizarding (underage wizards can access from unhidden realm of Muggles as with Kings Cross - train that takes students to school) Statue portraying Wizard as most powerful above magical

Intolerance
From Chapter 1 of Book 1, first sentence: Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people youd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didnt hold with such nonsense.

Rules of Magic
Strict enforcement of Underage Magic (school age/before 17 Magical Coming of Age) outside school by age 11 Politics / Secrecy - Must not be seen by muggles nor harm muggles with magic Requires tools for humans, though magical creatures do not need wands or spells to use

Ghosts
No specific reference to God/Heaven as the exact religion, though there are Christmas and Easter holidays (Christian holidays) Wizards can leave an imprint of themselves and roam the world (or Hogwarts) as ghosts Behind the veil sort of other place after you die to go thats unexplainable Example: Nearly-Headless Nick - on explaining his reasoning for leaving a ghost of himself: I was afraid [of death]

A Message for Love

Dumbledore is the greatest advocate of love and insists that love is the most important thing in life and the key in living in peace and stopping Voldemort Harry Potter has experienced a rough childhood and through the miracle of love is able to feel empathy even for those who have hurt him The stories real boil down to love prevailing over all evil in the world

The Weasleys
Good example of a family who would be able to call themselves superior if they want to because they are a pure blooded family but do not hold to such ideals Family is poor, large, and red-headed Mr. and Mrs. Weasley have taught their children well about moral integrity Nastily called Blood Traitors

Magical Locales
Kings Cross St. Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries Diagon Alley Hogsmeade

Blood Status
Pure Blood Half Blood Mudblood Half Breed Blood Traitor

(Sometimes Secret) Organizations

The Order of the Phoenix (Albus Dumbledore) The Death Eaters The Ministry of Magic Dumbledores Army

Gringotts Bank
Run by Goblins Nigh-Impenetrable Can exchange muggle money for wizarding money and vice versa

Owl Post and Transportation

Owl Post Floo Powder Apparition Port Key

Wizard Candy & Joke Shops

Honeydukes Zonkos Joke Shop Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes No wizarding child would not know all about these places

The Unforgivable Curses

The Imperius Curse - remove free will and take control of a victim The Cruciatus Curse - physically and mentally torture a victim with magic The Killing Curse - Only one survivor of such a curse: Harry Potter

Following Harry Potter

Harry lived in the cupboard under the stairs before age 11 in his aunt and uncles house Even though hes famous in the wizarding world, he has no idea before he gets there He has no previous prejudices He has trouble wanting to be mean to others even if they are mean to him because of his rough childhood Perfect main character to follow because he sees everything for the first time in the same way that the reader does

Harry in Real Life

Daniel Radcliffes face is iconic now. Itd be hard to find someone who hasnt at least heard of Harry Potter Harry Potters magical world is everywhere now - on tv, in the news, in the movies, on the internet (lots of fan fiction!) Collectibles, stamps, figures Facebook groups Translation of Harry Potter music for many different instruments

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Opened at Universal in Florida Allows visitors to step into the world of Harry Potter and see recreations of the movie world Performances and collectibles Might not be real magic, but probably feels magical to visitors