Mythological References and their meaining in PS/SS - Harry Potter discussion forum for movies, books, and more!

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Mythological References and their meaining in PS/SS, Using mythology to add meaning into this epic journey!

DorisTLC View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 06:08 PM Post #1
Waiting for Wednesdays Posts: 8,743 Joined: 7:57am January 28, 2005 Location: Hiding from Hurricanes	This story, like others uses literary allusions to other cultures, literature, and religions. Allusions to mythology abound in all of Harry Potter, and we see them often in Philosopher's Stone. In "Everyone's Wild about Harry" (I've linked you to a transcript on Accio Quote) we see two commendators referencing the mythology found in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. QUOTE BURKHARDT: For instance, Harry's pal Hedwig. COLBERT: Owls are the mail carriers in Harry's world. There's something about carrying the mail. It's almost as if they know, they know who the message is from, they know what it's about. Owl were the emblems of the goddess Minerva, who was also the goddess of wisdom. BURKHARDT: Hedwig is named for St. Hedwig, the patron saint of orphans -- orphans like Harry. And one can't forget Fluffy. COLBERT: Cerberus is a three-headed dog in Greek mythology who guards the underworld. Well, it just so happens that a three-headed dog guards the sorcerer's stone in the first of the "Harry Potter" adventures. JK Rowling herself discusses her use of mythology in The "Living with Harry Potter" interview. (Transcript also on Accio Quote!) QUOTE JKR: I've taken horrible liberties with folklore and mythology, but I'm quite unashamed about that, because British folklore and British mythology is a totally bastard mythology. You know, we've been invaded by people, we've appropriated their gods, we've taken their mythical creatures, and we've soldered them all together to make, what I would say, is one of the richest folklores in the world, because it's so varied. So I feel no compunction about borrowing from that freely, but adding a few things of my own. Knowing her use of all kinds of mythology, and the similarities we see in the character and it's mythological counterpart, what mythological ties do you see in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and do you think these ties foreshadow future events in the Deathly Hallows? References of Mythology: Mythweb Cerebus -------------------- avatar by The Rockin Leaky Staff

jammi567 View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 06:18 PM Post #2
Hiding in the Iron Maiden at Borgin and Burkes Posts: 328 Joined: 5:36pm November 18, 2006	There is the fact that the Philosopher's Stone actually exsisted, created by an actual person called Nicholas Flammel. it was created in France in the 1300's. It was used as a part of Alchemy to turn lesser metals into gold. -------------------- "I could break out, of course, but what a waste of time, and frankly I can think of a whole host of things I'd rather be doing." "Well, it's just that you seem to be labouring under the delusion that I am going to - what is the phrase? - come quietly."

secunda View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 06:45 PM Post #3
Gambol and Japes' Research Department Posts: 1,364 Joined: 9:49am November 10, 2006	a friend of my sister told her that ps was almost a complete copy fo an medieval story. i can´t quite believe that. i can image that a story exists where a boy has to find a ps, but i believe jkr made the story her own. does anyone know this story? the nice friend couldn´t remember its title. -------------------- Molly for Minister Lupin is lovely you can only be weak, if you are allowed to be strong. my fanfic:Eileen´s Curse Detector Junk Shop For a girl from Slytherin loving Snape would not be the bad-guy-syndrom.

marynic View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 02:45 AM Post #4
Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher Posts: 191 Joined: 4:45am December 8, 2006 Location: Spending more time in the library than Hermione.	QUOTE(secunda @ Jan 1 2007, 03:45 PM) [snapback]1049223[/snapback] a friend of my sister told her that ps was almost a complete copy fo an medieval story. i can´t quite believe that. i can image that a story exists where a boy has to find a ps, but i believe jkr made the story her own. does anyone know this story? the nice friend couldn´t remember its title. There's two medieval German fairytales written about the Philosopher's stone: Der Stein der Weisen (1789) by Christoph Martin Wieland and Hinzelmeier (1857) by Theodor Storm. Also, Hans Christian Anderson wrote a fairytale called the Philosopher's Stone in 1859. Der Stein de Weisen sounds nothing like Harry Potter. I haven't been able to find an English translation to Hinzelmeier, much to my disappointment. From what I can copy/paste into freetranslation.com the cryptic translations sound like it is actually a really wonderful fairytale! It has a bit of a Harry Potter-esque feel (his mother tapping on walls to go into a new world; he--a young boy--is kind of a recluse.) But still could hardly be dubbed a complete copy. Does anyone know German? Or where to find an English translation? This fairytale sounds great. The Philosopher's Stone by Hans Christian Anderson also doesn't sound like our PS/SS. So in conclusion I've discovered: I have no idea what story your friend is talking about! -------------------- The Sorting Hat says I belong in Ravenclaw! Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose intelligence is surest." Ravenclaw students tend to be clever, witty, intelligent, and knowledgeable. Take the most scientific Harry Potter Quiz ever created.

ATHENE View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 09:22 AM Post #5
Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 11 Joined: 7:28am December 27, 2006 Location: South Africa	[QUOTE]Owl were the emblems of the goddess Minerva, who was also the goddess of wisdom. So that is why Prof. Magonical (sorry 4 da spelling. Don't have a book on me now) is so into studiing. Why does she turn into a cat than? Why not an owl? -------------------- [font=Comic Sans Ms][color=#CC66CC] "My brain suprises even me sometimes..." Dumbledore

jammi567 View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 09:47 AM Post #6
Hiding in the Iron Maiden at Borgin and Burkes Posts: 328 Joined: 5:36pm November 18, 2006	Probally because a cat is also intelligant -------------------- "I could break out, of course, but what a waste of time, and frankly I can think of a whole host of things I'd rather be doing." "Well, it's just that you seem to be labouring under the delusion that I am going to - what is the phrase? - come quietly."

obsessedWithSnap... obsessedWithSnape View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 03:21 PM Post #7
Monster Book Stacker Posts: 395 Joined: 10:21am June 12, 2006	I think she turns into a cat because that's how Jo sees her... -------------------- This is Bunny. Copy and paste Bunny into your signature to help him gain world domination. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

wasps View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 03:55 PM Post #8
Kibble Boy/Girl at the Magical Menagerie Posts: 297 Joined: 2:49pm June 11, 2005 Location: omaha, nebraska	"Hinzelmeier" was written by Theodor Stein, not Theodor Storm (or so i've discovered) Unless i'm missing something and they're the same guy, but PG has them both on the same page as a different person. Either way, i could not find an english translation either. -------------------- "It was that kind of a crazy afternoon, terrifically cold, and no sun out or anything, and you felt like you were disappearing every time you crossed a road." -Holden Caulfield The Plug Collector < my wizard rock outfit

neuroticgothguy View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 04:13 PM Post #9
Being Eaten by the Pea Soup Posts: 25 Joined: 9:40pm May 17, 2006 Location: ...Spinning the threads of Fate	In Egyptian mythos, the cat is a sign of power and in many other mythos, the cat is a sign of power and intelligence, and more specifically in relationship with Bast the goddess of cats, are the guides of the dead to the underworld. the Werewolf Fenrir, is actually a god of sorts in Norse mythology, Fenrir the wolf, a monster who grew and grew in power and ferocity that the gods had no choice but to bind him and it took several tries but eventually they bound Fenrir: "Odin then had the dwarfs forge the chain Gleipnir ("deceiver" or "entangler"). It appeared to be only a silken ribbon but was made of six wondrous ingredients: the sound of a cat's footfall, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, bear's sinews (meaning nerves, sensibility), fish's breath, and bird's spittle (which explains why these things are not found today). Skírnir, Freyr's messenger, brought it back to Ásgarðr." at this point Fenrir was challenged to break this chain and couldn't and in retaliation bit the hand off the god Tyr at the wrist. Fenrir is prophecised as finally breaking his chains and joining the side of the Enemy in the Twilight of th Gods, Ragnorak. It is known that Jo's a huge fan of Tolkien's work and mythology and more or less she borrows from the Hobbit and some of LOTR In the Hobbit, the enemy Sauron is weak and nothing more than a shadow living in the forest Mirkwood and is known at that time as the feared "Necromancer", this is roughly the same circumstances and characteristics that Jo has givin Voldemort. The Character of Albus Dumbledore is based off Tolkien's character Gandalf which is based on the god Odin, the all father, god of wisdom and the like. in either light, she borrows from good sources for characters. -------------------- There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors. -Jim Morrison

jammi567 View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 04:27 PM Post #10
Hiding in the Iron Maiden at Borgin and Burkes Posts: 328 Joined: 5:36pm November 18, 2006	Also, in the Medievil period,cats were considered to be evil and the helper of a witch (who were hated in those days) -------------------- "I could break out, of course, but what a waste of time, and frankly I can think of a whole host of things I'd rather be doing." "Well, it's just that you seem to be labouring under the delusion that I am going to - what is the phrase? - come quietly."