"Things Kept Secret", An essay by DavidEnglish |
 Mar 23 2006, 07:08 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Fortescue's Spoon Polisher  Posts: 3,539 Joined: 1:29pm March 16, 2005   |
Author Bio
David English lives in southern Ontario where he has found happiness working with books in a variety of bookstores. He discovered Harry Potter six years ago through the highly articulate recommendation of a ten year old customer. (Thank you, Hermione.) David has a degree in English & Drama from the University of Toronto. He is a self-described dilettante. Jack of all trades, master of none: David soon found he had a knack for matching up readers with books. "There is no place more dramatic than a busy bookstore," he said. "You'll find it all there: comedy, tragedy, romance and horror --and that's just the customers!" This post has been edited by memyslfnI: Apr 2 2006, 08:03 AM -------------------- |
 |
  
 
|
OPAST|
Mar 24 2006, 09:46 AM
Post
#2
|
|
|
Fortescue's Spoon Polisher Posts: 3,539 Joined: 1:29pm March 16, 2005 |
Abstract
Hogwarts was founded to teach the learning and lore of the four greatest witches & wizards of the first millennium. The castle was kept secret from Muggles who feared magic and persecuted anyone thought to be magical. The author believes that the persecution suffered by wizards & witches became so intolerable and so unjust to both Magical and Muggle that it forced the Wizarding world to seal itself off from the Muggle world. You can read this essay here. This post has been edited by AnguaTLC: Jan 20 2008, 08:59 PM -------------------- |
|
|
|
|
Apr 3 2006, 12:10 PM
Post
#3
|
|
Founders Groupie  Posts: 1,753 Joined: 8:52pm July 21, 2005 Location: Eating the Holy Grain and watching life return to the Forbidden Forest  |
I loved this essay. The scholarship is impressive, and I like the thinking about the date of Hogwarts founding. The Five Cs is great!
PP  -------------------- OPAST, Vault 717, Order of the Holy Grain
Boothies of the World, Unite! picture by fawkes28 Numquam Luna Lupinotuum |
|
|
|
|
Apr 3 2006, 12:31 PM
Post
#4
|
|
|
WhizzHard Books Copy Editor Posts: 2,152 Joined: 12:18pm July 22, 2005 Location: Reading KSK, Deadspin, TheBigLead, and the Fanhouse. |
No kidding the scholarship was impressive.
I liked the logic and evidence that points towards the actual founding of the school. It makes sense not only in the way that davidenglish describes, but because it would have required months of preparation to start school in the fall. |
|
|
|
|
Apr 3 2006, 12:36 PM
Post
#5
|
|
Director of Nicholas Flamel Laboratories Posts: 11,084 Joined: 11:06am January 28, 2005 Location: Lighting the mountain path for Llewellyn ap Gryffudd |
Very nicely done, davidenglish! Great research, and I just love how you managed to pin down a date that makes sense and is most likely right.
The 5 C's is great. I loved that, too. -------------------- The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity.--Harlan Ellison
My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing.--Aldous Huxley |
|
|
|
|
Apr 3 2006, 03:27 PM
Post
#6
|
|
|
Knight Bus Driver in Training Posts: 592 Joined: 12:53pm July 21, 2005 |
My first thought when I read it was that it was a chapter from a doctoral thesis in Wizarding - Muggle Relations! (Seriously, what are the qualifications to be a teacher in the Wizarding world? is there academic life after N.E.W.T.s?) I felt like Hermione might have written it.
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 3 2006, 05:39 PM
Post
#7
|
|
Disgruntled House-Elf at The Leaky Cauldron Posts: 431 Joined: 1:21pm April 1, 2006 Location: Curled up in the Ravenclaw Common Room, reading "Advancements in Charming" |
Very well-written essay! I had never thought before about the exact date for the founding of Hogwarts.
--------------------  Shot at 2007-07-24 Made by bSimms “Oh, come on. You heard them, just behind the veil, didn’t you? They were just lurking out of sight, that’s all."-Luna |
|
|
|
|
Apr 6 2006, 11:54 PM
Post
#8
|
|
Transfiguration Today's Star Reporter Posts: 2,026 Joined: 10:08pm June 16, 2005 Location: Salem School of Witchcraft & Wizardry,USA |
This is a very well thought out and researched essay. I really enjoyed it! You did a great job and I feel you are right in line with the books.
-------------------- There you go Sirius. Nothing rash. Kept my nose clean. Exactly the opposite of what you'd have done. . . .
~ OotP - pg. 12 "And dreams are the language of God. When he speaks in our language, I can interpert what he has said. But if he speaks in the language of the soul, it is only you who can understand." ~Paulo Coelho The Alchemist |
|
|
|
|
Apr 7 2006, 08:09 PM
Post
#9
|
|
Official Singer of the Sorting Hat Song Posts: 6,605 Joined: 3:12pm July 22, 2005 Location: Lost in Hermione's beaded bag |
Well, I want to say Thank You to everyone for their kind words. I enjoyed writing it. I'm not sure it's that well-researched. It's mostly a pastiche of known and imagined things. If I have one regret, it's that I didn't put in any jokes. I think, if I write another essay, I'll go for the laughs.
-------------------- Come the words that bubble
Up through broken laughter, Sweeter than spring-water, "Gods, I am so happy!" |
|
|
|
|
Apr 13 2006, 12:13 PM
Post
#10
|
|
Freelance Daily Prophet Reporter Posts: 1,509 Joined: 8:30am May 25, 2005 |
A thoughtful and virtually seamless blending of "real" and Potterworld history. I especially liked your concluding remarks. Very well done! I hope you'll write many more essays.
This post has been edited by theotherhermit: Apr 13 2006, 12:33 PM |
|
|
|
