Literary Allusion in Harry Potter

by Beatrice Groves

Literary Allusion in Harry Potter builds on the world-wide enthusiasm for J. K. Rowling’s series in order to introduce its readers to some of the great works of literature on which Rowling draws. Harry Potter ’s narrative techniques are rooted in the western literary tradition and its allusiveness provides insight into Rowling’s fictional world. Each chapter of  Literary Allusion in Harry Potter  consists of an in-depth discussion of the intersection between Harry Potter and a canonical literary work, such as the plays of Shakespeare, the poetry of Homer, Ovid, the Gawain -poet, Chaucer, Milton and Tennyson, and the novels of Austen, Hardy and Dickens. This approach aims to transform the reader’s understanding of Rowling’s literary achievement as well as to encourage the discovery of works with which they may be less familiar. The aim of this book is to delight Potter fans with a new perspective on their favourite books while harnessing that enthusiasm to increase their wider appreciation of literature.

Genres: Harry Potter, Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, Writing

196 pages, Paperback

Published June 19, 2017

Reviews

[Katherine Sas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you thought all of Rowling's in-jokes and references had been identified, Groves swans in and picks up on a ton of new ones, and explores previously-identified influences (like Austen) at much greater length and depth. Groves' deceptively-slim volume contributes to the ever-expanding sense of Rowling's density as a writer. There is hardly a word, name, action, or color in her Harry Potter series that doesn't have deliberate significance, often on multiple levels. You'd think that eventually all of these different pursuits - literary allusion, myth and folklore, alchemical symbolism, Christian significance, ring composition, punning and wordplay, not to mention somewhat important things like plot and consistent character development - would start to contradict each other and yet one only has to look at the enduring sales and popularity of the series to confirm its effortless readability. Given all that I think we can forgive Rowling a few stray adverbs. Like her literary namesake, Beatrice Groves serves as guide to the detail and thoughtfulness of Rowling's choices and the older works to which her work points. I can't believe we still need to have this argument made but Groves (bringing with her the clout of Oxford) demonstrates Rowling's justified place within the ongoing conversation of great books.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of literary allusions (as you would expect) but also full of quotes from Rowling herself that illuminate the way she thinks about her work (and affirm that the numerous allusions are not accidental or incidental). A scholarly work that treats Rowling’s masterpiece with the literary respect it deserves. Recommended for literary Potter nerds.

[Katie H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was inspired by the collision of magic and literary theory that occurred on every page of this book. By providing this in-depth analysis of the relationship between the Harry Potter series and canonical literary works, Groves encouraged not only a greater appreciation for the Harry Potter series but also made me want to read some of the other literary works discussed in the book with which I was less familiar. I now have a greater understanding of why I wanted to re-read each book in the series multiple times—there are so many layers which a singular reading alone cannot reveal. I also thought it was awesome that Jane Austin was J. K. Rowling’s favorite author; I had no idea!

[Lorrie Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like a delicious plum cake, full of fruits and nuts and good things. It was just plain fun to read Groves's deft, elegant recaps of various classic texts, such as In Memoriam or Northanger Abbey, and how they connect with Harry Potter. In Groves's treatment of JK Rowling and how she incorporated allusion into her series, the fiction author is very much alive and collaborating with the reader to make the story.

I imagine I shall be returning to this book for pleasure on occasion.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly academic, but fun. I particularly enjoyed the chapter spent pointing out allusions to and drawing comparisons to Jane Austen's Emma. (Victor Krum as a type of Frank Churchill, anyone?)

[JJ Grindstaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, an extremely thorough look into the allusions within the series, many of which I didn't even realize. The book does tend to drag a bit in places, as it reads like an extremely long essay I used to write in my English graduate courses. In an attempt to cite her source, it seems that there are maybe too many quotations or quotations where a simple explanation might be better suited.

Overall, an enjoyable text for any big Potter and literary fan.

[Eric Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I found a few of the chapters to be redundant, and others to be taken in a direction that I didn't expect or find extremely fruitful, the book was written accessibly on the whole, and was a solid work of literary criticism and scholarship on a series that I love.

[Cathlina Bergman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In-depth literary analysis of the allusions used throughout the Harry Potter series. This one was DEEP! I had to take a mental break after each chapter. My favorite part was discovering internal references or patterns within the Harry Potter books themselves.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was pure delight. I especially loved the parts about medieval literature.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was at times a dense book, but mainly when I was reading chapters I didn't have as much background in. The Shakespeare and Austen chapters, for instance, flew by. It was really nice to learn more about where many of the more obscure names came from, and to see so many parallels and allusions to other famous works that I had never noticed before. Some of the suggested connections feel like the author stretched her interpretations too far, but others are so striking as to be undeniable. Lots of treats and goodies for a Harry Potter fan here. I was highlighting something on almost every page.