This post is for Chapter 12 through Chapter 13 in Harry Potter...
Abby, I think that Dumbledore did the right thing by telling Harry Potter not to ponder what can't happen in the last section. I feel that children need to have an imagination, but they also cannot spend all of their time in unreal worlds; Harry would have wasted so much time and sense in believing his parents would somehow come back if he wasn't told to focus on reality. Imagination is only good as long as it doesn't keep one from seeing what is really happening and what can never happen. It is better not to believe in something than to hope for it a long time just to find it was never possible at all. It is a good thing that Harry is able to see that having his parents by his side is just a desire that he can see in the mirror, and it won't become real just because he wants it to.
It was mentioned once in one of my previous posts that this series influences children to be disobedient in a way, and this section of the book shows that one of the major things that causes Harry and his friends to find out as much as they do about their world is because they break some rules. When Harry goes off with his invisible cloak to the books that are restricted in the library, he is not only breaking the curfew rules, but also those of NOT getting a hold of those books. If Harry had never snuck off, though, he would have never found the magical mirror without someone noticing. The most surprising thing is that Dumbledore doesn't get angry with Harry when he is caught, and this can make it seem to little ones that breaking rules can be totally okay.
One thing that is a good quality if it rubs off on children after reading this series is that one should always be on the look out for what goes on around him or her; this doesn't necessarily mean to go looking for new things out of curiosity, but it means that paying attention to even the smallest things that happen in one's life can be very helpful in the future. This kind of thing is seen when Harry realizes that where he had heard of Nicolas Flamel was on the back of Dumbledore's Famous Wizard card, and without an observant eye, Harry probably would not have even remembered key names or details from the back of a collection card. Also, this portion of the reading was influential in a good way when Harry told Neville that he is better than Malfoy. "'You're worth twelve of Malfoy,' Harry said." (pg. 218). This shows people that one doesn't have to give in to others just because they seem scary, and that who one obeys or what one does should depend upon him or her, not someone else who acts superior. Another thing that looked good in this part was that Harry didn't let Malfoy's taunts ruin what he thought was the best Christmas in his life yet; Harry knew that even though he might not have as great a time as others, he still had more than enough love and laughter that he could share with Ron and his family. "He didn't feel sorry for himself at all; this would probably be the best Christmas he'd ever had." (pg. 195). This just tells the reader that one should be happy with what one has, and not want what cannot happen (back to the Dumbledore concept) just because someone else makes it feel like he or she has nothing.
Harry shows just how much of team player he really is, and how much he cares for others when he doesn't back down from the Quidditch game after finding out that Snape will be the referee. "'I can't,' said Harry. 'There isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't plat at all.'" (pg. 217).
Abby, I think that Dumbledore did the right thing by telling Harry Potter not to ponder what can't happen in the last section. I feel that children need to have an imagination, but they also cannot spend all of their time in unreal worlds; Harry would have wasted so much time and sense in believing his parents would somehow come back if he wasn't told to focus on reality. Imagination is only good as long as it doesn't keep one from seeing what is really happening and what can never happen. It is better not to believe in something than to hope for it a long time just to find it was never possible at all. It is a good thing that Harry is able to see that having his parents by his side is just a desire that he can see in the mirror, and it won't become real just because he wants it to.
It was mentioned once in one of my previous posts that this series influences children to be disobedient in a way, and this section of the book shows that one of the major things that causes Harry and his friends to find out as much as they do about their world is because they break some rules. When Harry goes off with his invisible cloak to the books that are restricted in the library, he is not only breaking the curfew rules, but also those of NOT getting a hold of those books. If Harry had never snuck off, though, he would have never found the magical mirror without someone noticing. The most surprising thing is that Dumbledore doesn't get angry with Harry when he is caught, and this can make it seem to little ones that breaking rules can be totally okay.
One thing that is a good quality if it rubs off on children after reading this series is that one should always be on the look out for what goes on around him or her; this doesn't necessarily mean to go looking for new things out of curiosity, but it means that paying attention to even the smallest things that happen in one's life can be very helpful in the future. This kind of thing is seen when Harry realizes that where he had heard of Nicolas Flamel was on the back of Dumbledore's Famous Wizard card, and without an observant eye, Harry probably would not have even remembered key names or details from the back of a collection card. Also, this portion of the reading was influential in a good way when Harry told Neville that he is better than Malfoy. "'You're worth twelve of Malfoy,' Harry said." (pg. 218). This shows people that one doesn't have to give in to others just because they seem scary, and that who one obeys or what one does should depend upon him or her, not someone else who acts superior. Another thing that looked good in this part was that Harry didn't let Malfoy's taunts ruin what he thought was the best Christmas in his life yet; Harry knew that even though he might not have as great a time as others, he still had more than enough love and laughter that he could share with Ron and his family. "He didn't feel sorry for himself at all; this would probably be the best Christmas he'd ever had." (pg. 195). This just tells the reader that one should be happy with what one has, and not want what cannot happen (back to the Dumbledore concept) just because someone else makes it feel like he or she has nothing.
Harry shows just how much of team player he really is, and how much he cares for others when he doesn't back down from the Quidditch game after finding out that Snape will be the referee. "'I can't,' said Harry. 'There isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't plat at all.'" (pg. 217).
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