Ravenclaw Readers

This week we consider how "Dr Faustus" (1592) by Christopher Marlowe speaks to Chapter of "Philosopher's Stone". We think about who is the most "Faustian" character - Quirrell or Voldemort? What does it mean to make a pack with the devil? We also ponder the idea of redemption and its relation to the judgement of good and evil. Thanks for coming on this literary journey with us!

This week we consider Chapter Sixteen, Through the Trapdoor, and parallel it with Chapter Eight of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. We discuss the trials faced by both Alice and Harry, we think about the various authority figures in both texts, and wonder about the contrast between logic and magic.

We're back with Chapter Fifteen The Forbidden Forest, look at it alongside Book Five of Homer's "The Iliad". We discuss the centaurs's warnings of "Mars is bright tonight" and think about the ferocity and terror of war. We regard the ways in which Dumbledore parallels Zeus and think about the role of fate and Harry's destiny.

We're looking at Chapter Fourteen, Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback, and the story of how Cadmus founded the city of Thebes from Ovid's "Metamorphoses". Paul considers the old saying "fail to prepare, prepare to fail" and we talk about how themes of preparation, responsibility and carelessness are at play here. We also theorise over character motivations: why does Hagrid take such a huge risk with Norbert? And what motivates Malfoy in this chapter? 

This week we're considering Chapter Thirteen, Nicolas Flamel, and Hamlet (Act I, Scene V). We discuss the distinction between duty and desire in relation to Ron and Harry's actions in this chapter. We also think about trust amongst friends, and finding important information from unusual sources.

We're examining Chapter Twelve, The Mirror of Erised, in parallel with the story of Narcissus as told in Ovid's Metamorphoses. We discuss Harry's welcome into the Weasley family at Christmas, and the gift of the Invisibility Cloak with the message "use it well". We also consider the dangers of desire and obsession when it comes to the Mirror of Erised. We look at Harry and Ron's distinct desires reflected back at them, and muse over Dumbledore's words that "it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"...

This week we're examining Chapter Eleven, Quidditch, along with the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece from Apollonius's "Argonautica". We discuss the similarities between Hermione and Medea's magic and heroism We also consider the relationship between the sacred and the profane at Hogwarts. We give more thought to the ideas of bravery and recklessness, and what these ideas mean for our rule-breaking trio.

We take a look at Chapter Ten, Hallowe'en alongside Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. We consider the chivalric code and unspoken rules, disruption to merriment, and the trio's budding friendship.

This week we're sticking with the works of the Bard, looking at his famous play Hamlet (Act I, Scene III) alongside Chapter Nine, The Midnight Duel. We talk about character building and advice-giving. We think about the different types of bravery on show in this chapter and consider the distinction between cunning and scheming.

Welcome to the first Footnotes episode of Ravenclaw Readers! We're taking a bit of a break over the festive season, so we sat down for a casual conversation to discuss the idea of "canon". What counts as "canon" in the Harry Potter universe? How should we consider the books, films, Pottermore, etc. in relation to one another? We do come to some sort of a conclusion, but perhaps it is a bit of a "cop-out". This is an ever-evolving topic - so we'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject!

We're reading Chapter Eight, The Potions Master this week and thinking about the themes addressed in Prospero's speech in Act V, Scene I of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest". Honestly, this episode could also be known as "A Study in Snape", as we attempt a thorough analysis of his character. We discuss Snape's great ambition and unfulfilled potential. We pose the question: what makes a good teacher, and compare Snape and McGonagall's approaches to their subjects. We also debate whether respect can be demanded, or must it essentially be earned?

This week we consider Chapter 7, The Sorting Hat, in parallel with The Crowning of King Arthur from Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. We talk about the importance of ritual and rights of passage. We consider whether these issues necessitate hard work and sacrifice. We also think about the function of Houses at Hogwarts, reflecting on the positive and negative aspects of such a system

We're diving back into the Dickensian world this week, looking at Chapter 6: The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters in parallel with Chapter 22 of Great Expectations. This week we consider what it means to have "great expectations". We also take a look at Ron and Harry's budding friendship and talk about the importance of kindness and compassion. Paul is affronted by the idea that Scabbers is "not what he seems", and also makes a compelling case for why Harry doesn't belong in Slytherin.

Join us as we read Chapter Five "Diagon Alley" alongside Chapter Ten of "Oliver Twist", by Charles Dickens. We consider how both Oliver and Harry are introduced to new societies. We analyse Harry's first interaction with a peer, Draco Malfoy. Ella takes issue with how creepy Ollivander is and we discuss how magic can be both terrible and great.

Apologies for the audio quality this week! The first few minutes are particularly rough, but it improves a bit after that. If you do manage to stick with us, you will find our discussion this week compares Chapter Four "The Keeper of the Keys" with John McCrae's war poem "In Flanders Fields". We talk about the casualties of war and the importance of remembrance - particularly when it comes to Petunia's resentment and jealousy of Lily. And after being quite sympathetic towards the Dursleys in the last episode, Claire has far more grievances with their behaviour this week.

What role does "fate" play in getting Harry to Hogwarts? How are witches and wizards comparable to the Greek gods? And who is more like Odysseus - Harry or Vernon? All this and more as we relate Chapter 3 of "Philosopher's Stone" to Book 10 of Homer's "The Odyssey"

This week we examine “Chapter Two: The Vanishing Glass” in parallel with the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In both these stories, we get an introduction to a new world, but we also come across two very different types of snakes. We also think about how the snake in this chapter compares to the other snakes we meet in the rest of the Harry Potter series.

For our first week, we will discuss the events of “Chapter One: The Boy Who Lived” alongside the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. We examine themes of murder, banishment and, just as Dumbledore says, we consider the idea that scars can be useful. We also ask the question: is it ever possible to “celebrate” a murder?

A very warm welcome to the Ravenclaw Readers podcast! We’re embarking on a Harry Potter re-read with a literary twist. If you want to know what we’re all about, give this quick episode a listen. Claire gets embarrassingly sincere about her love for Harry Potter, while Ella and Paul talk about what they hope to gain from the project. Happy listening!