Seventeen years have passed since I finished reading the Harry Potter books, and only now am I noticing the ingenious way the series reflects on itself. Recently, I’ve delved into the parallels between “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” It struck me that the connections binding these two novels are part of a larger pattern that spans the entire series. Viewing the books as a whole reveals a perfectly parallel narrative structure.
Curious if others had noticed this, I turned to the internet and discovered the “ring composition” or “chiastic” theory, brilliantly analyzed by John Granger. This theory uncovers a formulaic structure in the Harry Potter series, providing immense balance to Harry’s journey. Moreover, it shows that from the beginning, readers could have predicted the outcomes of the last three novels based on the first three.
The Harry Potter Books Reflect One Another with “Goblet of Fire” as The Axis
The Harry Potter series employs a chiastic structure, where the story’s concepts repeat in reverse order after the midpoint. With seven books in the series, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” serves as the central axis, with three books preceding and three following it. When viewed this way, the last three books mirror the first three. Books one and seven, two and six, and three and five are reflections of each other, with the fourth book as the pivot.
Philosopher’s Stone Mirrors Deathly Hallows
“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the first and last books, have notable differences, reflecting the protagonist’s growth. However, they also share significant similarities. The most important is the theme of immortality. In “Philosopher’s Stone,” Voldemort seeks the Elixir of Life, while in “Deathly Hallows,” the Hallows and Horcruxes continue this exploration of immortality.
Another correlation is Severus Snape’s story arc. In both books, Harry initially sees Snape as a villain but ultimately learns he was protecting him all along. Additionally, the significance of magical objects ties these two books together. The concept that “the wand chooses the wizard” introduced in the first book becomes crucial in the final installment.
Prisoner of Azkaban Mirrors Order of The Phoenix
The focus of “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” and “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” is on Sirius Black and, by extension, James Potter. In these books, Harry learns about his father and his old Hogwarts friends. However, these revelations are contrasting. In the third book, Harry venerates James and Sirius, while in the fifth, he discovers their flaws. Moreover, Sirius survives the third book but tragically dies in the fifth.
“Order of the Phoenix” also revisits the theme of prophecy introduced in “Prisoner of Azkaban.” Professor Trelawney’s prophecy about Peter Pettigrew’s escape and Voldemort’s return in the third book parallels Voldemort’s quest to retrieve the prophecy made before Harry’s birth in the fifth. Government control is another recurring theme, contrasting Cornelius Fudge’s treatment of Harry in these books.
In conclusion, the Harry Potter series is a masterful example of chiastic structure, with each book reflecting its counterpart. This hidden symmetry enriches the narrative, revealing J.K. Rowling’s intricate storytelling prowess.
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