Family
Sacrifice
Connection: Harry’s parents’ sacrifice protected him
Love
Connection: Those who love Harry protect him & sacrifice or are willing to sacrifice their lives for him.
Loyalty
Connection: Snape comes to love Harry’s mother Lily. Through that love, he becomes loyal to Harry.
Teamwork
Connection: Snape is loyal to Dumbledore, despite Harry’s thinking & they work together to protect Harry.
Beating the odds
Connection: By working together, the characters are able to beat the odds.
Humility
Connection: While “beating the odds” & coming out on top over & over again, Harry was humble.
Belonging
Connection: By being so humble, people are attracted to Harry. He gains a lot of friends and supporters, which makes him feel like he belongs.
Bravery
Connection: During one of the meetings of Dumbeledore’s Army, Neville tries more spells and becomes braver.
Discrimination
Connection: When Malfoy calls Hermione a “mudblood”, Ron stands up to him & tries to curse him.
Power
Connection: Most of the evil characters think that mudbloods should have no power or be allowed to practice magic.
Choice
Connection: At one point, Harry holds in his hand the Elder Wand, along with all the power in the world. He chooses to break it in half & throw it off the bridge.
Good vs. Evil
Connection: Most decisions were between good & evil or had consequences that would lead to good or evil.
Themes
Explored in Harry Potter
-Love-
- Harry’s parents’ sacrifice
- Ron & Hermione’s love for each other
-Loyalty –
- Neville stands up to Voldemort
"If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign." (Sorcerer’s Stone ch. 17)
-Family-
- portrayed through whole story
- constantly wishes to bring parents back
“Harry was looking at his family, for the first time in his life. The Potters smiled & waved at Harry & he stared hungrily back at them,” (Sorcerer’s Stone ch. 12)
-Sacrifice-
- willing to die to save those he loves
-Teamwork –
- Doesn't win Triwizard Tournament all on his own (Mad-eye Moody, Neville, Hagrid)
- Dumbledore’s army
- Order of Phoenix
"Harry understood at last that he was not supposed to survive. His job was to walk calmly into Death's welcoming arms." (Deathly Hallows, ch. 34)
-Beating the odds –
- Harry, Ron, & Hermione get past enchantments to Chamber of Secrets
- Every time Harry faces Voldemort
-Good vs. Evil-
- series based on this main theme
-Humility –
- Wants to bury Dobby by hand
“I want to bury him. Properly, without magic.”
Theme
fundamental & universal ideas explored in literature
-Choice-
- Harry makes many choices
- (join Voldemort, become Draco's friend)
-Belonging–
- Hogwarts is home
- He meets people & he’s able to be himself
- Before Hogwarts, didn't fit in & had to suppress powers
"Forget Dumbledore. This is my choice, nobody else's." (Deathly Hallows ch. 12)
-Bravery-
- Harry
- Snape goes behing Voldemort's back
- Harry, Ron & Hermione go up against troll
"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same." (Sorcerer’s Stone ch. 5)
"You were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." (Deathly Hallows, 38)
-Power-
- Tom Riddle’s quest to gain power
- Dumbledore uses magical abilities for good