Harry Potter

A seven part series of hugely successful British novels written by Joanne Rowling. (More popularly known as J.K. Rowling) While each successive books release has received high critical praise the series still maintains popular criticism from a subsect of fantasy readers. This subsect criticizes the popularity of the series as having stolen premises and plots from other, older fantasy series. Most claims of plagiarism in Harry Potter are generally groundless and unjustified, as many successful plot elements have been reused for thousands of years or more. Part One: Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone (UK) Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone (US) Part Two: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Part Three: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Part Four: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Part Five: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Part Six: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Part Seven: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows The series basic plot involves following a child who grew up parentless at the hands of his aunt and uncle into a world of literal magic and wonder that allows him to escape from the torture he faces at the hands of his cruel relatives. The mythology of Harry Potter follows the same basic story outline that many other contemporary and past examples of successful writing follow. The Heroes Journey is the basic outline for the Entire Harry Potter Series, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, (the original trilogy and episodes I, II, and III are each their own 'Heroes Journey') and King Arthur, among others. The Heroes Journey begins with your not-so-likely hero (whether it is an orphan, a hobbit, a squire, or a moisture farmer from a desert planet in the outer rim of the galaxy) who is elevated to a higher status when some new, fantastic element is given to them. The fantastic element varies depending on the main premises of each story, but it is generally ability or some kind of 'magic' item. (A 'magic sword' is a metaphor for great change in both King Arthur and Star Wars) After the hero enters the world that is unknown to most normal people, a central challenge or villain emerges. While there may be small deviations that prove as challenges along the way to the goal, the main quest remains at the finish line of the Heroes Journey. A perfect example of a miniature Heroes Journey can be found in 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.' Harry competes in a magical tournament in which he must go through three different trials that each prove his worth as a wizard. Inevitably, at the end of the third trial (the final steps of the Heroes Journey) he is faced with the villain throughout the entire showdown. Harry is unable to defeat the villain at this point but does manage to (barely) escape and return to safety. This is where the fourth book's miniature example of a Heroes Journey ends, as an actual Heroes Journey cannot end in the hero merely escaping from the villain, as the evil still exists in the world. Along the way, the Hero meets a mentor who teaches them all about the new magic that they recently acquired, and usually gives them subtle insight on the world and more importantly, how to defeat the villain. Then, sadly, the mentor (the word comes from the name of the helpful servant of Odysseus in the Odyssey, -arguably the worlds first heroes journey) has to die to give the hero the chance to understand that they have indeed learned from the mentor, and the hero is then free to complete the task of defeating the villain -or dying heroically in the process. The series has also been reiterated in film versions of the books. The films have recieved mixed reviews and arguably poor quality contrary to the universally critically high reviews of the books.