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dragonlady7I am not a member of The HP Fandom, and so I have not read anybody else's speculation upon any of it, in the forums or websites or zines or what have you. I did indeed read the first book shortly after it came out, and have read each of the subsequent books more or less within a year of their release, due to my mother and baby sister being fans initially, and more recently Z's mom being a fan (in that she teaches 4th grade and anything that gets the little snots to express interest in being literate human beings is great in her book-- one of her colleagues and close friends nearly died of laughing upon seeing Z's Republicans For Voldemort t-shirt, whilst Z occasionally forgets which book/movie Voldemort's from. "Is he the ill-tempered dog?" "No, dear, that's the Balrog, he's Tolkien's, not Rowling's." "Oh right.")
But of late I have been reading a bit of HP-fandom-related speculation on my friends-list, naturally, as I am a bit curious as to what other people make of all this. But I only started reading the cuts marked "spoilers" after I read the thing, and never went back to read the first few days of spoilers, so I'm kind of behind.
I must disclaim, additionally, that I haven't seen the movies, except for about half of either the first or second one on mute in a bar while loud rock music was playing. All I remember was people flying around and Harry almost swallowing a Snitch.
So, what follows is my own particular HP-related speculation and surmising. I speak as neither a fan nor foe of the series; they're entertaining and decently-written, and while I'm still not sure what all the fuss is about, I am still delighted to read them when I get a chance.
I mean really, who calls himself the Half-Blood Prince? What a shite nickname.
But really.
All of the following will probably be painful to a serious student of the series, as I am woefully undereducated-- this is probably either obvious or ignorant. But, it's how I've got the thing pegged. Mind you I've never claimed any skill at plotting, as any readers of the Vikings Novel will know firsthand. (Sorry about that.)
So, I got the Snape thing figured thusly. Mind you I'm no expert and only read the book before the OotP one once like three years ago, but still. This is my figuring.
Dumbledore went on and on about not being afraid of darkness, bodies, death, or the unknown. So, I figure, he doesn't really mind snuffing it. For all we know, what with the phoenix thing, he's rumbled some way to come back. I imagine for him there are a lot of fates worse than death. He also tends to inexplicably be able to know far more of what's going on than is in any way reasonable. Granted, we as observers are limited somewhat by being bound by Harry's viewpoint most of the time (it is most distracting when she leaves it-- I am convinced that the chapter in which we witness Snape with Mrs. Malfoy and LeStrange must be very much a red herring, because it is unneccessary for plot purposes that we witness the Unbreakable Oath-- Harry hears about it later and it would have been adequate to explain it there were Rowling not trying to get us worked up into a tizzy about how Ambiguous Snape is. I have been struggling in my own writing to eliminate unneccessary chapters that deviate from the standard viewpoint and make the book inconsistent, so perhaps I am biased and she was merely being lazy-- but I doubt it.) and so it is perfectly possible that there are explanations Harry's simply not getting-- but she does so well with the infodumps in other areas that I'm pretty sure she'd be telling us why Dumbledore knows what he does if she wanted us to know.
When Dumbledore says "please" to Snape at the crucial moment, as![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tehta pointed out it would make more sense for him to say "please don't" if, as we are meant to assume, he wants Snape not to kill him.
So, the explanation, as far as I can see, is that the entire thing was prearranged, at least to an extent. Dumbledore knew Malfoy was trying to kill him. He figured somebody was going to have to. I am supposing he had at some point arranged with Snape that he, Severus, would do the deed, if it came down to that-- certainly Dumbledore would rather Snape kill him than not, because in that situation if Snape failed to do so, both he and Malfoy would be either goners or outed as insincere Death Eaters, neither of which would help the Order much in bringing Voldemort down in the end.
Dumbledore has confidence enough in Harry (and Harry's support network, not to mention the Order)-- and Snape-- that he must believe his own death to be both unavoidable and entirely non-disastrous. Also, I am not discounting the phoenix thing-- he may indeed have plans to return.
When Hagrid accidentally let slip to Harry that Dumbledore and Snape were arguing over something, Snape saying he didn't want to do it-- well, what do you think Snape didn't want to do? Well? Would you want to either? The only person who's defended you, and you're expected to blast him off a rooftop?
But Harry shows himself strong enough to inflict harm on Dumbledore in the potion-drinking Horcrux retrieval scenario; it is not foolish to believe Snape capable of the same sort of obedience.
That's really all I have to say at the moment; I am strongly scented of garlic from yet another homemade tzatziki experiment (damn I'm good at it; I hope cucumber season lasts well this year) and am yawning widely enough to hurt my neck. (My neck hurts oddly of late. V. annoying) and filled with lust after rereading the White Flower Farm catalogue. For amusement, Z and I sat outside and watched a dozen nightbloomers open-- whatever the hell they are (calling all botanists and plant experts on this friendspage: what the hell is this thing? Nobody can tell me. Perennial, spreads by roots, has dandelion-like leaves but slender and sharply-angled edges, produces buds on 4" stems that open at dusk to reveal rapidly-uncoiling pale-yellow slightly fragrant flowers that wither in the next day's sun. Has been in Z's mom's garden for a generation at least, and none can say whence it came. Seems to thrive in the heat; may be a more tropical plant, as this is only Zone 6 and is usually much cooler and rainier than this summer has been. See also previous and subsequent photographs in gallery). We are such party animals.
Sequentia - To God The Father: O Magne Pater - Saints
But of late I have been reading a bit of HP-fandom-related speculation on my friends-list, naturally, as I am a bit curious as to what other people make of all this. But I only started reading the cuts marked "spoilers" after I read the thing, and never went back to read the first few days of spoilers, so I'm kind of behind.
I must disclaim, additionally, that I haven't seen the movies, except for about half of either the first or second one on mute in a bar while loud rock music was playing. All I remember was people flying around and Harry almost swallowing a Snitch.
So, what follows is my own particular HP-related speculation and surmising. I speak as neither a fan nor foe of the series; they're entertaining and decently-written, and while I'm still not sure what all the fuss is about, I am still delighted to read them when I get a chance.
I mean really, who calls himself the Half-Blood Prince? What a shite nickname.
But really.
All of the following will probably be painful to a serious student of the series, as I am woefully undereducated-- this is probably either obvious or ignorant. But, it's how I've got the thing pegged. Mind you I've never claimed any skill at plotting, as any readers of the Vikings Novel will know firsthand. (Sorry about that.)
So, I got the Snape thing figured thusly. Mind you I'm no expert and only read the book before the OotP one once like three years ago, but still. This is my figuring.
Dumbledore went on and on about not being afraid of darkness, bodies, death, or the unknown. So, I figure, he doesn't really mind snuffing it. For all we know, what with the phoenix thing, he's rumbled some way to come back. I imagine for him there are a lot of fates worse than death. He also tends to inexplicably be able to know far more of what's going on than is in any way reasonable. Granted, we as observers are limited somewhat by being bound by Harry's viewpoint most of the time (it is most distracting when she leaves it-- I am convinced that the chapter in which we witness Snape with Mrs. Malfoy and LeStrange must be very much a red herring, because it is unneccessary for plot purposes that we witness the Unbreakable Oath-- Harry hears about it later and it would have been adequate to explain it there were Rowling not trying to get us worked up into a tizzy about how Ambiguous Snape is. I have been struggling in my own writing to eliminate unneccessary chapters that deviate from the standard viewpoint and make the book inconsistent, so perhaps I am biased and she was merely being lazy-- but I doubt it.) and so it is perfectly possible that there are explanations Harry's simply not getting-- but she does so well with the infodumps in other areas that I'm pretty sure she'd be telling us why Dumbledore knows what he does if she wanted us to know.
When Dumbledore says "please" to Snape at the crucial moment, as
tehta pointed out it would make more sense for him to say "please don't" if, as we are meant to assume, he wants Snape not to kill him. So, the explanation, as far as I can see, is that the entire thing was prearranged, at least to an extent. Dumbledore knew Malfoy was trying to kill him. He figured somebody was going to have to. I am supposing he had at some point arranged with Snape that he, Severus, would do the deed, if it came down to that-- certainly Dumbledore would rather Snape kill him than not, because in that situation if Snape failed to do so, both he and Malfoy would be either goners or outed as insincere Death Eaters, neither of which would help the Order much in bringing Voldemort down in the end.
Dumbledore has confidence enough in Harry (and Harry's support network, not to mention the Order)-- and Snape-- that he must believe his own death to be both unavoidable and entirely non-disastrous. Also, I am not discounting the phoenix thing-- he may indeed have plans to return.
When Hagrid accidentally let slip to Harry that Dumbledore and Snape were arguing over something, Snape saying he didn't want to do it-- well, what do you think Snape didn't want to do? Well? Would you want to either? The only person who's defended you, and you're expected to blast him off a rooftop?
But Harry shows himself strong enough to inflict harm on Dumbledore in the potion-drinking Horcrux retrieval scenario; it is not foolish to believe Snape capable of the same sort of obedience.
That's really all I have to say at the moment; I am strongly scented of garlic from yet another homemade tzatziki experiment (damn I'm good at it; I hope cucumber season lasts well this year) and am yawning widely enough to hurt my neck. (My neck hurts oddly of late. V. annoying) and filled with lust after rereading the White Flower Farm catalogue. For amusement, Z and I sat outside and watched a dozen nightbloomers open-- whatever the hell they are (calling all botanists and plant experts on this friendspage: what the hell is this thing? Nobody can tell me. Perennial, spreads by roots, has dandelion-like leaves but slender and sharply-angled edges, produces buds on 4" stems that open at dusk to reveal rapidly-uncoiling pale-yellow slightly fragrant flowers that wither in the next day's sun. Has been in Z's mom's garden for a generation at least, and none can say whence it came. Seems to thrive in the heat; may be a more tropical plant, as this is only Zone 6 and is usually much cooler and rainier than this summer has been. See also previous and subsequent photographs in gallery). We are such party animals.
Sequentia - To God The Father: O Magne Pater - Saints
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no subject
Date: 2005-07-25 02:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-25 11:33 am (UTC)I think my posts of late may be reflecting how hungry I've been of late... I haven't had time or inclination to eat at work, so all I do at home is eat or sleep...
no subject
Date: 2005-07-25 04:52 am (UTC)Take a look here (http://www.wssa.net/photo&info/NoEditWFP.htm) and click on the folder next to "Evening Primrose". These photos look similar.
I am already swimming in cucumbers. I couldn't be happier.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-25 11:32 am (UTC)The flower looks similar, particularly the weird stamen bits, but the pods look different, and the foliage is much different. The nightbloomers in my garden have low-growing foliage-- think dandelions, the way the leaves radiate out around the plant, low against the ground, and then the buds stick up on 3" bare stalks out of the middle-- like a dandelion.
The flower also has more petals than that. In the bud it is curled in a sort of spiral, and when the flowers open the pod splits down one side and so one petal is freed first, and then the pod slides slowly down the flower as the rest open in slow motion. It's really a neat thing.
And it's the same color and general form as the photo you sent, but I'm fairly certain it's not the same plant, with such different foliage.
Thanks for sending that photo though!
Z's theory is that it's something the scientific world has thought was extinct but it's been here in his grandmother's/mother's garden all this time. My theory is that it's some sort of obscure mutant.
But it definitely is flourishing in the heat-- most summers you get five or six blossoms a night, but this week we've had 16, 23, and 15 the last three nights. It's trying to take over.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-25 07:15 pm (UTC)That's so funny! I am picturing the Balrog as a giant, ill-tempered dog right now with an equally giant slobbery tongue.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-25 11:32 pm (UTC)Z has this thing with deliberately demystifying (and thus making rather absurd) fantasy novels. So, for example, a dragon is just like a dog, only it's big and has scales, and also breathes fire.
I was trying to explain the whole Balrog thing to him, sort of walk him through the scene so he knew what was going on, and he found the proper names far too confusing. So he assigned them his own names, to help him keep track.
"So Gandalf--"
"The wizardy guy?"
"Yes."
"George, you mean."
"Right. So George steps towards the Balrog--"
"That's the big thing on fire?"
"Yes."
"It's, like, a giant... dog. Only with scales. Breathing fire. Really ill-tempered."
"Right. That thing."
"Right."
"So George steps toward the, um--"
"--Ill-Tempered Dog."
"Ill-Tempered Dog, and he says, 'You cannot pass!'"
"Gas." *snicker*
"What?"
"Heh heh. You cannot pass gas!"
"Er..."
"I said pass gass. That's funny. Heh heh."
"Jesus."
"He's in this story too??! Wow, this story has everything!"
I haven't tried to bring Z up to speed on Harry Potter. It's just not worth it.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-26 05:14 pm (UTC)I can imagine it now: Dumbledore would turn into an old guy named Dave, and Remus Lupin would turn into a shaggy dog with bi-polar disorder.