Harry Potter's Role in Literature?

Question

In my English class today my teacher said that the Harry Potter series are not of the same academic merit compared to Pride and Prejudice, The Great Gatsby, 1984, or Great Expectations. He said, "it's like candy, it's good but it doesn't compare to a real meal."

What do you think?

Answer 1

I have read all the classics mentioned by your teacher, and many more.

And I have also read all the Harry Potter books. For me a piece of great literature means when the author transports you to the world he/she is writing about. It means that you can relate deeply to the characters, whether you have experienced any of them before or not. Dickens became an icon because he wrote really contemporary stories and real issues. Finally, great books are the ones you could pick up any day and enjoy reading them as much as you did years ago. I still read and re-read Pride and Prejudice, or David Copperfield for that matter.

For me, Harry Potter books meet all the above criteria - they transport you seamlessly into a world you could never have imagined, the characters are as real as they can get (of course, Harry is this great boy wizard - but when you read the books, doesn't he seem as normal as the boy next door?), they address real and contemporary issues - they are a statement on tolerance and acceptance, which are issues really important in today's world, and I can read them over and over again and never tire. I know this can be said of all fans.

The thing with most people who make statements like your teacher is that they choose to be judgemental without actually making the leap and reading the books in the first place. They often make statements based on hearsay - "Ohh, fantasy is not my thing", "this witchcraft stuff is for geeks", "this is too popular to be a classic". It is really sad - if they did start reading, they would be in a much better position to appreciate them,

Answer 2

I think there is a difference between great literature and greatly popular literature, although the same work might fit both bills.

Your teacher might just as well have said the difference was the audience for whom the books were written. Those he considers "a real meal" are written for adults, not as J/YA audience. Also the fantasy element, I'm sure demoted Harry Potter in the eyes of your teacher.

Certainly, the themes explored in Harry Potter are as deep and fundamental those addressed in the others. Let's see what the literary world thinks of the series in 25-30 years.

wl

Answer 3

If it gets young people interested in reading it is a great thing, it can surely lead into an appreciation of "higher" literature. No, none of the titles listed are even in the same genre as the Potter series, but the Harry Potter books are just as necessary. In fact the titles you have named are not even in the same genre as each other, other than the fact that each is considered a master work, but not by everyone. I personally loved all of them but found the Great Gatsby dull.

Answer 4

Most classics have a moral dilemma that makes the reader really think about the issues at hand. Your teacher probably meant that while Harry Potter is an interesting book and has plenty of mysteries, it's not making the reader question society in an intellectual manner. You can always argue with your teacher that Harry Potter does bring up the issue of segregation (muggles vs. wizards). I don't think it would be fair to say that Harry Potter books shouldn't get credit for getting a lot of reluctant readers to finally pick up a 400+ page book.

Answer 5

I think that what your teacher doesn't see is that Harry Potter made kids read. At least it made me. If I had read Pride and Prejudice I'll be watching TV all day. I think it is more of a merit because if you don't get used to read and actually enjoy it then there is no merit for Pride and Prejudice and other books.

Answer 6

Just because Harry Potter isn't a classic doesn't mean it can't be as satisfying as a meal. Come on now, the HP books aren't nearly as old as P&P, TGG, 1984 or GE so tell your teacher DUH!

The Harry Potter books aren't really meant to be classics, they enjoyment books that have gotten a lot more kids to read and enjoy reading. I don't know of any kids/teen that would want to read the books your English teacher compared HP to.

Answer 7

Some good answers.

I think that there are 2 issues here.

First is that HP is escapist literature, pure and simple. In that regard, its on the order of Tarzan or most scifi (you know - the really good stuff). It's (generally) not intended to make you think, and (generally) a cigar is just a cigar.

This is in contrast to so-called "great literary works", from which English professors seem to gain status by reading as much symbolic homosexuality into the story as they can imagine. This is only half-joking: I recently read a foreword of a new translation of "Around the World in 80 Days". The "esteemed" professor was trying to establish this work as one having literary value. He did this by reading sexuality (particularly homosexuality) into lines that by *no* means could be interpreted in such a way when taken in context. This is hardly an isolated case.

Thus, to achieve greatness from a *literary* standpoint, HP would have to be chock-full of hidden symbolic sexuality - or, at least, would have to be able to be so interpreted. Don't take my word for it - you will suffer such idiocy in every English lit class you ever take (except maybe poetry).

To me, a story is a story, and the words mean what they mean. For me, a cigar is *always* a cigar!

Jim, http://www.life-after-harry-potter.com

Answer 8

I totally agree. Harry Potter is a cult classic. It is filled with plot, characters, and not much else. The language is not evocative and therefore not on the same level as Pride and Prejudice or The Great Gatsby. It will be read by millions, loved by millions, but it is not a "real meal" book. That doesn't make it less engaging or popular; it's just not on the same level.

Answer 9

I agree with curtisports about the elitism. There is a prejudiced notion that popular and literature cannot describe the same book.
Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins were criticized by their contemporaries for not writing "elevated" pieces, and were considered panderers.
Tell you're teacher that HP is more like bread pudding, easy to like AND substantial.

Answer 10

Those works have had the benefit of time to see if they would hold up over time. I would tell that teacher to give the Potter books a chance. My best guess is that they will pass the test.

I detect a sense of elitism in that teacher, and perhaps some jealousy.