Customer Reviews

The Hidden Key to Harry Potter: Understanding the Meaning, Genius, and Popularity of Joanne Rowling's Harry Potter Novels

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Let me say up front that what kept me from giving this book 5 stars was its need for better organization and a stronger editorial hand. (More of this later.) In terms of content, thought and provocative analysis, it is 5 stars all the way. Anyone seriously interested in the Harry Potter books, pro or con, should read this book.

Many Evangelical Christians consider the Harry Potter books objectionable, even Satanic, because of their magical milieu of Witches and Wizards. These objections have been stated most strongly in Richard Abanes' "Harry Potter: The Menace Behind the Magick." John Granger, an Orthodox Christian and a classics scholar, has now written a book, "The Hidden Key to Harry Potter", that challenges this view with the startling thesis that far from being Satanic, the Harry Potter books are in fact profound Christian allegories that are filled with Christian symbolism.

Granger makes a very convincing case. Among other things, he examines the numerous Christian symbols that appear in the Harry Potter books: Unicorn, Stag, Golden Griffin, Phoenix, and others. He offers a compelling analysis of the climactic scene in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" that interprets Harry's battle with the Basilisk as an allegory of the Christian's fight against Satan and the healing power of Christ's sacrificial love. In an extensive section on alchemy (that could use a bit of pruning), Granger argues that "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is about the transforming power of Christ in the life of the Christian. Granger also shows how Rowling's books fit squarely in the "Great Books" tradition of Austen, White, Lewis and Tolkien.

Granger argues that the Harry Potter books have been so phenomenally successful not only because they are corking good stories, but more importantly because they address the reader's spiritual needs on a fundamental, even subliminal level. This argument is certainly more convincing that the one offered by some Evangelicals, namely, that the series' runaway success is due to help from Old Scratch himself.

Granger identifies and examines some of the principal underlying themes of the books - prejudice, dealing with death, the importance of choices in determining character, among others - and offers an analysis of the central meaning of each of the four books published thus far. Then, in a section demonstrating considerable analytical courage, Granger offers his own speculations on what lies ahead in the books yet to come. Talk about going out on a limb!

It is not surprising that a great deal of this would have gone over the head of the average reader of the Harry Potter books. At the very least, one would need a working familiarity with Medieval Christian iconography to pick up on a lot of the symbolism Granger identifies. Assuming, of course, that Rowling is in fact writing from the perspective Granger claims she is. Sometimes, in reading Granger's book, I wondered what Rowling would think of all this. Would she say, "Finally, someone got it!"? Or would she be thinking, "Gee, I never knew I was putting all that stuff in my books!"? Unless and until Rowling herself speaks on these issues, we won't know. But at the least, Granger makes an excellent and thought-provoking case. And he also provides the great service of cutting through all the "Single-Mom-Turned-Overnight-Success" malarky to point out that Rowling is in fact a highly-educated woman with Firsts (the English equivalent to Summa Cum Laude) in Classics and French from Exeter, one of England's leading universities - which of course bolsters his arguments about the serious, scholarly underpinnings of these books.

On the debit side, Granger sometimes pushes his theories too far and strains credibility. For example, his analysis of some of the names, the title character's in particular, is unconvincing and gives the impression of grasping at straws. And his theory on the identity of the real-life model for Gilderoy Lockhart is torpedoed by a comment Rowling herself made in an interview. Also, Granger's intriguing arguments are sometimes undercut by the book's rather haphazard organization and its annoying redundancy. Apparently the book was based on a series of four lectures Granger gave, and this shows in the organization. One sometimes has the feeling that Granger has simply transcribed his lectures and notes into book form, without taking sufficient pains to adapt the lectures to a written medium. A stronger editorial hand was needed in preparing this book for publication.

But these are problems that could be solved in a revised edition, and hopefully one will be forthcoming.

The Harry Potter books have sometimes been likened by their Christian critics to a kind of literary Trojan Horse, sneaking Satanism and demonic influences into the citadels of our homes and our children's minds. But if John Granger is right, the books are indeed a Trojan Horse, but of a different kind: Rowling will have stormed the citadel of secular public education and public libraries with profoundly Christian books proclaiming the Gospel, disguised as stories about witchcraft. If, indeed, these are Christian books, what are the secular humanist guardians of public school portals going to do when they find out? Hold their own book-burning? If nothing else, contemplating the delicious irony in this state of affairs makes me hope devoutly that Granger's analysis is correct.

Let me repeat: anyone seriously interested in the Harry Potter books, pro or con, needs to read this book.

This book succeeds on a number of fronts: 1) It details the important themes of the Potter books extremely well. This has allowed me to enjoy and appreciate the books much more than when I first helped read Sorcerer's Stone to my son. The Potter stories are great on their own but Hidden Key allows you to see the deep themes Rowling is baking into these stories. I guarantee you will appreciate her writing skill and the books themselves significantly more after reading this guide. 2)This has helped me to reinforce the themes in the Potter books, which are really the great themes we are faced with in life, for my son. It has given me an informed, adult view on Rowling's writing that has created many "teachable moments" with my son. In fact, I just had several more of these moments in the theater, while watching Chamber of Secrets, that were directly inspired by the Hidden Key's content.

I consider myself a decent reader but, to be honest, it's amazing how much I missed in Rowling's books that John Granger has captured in great detail. From the themes in each of the four books to the hidden meaning of most of the character's names--the detail and analysis will astound you if you are a Potter fan. Plus the predictions for the future direction of the story provide great fodder for musing and discussion. I've looked at a few of the other guides out there but they really don't compare. If you'd like to see a serious treatment of Rowling's world as literature--and benefit from the experience--this is your book. If you are a Christian reader, you'll appreciate this guide even more--although the prime criteria needed to enjoy it is being a dedicated Potter fan or the parent of one! Actually, that leads me to my only disclaimer. This book is not written for the 8 year old Harry Potter fanatic. It is probably best suited to good teen readers and adults. But I do think the 8 year old fanatic's parents should buy it so they and their child will get the most from the magical world of Hogwarts.

I picked up this book over other Harry Potter critiques because it was the first to deal with the books as actual literature and the first to say that the stories are actually Christian based rather than anti-christian. I was extremely pleased with the results.

Having graduated as an english major, I have always been intrigued with J.K. Rowling's knowledge of so many different works throughout time and how they've shown up in her books. Granger does a good job showing the reader where these ideas come from and how they are used in the overarching story. His analysis of the christian tones in each book are amazing in that once he explains them they are so simple to see that you wonder how you didn't see it before. His predictions for the remaining three books are very intelligent and (in my opinion) quite possibly correct.

I give this 4 stars only because he tends to repeat himself a lot throughout the book. Constantly talking about alchemical transformations gets to be a little tiresome after a while. But this is definitely an interesting read for people that really want to delve into the deeper meanings of the Harry Potter story.

John Granger examines the classical themes and devices in the Harry Potter series with skillful and convincing evidence. He connects almost every name not only with its etymological roots but also with its precise delineation of the character who owns it. He makes us see the 800 pound elephant which has been sitting in front of us all unacknowledged: the fact that J.K. Rowling's training in classics and her wide reading (I'm tempted to say "wide AND DEEP reading -- no shallow skimmer here!) have produced a fresh flow of the everlasting materials of Story. It is her use of those traditional elements that gives the books their sense of goodness. As C.S. Lewis said of George MacDonald's Phantastes, "It baptized my imagination." Granger shows that Rowling uses the device of the school for magic to get past "the watchful dragons" that belch smoke and fury at any overt use of Christian terminology.

This sounds as if Granger's book must be difficult for us ordinary folks to read: nothing could be further from the truth! It is delightfully easy reading, making the connections between mythical elements and the details of the books very clear.

Don't let the hoopla and doodads of the popularizers of Harry's stories keep you from reading this book and paying serious attention to what Granger says.

J. K. Rowling has been very quiet about her own inner thinking about how the HP stories work out and how to think about their themes and messages except to insist that they are "very moral" and are "about good and evil." Her silence may have preserved suspense in readers - to their delight and frustration. Fans (and skeptics) about HP will find a lot of helpful information in Granger's volumes. He presents lots of facts, diagrams, and tables of parallels about names and words used in the books, and builds a very strong case that Rowling has carefully crafted a Christian symbology as the basis for her septology.

If would-be Christian censors would consider just a few striking and undeniable symbols employed, they would surely blush that they ever trashed the books as "satanic" or "un-Christian." A couple obvious examples: the Malfoy step-parents, Lucius & Narcissa. Narcissa is an overt feminization of the unflattering "Narcissus", the negativity of which encourages the reader to see that Rowling has used "Lucius" to suggest (if not stand for) Lucifer [ which would be way too heavy-handed ]. Then consider that "Malfoy" would mean "bad faith" in French. And "Draco"?: Latin for dragon or serpent.

As soon as Granger got me asking about what names meant, one look at "Harry Potter" made it obvious where he would go. Potter -- molder of clay, right? Granger helpfully cites Biblical passages specifically referring to God as the potter who create humanity.

CAUTION ONE: I have to take Granger's conclusions as *starting points* rather than accept them as revelations. Consider, for example his explanation of "Why 'Harry' "? He acknowledges "Harry" as a nickname for Henry or Harold, but goes instead to a big stretch based on the silence of the "h" for Brits to say Harry -> 'airy' -> "heir-y" -> son of... With the idea that "Harry Potter" is supposed to mean "son of God" (though not with a capital "s". That's still a huge, awkward stretch. So much simpler is to see that Harry -> Harold -> herald: suggesting that HP is to be at least the "herald of God" or spokesman for Good.

CAUTION TWO: Although the books is reader-friendly and very casual and chattily written, the very casualness of its self-publication has left some weaknesses that leave me feeling that I would need double-check any of Granger's information before relying on it. Glaring example, although Granger is said to have a degree in Classics from Univ Chicago, his reliance on memory (and no literary editor, I guess) to say, "More than one Shakespeare play is about 'Harry Hotspur' (the Prince of Wales). Well: no! Harry, Prince of Wales (future Henry V) was *opposed* by another "Harry Hotspur" (slew him, in fact). Rowling takes a lot more care in researching and planning her names than Granger does, apparently. Unfortunately, Granger's book needs to be used as a *source of ideas* - not a basis for facts.

OFFENDNG HIS READERS: Maybe it's just my pet peeve, but doesn't a writer/publisher compromise self by including a list of recommended reading on Rowling/HP (Appendix B) and then includes a glowing review of this very book!? That is not necessary. It is certainly not the sort of shenanigan that an established publisher would permit.

Keeping these caveats in mind, Granger does pull together a good armload of ammunition for how to think about Harry and his author in positive Christian terms.

Truly, this has to be one of the best, if not the best analysis of the Harry Potter series. As a Potterholic, I was looking for a book that definatively got at the heart of Potter's popularity using logical and supported literary analysis, and Granger's book fulfills that.

John Granger looks at both the series as a whole, as well as book by book, the symbolism involved as an entity unto itself, and makes sound predictions for books 5-7 based on his analysis. The Christian themes that pervade Rowling's books are explained phenomenally well, and Granger puts, for example, information regarding Inkling literature and the Christian medieval morality plays (two important aspects of Harry Potter) into layman's tems, so that even those readers not familiar with those particular characteristics are not lost.

It is a remarkable book, and I have read it several times as I prepare for the release of Book 5. You will not be disappointed with The Hidden Key to Harry Potter. It is by far, the best way to unlock the secrets that make Rowling's books such a magical series.

If you are one of the many adult fans of J.K. Rowling's books I am sure that you would find The Hidden Key to be a fascinating read.

I would also highly recommend this book to you if you have no intention whatever of reading the Harry Potter series but are interesting in understanding what all the fuss is about. It is the best attempt I have seen to account for the unprecedented worldwide phenomenon that the books have become.

Granger takes the Harry Potter books seriously as literature, and the depth of analysis is remarkable. However it is done with such enthusiasm and humour that it is also a very enjoyable read.

I'd always suspected that there was more to these books than met the eye, and Hidden Key puts the complex weave of plot, symbolism and allusion under the microscope to reveal its intricate structure. As well as a detailed analysis of the four books so far published there is also some intriguing speculation about where the next three might go.

This book gives us the chance to be informed about and involved in a remarkable literary event as it unfolds, don't miss the opportunity!

Granger's work is an invaluable lesson not only for Harry Potter fans but for those interested in literature and the use of symbols to bring out greater issues. Focusing not only on Rowling but her predecessors, Tolkien and Lewis, Granger surveys the "world of Potter."
He examines major themes, particularly those involving death, rebirth, and transfiguration. After reading Granger's book (and is there something perhaps in the fact that he shares a name with the most intelligent of the Potter characters?), I re-read the entire series. The patterns and rythms seemed far clearer.
Granger uses his knowledge of the whole of classical literature from a myriad of sources to point out the development of the major themes of Rowling's work. It is fascinating. My seventeen year old, who seldom enjoys getting involved in anything involving literature beyond what is required for school, ripped through the book and then devoured Harry 5, declaring that she had found far more meaning in the book than she had previously found in all the others.
An amusing highlight were the predictions Granger made about future books. Since his book was written before Phoenix it was easy to check. He was wrong quite a lot, but on the other hand, he was also right in some places. And, as he has written after the last book, some elements he predicted mya come to pass in Harry 6.

This is a fascinating read for those who enjoy literature as well as for Pottermaniacs.

John Granger isn't the first to point out the Christian content of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. But his reasoning is by far the most in-depth. He uses a wide range of sources to back up his belief that the books are on an equal footing with Lewis' Narnia series and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. He goes beyond the obvious similarities and digs deeper into his sources to make it clear that the Potter books have a lot of good to offer, and no harm - except in the eyes of those who are looking for it. He discusses the strong similarities between Rowling and the Inklings, showing that she could have been an Inkling herself had she lived in a different era.

According to HKHP, there is a substantial amount of oblique, Christian symbolism in the Potter books. The philosopher's stone (the UK title uses this term), red lion, unicorn, phoenix, stag, centaur, and hippogriff have all been used at various times in history to represent different aspects of Jesus Christ. Including Christian themes in literature is a tradition that Ms. Rowling is following. The Greats, from Shakespeare to Tolkien, have all done this. Yes, their books entertained and pleased their readers, but these books also served to instruct and edify their readers. They weren't simply ways to pass the time.

In addition, the books owe a large debt to such influences as C. S. Lewis; J. R. R. Tolkien; the styles of Dickens, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky (the use of descriptive names; strong themes of love and death); Jane Austen (who, along with Dickens emphasized morals and manners); the epic tradition (The Odyssey, The Aenead, The Divine Comedy); myth (King Arthur); fairy tales (Cinderella in particular); cathartic endings (Sophocles, Shakespeare, O, Henry, and Agatha Christie, among others); and many others. The significance is that all of these sources have been used to tell stories with deeper themes, such as good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, and so on. These are deep reads, not just the latest craze in juvenile fiction.

I assume that the list of recommended readings is pretty much the source materials that Mr. Granger used for his book. It's impressive. There are 46 sources cited under 5 broad headings. "Inklings"; "Traditionalist"; "The Church and Masculinity"; "Classical and Traditional Christian Philosophy"; and "Traditional Christianity."

He divides his book into four parts. The names of these sections, as well as the chapters they contain, tell a lot:

1. "Taking Harry Seriously";

Critical Response to Harry Potter
Harry Potter 101, or the Maps and Influences Chapter
Prejudice in Harry Potter
Death and Bereavement in Harry Potter

2. "The Secret of Harry Potter"
Choice in Harry Potter
Transfiguration, Transformation and Alchemical Transmutations in HP
The Symbolist Outlook
Story and Character Symbolism in Harry Potter
Symbols of Christ in Harry Potter
The Ironic Secret of Harry Potter

3. "The Meaning of Harry Potter: a Book-by-Book Look"
Each of these chapters gives 15-20 pages to an in- depth analysis of its book. There are also chapters
dealing with the book titles and Harry's name.

4."What Will Happen with Harry?"
This is the riskiest, but most fun, section. Mr. Granger
speculates about the future of the series, as well as
so-far hidden natures of various characters, including
the enigmatic Severus Snape, as well as others.

The chapters are too dense with information to summarize here, but they contain a lot of information that clearly supports Mr. Granger's main idea: these are Christian novels supporting a Christian worldview filled with Christian values. They aren't allegories so much as supposals (C. S. Lewis's term for his Narnia books).

Ultimately, Mr. Granger presents a very persuasive case for viewing Harry as Christlike figure, showing his depth of character as he grows and learns (Luke 2:52 says, "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."). His position in the war between good and ultimate evil shows that he's no ordinary hero, but one who has depth and substance beyond the typical adolescent. His sacrifices, his willingness to place life above the law (in the first book, he breaks Hogwarts' rules to battle a troll, risking his life to save a friend. (John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."). At the end of every book, he is nearly killed, and yet he comes back from near-death to prevail. Sound familiar?

As far as traditional magic, witchcraft, and the occult are concerned, they have no place in the Potter books. Spells, etc. are formulas for telekinesis and do not depend on the invocation of spirits or other Biblically forbidden activities. One teacher at the school practices and instructs students in divination, tealeaf reading, and so on. She is presented as a buffoon: none of the faculty, and none of the students, take her seriously. She's a big laugh, nothing more.

While the editing could be a bit tighter, this book is a solid resource for HP fans who want to be able to defend them against untrue charges. On the eve of the publication of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, it will be interesting to see whether Ms. Rowling continues on the path that Mr. Granger has mapped so well.

I found "The Hidden Key to Harry Potter" a thorough literary criticism on multiple levels. Mr. Granger maps out a complete step by step journey, walking the reader through each gem, (the themes and meanings running through each book) from the introduction where he identifies each component and discusses it thoroughly to the Inkling world view. Then, with these eye opening revelations firmly implanted in a readers mind, he takes them on a new, enticing journey, (lifting the veil to reveal the true meaning) through each individual Harry Potter novel up to the "Goblet of Fire". I love his exposing the secret within "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". J.K. Rowling's didactic book about books tells us the really dangerous books are ... well, you'll just have to read "The Hidden Key" to find the answer.

There is so much knowledge to gain from this book! Truly an incredible work. Besides being a great help in discussing the value of the Harry Potter novels to our friends and relatives, it has given our entire family a deeper understanding and a fuller appreciation of J. K.'s work, as well as a peek at how her mind works. I can't tell you how much I appreciate Mr. Granger's work. I have read other so called literary criticisms that were so full of obvious bias and fallacies they became a thinly veiled call for book burnings. Or those that were utterly useless, coming from the wrong focus. "The Hidden Key" is none of these. It comes up hitting the mark, with bull's eye accuracy and precision.

On another point, I rate highly a book by being able to check the authors veracity through the listings of supporting evidence. Mr. Granger once again is no slacker on this point. With other books, I have found it no end of frustration trying verify authors adherence to the truth when they give no basis for support throughout their critical response.

Mr. Granger's addition of maps and charts aided in our visualization of his explanations. While we thoroughly enjoyed all of the book, we especially enjoyed the Christian symbolism.

The appendixes were particularly valuable. Again and again I have returned to them. Having read all eight books in Appendix B, Guide to the Guides - Books about Harry Potter, I've purchased three. I've moved on in my reading and am still following Appendix C, Reference List - Recommended Further Reading. "The Hidden Key" challenged me to read more about the Inklings, Tolkien and Lewis. What a pleasure it has been. It also has intrigued me with the type of higher education the Inklings, Ms. Rowling and Mr. Granger have obtained. I hope to discover more of what was taught these great authors and further my own understanding.

The only thing I would want, that this book now lacks, is for it to be updated to include "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"; as well as books six and seven when they appear! Don't change a thing, just add to include the new JKR books.