Acknowledged influences Harry Potter influences and analogues

1 acknowledged influences

1.1 british folklore , mythology
1.2 iliad
1.3 bible
1.4 aeschylus , william penn
1.5 pardoner s tale
1.6 macbeth
1.7 emma
1.8 story of treasure seekers
1.9 wind in willows
1.10 dorothy l. sayers
1.11 chronicles of narnia
1.12 little white horse
1.13 sword in stone
1.14 manxmouse
1.15 jessica mitford

acknowledged influences

ivan akimov - herakles on crossroads. greco-roman mythology considerable influence on harry potter.

rowling has never openly credited single author inspiration, saying, haven t got faintest idea ideas come from, or how imagination works. m grateful does, because gives me more entertainment gives else. however, has mentioned number of favourite authors probable influences in creation of harry potter. works listed in order of publication.

british folklore , mythology

rowling has said, ve taken horrible liberties folklore , mythology, m quite unashamed that, because british folklore , british mythology totally bastard mythology. know, ve been invaded people, ve appropriated gods, ve taken mythical creatures, , ve soldered them make, say, 1 of richest folklores in world, because s varied. feel no compunction borrowing freely, adding few things of own.

the iliad

when interviewer said saving cedric s body resembled actions of hector, achilles, , patroclus in iliad, rowling said, s came from. really, really, moved me when read when 19. idea of desecration of body, ancient idea... thinking of when harry saved cedric s body.

the bible

a number of commentators have drawn attention biblical themes , references in j. k. rowling s final harry potter novel, harry potter , deathly hallows. in august 2007 issue of newsweek, lisa miller commented harry dies , comes life save humankind, christ. points out title of chapter in occurs— king s cross —a possible allusion christ s cross. also, outlines scene in harry temporarily dead, pointing out places harry in heaven-like setting talks father figure supernatural powers accompanied profound message of love. jeffrey weiss adds, in dallas morning news, biblical quotation , last enemy shall destroyed death (1 corinthians 15:26), featured on tombstones of harry s parents, refers christ s resurrection. quotation on dumbledore s family tomb, treasure is, heart , matthew 6:21, , refers knowing things in life of true value. re british books , rowling revealed open book conference in october 2007, on practical note harry going find biblical quotations on tombstones, [but] think 2 particular quotations finds on tombstones @ godric s hollow, (…) epitomize whole series.

aeschylus , william penn

deathly hallows begins pair of epigraphs, 1 quaker leader william penn s more fruits of solitude , 1 aeschylus libation bearers. enjoyed choosing 2 quotations because 1 pagan, of course, , 1 christian tradition , rowling said. d known going 2 passages since chamber published. knew [that] if use them @ beginning of book 7 d cued ending perfectly. if relevant, went needed go. me, do.

the pardoner s tale

in july 2007 webchat hosted publisher bloomsbury, rowling stated pardoner s tale of geoffrey chaucer s canterbury tales inspiration folktale retold xenophilius lovegood in harry potter , deathly hallows. in tale, 3 brothers outwit death magicing bridge cross dangerous river. death, angry @ being cheated, offers give them 3 gifts, deathly hallows, reward evading him. first 2 die result of gifts granted them, third uses gift wisely , dies in bed old man. in pardoner s tale, 3 rogues told if under tree, can find means defeat death. instead find gold, and, overcome greed, kill each other possess it.

macbeth

rowling has cited william shakespeare s macbeth influence. in interview leaky cauldron , mugglenet, when asked, if [voldemort] never heard prophecy? , said, s macbeth idea. absolutely adore macbeth. possibly favourite shakespeare play. , s question isn t it? if macbeth hadn t met witches, have killed duncan? of have happened? fated or did make happen? believe made happen. on website, referred macbeth again in discussing prophecy: prophecy (like 1 witches make macbeth, if has read play of same name) becomes catalyst situation never have occurred if had not been made.

emma

rowling cites jane austen favourite author , major influence. rowling has said: attitude jane austen accurately summed wonderful line cold comfort farm: 1 of disadvantages of universal education kinds of people gained familiarity 1 s favourite books. gave 1 curious feeling; seeing drunken stranger wrapped in 1 s dressing gown. harry potter series known twist endings, , rowling has stated that, have never set surprise ending in harry potter book without knowing can never, , never, anywhere near austen did in emma.

the story of treasure seekers

rowling mentions e. nesbit in interview, citing real child characters. in 2000, said, think identify e nesbit more other writer , , described nesbit s story of treasure seekers as, exhibit prohibition of children s literature cannot remember how felt child.

the wind in willows

the wind in willows kenneth grahame

in 2007 reading students in new orleans, rowling said first book inspire kenneth grahame s children s fantasy wind in willows, read when had measles @ age 4.

dorothy l. sayers

rowling has cited work of christian essayist , mystery writer dorothy l. sayers influence on work, saying there s theory – applies detective novels, , harry, not detective novel, feels 1 – should not have romantic intrigue in detective book. dorothy l. sayers, queen of genre said – , broke own rule, said – there no place romance in detective story except can useful camouflage other people s motives. s true; useful trick. ve used on percy , ve used degree on tonks in book, red herring. having said that, disagree inasmuch mine character-driven books, , s important, therefore, see these characters fall in love, necessary part of life.

the chronicles of narnia

rowling has said fan of works of c. s. lewis child, , cites influence of narnia chronicles on work: found myself thinking wardrobe route narnia when harry told has hurl himself @ barrier in king s cross station – dissolves , s on platform 9 , three-quarters, , there s train hogwarts.

she is, however, @ pains stress differences between narnia , world: narnia literally different world , says, whereas in harry books go world within world can see if happen belong. lot of humour comes collisions between magic , everyday world. there isn t humour in narnia books, although adored them when child. got caught didn t think cs lewis preachy. reading them find subliminal message isn t subliminal. new york times writer charles mcgrath notes similarity between dudley dursley, obnoxious son of harry s neglectful guardians, , eustace scrubb, spoiled brat torments main characters until converted aslan.

the little white horse

in interview in scotsman in 2002, rowling described elizabeth goudge s little white horse having, perhaps more other book . . . direct influence on harry potter books. author included details of characters eating , remember liking that. may have noticed list food being eaten @ hogwarts. rowling said in o goudge [author] influence conscious of. described children eating, , liked knowing had in sandwiches.

the sword in stone

rowling cites work of t. h. white, grammar school teacher, , author of well-known children s classic saga, once , future king, tells story of king arthur of britain, childhood grave. perhaps best-known book saga sword in stone (the first book) made animated movie walt disney. arthur (called wart) small scruffy-haired orphan, meets wizard merlin (who has owl, archimedes, , acts, dumbledore, in manner of absent-minded professor ) takes him castle educate him. writer phyllis morris notes, parallels between dumbledore , merlin not end protection of hero in danger . . . in addition both characters sporting long, flowing beards (and blue eyes, according t.h. white), merlin king arthur s mentor , guide, dumbledore has been harry s guide , mentor. rowling describes wart harry s spiritual ancestor.

manxmouse

rowling fan of paul gallico, manxmouse. s great book. gallico manages fine line between magic , reality skilfully, point fantastic events feel plausible.

jessica mitford

in scotsman interview, rowling described civil rights activist jessica mitford influential writer , saying, love way never outgrew of adolescent traits, remaining true politics – self-taught socialist – throughout life. in review of decca—the letters of jessica mitford, went further saying, jessica mitford has been heroine since 14 years old, when overheard formidable great-aunt discussing how mitford had run away @ age of 19 fight reds in spanish civil war , , claims inspired mitford was incurably , instinctively rebellious, brave, adventurous, funny , irreverent, liked nothing better fight, preferably against pompous , hypocritical target.