1983. From a
novel or play of literary merit, select an important character who is a
villain. Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the nature of the character's
villainy and show how it enhances meaning in the work. Do not merely summarize
the plot.
Many works of literature have villains that add to the plot. Villains can be used in the story to show or teach the protagonist a lesson. For example in Harry Potter the villain is Voldemort. Voldemort is used throughout each book and the novel as a whole to teach Harry lessons and make him face his greatest fears.
Voldemort is known as the constant evil throughout the story that Harry Potter had to defeat. His character is used as the focus of the story, that no matter what Harry's task is, Voldemort is behind it. More specifically, in Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, when Harry is suspicious of Professor Quirrell and his actions and when he meets him to fight at the end of the book, it is actually Voldemort. Before he comes back for real in the fourth book, Voldemort is always lurking to try and kill Harry before Harry can kill him. It shapes the story completely around the fight between the two of them.
J. K. Rowling uses Voldemort to make the lessons that Harry and his friends learn through trying to defeat him more meaningful. The lessons they learn about friendship, honor, respect and fighting for what you believe in, while they struggle to end the fight with Voldemort, seem very real as you read the book and hope that they can defeat their villain. Voldemort's tricky way of coming back after the reader and Harry think that he has been defeated makes the books seem like they could go on forever and makes every battle they have with Voldemort that much more significant.
Villains can be key aspects in works of literature and make the work as a whole more note worthy. Voldemort truly enhances the meaning of friends and loyalty in Harry Potter. The lessons the characters learn because of Voldemort and villains in general, have much more impact because of the villains.
Hi Marie,
ReplyDeleteI really like your essay, but there were some parts I have to disagree with you on. For one, I don't think that Harry's ONLY villain he has to fight is Voldemort, I think there is a lot of modernism-psychological battles that go on with Harry, also. (Maybe the prompt didn't just mean a physical villain, but an internal one too!) And again in your second paragraph I feel you might need some more evidence as to WHY Voldemorts presence makes the Golden Trios friendship more potent. Also, you touch on how the reader wants them to beat him, but I don't see how that really relates to a. the paragraph, and b. your thesis. The topics of "wanting them to win" and "significant battles" just don't jell with me, from an essay reader point of few. The idea might make a good branch paragraph if you can tighten up the topic sentence.
I think I know what you want to say, since I love HP also, but you need to write it as if someone doesn't understand the significance of the names and situations you are using.
Erin Donahue
I like this very well done! This essay supports the prompt and I think that that your thesis is good and connects to the prompt. Though i think you could use some more support!
ReplyDelete~Emily Mackson
I agree with Erin on the second paragraph. Why is Voldemort specific evil that unites Harry and his friends? Could a different foe have had the same effect? This was an excellent choice, with good support , especially for the first claim, but as a Harry Potter fan, I think there was a lot of potential to explore the connection between Harry and Voldemort - in how the prophesy and their choices in their relationship have shaped each other. But I suppose that could be another essay entirely.
ReplyDelete