Lines stretched throughout a Rochester Barnes and Noble this past July, as hundreds of Harry Potter fans got their fix, all unsuspecting of the deep historical references made in the series of books.
Barbara Tedlock, UB anthropology professor, analyzed the phenomenon as well as the historical context behind the series, discovering that the books are based on more than just a magical tale. She also found Harry, his fellow wizards-in-training and the magic surrounding them offer cultural commentary beyond their years.
Ancient Celtic tradition
According to Tedlock, the books reflect connections with ancient Celtic tradition, which Rowling has woven into her books.
"It's a tradition to which you can add your own wrinkle," Tedlock said. "There's room to put your own fantasies."
According to Tedlock, Rowling used pieces of ancient Celtic tradition to create the magical world portrayed in Harry Potter. The tradition of a seven-year magic school attended by both males and females teaching the basic subjects within their own tradition, and the use of Latin, cauldrons and spells is extremely Celtic.
The Thestrals which appear in the stories are half horse and half bat, and cannot be seen by the human eye unless a person has seen another die. This power in seeing and understanding death is also Celtic, said Tedlock.
"Joanne Rowling's work is fantasy, but it's interesting because it's built on a lot of other stuff," Tedlock said. "She knows about Celtic culture, Shamanism and the ancient culture of the British Isles."
Other aspects included in the books are Wiccan customs, science fiction and ethnography, which is the study of how cultures work.
"She (Rowling) lives in the Celt land, and she is part Celt herself," Tedlock said. "She's creating her work out of where she lives, and what it was like in the old days."
Beth Savage, a graduate student in anthropology, cited the book as reflecting aspects of Shamanism as well, with themes of death, rebirth and shape shifting, as well as Grimm's fairy tales.
"It's as though she's taken everything possible from Shamanism and put it together," Tedlock said. "For someone who knows a great deal about Shamanism, it feels right, there are no mistakes."
For avid Harry Potter readers, the news that it isn't entirely imagined was a surprise.
"I never thought that it would be based on actual history," said Alicia Hargadon, freshman nursing major.
"All of these things are inside these books," Tedlock said." It's fascinating as a scholar, a reader and a fan to see what is real. We're weird readers, we read it to look for some of the things other people don't even know about."
Growing popularity
J. K. Rowling's books are attracting readers of all ages and are also encouraging literacy, as Tedlock has seen firsthand.
When Tedlock traveled to Copenhagen this summer, she saw a man around age 35 reading Harry Potter in Danish, and another man around age 50 reading it in English.
"Adults don't talk about it because it's supposed to be a children's book, but I think it's much more interesting than children's literature," Tedlock said. "We're sucked in."
Tedlock cited a number of reasons for this, such as the equal role of women, the liberal theme throughout, such as with Hermione's elf liberation in book four, and the magical quality that is a means for an easy escape from daily routine.
"It's filling in for something that was missing in our culture," she said. "We've lost the magical feeling about the world, we're cynical."
"We're in a war that doesn't go away. In that situation, Joanne Rowling gives us something else," she continued. "More and more of us are going to read Harry Potter because it's an escape. It's a world that isn't really like our world yet."
One of the reasons for Harry Potter's vast success is its addictive quality, the numerous sub-character plots, and the ominous clues that skip over each other.
"They're great the way they build up," said Erich Cominsky, a freshman undecided major.
Tedlock admitted to her own addiction. She began reading book six at 3 p.m. one evening and couldn't stop; she ended up missing a dinner engagement.
"She's creating a whole culture," Tedlock said, referring to the magical realm that parallels the real or "muggle" world, and all that it embodies.
Tedlock also has suspicions that Rowling has had literary help on the last few books, as they suddenly tripled in length and detail after the third book. But fans of the book stated they are happy with her work, regardless of length, detail or historical references.
"If it's true, I don't mind, the thicker the better for me," said Chominsky.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
