joseph campbell's journey of a hero as applicable to harry potter

7/21/2019 Joseph Campbell's Journey of a Hero as applicable to Harry Potter

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28-04-2013

Post Graduate Diploma In ComparativeMythology

Department ! "ans#rit$ %niversity ! Mum&ai

'arry Potter and (oseph Camp&ell)s

Monomyth *heory

+'ero Myths,Dissertation

-%t#arsha otian

#otianut#arsha.gmail/om

*a&le o! Contents


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Introduction 03

Archetypes 06

Part One: Departure 14

Part Two: Initiation 26

Part Three: Return 35

or!s "ited 40

Introdution

Harry Potter and Joseph Campbells Monomyth Theory Utkarsha Kotian


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A #ythica$ %ero is de&ined as the core character o& any #yth' one who (rin)s a(out a

chan)e and there(y (eco#es an e*tra+ordinary person, This %ero ushers in the new era and

$eads society towards chan)e and (eco#es the prota)onist o& #any stories that are descri(ed

as his -.ourney/, The .ourney o& such a %ero is seen in a$$ #yths around the wor$d in $iterary

wor! as we$$ as ora$ stories, The .ourney o& the %ero is perhaps the #ost i#portant e$e#ent o&

the story' which &o$$ows the co#in) o& a)e as we$$ as the shapin) up o& #ora$ character o& the

%ero,

uch %eroes are a$so &ound in popu$ar $iterature as we$$ as #oies, One such %ero o&

popu$ar $iterature is %arry Potter' the %ero o& oanne ath$een Row$in)s %arry Potter series,

tartin) with the &irst pu($ication in 1 o& Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone'

Row$in)' the author o& the (oo!s un$eashed the i#a)ination o& a )eneration to who# (oo!s

were see#in)$y $ost, ithin a #onth o& the re$ease o& the $ast (oo! in 200' the series was

dec$ared as the (i))est story o& success whi$e it topped a$$ charts o& (estse$$ers o& a$$ ti#es,

The secret o& success o& the series is in the nature o& the $ead %ero o& the (oo! 7 %arry

Potter, A (oy o& e$een years' %arry discoers he is a wi8ard and is $ead into a 9uest to de&eat

the #ost ei$ wi8ard o& a$$ ti#e 7 o$de#ort' &or#s the #ain story arc o& the series,

A$$ %eroes are said to hae certain traits and characteristics that can (road$y (e seen in a$$

%eroes o& the past o& a$$ cu$tures, The %ero is truth&u$' &i)hts ei$' is .ust etc, are so#e

popu$ar the#es, oseph "a#p(e$$ in his (oo! The Hero with a Thousand Facessu##arises

the entire .ourney o& any %ero' across stories;era;cu$tures into his


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#isses out so#e steps o& the ourney and #oes to the ne*t, This is si#p$y accordin) to what

the p$ot de#ands,

%ence' whereer the story #isses a step' that part o& the ourney is a(sent in this ana$ysis

and is si#p$e #entioned in the order, The ana$ysis is two&o$d whereer app$ica($e 7 ta!in)

the entire series as one story arc and then each (oo! indiidua$$y as separate adentures,

C'*P"



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hen "a#p(e$$ descri(es the archetypica$ %ero and his .ourney' the sta)es o& the .ourney

are a$so characterised (y the presence o& certain characters that cou$d (e true &or eery and

any #yth;story;&a($e, uch characters that &or# the narratie o& the %eros .ourney are ca$$ed

the archetypica$ characters or the archetypes,

%oweer' the idea or e*istence o& the archetype is not an idea inented (y "a#p(e$$ (ut is

(ased on the archetypes that "ar$ un) e*p$ained, These archetypes are a part o& shared

consciousness in the history o& #an!ind and their story te$$in) way= #a!in) the# the #ost

co##on$y seen aspects in a story, These' accordin) to un)' are a$ready !nown to eeryone

and one need not !now the theory to understand or reco)nise the#,

The archetypes that are usua$$y associated with the


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&i&th (oo! that Tre$awneys prophecy su))ests that either %arry or o$de#ort can surie' the

story arc o& the series is the way in which one #ust de&eat the other to $ie,

As esta($ished ear$y in the (oo!' %arry is not .ust unassu#in) and si#p$e (ut is a$so #uch

#ore wor$d$y wise when p$aced in contrast to his oer pa#pered cousin Dud$ey, @orced to

(e so' he re#ains the si#p$e person who is happy to (e out o& his cup(oard under the stairs

and &ina$$y (e reco)nised as a person and not .ust a (urden on peop$e' as is the case with the

Durs$eys, %arry is an orphan and his parents i$y and a#es Potter were #urdered when he

was around a year o$d (y o$de#ort' the )reatest dar! wi8ard o& a$$ ti#e, It is a #ystery &or

#ost part o& the series as to why %arry suried that &ate&u$ encounter and o$de#ort died,

Ti#e and a)ain' %arry ris!s his $i&e &or the -)reater )ood/ or &or sain) so#eone e$ses, In

%arry Potter and the Phi$osophers tone' he ensures o$de#ort does not (eco#e i##orta$,

In %arry Potter and the "ha#(er o& ecrets' he ris!s near death to sae ?inny eas$ey, In

%arry Potter and the Prisoner o& A8!a(an' he &rees his ?od&ather irius B$ac! a&ter &i)htin)

hundreds o& De#entors who wou$de suc!ed his sou$, i#i$ar$y in %arry Potter and the

?o($et o& @ire' %arry Potter and the Order o& the Phoeni*' %arry Potter and the %a$& B$ood

Prince and %arry Potter and the Death$y %a$$ows' %arry puts hi#se$& in the way o& dan)er

oer and oer a)ain to sae (oth his near ones as we$$ as the entire wi8ardin) co##unity,

2/ "hado5

The hadow archetype is o& ut#ost i#portance in the %eros .ourney (ecause it is the

hadow that has to (e de&eated in order to oerco#e the o(stac$es and co#p$ete the .ourney,

The hadow cou$d (e a #orta$ ene#y' a co#p$ete antithesis o& the %ero or a$so a person who

had the sa#e options as the %ero (ut chose to (e the hadow, The cause &or i$$ainy o& the

hadow #ay (e a resu$t o& suppression o& an)er or the need o& reco)nition,



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The hadow in the %arry Potter series is ord o$de#ort, Born as To#


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hi# in certain actiities and instead .ust do as he says, Re)ard$ess o& which' when %arry does

the sa#e' Du#($edore saes hi# eery ti#e and o&ten &aces the repercussions so that %arry is

not har#ed, hen Du#($edore is !i$$ed' %arry &ee$s #ore a$one than he had eer (e&ore'

(ecause the on$y )uidin) $i)ht and eer present support he had is now )one, Thus he spends

the rest o& his .ourney in %arry Potter and the Death$y %a$$ows' &u$&i$$in) the 9uest and

responsi(i$ities set (y Du#($edore to de&eat o$de#ort' in which he u$ti#ate$y succeeds,

uch is the re$ationship (etween the


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ine*p$ica($e eents $i!e his hair )rowin) (ac! in a ni)ht' a )$ass anishin) etc, hae

happened to hi# oer the years Its his #a)ic showin), %a)rid then ta!es %arry to Dia)on

A$$ey the &o$$owin) day to (uy his wand' cau$drons' (oo!s etc, &or schoo$, Thus' (oth the

arria$s o& ow$s with $etters to %arry' as we$$ as the une*pected appearance o& %a)rid' act as

the %era$d in the series,

6/ *hreshold Guardians

The Thresho$d ?uardian as the na#e su))ests' is a )uardian to a #a.or chan)in) point in

the .ourney, This )uardian cou$d (e an eent' a )enera$ senti#ent or a proper )uardian that

stop the chan)e &ro# happenin) or (y hinderin) it, It cou$d (e a .ea$ous opponent or a

see#in)$y oerwhe$#in) situation etc,

The Thresho$d ?uardians in the series are #any, hen %a)rid arries' %arry is coninced

that there is a #ista!e and that he cou$d not (e a wi8ard, I& he were' he wou$dnt hae (een

the icti# o& the (u$$yin) and i$$+treat#ent o& eeryone, %e a$so is dou(t&u$ o& the &act that

he has anythin) specia$ to de&eat o$de#ort ti$$ as &ar as the 5 thinsta$#ent o& the series when

a&ter his )od&ather irius B$ac! dies= Du#($edore in&or#s %arry that his power is to

understand and (e a($e to $oe, It is $i!e co#passion which is a(so$ute$y $ac!in) in

o$de#ort, Thus' his ery &irst Thresho$d ?uardian is his own dou(t, hen in Dia)on A$$ey

with %a)rid' %arry #eets Draco


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7/ "hapeshi!ters

Csua$$y' #ost #ythica$ stories or &a($es hae hapeshi&ters that in the actua$ sense o& the

ter#+ chan)e their shape, They #oe &ro# one &or# o& (ein) to the other either wi$$in)$y or

unwi$$in)$y, This cou$d a$so (e interpreted as a chan)e in the perception o& an eent that is a

#a.or turnin) point or a person whose $oya$ties are not !nown and cou$d turn any side,

The (oo!s hae (oth these &or#s o& hapeshi&ters, In %arry Potter and the Phi$osophers

tone' it is #entioned ear$y on that Pro&essor Euirre$ who teaches at %o)warts #et so#e

a#pires and eery since is scared o& eerythin) around hi#' inc$udin) students, Re#us

upin' Pro&essor at %o)warts in %arry Potter and the Prisoner o& A8!a(an' and %arrys c$ose

&riend and con&idante' is (itten (y a werewo$& as a chi$d and turns into one eery &u$$ #oon,

%e &or#s one o& the core characters in the &ina$ war, %oweer' uni9ue to the series is a

hapeshi&ter si#i$ar to ta$es o& a#pires turnin) into (ats at wi$$= theyre ca$$ Ani#a)us,

o#e peop$e' such as Pro&essor


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%arry Potter and the %a$& B$ood Prince' and $ater as the new %ead#aster o& %o)warts spreads

a rei)n o& terror in the schoo$, Fen o$de#ort is coninced that nape &aours hi# and was

a dou($e a)ent on$y to (rin) a(out %arry and Du#($edores &a$$, It is not ti$$ the $ast &ew

chapters o& %arry Potter and the Death$y %a$$ows that we discoer his $oya$ties were a$ways

to Du#($edore and he$ped sae harry nu#erous ti#es, This (rin)s a(out a hu)e chan)e in the

perception o& nape in %arrys eyes that he na#es his son A$(us eerus Potter' napes &irst

na#e (ein) his sons #idd$e na#e,

/ *ri#sters

Tric!sters are the #ischie& #a!ers, They #ore o&ten than not sere as a co#ic re$ie& or a

distraction to the #ain p$ot, They cou$d a$so so#eti#es $ead the %ero astray' a$(eit in a witty

way,

Three #ain tric!sters can (e pin+pointed ri)ht away in the series, The eas$ey Twins @red

and ?eor)e are the pran!sters whore popu$ar a#on)st the %o)warts students as the two who

can s#u))$e in &or(idden stu&& as we$$ as (e unto so#e #ischie& &or the sa!e o& a#use#ent o&

others, ith %arrys he$p they esta($ish eas$eys i8ard hee8es' a .o!e shop that se$$s a$$

sorts o& accessories &or pu$$in) pran!s, The third is Peees' whos the cast$es po$ter)eist, %e

is a trou($e#a!er and on$y $oo!s to create haoc, %e co#p$etes the trio with the eas$ey

twins,

8/ llies

A$$ies are (y &ar the #ost i#portant archetype &or the %ero, They he$p hi# and aid hi# (y

(rin)in) a(out so$utions to pro($e#s as we$$ as adisin) hi#, O&ten' they are an e#otiona$

support to hi# and a$so c$osest con&idantes,



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Euite c$ear$y' these a$$ies &or %arry are his two perennia$ co#panions Rona$d eas$ey and

%er#ione ?ran)er, hi$e Ron and %arry hae (een c$ose &riends &ro# the #o#ent they #eet

at in)s "ross' their &riendship with %er#ione is on$y &or#ed a&ter they sae her &ro# a tro$$

in their 1styear, Throu)h the series' they stand (y hi# and wheneer %arry )ies the# a

choice to $eae and not ris! their $ies &or hi#' they stay (ac!,

Underneath the &loak' Harry t(rned to the other t)o*

+,- yo( )ant to .o ba&k' , )ont blame yo('/ he said* +0o( &an take the

&loak' , )ont need it no)*/

+ont be st(pid'/ said on*

+ere &omin.'/ said Hermione*

+ %arry Potter and the Phi$osophers tone GP) 200H



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P* 9: DP*%

The &irst o& three parts o& "a#p(e$$s description o& the %eros ourney is Departure, In

this sta)e the %ero is separated &ro# his &a#i$y and the wor$d that he !nows, At this sta)e' the

(e)innin) o& the .ourney' the %ero decides that he wi$$ $eae his wor$d and )o out on an

adenture, In this part o& "a#p(e$$s theory' we see that the %arry Potter series has a$$ the

&ie steps and they occur in a$$ seen (oo!s as we$$,

This is the adent o& the %eros &u$&i$#ent o& his destiny and what wi$$ here &orth (e ca$$ed

his new $i&e, O&ten' the %ero is not happy or satis&ied in his o$d $i&e due to societa$

issues;uncarin) parents or )uardians' or (ecause routine has set in and there is nothin)

worthwhi$e any#ore, To )et hi#se$& out o& the hu#dru#s o& his $i&e are usua$$y the reasons

the %ero a)rees to )o on the .ourney,

This step is diided into &ie steps that co#p$ete the process o& $eain) a$$ that is his and

into that which cou$d (e peri$ous,

1/ *he Call to dventure

The %ero starts o&& in a #undane situation o& nor#a$ity &ro# which so#e in&or#ation is

receied that acts as a ca$$ to head o&& into the need either to answer a hi)her ca$$in) or with

the pro#ise o& a $i&e (etter than the one that he e*ists in now, This is the sta)e when the %ero

rea$ises that there are opportunities &or hi# outside o& a$$ that he has !nown throu)h his $i&e

and that this adenture cou$d (e a possi(i$ity,



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The "a$$ that )ets %arry into the #a)ica$ wor$d is the sudden appearances o& the ow$s on

Priet Drie that )et $etters &or hi#, Fen (e&ore this thou)h' %arry is spotted (y nu#erous

wi8ards who (ow to hi# in shops and pae#ents that he thin!s o& as stran)ers, In a way' the

(outs o& #a)ic that %arry has &or his se$& preseration 7 the anishin) )$ass in the 8oo' his

hair )rowin) (ac! etc, 7 are a$$ "a$$s, They #a!e hi# wonder i& he is di&&erent or si#p$y not

nor#a$ at a$$, %ence' %arrys "a$$ is dierse and #u$tip$e co#in) to hi# at re)u$ar eents ti$$

the &ina$ "a$$ co#es in the &or# o& %a)rid,

a/ 'arry Potter and the Philosopher)s "tone

%arrys initiation to the wor$d o& #a)ic has happened #uch (e&ore his conscious rea$isation

o& the sa#e, hen %arry is dou(t&u$ o& his capa(i$ities' %a)rid as!s hi# i& he has neer had

any weird e*periences or eents that .ust occurred and he had no contro$ oer= re#indin)

%arry o& the sa#e, %oweer' the %era$d that were the ow$s and %a)rid are %arrys &irst "a$$,

The "a$$ to the Adenture actua$$y (e)ins when %arry $earns o& the au$t at ?rin)otts (ein)

sto$en on the sa#e day as his arria$ with %a)rid at the (an!, It is here that %arry (e)ins

suspectin) so#ethin) is occurrin) and .oins the dots &ina$$y when he rea$ises %a)rid e#ptied

the sa#e au$t,

+Ha.rid/ said Harry' +that 5rin.otts break6in happened on my birthday

,t mi.ht7e been happenin. )hile )e )ere there/

There )as no do(bt abo(t it' Ha.rid de8nitely didnt meet Harrys eyes

this time* He .r(nted and o9ered him another ro&k &ake* Harry read the

story a.ain* The 7a(lt that )as sear&hed had in -a&t been emptied

earlier that same day* Ha.rid had emptied 7a(lt se7en h(ndred and



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thirteen' i- yo( &o(ld &all it emptyin.' takin. o(t that .r(bby little

pa&ka.e* Had that been )hat the thie7es )ere lookin. -or:

- %arry Potter and the Phi$osophers tone GP) 105+6H

&/ 'arry Potter and the Cham&er o! "erets

%arry is ea)er to )et (ac! to %o)warts hain) $ied there &or a year, %oweer he !nows

that so#ethin) sinister is a$ready happenin) at %o)warts (e&ore he een $eaes the Durs$eys,

A house+e$& na#ed Do((y co#es to #eet %arry and warns hi# and re9uests hi# not to )o

(ac! and a$so wor!s to that end,

+Harry Potter m(st stay )here he is sa-e* He is too .reat' too .ood' to

lose* ,- Harry Potter .oes ba&k to Ho.)arts' he )ill be in mortal dan.er*/

+hy:/ said Harry in s(rprise*

+There is a plot' Harry Potter* ; plot to make most terrible thin.s happen

at Ho.)arts OPF>FD, F>F


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"a$$ &or this adenture is two&o$d 7 the writin) and the attac!s as we$$ as the in&or#ation

a(out the sa#e )ien to %arry (y Do((y when he is at the Durs$eys,

/ 'arry Potter and the Prisoner o! ;#a&an

hen at the Durs$eys &or his acation' Cnc$e ernons sister


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transported to a )raeyard where o$de#ort co#es (ac! to $i&e, %ence' the "a$$ here is

%arrys na#e co#in) out o& the ?o($et that &orces hi# on the adenture,

e/ 'arry Potter and the rder o! the Phoeni=

%arrys #oe#ents are con&ined since eery(ody is o& the opinion that Du#($edore and

%arry are $yin) a(out o$de#ort, %arry now enters a #a)ica$ wor$d where he is not the %ero

(ut a $iar, %is "a$$ appears in the &or# o& De#entors who $and up at itt$e hin)in) when

%arry and Dud$ey are returnin) ho#e one eenin), In order to sae hi#se$& he uses #a)ic

and hence a notice arries as!in) hi# to co#e to a tria$ to decide on his e*pu$sion &ro#

%o)warts, ater' it is reea$ed to the wor$d that the De#entors are no $on)er in contro$ o& the

lood Prine

ince the


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(oo! arries in the &or# o& a newspaper artic$e, As %arry is readin) The Dai$y Prophet in

Priet Drie' the readers are introduced to two c$ashin) iews o& Du#($edore, The one (y

F$phias Do)e' Du#($edores schoo$ &riend' spea!s o& hi# as a carin)' inte$$i)ent and se$&+

sacri&icin) #an, Rita !eeter on the other hand' writes a (io)raphy o& Du#($edores $i&e

where she )ets the .uicy detai$s o& his $i&e to (e pro#inent' castin) a dou(t in %arrys #ind i&

the Du#($edore he had !nown was actua$$y as c$ose to hi# as %arry thou)ht he was,

This di$e##a carries on &or #ost part o& the (oo! where %arry now has to choose (etween

$oo!in) &or the %a$$ows or the %orcru*es, @ina$$y' the choice %arry #a!es is in&$uenced (y

his #e#ory o& Du#($edore' thus #a!in) this predica#ent dee$oped &ro# the newspaper

artic$es a "a$$ o& the eents in the (oo!,

2/ e!usal o! Call

O&ten' when the "a$$ is )ien' the %ero re&uses to heed to it, This #ay (e &ro# a sense o&

duty or o($i)ation to preious co##it#ents, It cou$d (e &ear' insecurity' a sense o&

inade9uacy etc, This sta)e occurs #ore &re9uent$y when the %ero is an ordinary #an een in

the preious $i&e' and hence has to (e coninced;coa*ed to accept his participation in the

.ourney,

This happens to %arry in the &irst (oo! when %a)rid co#es to de$ier his $etter and ta!e

hi# shoppin), %a)rid in&or#s %arry that he is a wi8ard and that he wi$$ hence&orth (e

educated in %o)warts schoo$ o& itchcra&t and i8ardry where his na#e has (een down

since he was (orn,



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Thou)h &irst e$ated on &ina$$y discoerin) what the contents o& the $etter were' %arry is then

sceptica$ o& the who$e idea, %e is sure that thou)h his parents cou$d hae (een e*tre#e$y

)i&ted witch and wi8ard' %arry was an ordinary (oy,

; )i=ard: Him: Ho) &o(ld he possibly be: Hed spent his li-e bein.

&lo(ted by (dley' and b(llied by ;(nt Pet(nia and Un&le >ernon? i- he

)as really a )i=ard' )hy hadnt they been t(rned into )arty toads e7ery

time theyd tried to lo&k him in his &(pboard: ,- hed on&e de-eated the

.reatest sor&erer in the )orld' ho) &ome (dley had al)ays been able

to ki&k him aro(nd like a -ootball:

+Ha.rid'/ he said @(ietly' +, think yo( m(st ha7e made a mistake* , dont

think , &an be a )i=ard*/

To his s(rprise' Ha.rid &h(&kled*

+ %arry Potter and the Phi$osophers tone GP) 4H

%a)rid then coninces %arry that he is a wi8ard (y as!in) hi# to reco$$ect the eents in

which he had no ino$e#ent (ut his pro($e#s so$ed the#se$es in %arrys &aour, @ina$$y'

%arry a)rees, %arry does not Re&use the "a$$ in any o& the other (oo!s since he has a$ready

(een initiated into the wor$d o& #a)ic and the rest is si#p$y a continuation o& his adenture,

3/ "upernatural id

Once the %ero has co##itted to the 9uest conscious$y or unconscious$y' his or her #a)ica$

he$per appears or (eco#es !nown, This aid )uides the %ero throu)h his &irst set o& cha$$en)es

and eases the stress and (urden o& $eain) the !nown (ehind and enturin) into the un!nown,

This aid is supernatura$ &ro# the point o& iew o& the %ero, The aid is si#p$y di&&erent &ro#

the %ero (ut cou$d (e nor#a$ when it co#es to the new wor$d that the %ero enters,



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%arrys constant Aid throu)hout the series is Du#($edore, %e is %arrys #entor and care

ta!er thou)h not a$ways direct$y aidin) hi#' he does it throu)h arious other #eans, Bein)

the on$y person o& who# o$de#ort was scared' he is (est p$aced to he$p %arry, In the &irst

(oo!' he sends %a)rid to assist %arry in his shoppin) and other s#a$$ chores, In the second

he sends @aw!es' his pet phoeni* to )et %arry out o& the "ha#(er o& ecrets, In the third he

he$ps (y instructin) %er#ione to turn her ti#e+turner three ti#es to )et their wor! done, In

the su(se9uent &our (oo!s' Du#($edore acts $i!e a )uide who stands at the sides (ut a$ways

!eeps an eye out &or %arry, A&ter his death' he he$ps %arry throu)h eerus nape (y

instructin) hi# throu)h the portrait in the %ead#asters roo# in %o)warts,

4/ Crossing the ei$$e discoer' a three+headed do) is )uardin) so#ethin) oer there which

cou$d !i$$ anyone who tried to )o past it throu)h the trapdoor to whateer it was )uardin),



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Jet' when the %arry is coninced that nape wi$$ )o throu)h the door to try and recoer the

Phi$osophers tone' he decides to cross the thresho$d and )o throu)h the door, This he

!nows' #ay $ead hi# to a &ace to &ace encounter with o$de#ort and cou$d (e e*tre#e$y

dan)erous= yet he crosses the thresho$d to #a!e sure that the tone does not &a$$ in

o$de#orts hands,

&/ 'arry Potter and the Cham&er o! "erets

hen the %eir o& $ytherin opens the "ha#(er o& ecrets and #any #u))$e (orn chi$dren

are petri&ied (y the #onster o& the "ha#(er= %arry !nows he #ust do so#ethin) to stop this,

hen %er#ione is petri&ied .ust as she is a(out to te$$ %arry the reason he can hear oices in

the wa$$ that #i)ht (e a c$ue to the cha#(er' %arrys reso$ution to do so#ethin) a(out the

situation so$idi&ies, @ina$$y' when ?inny eas$ey' Rons youn)er sister is ta!en (y the

#onster into the "ha#(er itse$&' %arry and Ron decide to enter the "ha#(er the#se$es

without carin) a(out their own we$$ (ein) and ta!e Pro&essor ?i$deroy oc!hart a$on), This

"rossin) o& the Thresho$d o& the way into a possi($y &ata$ adenture o& sain) ?inny' )ets

%arry to &ace o$de#ort &or the third ti#e,

/ 'arry Potter and the Prisoner o! ;#a&an

ince his return to %o)warts' %arry has accidents where he wou$d die i& not the

interention o& Du#($edore, A$so the recurrin) do) in Tre$awneys prophecies and in %arrys

surroundin)s #a!es hi# wary o& it, hen a hu)e ($ac! do) dra)s Ron throu)h a ho$e in the

ho#pin) i$$ow' %arry and %er#ione !now that it #ay !i$$ the#' yet they &o$$ow hi#

down the ho$e to sae hi#, This crossin) $eads to %arry #eetin) irius B$ac! and Peter

Petti)rew in the hrie!in) hac! and discoerin) the truth,

d/ 'arry Potter and the Go&let o!


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In this (oo!' %arry does not underta!e the adenture hi#se$&' (ut it is thrust on hi#, %e

does not o$unteer to "ross the Thresho$d Gthe #a)ic a)e $ine that Du#($edore draws in

order to !eep undera)e !ids awayH= so#eone e$se puts his na#e in &or hi#, %ence' he has no

choice to (ut to co#pete, %oweer' when he is reaches the choice o& winnin) the

cha#pionship (y touchin) the trophy at the centre o& the #a8e' he unconscious$y crosses the

thresho$d to reach the )raeyard where o$de#ort is waitin) to (e resurrected,

e/ 'arry Potter and the rder o! the Phoeni=

%arrys connection to o$de#orts (rain is e*p$ored in depth in this (oo!, hi$e %arry can

$oo! into o$de#orts (rain when the $atter is particu$ar$y an)ry or happy= o$de#ort uses

this connection to p$ant an idea in %arrys (rain that irius is (ein) tortured in the

Depart#ent o&


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g/ 'arry Potter and the Deathly 'allo5s

%arry decides at the end o& the preious (oo! that he wou$d pro(a($y not co#e (ac! to

%o)warts (ut on$y $oo! &or %orcru*es, This decision that he carries &orward in the $ast (oo!

is the &irst part o& hi# crossin) the thresho$d, hen at Bi$$s weddin) in)s$ey hac!$e(o$ts

patronus arries to te$$ the# that the #inistry has &a$$en' %er#ione' Ron and %arry

disapparate to ondon in order to &$ee capture (y the death eaters, Preparin) &or this &$i)ht

&ro# dan)er &or a $on) ti#e' %er#ione &aci$itates the crossin) o& the thresho$d that $eads the#

to a year in hidin) &or the hunt o& %orcru*es, This &$i)ht is the second part o& thresho$d

crossin),

6/ *he >elly o! the ?hale

The Be$$y o& the ha$e represents the &ina$ separation &ro# the %eros !nown wor$d and

se$&, By enterin) this sta)e' the %ero shows their wi$$in)ness to under)o #eta#orphosis, The

Be$$y o& the wha$e is a sy#(o$ic sta)e where the %eros departure is co#p$ete and his

initiation (e)ins, It is his &irst co##it#ent to the new wor$d and wi$$in)ness to (e

trans&or#ed (y it in this wor$d, %e hands oer the $i&e he current$y has $ed' to )et so#ethin)

new which he does not !now a(out,

"a#p(e$$ de&ines this sta)e as a re(irth o& the %ero where he is see#in)$y dead (ut co#es

out to (e a$ie and thus &astens his position as a #ythic %ero, %oweer' this can (e

sy#(o$ica$$y understood to (e the sheddin) o& preious identity and hence (ein) re(orn as a

new person a$to)ether' whi$e the preious dies,

+The idea that the passa.e o- the ma.i&al threshold is a transit into a

sphere o- rebirth is symboli=ed in the )orld)ide )omb ima.e o- the belly

o- the )hale* The Hero' instead o- &on@(erin. or re&on&iliatin. the po)er

o- the threshold' is s)allo)ed into the (nkno)n' and )o(ld appear to

ha7e died/



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+ The %ero ith a Thousand @aces GP) 4H

hen %arry enters %o)warts &or the &irst ti#e' he is sorted into ?ry&&indor (y the ortin)

%at, As is done &or a$$ &irst years' %arry wears the hat that $oo!s into its head and decides that

%arry cou$d either (e in ?ry&&indor or $ytherin since he is coura)eous' a#(itious as we$$ as

no($e, %oweer' %arry chooses not to (e in $ytherin, Bein) a ?ry&&indor is %arrys identity

hence&orth and the preious $i&e o& the (oy who $ied under the stairs is co#p$ete$y $e&t

(ehind,

This identity is sea$ed when in his second year %arry pu$$s out the word o& ?ry&&indor

&ro# the ortin) %at when in the "ha#(er o& ecrets, This' Du#($edore assures hi#' on$y a

true ?ry&&indor can do, %ence' %arry wi$$in)$y chooses the %ouse he (e$on)s in and thus

trans&or#s hi#se$& to a new identity to which he stries to $ie up to,

This &ee$in) occurs once a)ain in the &i&th (oo! when %arry $earns o& the Prophecy that

(inds hi# and o$de#ort to)ether, ince he &ee$s separated &ro# the rest o& the chi$dren his

a)e' he #a!es peace with the &act that either he #ust !i$$ o$de#ort or (e !i$$ed (y hi#,

%ence' the %arry we see hence&orth in the rest o& the series is a chan)ed #an, It is his

trans&or#ation &ro# (oyhood to #anhood where he has $earnt his $i&es )oa$, And since he is

the on$y one who can do so' %arry is now a #an on a #ission to aen)e the deaths o& his

parents and his )od&ather irius,

ince the %arry (e&ore death o& irius and su(se9uent !now$ed)e o& the prophecy is

di&&erent &ro# the %arry $ater' this is a watershed #o#ent in %arrys and the (oo!s narratie

where the o$d %arry is -dead/ and a new one is -(orn/, The sa#e is true when in the war in

the $ast (oo! %arry rea$ises that he #ust die &or o$de#ort to (e co#p$ete$y #orta$' he

accepts this as his destiny and wa$!s towards his death and $ets o$de#ort !i$$ hi#,

Thus' these three incidents stand out as %arrys #o#ents in the Be$$y o& the ha$e'

suriin) which he is trans&or#ed into a di&&erent person oer and oer a)ain,



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P* *?: I9I*I*I9

Initiation is the second part o& "a#p(e$$s theory on the ourney o& the %ero, In this sta)e'

the %ero is introduced to the new wor$d where he #ust proe his #ett$e throu)h con9uerin)

de#ons or winnin) 9uests set to test hi#, These tests cou$d (e either physica$$y or #enta$$y

strenuous and the purpose o& the %ero (ein) put throu)h it is that on$y the (est or in #ost

cases on$y the %ero can success&u$$y )o throu)h the#,

Accordin) to "a#p(e$$s theory' si* steps occur in this sta)e, %oweer' so#e o& the steps

are not present in the p$ot$ine, %ence' those steps hae on$y (een descri(ed in order accordin)

to the theory, This is the sta)e where the adenture actua$$y (e)ins and the %ero )oes throu)h

arious supernatura$ e*periences that &or# the #ain (ody o& his $i&e,

1/ *he oad o! *rials

The Road o& Tria$s is a series o& tests or tas!s' ordea$s that the %ero #ust under)o to (e)in

his trans&or#ation, O&ten the person &ai$s one or #ore o& those tests' which occurs in this

sta)e, The point o& the tria$s' howeer' is two&o$d, @irst to #a!e the %ero (e$iee in hi#se$&

and his powers' and the second &or the peop$e to (e$iee that he is indeed the power&u$ one

who is worthy o& (ein) the %ero,



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2"

The entire series is a tria$ &or %arry, Jear a&ter year' %arry has to under)o seera$ tests that

tire hi# physica$$y as we$$ as #enta$$y (ut he carries the# on, %ence' i& seen &ro# the point

o& iew o& the entire story arc' %arrys stay at %o)warts and one year a&ter that is in itse$& one

$on) tria$, %e oerco#es hardships and in the end success&u$$y de&eats o$de#ort and saes

the #a)ica$ wor$d &ro# (ein) ru$ed (y Dar! ord,

In a short su##ary' the &o$$owin) are the tria$s that %arry has to &ace in each o& the (oo! in

order to surie and so#eti#es sae his near ones,

a/ 'arry Potter and the Philosopher)s "tone

%arry #ust cross arious cha$$en)es such as )ettin) past the three headed do) @$u&&y'

suriin) the Dei$s nare' winnin) the )a#e o& "hess etc, in order to sa&e)uard the

Phi$osophers tone, To preent o$de#ort (y attainin) i##orta$ity (y hain) the stone'

%arry is tested physica$$y' #enta$$y and his (onds with Ron and %er#ione too are put to test,

hen he does succeed in preentin) Pro&essor Euirre$ and o$de#ort &ro# attainin) the

Phi$osophers tone' %arry passes these Tria$s,

&/ 'arry Potter and the Cham&er o! "erets:

In order to !eep the %eir o& $ytherin &ro# !i$$in) ?inny as we$$ as other #u))$e (orn

students' %arry #ust decipher the entire story o& the "ha#(er and the #onster that $ies in it,

To acco#p$ish this' %arry #ust &ind out the eents o& what happened when the "ha#(er was

opened the &irst ti#e and how the #onster trae$$ed in the cast$e without anyone noticin) it,

hen %arry does $ocate the "ha#(er' he #ust (att$e the Basi$is!' de&eat To# Ridd$e who

resides in the diary and is o$de#ort' as we$$ as sae his' ?innys' Rons' and oc!harts $i&e,

%arry is he$ped here (y @aw!es and he oerco#es this tria$ as we$$, The diary it is $ater

reea$ed was o$de#orts %orcru* that %arry destroyed un!nowin)$y,



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2#

/ 'arry Potter and the Prisoner o! ;#a&an/

As %arry enters his third year at %o)warts' he is in&or#ed that a seria$ !i$$er (y the na#e o&

irius B$ac!' a$so o$de#orts death eater' has escaped prison to !i$$ hi#, The cast$e (ein) on

hi)h a$ert due to the ris!s dep$oys De#entors on )uard &or the cast$e, hen %arry discoers

the truth a(out irius and Peter Petti)rew' he #ust sae the innocent, %e trae$s (ac! in ti#e'

saes irius and %a)rids innocent %ippo)ri&& Buc!(ea! and he$ps the# escape whi$e

&i)htin) o&& #ore than a hundred De#entors a$one, hi$e doin) so' howeer' Peter Petti)rew

escapes and .oins o$de#ort and su(se9uent$y he$ps hi# co#e (ac! to $i&e,

d/ 'arry Potter and the Go&let o! ow' as a part o& the Tourna#ent' %arry &aces a dra)on' dies under water to sae his &riend

Ron and oerco#es a #a8e &u$$ o& cha$$en)es in order to win the Tourna#ent, %oweer' at

the end o& the third round' he is trans&erred to the )raeyard where o$de#ort resurrects

hi#se$& and tries to !i$$ %arry a)ain, %arry &i)hts hi# o&& and co#es (ac! to %o)warts where

he now #ust &end o& A$astor ow' that o$de#ort is (ac!' eerythin) is a tria$ &or %arry, >ot !nowin) who is a$$ied with

who#' %arry has to (e e*tre#e$y care&u$ with his actions, At the (e)innin) o& the (oo!'

%arry oerco#es a De#entor attac! on Dud$ey and hi#se$&, ater' he has to &i)ht his own

$one$iness and iso$ation (y his &riends as we$$ as Du#($edore' who curious$y does not spea!



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2$

to %arry at a$$, The postin) o& Do$ores C#(rid)e in %o)warts as the Pro&essor o& De&ence

A)ainst the Dar! Arts is seen as a ow' %arrys $ast set o& tria$s (e)in= that o& $ocatin) and

destroyin) the %orcru*es,

g/ 'arry Potter and the Deathly 'allo5s

Fery step %arry ta!es is dan)erous and eery action #ust (e wei)hed in we$$ (e&ore (ein)

done, %arry escapes the weddin) where the Death Faters appear and then a$so eades capture

(y the Death Faters who show up at the "a&e where the three o& the# are sittin), ater' he

enters the #inistry to )et C#(rid)es $oc!et which is a %orcru* and escapes once #ore,

@ina$$y' a&ter a &a$$out with Ron and a narrow escape &ro# ?odrics %o$$ow and >a)ini'

%arry and Ron reconci$e and yet a)ain eade capture &ro# Kenophi$ius oe)oods house

whi$e &indin) c$ues a(out the Death$y %a$$ows, u(se9uent$y' %arry enters ?rin)otts'



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3%

destroys another %orcru* a&ter (rea!in) into %o)warts' &inds the $ast %orcru* and &ina$$y

instructs >ei$$e to !i$$ >a)ini (e&ore surrenderin) hi#se$& to o$de#ort, hen he co#es

(ac! to $i&e' he &i)hts o$de#ort once #ore and !i$$s hi# and there(y endin) the war once

and &or a$$,

2/ Meeting ?ith the Goddess

This is the point when the %ero e*periences a $oe that has power and si)ni&icance and is

a$$ enco#passin)' unconditiona$ $oe that an in&ant #ay e*perience with his #other, This

sta)e is where the %ero understands the power and i#portance o& $oe' thus e$eatin) his

e*perience &ro# the #undane to the spiritua$, The ai# o& $oe and power is hence a power&u$

driin) &orce, This $oe' #ore o&ten than not' appears in the &or# o& a &e#inine character or

&or#,

, , Row$in) has ti#e and a)ain e#phasised on the power o& oe and its necessity in

%arrys $i&e, ince o$de#ort is (orn as a resu$t o& a union #ade possi($e (y a $oe potion' he

cannot e*perience nor understand $oe' thus $oe is %arrys (i))est power, As e*p$ained to

%arry (y Du#($edore' the power that %arry possesses and the Dar! ord does not understand

is his #others protection that arose out o& her $oe, It was ancient #a)ic that o$de#ort

oer$oo!ed,

0o( )o(ld be prote&ted by an an&ient ma.i& o- )hi&h he kno)s' )hi&h he

despises' and )hi&h he has al)ays' there-ore' (nderestimated A to his

&ost* , am speakin.' o- &o(rse' o- the -a&t that yo(r mother died to sa7e

yo(*


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-'arry Potter and the rder o! the Phoeni=

Apart &ro# his own #other who# %arry does not re#e#(er' there are other #other$y

&i)ures that ta!e care o& %arry and insti$ in hi# (e$ie& in the power o& $oe,


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%ence' this sta)e is pretty #uch a(sent in the series,

4/ tonement 5ith the


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33

hen %arry dies in the Death$y %a$$ows' he #eets Du#($edore in what can (e descri(ed as

an a&ter$i&e where %arrys unconscious awa!ens and proides hi# o& the true !now$ed)e o&

his and o$de#orts (ein), Du#($edore e*p$ains his arious decisions to %arry and )ies hi#

the choice o& whether he wants to )o (ac! to the #orta$ wor$d or no,

hen %arry does return' he understands the true nature o& the F$der and and a$so o& why

o$de#ort wi$$ &ai$ and %arry can surie + (ecause %arry is )ood and does not want to ru$e

as a Dar! ord and o$de#ort wants the ery sa#e, %e ery ca$#$y !i$$s o$de#ort and

oerco#es the (i))est war o& his $i&e unscathed and not hurt whi$e shuttin) the door to that

unp$easantness &oreer,

7/ *he %ltimate >oon

The C$ti#ate Boon is the achiee#ent o& the )oa$, It is what the %ero undertoo! the

.ourney &or, A$$ the preious sta)es are ta!en in order to attain this 9uest, This sta)e si)ni&ies

the end o& the 9uest and hence&orth the return o& the %ero wi$$ ta!e p$ace,

%arry achiees his Boon a$ways' thou)h the C$ti#ate Boon thou)h is the an9uishin) o&

o$de#ort &oreer that is done at the end o& the $ast (oo!, The other (oons that %arry

achiees inc$ude:

a/ %arry protects the Phi$osophers tone and ?ry&&indor win the %ouse "up,

&/ %arry s$ays the #onster o& the "ha#(er o& ecrets and (oth he and Ron win the award

&or pecia$ erices to the choo$,

/ %arry rescues irius in %arry Potter and the Prisoner o& A8!a(an and thus has a

?od&ather 7 so#eone outside o& %o)warts who# harry can ca$$ &a#i$y and $oes and

cares a(out,



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d/ %arry wins the Triwi8ard Tourna#ent and the pri8e #oney a$on) with it in %arry Potter

and the ?o($et o& @ire, %e a$so is success&u$ in announcin) to the wor$d that o$de#ort

is (ac!' which was not a part o& o$de#orts p$an,

e/ In %arry Potter and the Prisoner o& A8!a(an' %arry is success&u$ in proin) to the wor$d

that o$de#ort has indeed returned and is a$so in&or#ed (y Du#($edore the secret o&

why it was hi# that o$de#ort tried to !i$$, The prophecy is the sin)$e #ost i#portant

piece o& in&or#ation that %arry receies that can chan)e his $i&e,

!/ In %arry Potter and the %a$& B$ood Prince' %arry success&u$$y co#es (ac! &ro# the

cae and ac9uires the !now$ed)e o& %orcru*es too' thou)h Du#($edore is !i$$ed, %e

a$so is the on$y witness to the #urder (y nape' there(y )ettin) the Order to or)anise

the#se$es a)ainst any other &or# o& treachery,

g/ In the $ast (oo!' %arry Potter and the Death$y %a$$ows' %arry &ina$$y !i$$s o$de#ort

and his %orcru*es and de&eats #ost o& his Death eaters and earns &or hi#se$& a peace&u$

$i&e,



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P* *': *%9

The $ast part o& "a#p(e$$s theory is the Return, In this part' the %ero #ust return to his

preious $i&e or at $east end the Adenture and stries to hae a $i&e nor#a$ than others, %ere'

the %ero o&ten )ets his Boon (ac! &or the (etter#ent o& others or the 9uest seres as Boon to

eeryone and not .ust the %ero,

This sta)e inc$udes si* steps, o#e steps are #issin) in the series o& %arry Potter and so

hae (een e*p$ained in conte*t or si#p$e descri(ed in that order,

1/ e!usal o! the eturn

%ain) &ound ($iss and en$i)hten#ent in the other wor$d' the %ero #ay not want to return

to the ordinary wor$d and #ay hae pro($e#s in ad.ustin), O&ten' the %ero wants to stay (ac!

in this wor$d so that the $i&e where he has had his adentures is retained, To return to the

#undane $i&e a&ter hain) e*perienced the super natura$ is not possi($e &or #ost %eroes' and

hence they re#ain (ehind,

This Re&usa$ to Return is c$ear$y seen in %arry Potter and the Phi$osophers tone' where

%arry does not want to return to the Durs$eys and wonders what wou$d happen i& he re#ained



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3!

seated in the train and did not a)ree to )et down at a$$, %oweer' he does return a$(eit

re$uctant$y' as at the end o& eery (oo! with the hope that he wi$$ co#e (ac! the ne*t year,

This Re$uctance howeer is a(sent at the end o& %arry Potter and the Death$y %a$$ows since

%arry is no $on)er re9uired to )o (ac! to Priet Drie (ut instead he can stay on in the

#a)ica$ wor$d, %e does so in the end and in the epi$o)ue we discoer he has #arried ?inny

eas$ey and has three chi$dren with her who are o& %o)warts )oin) a)e,

2/ *he Magi


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3"

Di))ory and an o$d #an who# o$de#ort had !i$$ed in his &athers house, %arrys #other

then whispers to %arry that theye reersed the Port ey and he #ust ta!e it (ac! to

%o)warts, hen the connection (rea!s' they $in)er around &or a whi$e distractin) o$de#ort

and %arry escapes (ac! to %o)warts,

Thou)h these two e*a#p$es are hard$y instances o&


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3#

to co#e (ac! to $i&e so that he #ay de&eat o$de#ort per#anent$y, Du#($edore #a!es %arry

(e$iee in hi#se$& and in the power o& his own )oodness that he assures wi$$ ensure a win &or

%arry, Thus' this Rescue can (e e9uated to Du#($edores assistance to %arry in %arry Potter

and the Death$y %a$$ows,

4/ *he Crossing o! the eturn *hreshold

At this sta)e' the #ost i#portant actiity that the %ero acco#p$ishes is (y retainin) the

wisdo# he ac9uired on the 9uest and sharin) it with other in the wor$d, This is a$so a si)na$

o& return to his preious $i&e and thus a #a.or decision o& the %ero to return and $eae his

&a#e (ehind in the wor$d that he achieed it in,

%arry does not e*perience this sta)e in #ost part, ince he stays (ac! in the #a)ica$ wor$d'

and his !now$ed)e which was si#p$y the de&eat o& o$de#ort is shared with the wor$d' he

does not hae any thresho$d crossin) to do, In a$$ o& the other (oo!s thou)h' his Return

Thresho$d is P$at&or# L &ro# where he co#es (ac! to spend another su##er at the

Durs$eys, This he does out o& no choice since Du#($edore has instructed hi# to do so,

%oweer' he does return eery ti#e e*cept a&ter annihi$atin) o$de#ort in the end o& the

series, A&ter this' he re#ains in the #a)ica$ wor$d and has no return thresho$d,

6/ Master o! the *5o ?orlds

Achiein) a (a$ance (etween the two wor$ds is necessary &or the %ero in order to hae a

(a$anced $i&e and proper return to his $i&e, This is a$so peace (etween the spiritua$ and

#ateria$ wor$d Ginner and outer peaceH, This is a si)n o& #aturity and to$erance that the %ero

has achieed and can (e si)ni&ied in the chan)e o& his out$oo! to the wor$d,



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3$

%arry achiees this on$y in the &ina$ (oo!, Ti$$ then he is on$y super&icia$$y satis&ied,


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4%

+ %arry Potter and the Death$y %a$$ows GP) 60H

?" CI*D

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4/ Row$in)' ,, %arry Potter and the Prisoner o& A8!a(an, ondon: B$oo#s(ury' 1,

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6/ Row$in)' ,, %arry Potter and the ?o($et o& @ire, ondon: B$oo#s(ury' 2000, Print,

7/ Row$in)' ,, %arry Potter and the Order o& the Phoeni*, ondon: B$oo#s(ury' 2003,

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8/ Row$in)' ,, %arry Potter and the Death$y %a$$ows, ondon: B$oo#s(ury' 200,

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joseph campbell's journey of a hero as applicable to harry potter

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