he Wizarding world, forced to go underground with the International Statute of Secrecy in 1692 due to trouble with Muggles (non-magic folk), establishes an apt setting to learn a new curriculum—one of wand-lore, care of magical creatures, and the history of magic, vastly different from the Muggle education. In this context, students gain a fresh perspective on learning, one that becomes magical again. The Wizarding world not only holds its own history, it also references ours. The Harry Potter series is rife with allusions to Greek, medieval, and Biblical literature, as well as other folklore. Students will recognize familiar mythological creatures, such as unicorns, goblins, dragons, and giants. Mostly, the associations for good and bad follow the established norm of legends. Unicorns still reign as majestic beings, goblins still scheme with cunning treachery, and dragons still embody adventure and great danger. However, a deeper study will lead us to notice close ties with ancient texts that we can use to introduce our students to other works, from Ovid to Malory to the Bible. Greek Mythology
In Greek mythology, Cerberus is a three-headed dog who guards the entrance to the Underworld. When Orpheus visits the Underworld to retrieve Eurydice, he lulls Cerberus to sleep with his gift of music. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , Fluffy is a three-headed dog who guards the entrance to an underground maze that leads to the Sorcerer’s Stone. Playing a whittled flute that Hagrid gave him, Harry and friends lull Fluffy to sleep and gain entrance to the trapdoor he guards. Another dog in Greek mythology is Sirius; Sirius was the dog of Orion, who the goddess Artemis falls in love with. When Artemis unknowingly kills Orion, she places him in the heavens as a constellation with his faithful dog, Sirius, at his heels. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , we learn that the character Sirius Black is an Animagus (a wizard who can transform into a certain animal at will). His animal form is a dog and, fittingly, he is the faithful friend. As Harry’s father’s best friend, Sirius soon joins him in death, protecting Harry. Students who do not know the story of Orion may still question the connection between Sirius Black and Sirius satellite radio, whose logo is a dog with a star-shaped eye—Sirius is the Dog Star. This particular example reinforces the idea that understanding literature is relevant to students’ lives. They are surrounded by these remnants of thought and beliefs, these connotations, in their everyday lives. Reading Harry Potter brings it all together in the classroom.
The names of some of the characters also pertain to some Greek predecessors. Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress to Albus Dumbledore and professor of Transfiguration, keeps her class at attention with a stern look. She is set as the rational character against Professor Trelawney, the professor of the mystical art of Divination. Professor McGonagall’s first name, Minerva, is the Roman counterpart for the Greek goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and craft. Professor Trelawney’s first name, Sybil, also derives from an allusion to the ancient gods. Sybil was the name for the high priestesses of Apollo, the god of prophecy. The school caretaker, Argus Filch, shares his first name with a mythological figure as well. Zeus, who often strayed during his marriage to Hera, became enamored of Io, eventually transforming her into a heifer to protect her from his wife’s potential wrath. Always suspicious, Hera sets Argus of a hundred eyes to watch over Io so that she cannot resume her former shape as a beautiful young woman. Likewise, Filch is set over the student body, always watchful to catch students out of line. With his cat, Mrs. Norris, as a second pair of eyes, he sees every misdeed committed by students in the castle.
They are surrounded by these remnants of thought and beliefs, these connotations, in their everyday lives.
Nymphadora Tonks, spritely and cheerful for an Auror (dark wizard catcher), reminds the reader of the nymphs that haunt the woods and waters of Greek mythology. As a Metamorphmagus (a wizard who can change appearance at will), she inherits the gift of the nymphs to change forms. Her name means gift of the nymphs, dora being the Latin word for gift. Interestingly, her mother, Andromeda, also has a Greek history. She was the daughter of an arrogant woman, and was sentenced to be punished for it before being rescued by Perseus. In Harry Potter, Andromeda is the sister of Narcissa (who like Narcissus is in love with outer vanity) and Bellatrix, from a highly arrogant “Pureblood” family. She is saved from the same bigotry by her marriage to a Muggle-born man. (Another shape-shifter in Greek mythology was Proteus; Hermione uses a protean charm on coins to announce meetings for their secret gathering.)