Wizarding World - Isn't This a Children's Story? (Harry Potter as an Epic Fantasy)

ISN'T THIS A CHILDREN'S STORY?

Harry Potter as an Epic Fantasy

So what's this about an epic fantasy... I thought Harry Potter^TM was a children's story?

Well, it is... or at least it was....

When you think of "Alice in Wonderland," if the image you get is one of cute rabbits in hats and grinning cats, then you are safe to consider the Harry Potter stories to be for children. On the other hand, if you see social statements and satire, then you will find the Harry Potter books to hold plenty of thought-provoking characters, an intriguing literary style, and one whopping mystery adventure.

The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien, was also a fantasy with goblins and dragons and charming little hobbits, but it challenged the readers, drawing them into immense moral conflicts, and from all the literature of the past 100 years, that was the one voted "Book of the Century."

Just like "The Hobbit" was a prelude to Tolkien's complex epic adventure that spanned three volumes in the U.S. version, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" is J. K. Rowling's prelude to an epic fantasy on a monumental scale. By book four ("Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"), Harry Potter's world is facing serious social and moral challenges, and is on the verge of a global war.

What is an Epic Fantasy?

So exactly what is an epic fantasy, and will the Harry Potter books attain that level? ...Well, length and complexity of plot count for a lot, and with single volumes around 700 pages, the Harry Potter series definitely meets those criteria. Moreover, the traditional epic fantasy also has a few critical elements to which J. K. Rowling has been faithful:

Something that went wrong or a threat of evil that needs to be thwarted or put back right
A Noble Quest
Prophesies by Oracles and Seers that tell of great or cataclysmic events
Classical Heroes who must do battle with an honorable, one-on-one weapon (sword, staff, wand, etc.), or even just pitting their "wits" against those of a protagonist
An Epic War requiring the Joining of Forces - from across great distances, cultures, and species (sometimes even time)
Ultimate conflict between the Forces of Good and Evil

As her oracles are all cleverly concealed within literary tricks, Wizarding World expects that she may introduce some ancient prophecies or current predictions (by Professor Trelawney or the centaurs) in the upcoming books, which will reveal yet more insight into the events that are occurring or about to occur.

It is the ultimate conflict between good and evil to which J. K. Rowling has brought us for book five. We have our heroes in place, and three more volumes to go... We are definitely in the throes of an Epic Fantasy!

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