The thesis can wait. These stories are great.
I’ve read Rowling’s introduction, the first tale, and Dumbledore’s commentary on that tale so far. I’ll put up threads with initial thoughts for each story and commentary, but we’ll start with the intro.
Several things of note:
- Rowling addressed head-on the question of how magic would work in fairy tales in an already magical world (as I expected she would). She notes that in Muggle fairy tales, magic is very often the source of evil – the poisoned apple, the 100-year sleep, the prince-turned beast. But in the Wizarding tales, Beedle attempted to show that magic can’t solve anyone’s problems either. “Magic causes as much trouble as it cures” (p. viii, Standard Edition).
- This leads to a conclusion in my mind: In analyzing these stories, we’ll have to distinguish between what’s traditionally called a “fairy tale” and Tolkien’s description of the “certain mood and power” of Faerie, or the Perilous Realm. There are lots of stories that traditionally we would call “fairy tales” that Tolkien would not call “fairy-stories,” because they do not contain the “certain mood and power” of the Perilous Realm.
- The social commentary is going to be very evident, and probably the heart of these stories. Beedle was a Muggle-lover long before that was accepted – indeed, in the midst of serious persecution (more on that in the commentary for the first tale, “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot”). He was also a feminist. Beedle wrote the kind of fairy tales I intend to tell my daughter – ones where the female character does not wait for the prince to come save her.
- Rowling notes that we’ll be able to tell, upon reading Dumbledore’s commentary on “The Tale of the Three Brothers” that, in typical Dumbledore fashion, he’s telling us less than he really knows. An interesting twist! There will be room for speculation when we get to the final tale – the one we’ve already read.
- Rowling notes that these tales are a “new translation” by Hermione Granger.
Looking forward to the thoughts of the pub patrons. Fire away!
Minerva on 
Red Rocker on 
Joivre on 
Beth on 
Arabella Figg on 
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
A new translation by Hermione Granger! I love it. Sounds like a lot of fun. I’ll be picking up my copy at lunch.
You know, when I first read Dumbledore’s commentary I thought he was actually poking some fun at the people who don’t know “Why Fairy Tales Matter.” Dumbledore was really helpful in making the meaning of the stories clear, and I look forward to hearing the Pubcast about this. I think Travis and Dumbledore would get along really well!
I love how Rowling makes it like Hermione, Dumbledore, and she collaborated to make the book available, it goes with the “fake” authors of Fantastic Beasts(mentioned a lot!) and Quidditch Through the Ages. I feel like we’ve gotten a lot more of Jo’s insight on her world, and her magical world itself. It felt slightly narrative in the commentary itself, and I’m glad we could see more of Dumbledore’s wit and thoughts (and ego?)
There is a lot of talk in this book about social, Wizarding or Muggle, problems and issues, and I think that that alone can generate a lot of discussion. Rowling’s exceeded my expectations!
It is also a Gothic topos or cliche that the work actually written by the author was “discovered,” translated, edited, or otherwise prepared for the reading world, not “written by.” From the Castle of Otranto on! What a hoot…
You’ll find that in Lovecraft, too. “The Haunter of the Dark” is put together from notes written by the protagonist – notes found after his death.
I was wondering why J.K. Rowling provided the Introduction here instead of maybe Hermione Granger, who translated the five wizarding fairy tales from the Ancient Runes. In Rowling’s other two textbooks (Fantastic Beasts and Quidditch Through the Ages, she had a character from the world that she wrote (Albus Dumbledore) provide the Forewards so I was wondering why she chose to do something different this time. A possible answer is that she did not want to give away any plot points from the last novel and her comments on pages xii-xiv can certainly point in this direction, even if she is talking about Albus Dumbledore’s habit of revealing less than he really knows. Even so, I just find it odd that Hermione Granger would give a new translation without making some comments as well.
Honestly, as I was reading the intro, I thought to myself, “This is Harry. This is going to have Harry’s signature at the end.”
That demonstrates one of two things – either that I’m an idiot, or that Rowling invested a whole lot of herself into Harry.
Huh, I guess I never thought the introduction would be be anyone other than Rowling. Although now that Johnny mentions it, Hermione would’ve been a better voice to use. Or even Harry. As I’ve noted elsewhere, I think the intro was kind of pushy & foisting an interpretation of the tales on us before we even got a chance to read & decide for ourselves. That smacks more of Hermione than Harry but who did JKR say she resembled as a girl? Hermione. I’d say she still does to a great extent. Although it sounds funny, I would’ve probably been more accepting of the pushiness of the intro if it was written in the voice of Hermione rather than in Jo’s voice.
Or maybe a fusing of Harry and Hermione, because of the pushiness of the introduction, which smacks of Hermione as revgeorge said, and the tremendous insight into Albus Dumbledore, which Hermione would not have had, but Harry certainly would, having known Dumbledore better. Also both are familar with Muggle fairy tales.
Johnny, yes, perhaps a fusion of Harry & Hermione. I would’ve much preferred that to JKR’s direct statements. Like Greg said over at HP Progs, kind of like breaking the 4th Wall.
I think that it’s appropriate that Rowling herself gives us the Introduction. She has always been our (Muggles’) intercessor to the wizarding world, so it makes sense that she would be the one to explain things to Muggle readers. Of course, as Hermione was Muggle-born, it would have made just as much sense to have her give us the Introduction, but it fits better with the rest of the series to have Rowling write the Introduction and footnotes. After all, she is our “Way Between Two Worlds”.