by Dave
Part I of this series: Why Joker Succeeds and Voldemort Fails
“Behind the scenes” is a trope of long standing tradition in many forms of literature. In a recent essay on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Terry W. Thompson argues that the violent deaths occur off the page as a direct result of Shelley’s love of classical [...]

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by Dave
Since Deathly Hallows release last year, I’ve been perpetually puzzled by Voldemort’s characterization in the last two novels. Half Blood Prince humanizes Voldemort in a way that lends HBP a sophistication most of the earlier novels lack — Voldemort’s backstory both enlightens and befuddles the reader, at once shedding light on his origins [...]

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by Dave
A standard literary trope is to set characters against each other, playing one’s personna in relationship to another. Typically, we find the “arch”-nemesis, especially in adventure or heroic stories. The main character is opposed by a primary antagonist, and the juxtaposition of these characters reveals something about one or both to the [...]

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by Travis
This is not an academic essay. It contains random musings, and I welcome all comments, questions, and declarations of heresy.
In many ways, my 6 year detour from English and literature studies into Theology prepared me well to be able to handle the fringe Christian response to the Harry Potter series, but put me [...]

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by Dave]
The heart of the classical Hero type drives towards some sacrifice — either in a quest for glory sometimes doomed from the start, or on the behalf of something judged “the greater good”. Classical epic heroes struggle against their humanity, often goaded by the self realization of their partial divinity. They hope [...]

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Is Snape a Hero?; announcement about forthcoming book; changes at SoG; introducing the Blogengamot.
You can subscribe though iTunes, where you can also write glowing reviews of the pubcast. You can do the same at Podcast Alley.
Some funky sound issues with this one.
Pub Menu

Zossima Press
The Classic Tales
Store of Gryffindor

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 Hog's Head PubCast #34: Snape, a Hero? [24:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1670)

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The whole of fandom has been round and round about whether or not Snape has ever been in love, and usually Lily and Narcissa are given as possibilities.  I’m not going to venture any more guesses about that.  But tonight, listening to some interviews with Rowling, I came across a few quotes that have been [...]

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Snape, Wormtail, and Draco; Lily as Christ figure; “Close to the Dead” - what does it mean?; E-Owls
Some sound issues with this one, mainly my voice getting louder and softer, depending on where/when I was recording. Next podcast, I’ll be trying a new mic set-up, and if it works, sound should be crystal clear [...]

 

 Hog's Head PubCast #29 [32:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1480)

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John Granger has returned to regular blogging, and he’s begun with an interesting post on the Machiavelli theories that have appeared on multiple HP sites and in various comments here at SoG. Be sure to stop by HogPro, read the post, and jump into the discussion.
In SoG news, I’m planning to try to sneak [...]

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Orson Scott Card’s Essay, “Who is Snape…?”; Snape and Lily; Snape vs. Slughorn - better teacher?; Snape’s “loyalty” to Dumbledore; revisiting racism (briefly)
I’ll post the pub menu tomorrow. If anyone would like to do me the favor of counting how many times I used the word “fascinating” or any of its derivatives in this [...]

 

 Hog's Head Pubcast #24: Snape (again) [33:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1682)

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Be sure to read Part 1 for my overall introduction to the book.
“The Case for Snape’s Innocence” is the far better half of the book, in my opinion. Made up of 5 essays that parallel the five from “The Case for Snape’s Guilt,” it presents a fairly thorough examination of the evidence for Good [...]

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Revision: This book review has been revised.
This is the first of a two-part review of the Borders special release, The Great Snape Debate (available in Borders and Waldenbooks stores), by Amy Berner, Orson Scott Card, and Joyce Millman. The book is divided into two sections, each arguing the opposite point of view about Snape.

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Severus Snape is taking over this blog.
We’ve had a post arguing that Snape is a bully. We’ve had a post examining that as the strongest point for some version of Evil Snape vs. the best argument for Good Snape. We’ve had a post placing Snape in a certain version of evil, if indeed, [...]

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This post will get more detailed over time.  It’s late, and I’m too tired to get all the citations, but I’ll get them eventually.  I wanted to present one of the dilemmas in the Snape debate and get the discussion going.
The Strongest Evil!Snape Argument: I don’t believe the best Evil Snape argument lies in a [...]

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“You have no subtlety, Potter.” Said Snape, his dark eyes glittering. “You do not understand fine distinctions. It is one of the shortcomings that makes you such a lamentable potion-maker.” (OP, p. 521)
Commenter shadowquill linked an interesting essay from The Leaky Cauldron by “caltheous” on Snape. While I think it’s fair to say that [...]

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