Terminus This Week

Sadly, I’m unable to attend Terminus, the Harry Potter conference in Chicago which starts Thursday of this week. I do, however, want to encourage any Hog’s Head readers, if you’re going, to make sure you attend James Thomas’s presentation. Here is the abstract:

The Omegas in the Alphas: Rowling’s Dazzling Use of Foreshadowing
James Thomas
Rowling’s Harry Potter books are replete with all kinds of ingenious and creative foreshadowing. Countless first references figure prominently or take on added or altered significance later in the book (or in a later book). Rowling also employs ironic foreshadowing, a key ingredient in her characteristic narrative misdirection; and she uses “fore and aft” shadowing. This latter technique is illustrated by her mentioning Grawp early in Deathly Hallows, reminding readers of his earlier appearances and preparing them for his upcoming role during the Battle of Hogwarts. Few authors achieve such impressive results from such a variety of foreshadowing elements.

Whatever else you do during your days at Terminus, James Thomas’s presentation is a must-see. He gave what I think was the best presentation of them all at Portus 2008. He approaches the Harry Potter stories with a brilliant literary eye, as well as with lots of humor. He’s writing a book on Harry Potter which will undoubtedly be a must-read.