LE3 .A278 2015

2015

Wyile, Andrea Schwenke

Acadia University

Bachelor of Arts

Honours

English

English & Theatre Studies

The objectives of this thesis are twofold: primarily, my objective is to explore the potential reasons for the overwhelming success of the Harry Potter series, and then, as a secondary but complementary aim, to determine if there is a less economically-centred way of measuring that success. To this end, I analyze the multifaceted nature of the series’ generic composition, the hybridity of heroic characterization, and the diversity of reader-produced content in order to generate some conclusions about the ability of the series to transcend rigid classifications and appeal to a broad and diverse readership. This appeal is made possible by the text’s provision for multiple points of accessibility for readers. I conclude that the multiplicity of genre, heroism, and audience in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series – seen in the interweaving of multiple genres, the convergence of dis-tinct heroic archetypes, and the demographic diversity of the readership – renders the se-ries a text of multiplicity. This nature allows for the production of content that is diverse because of the myriad opportunities for garnering individualized and distinct meaning. This diverse content serves as a more capable yardstick for the measurement of the broader cultural effect of the Harry Potter series.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:1280