Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of English, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-69).

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Harry Potter series is currently one of the most popular book series for children in the world. The original British books have been translated into more than three hundred languages - one of them being Afrikaans, for which the Afrikaans translator received two translation prizes. Yet closer investigation reveals that these translations are not written in idiomatic Afrikaans, mostly due to the phenomenon of 'interference'. This phenomenon entails an excessive influence of the linguistic structures of the source text on that of the target text. The influence of the English source text on the Afrikaans translator by means of interference was of such an extent that the texts have been written in unnatural language, called 'translationese'. In this study the influence of interference on the quality of the Afrikaans translations of Harry Potter is examined. The focus is on books 4 and 5 in the series, namely Harry Potter en die Beker vol Vuur and Harry Potter en die Orde van die Feniks. The basic premises of the functionalistic approach to translation are used to emphasise the importance of the translation skopos, the function that the translation has to fulfil in the target culture, a detailed translation brief as well as the translator's loyalty towards the various role players in the translation process. Descriptive translation studies is used to prove the apparent absence of knowledge of translation norms as well as translation decisions and strategies that had to be considered carefully during the production of the Afrikaans translations. The researcher hereby attempts to emphasise the importance of careful consideration and planning of translation strategies. Cognisance of the functionalistic and descriptive premises would have lead to a more natural translation that communicates optimally with the target readers in the target culture. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Harry Potter-reeks is tans een van die mees gesogte kinderreeksboeke ter wêreld. Die oorspronklike Britse boeke is in meer as driehonderd tale vertaal - onder andere ook in Afrikaans, waarvoor die Afrikaanse vertaler reeds twee vertaalpryse ontvang het. Tog toon nadere ondersoek dat hierdie vertalings inderwaarheid nie in idiomatiese Afrikaans vertaal is nie, hoofsaaklik weens die verskynsel 'interferensie'. Hierdie verskynsel behels 'n oormatige invloed van die linguistiese strukture van die brontaal op die doeltaal. Die Engelse bronteks het sodanige invloed op die Afrikaanse vertaler gehad, dat die teks weens interferensie in onnatuurlike taal geskryf is, oftewel in 'translationese'. In hierdie studie word die invloed van interferensie op die kwaliteit van die Afrikaanse Harry Potter-vertalings, spesifiek boeke 4 en 5 in die reeks, naamlik Harry Potter en die Beker vol Vuur en Harry Potter en die Orde van die Feniks, ondersoek. Die basiese uitgangspunte van die funksionalistiese benadering tot vertaling word gebruik om die noodsaaklikheid van 'n vooropstelling van die vertaalskopos, die funksie wat die vertaling in die doelkultuur moet speel, die belangrikheid van 'n gedetailleerde vertaalopdrag asook lojaliteit van die vertaler aan die onderskeie rolspelers in die vertaalproses uit te lig. Deskriptiewe vertaalstudie word gebruik om die klaarblyklike afwesigheid van 'n kennis van vertaalnorme, asook van weldeurdagte besluite en vertaalstrategieë tydens die produksie van die Afrikaanse vertalings te bewys. Die navorser poog om hierdeur op die noodsaaklikheid van weldeurdagte en beplande vertaalstrategieë klem te lê. Kennis van die funksionalistiese en deskriptiewe uitgangspunte sou kon lei tot 'n natuurliker vertaling wat optimaal met die doellesers in die doelkultuur kommunikeer.

Thesis (MA (English))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation provides a reading of the fantasy novel series Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling and The Belgariad by David Eddings. In particular this dissertation endeavours to recuperate a literary critical methodology rooted in Myth Criticism. Further, it seeks to demonstrate the continued relevance and necessity of this form of criticism in our postmodern era and to refute some of the commonplaces of postmodern critical theory, specifically the poststructuralist scepticism towards the idea of universal truth and individual agency. Using Jungian theory, myth critics ranging from Laurence Coupe to Joseph Campbell and incorporating various postmodern theorists, like the contemporary Marxist theorist Terry Eagleton, and fantasy critics like Brian Attebery and Ursula LeGuin, this dissertation aims to give a well-rounded analysis of the merits of looking at fantasy as a legitimate field of literary study. Moreover, this dissertation seeks to illustrate the fact that fantasy is capable of informing readers’ interaction with the ‘real’ world and that this genre allows for insight into identity formation in present day reality. The chief structure used to explore these claims is an analysis of the Hero’s Journey. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: This dissertation provides a reading of the fantasy novel series Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling and The Belgariad by David Eddings. In particular this dissertation endeavours to recuperate a literary critical methodology rooted in Myth Criticism. Further, it seeks to demonstrate the continued relevance and necessity of this form of criticism in our postmodern era and to refute some of the commonplaces of postmodern critical theory, specifically the poststructuralist scepticism towards the idea of universal truth and individual agency. Using Jungian theory, myth critics ranging from Laurence Coupe to Joseph Campbell and incorporating various postmodern theorists, like the contemporary Marxist theorist Terry Eagleton, and fantasy critics like Brian Attebery and Ursula LeGuin, this dissertation aims to give a well-rounded analysis of the merits of looking at fantasy as a legitimate field of literary study. Moreover, this dissertation seeks to illustrate the fact that fantasy is capable of informing readers’ interaction with the ‘real’ world and that this genre allows for insight into identity formation in present day reality. The chief structure used to explore these claims is an analysis of the Hero’s Journey.

This thesis is a study of the first four books of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. It accounts for the widespread success of the novels by examining their publication and marketing histories, and their literary achievement as narratives including a sophisticated mix of generic traditions. Chapter One looks at the popularity of the novels, comparing their material production and marketing by Rowling’s English language publishers: Bloomsbury in Britain and Scholastic in the United States of America. The publisher’s influence on the public perception of each book is demonstrated by comparative study of its mode of illustration and layout. Further, the design of the books is linked to their strategic marketing and branding within the literary world. The second chapter considers Rowling’s debt to the school story. It concentrates first on the history of this relatively short-lived genre, briefly discussing its stereotypical features and values. Traditional elements of setting and characterisation are then examined to show how the Harry Potter novels present a value system which, though apparently old-fashioned, still has an ethical standpoint designed to appeal to the modern reader. Chapter Three focuses on the characterisation of Harry as a hero-figure, especially on how the influence of classical and medieval texts infuses Rowling’s portrayal of Harry as a hero in the chivalric mode. The episodes of “quest” and “test” in each book illustrate specifically how he learns the values of selflessness, loyalty, mercy and fairness. Chapter Four surveys the contribution of modern fantasy writing to the series. It shows how Rowling creates a secondary world that allows us to perceive magic as a metaphorical representation of power. This focus on the relationship between magic and power in turn has a bearing on our assessment of the author’s moral stance. The thesis concludes by suggesting that Rowling’s unusual mix of genres is justified by the values they share, and which are inscribed in her work: the generic combination forms a workable, new and exciting mode of writing that helps to account for the phenomenal popularity of the series.

Os livros da série Harry Potter tiveram seu primeiro volume publicado em 1997 e o último em 2007. Desde o princípio, a série passou a exercer um forte apelo sobre leitores de todas as idades e de todos os lugares. O objetivo desta dissertação é investigar esse fenômeno, a fim de identificar os motivos pelos quais a resposta às obras provou ser tão intensa. O corpus de investigação compreende os sete livros que formam a saga: Harry Potter e a Pedra Filosofal, Harry Potter e a Câmara Secreta, Harry Potter e o Prisioneiro de Azkaban, Harry Potter e o Cálice de Fogo, Harry Potter e a Ordem da Fênix, Harry Potter e o Enigma do Príncipe, e Harry Potter e as Relíquias da Morte. Os focos da análise se concentram em três aspectos: a jornada do herói; as diferentes formas de apresentação da ideia de morte; e o tratamento das dicotomias. Como suporte teórico, recorro a estudos sobre mitologia e imaginário, conforme tratados por Joseph Campbell; às considerações morais e estéticas de Umberto Eco sobre conexões entre os reinos vizinhos da Vida e da Literatura; e à abordagem filosófica de Zygmunt Bauman sobre nossos tempos líquidos contemporâneos. O trabalho está estruturado em duas partes. A primeira apresenta algumas hipóteses sobre a pronta aceitação da obra por parte do público leitor e expõe a base teórica sobre a qual se apoiam os arrazoados do trabalho, estabelecendo as conexões necessárias com os pontos investigados. A segunda parte contém minha leitura da série Harry Potter, centrada nos três itens propostos para análise. Ao final da dissertação, espero que minha análise possa contribuir para a discussão sobre o papel que a série Harry Potter desempenha no contexto contemporâneo e também sobre quais paradigmas atuais ela ratifica, questiona ou refuta. / The Harry Potter Books had their first instalment published in 1997 and the last in 2007. From the beginning, the series exerted a very strong appeal upon readers of all ages, and from all places. The aim of the present thesis is to investigate this phenomenon so as to identify some reasons why the response to the works has proved so intense. The corpus of investigation comprises the seven books that form the saga: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The focus of the analysis closes upon three aspects, the journey of the hero, the different approaches to death, and the treatment of dichotomies. As for critical and theoretical support I rely on studies about mythology and the imaginary, especially as presented by Joseph Campbell, on Umberto Eco‟s moral and aesthetic considerations about the connections between the neighbouring realms of Life and Literature, and on Zygmunt Bauman's philosophical approach to our liquid contemporary times. The work is divided into two parts. The first presents the necessary contextualization, poses some hypotheses about the prompt acceptance on the part of the reading public, and exposes the theoretic background on which this thesis is grounded, and establishes the necessary connections with the points investigated. The second part contains my reading of the Harry Potter Books, closing on the three items to be analysed. At the end of this argumentative thesis I hope my analysis may contribute to the discussion about the role the Harry Potter Books play in their contemporary context, and about which of the current paradigms they ratify, question or deny.

Os livros da série Harry Potter tiveram seu primeiro volume publicado em 1997 e o último em 2007. Desde o princípio, a série passou a exercer um forte apelo sobre leitores de todas as idades e de todos os lugares. O objetivo desta dissertação é investigar esse fenômeno, a fim de identificar os motivos pelos quais a resposta às obras provou ser tão intensa. O corpus de investigação compreende os sete livros que formam a saga: Harry Potter e a Pedra Filosofal, Harry Potter e a Câmara Secreta, Harry Potter e o Prisioneiro de Azkaban, Harry Potter e o Cálice de Fogo, Harry Potter e a Ordem da Fênix, Harry Potter e o Enigma do Príncipe, e Harry Potter e as Relíquias da Morte. Os focos da análise se concentram em três aspectos: a jornada do herói; as diferentes formas de apresentação da ideia de morte; e o tratamento das dicotomias. Como suporte teórico, recorro a estudos sobre mitologia e imaginário, conforme tratados por Joseph Campbell; às considerações morais e estéticas de Umberto Eco sobre conexões entre os reinos vizinhos da Vida e da Literatura; e à abordagem filosófica de Zygmunt Bauman sobre nossos tempos líquidos contemporâneos. O trabalho está estruturado em duas partes. A primeira apresenta algumas hipóteses sobre a pronta aceitação da obra por parte do público leitor e expõe a base teórica sobre a qual se apoiam os arrazoados do trabalho, estabelecendo as conexões necessárias com os pontos investigados. A segunda parte contém minha leitura da série Harry Potter, centrada nos três itens propostos para análise. Ao final da dissertação, espero que minha análise possa contribuir para a discussão sobre o papel que a série Harry Potter desempenha no contexto contemporâneo e também sobre quais paradigmas atuais ela ratifica, questiona ou refuta. / The Harry Potter Books had their first instalment published in 1997 and the last in 2007. From the beginning, the series exerted a very strong appeal upon readers of all ages, and from all places. The aim of the present thesis is to investigate this phenomenon so as to identify some reasons why the response to the works has proved so intense. The corpus of investigation comprises the seven books that form the saga: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The focus of the analysis closes upon three aspects, the journey of the hero, the different approaches to death, and the treatment of dichotomies. As for critical and theoretical support I rely on studies about mythology and the imaginary, especially as presented by Joseph Campbell, on Umberto Eco‟s moral and aesthetic considerations about the connections between the neighbouring realms of Life and Literature, and on Zygmunt Bauman's philosophical approach to our liquid contemporary times. The work is divided into two parts. The first presents the necessary contextualization, poses some hypotheses about the prompt acceptance on the part of the reading public, and exposes the theoretic background on which this thesis is grounded, and establishes the necessary connections with the points investigated. The second part contains my reading of the Harry Potter Books, closing on the three items to be analysed. At the end of this argumentative thesis I hope my analysis may contribute to the discussion about the role the Harry Potter Books play in their contemporary context, and about which of the current paradigms they ratify, question or deny.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-27T18:26:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-08-07. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2018-07-27T18:30:31Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000869205.pdf: 1067197 bytes, checksum: dfb8b7697516bf4587ba49259e23cb65 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / In order to describe and verify the most common resources used in the creation of Harry Potter fanfictions in Brazil, this study presents the movement of consumers towards a more participative culture in the last two decades, its implications to debates on intellectual property and the impact of technological evolution on the production and circulation of media content. The work also examines the history of fanfiction and the existent mechanisms of reinterpretation of original narratives, as well as the expressive numbers that represent the success of J.K. Rowling's books both as an editorial phenomenon and fandom on the internet. Given the significant production inspired in the Harry Potter series by Brazilian fans, three representative fanfictions are analyzed, in the light of the specific ways the original is rewritten. Alternative universe, focus on secondary characters, slash and timeline expansion, which were found to be the most recurrent procedures in the rewritings, evince partiality for personal creation on the part of authors and readers

Os livros da série Harry Potter tiveram seu primeiro volume publicado em 1997 e o último em 2007. Desde o princípio, a série passou a exercer um forte apelo sobre leitores de todas as idades e de todos os lugares. O objetivo desta dissertação é investigar esse fenômeno, a fim de identificar os motivos pelos quais a resposta às obras provou ser tão intensa. O corpus de investigação compreende os sete livros que formam a saga: Harry Potter e a Pedra Filosofal, Harry Potter e a Câmara Secreta, Harry Potter e o Prisioneiro de Azkaban, Harry Potter e o Cálice de Fogo, Harry Potter e a Ordem da Fênix, Harry Potter e o Enigma do Príncipe, e Harry Potter e as Relíquias da Morte. Os focos da análise se concentram em três aspectos: a jornada do herói; as diferentes formas de apresentação da ideia de morte; e o tratamento das dicotomias. Como suporte teórico, recorro a estudos sobre mitologia e imaginário, conforme tratados por Joseph Campbell; às considerações morais e estéticas de Umberto Eco sobre conexões entre os reinos vizinhos da Vida e da Literatura; e à abordagem filosófica de Zygmunt Bauman sobre nossos tempos líquidos contemporâneos. O trabalho está estruturado em duas partes. A primeira apresenta algumas hipóteses sobre a pronta aceitação da obra por parte do público leitor e expõe a base teórica sobre a qual se apoiam os arrazoados do trabalho, estabelecendo as conexões necessárias com os pontos investigados. A segunda parte contém minha leitura da série Harry Potter, centrada nos três itens propostos para análise. Ao final da dissertação, espero que minha análise possa contribuir para a discussão sobre o papel que a série Harry Potter desempenha no contexto contemporâneo e também sobre quais paradigmas atuais ela ratifica, questiona ou refuta. / The Harry Potter Books had their first instalment published in 1997 and the last in 2007. From the beginning, the series exerted a very strong appeal upon readers of all ages, and from all places. The aim of the present thesis is to investigate this phenomenon so as to identify some reasons why the response to the works has proved so intense. The corpus of investigation comprises the seven books that form the saga: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The focus of the analysis closes upon three aspects, the journey of the hero, the different approaches to death, and the treatment of dichotomies. As for critical and theoretical support I rely on studies about mythology and the imaginary, especially as presented by Joseph Campbell, on Umberto Eco‟s moral and aesthetic considerations about the connections between the neighbouring realms of Life and Literature, and on Zygmunt Bauman's philosophical approach to our liquid contemporary times. The work is divided into two parts. The first presents the necessary contextualization, poses some hypotheses about the prompt acceptance on the part of the reading public, and exposes the theoretic background on which this thesis is grounded, and establishes the necessary connections with the points investigated. The second part contains my reading of the Harry Potter Books, closing on the three items to be analysed. At the end of this argumentative thesis I hope my analysis may contribute to the discussion about the role the Harry Potter Books play in their contemporary context, and about which of the current paradigms they ratify, question or deny.

In this study I apply social constructionism as propounded by Vivian Burr (1998) to show that although J. K. Rowling uses stereotypes in the Harry Potter series as a reflection of how gender is constructed across a wide range of societal institutions in contemporary Britain, she created complex characters who on an individual level subvert social constructs and thereby offers her readers alternatives to culturally defined concepts of gender. I explore the all-pervasive social phenomenon of gender and examine how it is constructed in present-day Britain and reflected in the series (bearing in mind that the first book was published in 1997 and the last one in 2007). My analysis of female and male characters in the books, and their interpersonal relationships, shows that Rowling's often tricky portrayal of femininities and masculinities gives us an honest view of teenagers’ lives and contemporary gender relations in an ever-changing, complex world. / English Studies / M. A. (English)

In this study I apply social constructionism as propounded by Vivian Burr (1998) to show that although J. K. Rowling uses stereotypes in the Harry Potter series as a reflection of how gender is constructed across a wide range of societal institutions in contemporary Britain, she created complex characters who on an individual level subvert social constructs and thereby offers her readers alternatives to culturally defined concepts of gender. I explore the all-pervasive social phenomenon of gender and examine how it is constructed in present-day Britain and reflected in the series (bearing in mind that the first book was published in 1997 and the last one in 2007). My analysis of female and male characters in the books, and their interpersonal relationships, shows that Rowling's often tricky portrayal of femininities and masculinities gives us an honest view of teenagers’ lives and contemporary gender relations in an ever-changing, complex world. / English Studies / M. A. (English)