Harry Potter, Personally: Storyline

How much of the full series’ plot did J.K. Rowling have in mind when she first began writing Harry Potter? Quite a bit, from what I’ve read. Even so, I’m sure the storyline progressed as she went along. That’s a lot of planning and a lot of work! What makes these stories so readable (and re-readable) despite some common concerns about them? Read on to find out.

Creative, yet Relatable

“Harry’s Wonderous World” isn’t just the name of an iconic bit of film score by John Williams. (By the way, can we admit that the Harry Potter movies would be a mere fraction of their current coolness if Williams hadn’t written the themes for the first several films?) “Wonderous” is a description of the world Harry finds himself part of on his eleventh birthday. Different powers, places, creatures, currency—everything is new and fantastic. He goes to school in a castle, learns to use a magic wand, encounters mythical creatures, and hunts down the most notorious villain of the age. Seems a far cry from our reality, doesn’t it? 

But a story that was completely unrelatable would be too discombobulating to read. We’d feel adrift in a sea of confusion. All the best books, even those with wild settings and fanciful beings, have relatable elements. Sure, Bilbo is a hobbit, but we relate to his desire for comfort and safety. Yes, Jabba is a Hutt, but he’s also like every other mobster bully. And Harry’s wonderous world is still a world of school assignments, hormonal angst, and relational drama. 

Familiar Rhythms and Relationships

When I read the books, I feel nostalgic thinking about the rhythms of a school year. I love the beginning-of-term orientation, spooky Halloween celebrations, cozy Christmas breaks, pre-exam jitters, and end-of-year relief. Despite the magical setting, readers are sure to see themselves at Hogwarts because of its familiar school calendar.  

In addition to the schedule, the relationships also feel relatable. The books aren’t “girly” by any means, but I found them to be replete with crushes, secrets, jealousy, an fights. Honestly, those parts of the story are hard for me to enjoy as an adult, but that’s ok. Adults aren’t the primary audience. While I was never too dramatic even as a student (a fact for which my parents have remained grateful), the books’ drama probably would have been more tolerable a few decades ago. But regardless of enjoyment, the relational dynamics mostly ring true to a student’s experience. And, to make up for the crushes and such, the books also feature training in magic, figuring out clues, learning practical skills, monsters, gross humor, and plenty of fighting. There’s something for everyone. 

Standalone Books in a Series

Even if you haven’t read the books or watched the movies, you probably know the gist of the story. Harry, a seemingly-ordinary boy, discovers that he’s actually a wizard. He goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he learns more about magic, his own past, and Voldemort, the evil wizard who killed his parents and tried to kill Harry as a baby. Each book could be a standalone story with its own crisis and resolution, but they’re obviously intended to be part of a series, and not finishing will leave you with unanswered questions.

At the beginning of each book, Rowling refreshes the reader’s memory about the characters, places, and previous context. While thorough recaps are actually one of my pet peeves (like preparing for a test only to have the teacher announce that it’s open book), I can see why she did it. The books were published with anywhere from one to three years between, so readers may have gotten fuzzy on some of the details. Kids who want to grow along with Harry by reading one book per year will benefit from the recaps too. 

The books are structured like 6 separate battles that culminate in one final battle to end the war. After readers have followed Harry and his friends through the books, they will agonize over the choices and outcomes in the end. But after finishing the last page, I bet they’ll be tempted to reach for The Sorcerer’s Stone and experience it all over again. 

Part of a Bigger Story

So why, despite the fact that the series is over 4,000 pages long, have so many people read these books over and over? For many reasons, but I’ll just suggest two. First, we like Harry because he’s a nice, relatable guy. He’s just an average kid—an underdog, really. Instead of letting fame go to his head, he chooses to associate with other underdogs. He consistently chooses what’s right over what’s easy, but he doesn’t do it in a priggish sort of way. He cares about others and does what he can to protect them, even when it costs him everything. He’s got a great friend set, too, which makes the books fun to read. 

Second, we all want to feel like we’re part of a bigger story, and Harry Potter offers this to us. “What the fascination with Harry Potter really illustrates,” writes Chuck Colson, “is what C. S. Lewis meant by Sehnsucht—the longing for the mysterious, the wonderful, the other-worldly that our daily experience does not satisfy.” While Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series with the Christian storyline in mind, I wouldn’t classify them as Christian books. But they can sharpen a desire for books that are, like Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, and The Princess and the Goblin. Christian books like this “not only recognize this yearning for wonder and magic,” Colson continues, “they also reflect a well-developed understanding of the majesty and mystery of God.” While Harry Potter can be fun and even edifying, it can also be a door into more valuable literature—books that not only pique the longing for the eternal but point readers to the longing’s Satisfaction as well. Enjoy Harry, but for heaven’s sake, don’t stop there. Reach for Lewis next.

Next time we’ll look at what makes Harry Potter’s characters so special, so don’t miss out!