Philosophers and Sorcerers: Was it really a prudent move to change the name? by The MuggleNet Quibbler
Rated: All Ages [Reviews - 6]
Summary: By Buckbeak: The only thing that infuriates me about the Harry Potter series is the -"slightly delicate -" situation of “the title change”; namely, the change from the British title “Philosopher’s Stone” to the American “Sorcerer’s Stone” for the US printed books. In this article I hope to point out some reasons why this change shouldn’t have happened. Please note, I mean no offense, particularly to the Americans who are reading this.
I have read the reviews and I agree with the article.
I disagree, however, with the top review, mentioning that they didn't know the British meaning for "Philosopher" and therefore wouldn't enjoy the book.
I was 5 when I read the book - or had it read to me, in any case. Whether I read it to myself or not makes no difference. The story and the text remains the same and the key point to pull out of this is that you don't need to understand the word. You don't even need to be able to understand the title. The way I saw it at 5, was there was a Stone. It was called the Philosopher's Stone. That was its name. Its like saying "What does Emily mean?" you don't question it because you think, know or believe it is a name. And I wasn't a nerdy 5 year old. I just loved reading. They couldn't predict its popularity, thats true. But no more so could they predict its British popularity either - and it was very popular, with the ORIGINAL name.
The Marring of The Hufflepuff Name by Hippogriff
Rated: All Ages [Reviews - 17]
Summary: "Imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" This line by Draco Malfoy on page 60 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is presumably where the discrimination and stereotyping of Hufflepuff house began. We are all aware of the jokes and wisecracks that have been made, and many of us believe they are unprovoked and unnecessary. I enjoy a good Hufflepuff pun as much as the next person, but there is a line. Where is this line exactly? This is what I would like to find out.
I love this article, and perhaps because I am a Hufflepuff student myself. Personally, I wasn't aware of the rumours about the house until my Sorting into Hufflepuff on Pottermore. I never even considered them to be stupid or weak, despite Hagrid calling them a bunch of duffers. I love how a member of another house is so willing to not only stick up for Hufflepuff but also sound so sincere about it - where many non-Hufflepuffs would be bagging us, you have risen above them all and not only provided a convincing argument, but also shown that you have lots of Hufflepuff qualities in you. Its lovely to know that people do notice and care that there are many wrong assumptions about people, but above all, that many of these assumptions in fact char the human race. Personally, there is nothing wrong in unbias, there is nothing wrong in loyalty and honesty - yet somehow these are fairly unimportant qualities to those baggers from other houses. Thank you for writing this, it was brilliant.
Author's Response: thank you!! it means a lot! personally, i think i dont have as much hufflepuff in me as i do slytherin and ravenclaw (mostly ravenclaw :P). however, i think the qualities would be great to have more of!!
Sirius Black and Remus Lupin: The Madness Within by stu_bradley
Rated: Ages 13+ [Reviews - 19]
Summary: A discussion of Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, with the focus on reading their canine forms as different representations of the homosexual male body.
One point made is that as Tonks can turn into a duck and a pig, surely she can turn into a man.
On the contrary, Tonks cannot turn into a duck, a pig, or any other animal for that matter. She can change her hair colour, she can give herself animal features at will, but there is no mention of her physically being able to change herself into an entirely new animal. Nor can she change her gender.
Hufflepuff Retaliation by RyanCaps
Rated: All Ages [Reviews - 11]
Summary: A little look on how Hufflepuff is just as good as the other 3 houses.
Oh, I just love this! Being a hufflepuff myself I know that I relate perfectly to the traits - not just because JK Rowling said so, but because I know that I am exactly what Hufflepuff is said to be. And its not the attack of the Hufflepuff house that hurts - its the fact that the traits that are in me, and make me who I am, are hated on. That, because I'm loyal and honest, hardworking an fair, I'm somehow incompetant and....useless? Weak? Stupid? those are some of the claims that I've seen in my very own common room from my very own house "mates". And does it hurt to be told that because I have some good in me - other than immodest bravery, immodest cunning and immodest brains - I'm not as good a person as those who don't value goodness over their boasting? Does that hurt? Of course it does! people are telling us puffs that our good qualities aren't good enough. And they forget that Hufflepuffs aren't fictional characters anymore. They're real people - and those comments are now directed at us, not those characters on a page. Thank you for this article. It makes it a little easier
The Seven Wonders of Weasley by LumosNight3
Rated: All Ages [Reviews - 18]
Summary: This quibble attempts to look at the sorting process through the Weasley family. It seems entirely possible after all the new information Pottermore has given us about the four houses, that some characters of this family could have actually been in other houses, yet JK Rowling keeps them in Gryffindor. The quibble looks at what houses each Weasley could have been in and then asks the question why they were kept in Gryffindor and posits the theory that maybe JK Rowling would have put them elsewhere, but kept them in Gryffindor to maintain the plot. It also opens up several other questions that allow plenty of room to theorize about the sorting process, especially in relation to families who get sorted together like the Weasleys.
I can certainly see what you are saying, and you make a good point.
But perhaps the reason why JKR put them all in Gryffindor was because of how they all turned out IN THE END. The Battle of Hogwarts, for me, was the defining moment of the entire series. So yes, Percy was obsessed with power and his job and superiority. But he quit his much-loved job to fight for what was right. A job that he worked long hours to keep. And he quit it to fight for his world. Fred and George. Yes, they were very smart indeed. But who risked getting in trouble with their mother and father to save Harry in the Chamber of Secrets? Who handed over their most prized possession to Harry? Who left school knowing that they wouldn't graduate, to bring happiness to an otherwise dark and gloomy world? Who lost an ear or died for the good of their world? The Weasley twins did. Brave? Yup. And Mr Weasley. Attacked by a Snake just to protect the prophecy.Fighting in the Battle.
Yes, they have other house traits in them.But as you say, we all do. And we can't be in different houses. In the end, whilst they may be ambitious or smart or obsessive, they were put in the house that they truly fitted in. And the Weasleys have on brave family.
22% 0% 22% 55% 0%Half the Life, Double the Problems: The Consequences of Unicorn Blood by LumosNight3 All Ages
We've talked a lot about where the curse of unicorn blood comes from, but just what exactly is the curse?! That's what this Quibble seeks to find out!CoS Chapters 1 & 2 Close-reading Questions/Thoughts by SpiritAuror2 All Ages
I'm back with more of my thoughts and questions that I had while re-reading the Harry Potter books. This time from Chapters 1 & 2 of Chamber of Secrets.Characters and Creatures by killey2011 All Ages
I pair up characters with magical creatures that are like them.
Prejudice in the Wizarding World: A World-Wide Bias by echomagic650 All Ages
In which I try to explain my views on prejudice in the Wizarding world, and connect it to certain areas of the muggle world as well. The category is Fantastic Beats and Where to...A Difference in Natures by echomagic650 All Ages
This is an essay I wrote for school comparing and contrasting the lives of Harry and Voldemort. It starts with their childhoods and continues until the end of the books.
