Though Harry technically "comes of age,” within book seven and the conflicts established throughout the series are resolved, it seems more like the series as a whole makes up a “Bildungsroman” than book seven alone, because the series as a whole functions as one immense story. Applying Freytag’s pyramid to the complete work, the exposition is in book one, when Harry is first introduced to the wizard world. The rising action takes place from then on into book seven; the climax/turning point could be when Harry decides that dying for the cause is worth it (though it’s also significant that at the beginning of the novel, Harry sorts out and throws away the “childish things” while reestablishing the value of his more significant possessions, and that after Dobby’s death Harry chooses to seek the Horcruxes instead of the Hallows). In the falling action final plot elements come together to yield the dénouement, the victory over Voldemort and the epilogue that shows the lasting success of the endeavor.
Like the characters within them, these books can’t really stand independently of one another because they cooperate to portray the larger story; book seven can’t be considered a Bildungsroman alone.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
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