Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

5-2015

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Children's and Young Adult Literature | English Language and Literature

Advisor

Scott Richardson, Languages and Cultures

Abstract

Since its inception in 1997, the Harry Potter series has captivated the minds and hearts of its ever-increasing readership. I began this project hoping to discover just what it is about the series that keeps readers of all ages clamoring for more. I turned to other universally beloved stories—Greek myths and childhood folktales—to find the answer. By analyzing the structure of the Harry Potter series using Vladimir Propp’s structure of the folktale and Joseph Campbell’s Heroic Journey of the myth, I came closer to understanding how this series speaks to both children and adults so deeply.

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