Magic Animals and Their Role in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series

Student: Vukolova Darya

Educational Programme: Philology (Bachelor)

Year of Graduation: 2024

J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series has become one of the most popular literary works. It is a subject of numerous studies on the role of morality and reception of previous tradition in the fantasy genre. Magical animals play an important role in the plot of the novels. They help and hinder the characters, fascinate and frighten them.The animals in the books are diverse, from the familiar cats and snakes to the winged horses with skeletal bodies called thestrals. This research endeavors to explore how J.K. Rowling embeds mythical and magical creatures in her books. Therefore this study provides an analysis of magical animals symbolism and plot elements and Christian motifs related to them.

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