The theme of xenophobia inThe theme of xenophobia in J. K. Rowling’s fixion series J. K. Rowling’s fixion series

‘Harry Potter’‘Harry Potter’

The object:The object: xenophobia.xenophobia. TheThe purpose:purpose: to draw attention to this to draw attention to this

problem and retrace how it is revealed in the problem and retrace how it is revealed in the contemporary British literature. contemporary British literature.

The main tasksThe main tasks:: to determine the term “xenophobia”;to determine the term “xenophobia”;to study the history of this phenomena in to study the history of this phenomena in

Britain;Britain;to study the way a modern British author to study the way a modern British author

tells us about this problem in her books tells us about this problem in her books (symbols, characters, allusions). (symbols, characters, allusions).

The methodsThe methods of research:of research:the method of study of documents the method of study of documents

(educational and scientific literature, (educational and scientific literature, dictionaries);dictionaries);

literary analysis of the fiction series by literary analysis of the fiction series by J.K. Rowling “Harry Potter”;J.K. Rowling “Harry Potter”;

the usage of Internet;the usage of Internet;public opinion poll.public opinion poll.

Xenophobia is a fear or contempt of that Xenophobia is a fear or contempt of that which is foreign or unknown, especially of which is foreign or unknown, especially of

strangers or foreign people. It comes from the strangers or foreign people. It comes from the Greek words Greek words ξένοςξένος (xenos), meaning (xenos), meaning

"foreigner," "stranger," and "foreigner," "stranger," and φόβοςφόβος (phobos), (phobos), meaning "fear." The term is typically used to meaning "fear." The term is typically used to

describe fear or dislike of foreigners or in describe fear or dislike of foreigners or in general of people different from oneself.general of people different from oneself.

Objects of xenophobia

Cultural elements

Population group

Race discriminationRace discriminationAge discriminationAge discriminationGender discriminationGender discriminationDisability discrimination Disability discrimination Language discriminationLanguage discrimination

Types of discrimination:Types of discrimination:

The UK is a multicultural, The UK is a multicultural, multireligious and multireligious and

multinational country.multinational country.

‘‘The White Man’s Burden’The White Man’s Burden’ by Rudyard Kipling by Rudyard Kipling

Твой жребий – Бремя Твой жребий – Бремя Белых!Белых!

Как в изгнанье, пошлиКак в изгнанье, пошлиСвоих сыновей на Своих сыновей на

службуслужбуТемным сынам земли;Темным сынам земли;На каторжную работу, На каторжную работу, Нету ее лютей, - Нету ее лютей, - Править тупой толпоюПравить тупой толпоюТо дьяволов, то детей.То дьяволов, то детей.

(Перевод В. Топорова)(Перевод В. Топорова)

Take up the White Man's burdenSend forth the best ye breedGo bind your sons to exileTo serve your captives' need;To wait in heavy harnessOn fluttered folk and wildYour new-caught, sullen peoples,Half devil and half child.

J. K. RowlingJ. K. Rowling is a British writer is a British writer and author of the and author of the Harry PotterHarry Potter fantasy series.fantasy series.

Public opinion pollPublic opinion poll

56%44%

Read the fiction series about Harry PotterDidn't read about Harry Potter

Public opinion pollPublic opinion poll

83%

17%

Saw the films about Harry PotterDidn't see the films about Harry Potter

Public opinion pollPublic opinion poll

54%36%

10%

Recognised the theme of discrimination andxenophobiaRecognised problems of the youth

Recognised family problems

Race, religious and national discriminationRace, religious and national discrimination are absent in the magical world…are absent in the magical world…

The Dursleys

Pureblood magicians

Arthur WeasleyArthur WeasleyPureblood magicians

MudblooMudbloo

dd

Half-bloodPureblood magicians

•The discrimination ideas are the bases of Death Eaters’ ideology. • The Death Eaters seek the total destruction of Muggle roots. • Prejudice and discrimination in the Wizard world in some cases deep-rooted to the level of apartheid.

Death Eaters

Squib Squib is the term applied is the term applied to a child born of to a child born of magical parents but magical parents but possessing possessing no magical no magical ability. ability.

SquibsSquibs are encouraged to are encouraged to integrate into the integrate into the Muggle world, which is Muggle world, which is "much kinder" than "much kinder" than keeping them in the keeping them in the magical world, where magical world, where they will always be they will always be "second-class" – "second-class" – disabled. disabled.

Daughter of two British Daughter of two British dentists.The most dentists.The most talented student of talented student of HogwartsHogwarts .Was brought .Was brought up in the modern British up in the modern British society which has society which has admitted the necessity admitted the necessity of multicultural and of multicultural and national tolerancenational tolerance

Hermione Granger

She cares so much She cares so much about the exploitation of elves. about the exploitation of elves.

She created tShe created the Society he Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare,

or S.P.E.W. or S.P.E.W.

MudblooMudbloo

dd

Magic RacesMagic Races

Here lies Dobby

a Free Elf

The Battle at HogwartsThe Battle at Hogwarts

To my mind J.K. Rowling managed to To my mind J.K. Rowling managed to express the appeal for necessity of respect express the appeal for necessity of respect

to “the alien” and acknowledgement of to “the alien” and acknowledgement of their being unique. We can’t force people their being unique. We can’t force people assimilate with the majority, we should assimilate with the majority, we should value the cultural diversity of our world value the cultural diversity of our world

and cherish individuality. and cherish individuality.

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!