Knowledge is acquiring information either through reading, observing
others, and personal experiences. Personal experiences can be learned from past
mistakes, watching others reactions to something you do, and by practicing. In the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,
J.K. Rowling has many knowledgeable characters that learn throughout the whole
series. Harry is a great example however, I believe Snape is an even better
example. Snape is a static character who
J.K. Rowling put a lot of thought into creating his
personality. In a certain scene, we can see how Snape's personality helps him
acquire knowledge. For example, when Snape has Harry Potter in class for the
first time and is taking roll and immediately judges Harry Potter by how famous
he is. When he asks Potter what would happen if he combined two ingredients and
Potter responds with an "I don't know", he replies with a "Tut,
tut -- fame clearly isn't everything". This is a great example because he acquires
knowledge by having a judgmental personality.
Words
like "sneer", "foolish", "celebrity", and
"dunderheads" all show that he is a very judgmental character. Snape
hopes that this class is not full of dunderheads like in his previous courses.
Through his previous encounters with maybe multiple experiences, he has learned
that most classes are in fact dunderheads. This is why he believes this one
will be the same as the rest. Snape continues to ask Harry a certain question
and when Harry says that he doesn't know, Snape asks him a different one. Snape
asks, "Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?".
This is Snape being demeaning and is judging Potter as someone who wouldn't care
to open a book. When Harry doesn't reply
he asks him what the difference is between monkshood and wolfsbane. Snape is
humiliating Potter in front of the whole class as they're snickering and
laughing. Snape snaps on Harry and tells him the answers and then takes a point
off Gryffindor. Snape's personality is very harsh, judgmental, and eerie. These
traits, especially being judgmental, helps him acquire more knowledge on people
and other things.
I agree with your thoughts on Shape's personality being judgmental and eerie, He is a man who enjoys to have the upper hand and in that exact spot in the book he is definitely judging Harry's knowledge and also being skeptical of the whole class itself.
ReplyDeleteIt is very difficult to comment in the context of just the first book because I know what happens later; however, trying to relate back, I kind of tolerated his coldness. I wish we had a better look at how he conducted an average class because maybe his effectiveness out-weighs his demeanor. This is speculation, but Snape is a fascinating character involving the mystery. What is he doing? Is he truly evil? I don't agree that he is a static character, as you have pointed out. Later, we find many contradictions with Snape that is atypical of what is believed. Harry and the group believe that he is the one who is trying to seek the stone, but in reality he is not pursuing it. Actually, with the tension between Harry and Snape, it would have been very unlikely that he would have saved Harry in the Quidditch match; alas, Snape did save Harry, regardless of their relationship. We have to see past the face to reveal the character.
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard to comment without using the rest of the series as I feel his character is only really fully developed within the last few books. Snape is a very knowledgeable character but his arrogance makes him undesirable to learn from. As we all know it does not matter how much someone knows if they cannot teach. Snape teaches by creating fear and by making examples out of those who do not know or seem unprepared. I must say I had a bitter taste in my mouth after the first few books but he grew on me after a while.
ReplyDeleteI loved your post. I thought it was very well thought out and you used good examples. Snape is definitely not one of my favorite characters in this book. I agree with everything you say about his personality; judgmental and harsh. In fact, I chose to talk about Harry in my blog and I think that Snape is the polar opposite of Harry. Snape is judgmental and harsh, while Harry is respectful. I have noticed that whenever Harry is being "picked on" he still continues to keep his composure and doesn't lower himself to their level. He was treated like this by his own family and still never became disrespectful to them.
ReplyDelete