Word Play in Harry Potter

Taren Donneaud

Nathan

Main CharactersName Origins and Favorite Spells and Potions

Harry Potter

First Name: Harry•Harry is JK Rowling’s favorite boys name. •It is of Anglo-Saxon origin and means “power”.•It is shared by the magician Harry Houdini.

Last Name: Potter•A name that JK Rowling has been fond of since childhood.•Alludes to “Potter’s field”, a place where unclaimed bodies are buried, like those of orphaned children.

Expelliarmus

Expecto Patronum

Favorite

Spells

Ron Weasley

Last Name: Weasley•In Ireland, Weasels are considered unfortunate animals, which is a reference to the Weasleys being poor. •Rowling has always been fond of weasels.

Felix Felicis

Wingardium Leviosa

Associated Spell and Potions

Hermione Granger

First Name: Hermione•Refers to the patron saint of high magic•Means “well-born”, “earthly”, or “stone”.•A character in Aeneid and A Winter’s Tale.

Last Name: Granger•May refer to the Granger movement to improve the lives of farmers, much like starting SPEW•A granger is a very common person, like muggles

Alohomora

Avis Oppugno

Favorite

Spells

Albus Dumbledore

First Name: Albus•Severe refers to “strict” or “cruel” which highlight his personality•Mentioned in Mansfield Park a favorite novel of Rowling

Last Name: Dumbledore•A town in England•Based on a person Rowling knew.

Sectumsempra

Veritaserum

Favorite Spell and

Potion

Severus Snape

First Name: Severus•Severe refers to “strict” or “cruel” which highlight his personality•Mentioned in Mansfield Park a favorite novel of Rowling

Last Name: Snape•A town in England•Based on a person Rowling knew.

Sectumsempra

Veritaserum

Favorite Spell and

Potion

Lord Voldemort

Assumed Name: Lord Voldemort•Refers to a dark wizard in medieval times named Voldemortist, meaning Lord of Evil•In many European languages “mort” or “mord” means death or evil•In French, “vol-de-mort” means flight from death.

Horcrux

Morsmorde

Favorite Spell and

Potion

Unforgivable Curses

Origins of the Unforgivable