WHY ARE THE BRITISH MAD ABOUT HARRY?

Who has the most recognized face in Britain at the moment? No, it isn’t the Queen, nor is it the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, it’s not even Robbie Williams! The most recognized face belongs to a young man called Daniel Radcliffe, although he is not generally known to the public as Daniel Radcliffe. In fact, some people don’t even know that his name is Daniel Radcliffe, they only know his face as being that of his alter ego, Harry Potter. Daniel Radcliffe is the actor who plays Harry Potter in film and whose face looks out from a thousand posters across the nation. The image of Harry Potter is so familiar that even people who haven’t read any of the books or seen any of the films know exactly who he is and exactly what he looks like.

The phenomenal success of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books has been one of the most talked about and unexpected success stories in the book world. The big surprise has been how many children have been drawn to the books, often with little encouragement from either teachers or parents. The subsequent success of the films is far less surprising, but the fact that thousands of children have actually read the original books has been seen as almost incredible. It has to be said that many parents and teachers have been as impressed by the books as the children, and libraries and bookshops across Britain have had to deal with a great demand for the Harry Potter series.

Since the 1960s Britain has seen a steady decline in the popularity of reading among school-age children (especially boys), and this has been blamed on the lure of television, films, computer games and excitingly presented magazines. The popularity of the Harry Potter series was seen so unusual that many newspaper and magazine articles were written about it to try to understand its success. The theme of the books is not very original and there have been many similar tales published before without the same success. Why then, should these books be so popular in this day and age?

Firstly, Harry, like all the best heroes or heroines, appears to be a normal child. Of course, this is only on the surface, as the lightning scar on his forehead gives the reader a clue to who he really is! Thanks to JK Rowling’s story telling talent, it’s easy to believe that Harry’s transition from sad schoolboy to famous wizard is the most natural thing in the world.

Secondly, British people always like to take the side of the underdog and Harry has all the attributes of one. Harry is an orphan and is forced to live with his cruel Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, and their dreadful son, Dudley.

Thirdly, the school which Harry is sent to, Hogwarts, has a lot in common with a classic British public school. For example, a lot of the problems that Harry and his friends are facing in Hogwarts are class-related, such as the question of “pure blood”. It is well-known that in many public schools children from poorer families are looked down on. The organization of Hogwarts is also very similar to a public school with its strict teachers, boarding houses and attention to sports. However, it is still easy for children to identify with Harry and his friends because they also behave like ordinary modern teenagers. And, of course, children (and their parents) just love all the horrible, dark things that happen in the books.

The popularity of Harry Potter and the sale of Harry Potter goods are likely to stay for the near future at least. However, amongst the hundreds of things for sale connected to the books and films, the most interesting development has been the dramatic increase in the sale of traditional broomsticks. Look towards Britain on a clear night and you never know what you might see flying in the sky! 

alter ego [æltər’i:gəu] – второея

in this day and age – внашвек, внашевремя

on the surface [‘sə:fis] – внешне, наповерхности

telling talent [‘tælənt] – замечательный, яркийталант

to give a clue [‘klu:] - намекать

to take the side of – приниматьчью-либосторону

theunderdog [‘ ndədg] – несчастные, обиженные

pureblood [‘pjuə ‘bld] – чистая (аристократическая) кровь

boarding [‘b :din ]house – пансион

broomstick [‘bru:mstik] – метла

a) find the English equivalents of the following words and phrases:

самое узнаваемое лицо, образ, знакомый, точно знать, невероятный (феноменальный) успех, неожиданный, притягивать (привлекать), поддержка (поощрение), последующий успех, невероятный (удивительный), спрос, серия (книг), постоянный спад (падение), винить (относить вину на чей-либо счет), соблазн, журнальная статья, пытаться понять, похожие истории, превращение (переход), маг (волшебник), свойство (отличительная черта), сирота, заставлять (силой), ужасный (отвратительный), частная школа, связанный с классовыми различиями, смотреть на кого-то свысока, строгие учителя, вести себя, обычные современные подростки, продажа товаров, увеличение (рост) продаж.

b) write the questions for these sentences:

1). The most recognized face belongs to a young man called Daniel Radcliffe. (Whom?)

2). Harry Potter’s face looks out from a thousand posters across the nation. (Where…from?)

3). Many parents and teachers have been greatly impressed by the books. (Who?)

4). Libraries and bookshops across Britain have had to deal with a great demand for the Harry Potter series. (What country?) (What…with?)

5). Since the 1960s Britain has seen a steady decline in the popularity of reading among children. (How long?) (Yes/ No?)

6). Many newspaper and magazine articles were written about the incredible success of the Harry Potter series. (What?) (…or…?)

7). Harry appears to be a normal child. (What sort of child?)

8). British people always like to take the side of the underdog. (Whose?) (Who?)

9). Harry is forced to live with his dreadful relatives as he is an orphan. (Who…with?) (Why?)

10). In many public schools children from poorer and lower-class families are looked down on. (Who?) (Where?) (How?)

C) make up your own dialogues on the text

D) retell the text

Ex. 13. Here is some interesting information about the author of the books about Harry Potter. Read the text and think of the interview with JK Rowling.

JK Rowling was born in a small town near Bristol. She always liked writing and wrote her first story when she was only five! After school, she went to university to study languages and then became a teacher of French. The writer says that Harry Potter was born on a long train journey and was originally seen as just a bit of entertainment for the writer’s daughter Jessica. At the time, JK Rowling, known as Jo to her friends, was a single mother working hard to make enough money to support her daughter. It was the publishers who advised Jo to use her initials – J.K. instead of Jo, as they thought that adventures of an 11-year-old boy would not be popular among teenagers if written by a woman. Now, Harry Potter books are so popular all around the world that JK Rowling has become one of the richest people in the UK. She is even richer than the Queen with an estimated fortune of 280 million pounds!