HP getting the same imp as shakespeare !!

HARRY Potter has been put on the A-level English syllabus — sparking claims exams are being Dumbledored down.

JK Rowling's tales of the boy wizard, below, and his headteacher Albus Dumbledore will be studied alongside Shakespeare and Dickens.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, her first novel in the series and the world's 12th best-selling book of all time, is on the English language and literature syllabus of the AQA board, which sets half the UK's exams.

From next year, students will write a 1,500-word essay comparing the author with another writer.

The thousands of pupils taking the exam will be marked on their grasp of the plot, characters and Rowling's use of language — recently called ?gibberish? by a High Court judge.

They will also write an 800-word story inspired by the book.

But last night the move provoked fresh claims of ?dumbing down? of school standards.

Professor Alan Smithers, of the Centre for Education Research, said English literature exams should cover works that have stood the test of time.

He added: ?I don't think Harry Potter is appropriate. It may be enjoyable but I don't think we are just trying to keep people occupied.?

Nick Seaton, of the Campaign for Real Education, added: ?Children should be encouraged to read the great works of literature. Harry Potter may be what they want to read but that doesn't mean it should be part of an A-level.?

The AQA said: ?Harry Potter is a genuine example of literature of our time. It deserves its place in this unit.?

Link: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1097635.ece

There are some people who thinks that HP is bad for children. I am sure after eading this article all their doubts will be cleared. This article prooved that HP is not only an best seller, but also a book with great literary qualities 👏 👏 👏 See, people will read HP side by side with Shakespeare...omg it means HP has been given the equal importance as shakespear...omg cant believe it... 👏 anyway J.K.R deserves it 👏 👏 👏

"JK Rowling's tales of the boy wizard, below, and his headteacher Albus Dumbledore will be studied alongside Shakespeare and Dickens"

--Lolz joke of the century!!! 😆 😆 😆
Though of course, notwithstanding that I do find Dickens rather Superfluous, at least Shakespeare deserved more that this!..arre this guy is so incomprehensibly great (meant with utmost affection and admiration for all said and done, I just Love his dramas), c'mon he deserved better! 😆 😉 😃

On a serious note, I am not surprised, thats the mania and hype around HP and not without reason. But as one guy states in this article, HP isn't an example of classic literature, even saying "literature of our times" will be bleak for I dont really fathom how exactly. HP is an enjoyable read and JK Rowling is to be hailed as an exceptionally good novelist, but at the end of the day, Giving HP an A-Level status isnt too digestible. say, forcing su,mone to read HP will never result in the person liking it. Thats the difference between HP and say Shakespeare. I cannot think of many who wud have started on Shakespeare 'voluntarily', and at first one may find him torturous (I for one, did), but that later grows into admiration.

i still find Shakespeare torturous....

Originally posted by: lucky_lakshmi

"JK Rowling's tales of the boy wizard, below, and his headteacher Albus Dumbledore will be studied alongside Shakespeare and Dickens"

--Lolz joke of the century!!! 😆 😆 😆
Though of course, notwithstanding that I do find Dickens rather Superfluous, at least Shakespeare deserved more that this!..arre this guy is so incomprehensibly great (meant with utmost affection and admiration for all said and done, I just Love his dramas), c'mon he deserved better! 😆 😉 😃

On a serious note, I am not surprised, thats the mania and hype around HP and not without reason. But as one guy states in this article, HP isn't an example of classic literature, even saying "literature of our times" will be bleak for I dont really fathom how exactly. HP is an enjoyable read and JK Rowling is to be hailed as an exceptionally good novelist, but at the end of the day, Giving HP an A-Level status isnt too digestible. say, forcing su,mone to read HP will never result in the person liking it. Thats the difference between HP and say Shakespeare. I cannot think of many who wud have started on Shakespeare 'voluntarily', and at first one may find him torturous (I for one, did), but that later grows into admiration.

Dear Lakshmi ji, that might be in ur opinion😉 But i have also read many of shakespeare's novels/dramas, etc. Agree to the point that shakespeare is definitely better (actually he is the best, no need to say that) but i think J.K.R is also another talent like shakespeare. Ofcourse they cannpt be compared together, cause no one can come near shakespeare (and we all know that) but still i think HP has got a lot of literary talent in it. When u first read HP it will seem to u that its nothing but a good time pass kind of book. But when i researched HP in the net and encyclopoedia i found that this book contains much more than a magic school and all that...it contains many many things.....

Agree that she cannot be compared to shakespeare....but i think if u r trying to search for a shakespeare of this age (21st century) J.K.R will be the best choice!😃😆

SHAKESPEARE WAS GR8!!! pls ppl dont insult him....i request u guys

I am quite confused why fans are applauding this article as a statement that equates Harry Potter with Shakespeare. The article is clearly emphasizing how ludicrous it is to consider Harry Potter as a literary equivalent to Shakespeare and Dickens. Nowhere is the article meriting any literary qualities in Harry Potter, but instead it is questioning the logic behind such thought processes.

I myself am a huge fan of Harry Potter and my sister, mom and grandma read it too. That is three generations of readers proving a universal appeal and popularity of the series. It does take a good amount of genius to achieve such universal popularity.

However, when one reads Harry Potter the language and mechanics used by JK Rowling are quite simple. The structure, the plot and even the symbolism used do not warrant any deep literary elements or elaborate metaphors. The magic of Harry Potter lies in simplicity.

Of course there are various thought provoking issues like discrimination, racism, education, politics and other modern day issues revealed in the book. However, the books do not make case for heavy browed sociological discussions. It is more of an entertainment medium whose universal appeal provokes thought.

There is no harm in utilizing Harry Potter as a base for engaging in sociological discussion. Asking students to write inferences on racism or essays on 'authority and rebellion' based on the book could use the books to lead to a thoughtful generation.

However, using the books as 'literature' is an absurd idea. While it may seem tempting to use Harry Potters universal appeal to engage children in language and literature one cannot deny the fact that doing so will ensure in a complete dumbing down of our literary generation. Our language will become simpler, vocabulary limited and grammar limited to simple sentence structure. If we want to expand our vocabularies, string together complex sentences, make our language rich, deep and powerful than we ought to stick to higher literary standards.

Common language maybe simple and communicative, but literature will have to stand its distinct class.

WOW...This will increase the interest of kids towards studying..!!And they will do good on hp tests hopefully...hehe

Originally posted by: stranger@mirror

Dear Lakshmi ji, that might be in ur opinion😉 But i have also read many of shakespeare's novels/dramas, etc. Agree to the point that shakespeare is definitely better (actually he is the best, no need to say that) but i think J.K.R is also another talent like shakespeare. Ofcourse they cannpt be compared together, cause no one can come near shakespeare (and we all know that) but still i think HP has got a lot of literary talent in it. When u first read HP it will seem to u that its nothing but a good time pass kind of book. But when i researched HP in the net and encyclopoedia i found that this book contains much more than a magic school and all that...it contains many many things.....

Agree that she cannot be compared to shakespeare....but i think if u r trying to search for a shakespeare of this age (21st century) J.K.R will be the best choice!😃😆

Of course it my view...How in the world can I voice someone else's view?!!!😉
as for Shakespeare being the best, actually its almost as if one MUST say he is the best bcoz of his fame!😉
There is no William Shakespeare of this century and never will be one of tomorrow. He was n remains the only one of his kind. Please dont insult (strong word huh? But sorry I dont find another now!) him by saying JKR is Shakespeare of this age. She is a very good writer, at the same time a rather manipulative one too. The subtlety and pure drama of Shakespeare's works (Hamlet, Othello) and the simple witticism (what better example than Merchant of Venice?) is unequalled and inimitable. Can anyone, anyone at all, churn out such a 'flabbergasting' speech as that of Mark Anthony from Julius Caesar?! Friends, Romans and Countrymen...wah wah, Take a Bow Master😃

Originally posted by: chhilt

i still find Shakespeare torturous....

be assured my dear, one day u will be able to appreciate this master dramatist. The greatest writer in English of all time = William Shakespeare.