XPost: alt.magick, alt.religion.wicca, talk.religion.course-miracle   
   From: DON'Tvictordix@imapmail.orgSPAMME   
      
   On Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:44:38 -0400, Draco Malfoy wrote:   
      
   > On Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:41:00 -0700 (PDT), Tom wrote:   
   >   
   >> On Jun 16, 10:06 am, Draco Malfoy   
   >>  wrote:   
   >>>> On Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:45:01 -0400, VD wrote:   
   >>>> On Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:11:04 -0700 (PDT), Tom wrote:   
   >>>   
   >>>>> Mentioning things that actually happened or people that actually   
   >>>>> lived has the effect of making the fictional world seem more   
   >>>>> realistic, which enhances the suspension of disbelief that allows   
   >>>>> the reader to become more fully involved with the story.   
   >>>   
   >>>> Except in this case, the reader would have to be very detailed in   
   >>>> their research or extremely fluent in their 13-14th century alchemy.   
   >>>   
   >>>> Since The Sorcerer's Stone was written for a target audience of   
   >>>> 8-12yos, it can be fairly well assumed that Ms. Rowling's intent was   
   >>>> more inline with providing easily copied material lessening her   
   >>>> overall imaginative workload.   
   >>>   
   >>> Which is what she readily admits. Rowling was a teacher turned author.   
   >>> This is part of her "teacher's mode".   
   >>>   
   >>> You couldn't possibly make the case that she is using historical   
   >>> figures for loopback reality until much later in her career. I dunno,   
   >>> maybe the Nazi like elements of Hallows I?   
   >>   
   >> Rowling clearly assumed a little more knowledge of history in her   
   >> English audience than in her American audience, hence the change of   
   >> title from "Philosopher's Stone" (English edition), which she figured   
   >> English school children would be familiar with to "Sorcerer's   
   >> Stone" (American edition) since it was supposed Americans would not   
   >> understand the reference.  In addition, any good writer of children's   
   >> fiction inserts information that will stimulate the (presumably) more   
   >> informed adults who may be reading the books along with or to their   
   >> children.  Usually these insertions are missed by the kids but the   
   >> adults catch them and have their attentions held a little more   
   >> firmly.  You see this happening in well-constructed children's movies   
   >> as well.  It keeps the parents from becoming bored and wandering away,   
   >> which is, from the author's point of view, undesirable behavior the   
   >> children may imitate.  In addition, it offers the adult an opportunity   
   >> to point out the obscure reference to their children in a "teachable   
   >> moment".   
   >>   
   >> As you mentioned, Rowling was a teacher turned author.  Teachers often   
   >> create "teachable moments", such as dropping the name of a pretty   
   >> famous alchemist (at least to historians) who really lived and sought   
   >> the Philosopher's Stone.   
   >   
   > There you go again. Not one fucking thing you said is anything more   
   > than an extension of the obvious.   
   >   
   > Meh.   
      
   And again I point out, Draco, that Mr. Tom is performing within the   
   confines of his world. He is, at truth, consistent and should be at   
   least commended for this not denigrated for his limitations. ;)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)