Project work byProject work byMitina K., 6Mitina K., 6thth form, Gymnasia form, Gymnasia №№33

Vorkuta, 2008Vorkuta, 2008

There are a lot of people one can admire: inventors, There are a lot of people one can admire: inventors, singers, actors, dancers, sportsmen, politicians, and many singers, actors, dancers, sportsmen, politicians, and many others. As for me I admire writers and the one I admire others. As for me I admire writers and the one I admire most of all is Joann Kathleen Rowling, a British novelist most of all is Joann Kathleen Rowling, a British novelist who wrote world- famous books about Harry Potter.who wrote world- famous books about Harry Potter.

This book was published in This book was published in 1997 and had a great 1997 and had a great success both among the success both among the children and adults. As it is children and adults. As it is known, the book was known, the book was translated into about 50 translated into about 50 languages. languages.

In 2001 the Warner Brothers In 2001 the Warner Brothers Company made a screen Company made a screen version of the book which version of the book which also had a great success. also had a great success.

Joanna Rowling planned to Joanna Rowling planned to write 7 books about Harry write 7 books about Harry Potter’s adventures and the Potter’s adventures and the final book was published the final book was published the last year. Also the fifth film last year. Also the fifth film was made which again was made which again excited the whole world. excited the whole world.

So, who is that writer who created such a powerful So, who is that writer who created such a powerful book and why this book is so popular?book and why this book is so popular?

I have read all 7 books and have seen all 5 films and I I have read all 7 books and have seen all 5 films and I spend a good time. First of all when I read these spend a good time. First of all when I read these books they surprised me with a simple language, books they surprised me with a simple language, unusual events and rich imagination of the author. unusual events and rich imagination of the author. Secondly, I liked the main characters who are kind Secondly, I liked the main characters who are kind and merry, honest and brave, devoted and reliable. and merry, honest and brave, devoted and reliable. So, I think these are the qualities which make this So, I think these are the qualities which make this book so popular.book so popular.

But I also think that for success it is very important But I also think that for success it is very important how much of his or her soul or personal experience how much of his or her soul or personal experience the author puts in the work.the author puts in the work.

So, the aims of this project areSo, the aims of this project are - to find and present biographical - to find and present biographical facts which influenced on the creation facts which influenced on the creation or were used in writing of this book;or were used in writing of this book;

- make a survey to study to know - make a survey to study to know what our students and teachers think what our students and teachers think about the book and the film.about the book and the film.

Some words about Some words about biography…biography…

Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born on 31 July 1965, near Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born on 31 July 1965, near Bristol, England, and grew up in Chipping, Grent. Bristol, England, and grew up in Chipping, Grent.

In many interviews J. Rowling says that when she was a In many interviews J. Rowling says that when she was a child her family moved from one place to another very child her family moved from one place to another very often and that gave a chance to meet new people and to often and that gave a chance to meet new people and to see many places. And in the this future helped her in see many places. And in the this future helped her in creation of the book. creation of the book.

Moreover, as a child, Rowling enjoyed writing fantasy Moreover, as a child, Rowling enjoyed writing fantasy stories, which she often read to her younger sister.stories, which she often read to her younger sister.

When she finished school she moved to France to study When she finished school she moved to France to study French and then she retuned to London to work as a French and then she retuned to London to work as a researcher and a bilingual sectretary for Amnesty researcher and a bilingual sectretary for Amnesty Intenational.Intenational.

Later she moved to Portugal to teach English as a foreign Later she moved to Portugal to teach English as a foreign language.language.But whatever she did she has always been But whatever she did she has always been

thinking only about writing stories and thinking only about writing stories and choosing names for her characters… choosing names for her characters…

Some words about the book…Some words about the book… So, iSo, in 1990, while she was on a train trip from n 1990, while she was on a train trip from

Manchester to London, the idea for a story of a Manchester to London, the idea for a story of a young boy attending a school of wizardry came young boy attending a school of wizardry came into her mind and when she came back home, into her mind and when she came back home,

she began to write it at once.she began to write it at once.

What is in the book…What is in the book… This book is about a wizard boy called Harry This book is about a wizard boy called Harry

Potter whose parents were killed by Volant-de-Potter whose parents were killed by Volant-de-Mort, an evil and great saucer, his friends Mort, an evil and great saucer, his friends

Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley who are Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley who are trying to get rid of evil forces and save the world. trying to get rid of evil forces and save the world.

Harry PotterHarry Potter – to create this character she used a – to create this character she used a second name of a real boy who was her neighbor second name of a real boy who was her neighbor and a best friend for some time.and a best friend for some time.

Ron WeasleyRon Weasley – has similar traits of character to one – has similar traits of character to one of her classmates, whose name was Sean Harris. of her classmates, whose name was Sean Harris. Moreover Sean owned Moreover Sean owned Ford AngliaFord Anglia which also which also influenced the idea about a magic car.influenced the idea about a magic car.

Hermione GrangerHermione Granger – for this character J. Rowling – for this character J. Rowling used herself at the age of 11.But she points that used herself at the age of 11.But she points that Hermione has better traits than she had. Hermione has better traits than she had.

As J. Rowling says many people she met and many As J. Rowling says many people she met and many places she visited helped her to create most of the places she visited helped her to create most of the characters from the stories about Harry Potter. So, characters from the stories about Harry Potter. So, here are some interesting facts about creation of here are some interesting facts about creation of

some characters of the some characters of the Harry PotterHarry Potter books. books.

And Rowling’s elderly headmaster And Rowling’s elderly headmaster of one of the schools, was the of one of the schools, was the inspiration for the character of inspiration for the character of Albus DumbledoreAlbus Dumbledore

The idea about the The idea about the DementorsDementors, , soulless creatures, was brought to soulless creatures, was brought to her mind by the feeling of her her mind by the feeling of her illness: during the period of her illness: during the period of her divorce she was diagnosed with divorce she was diagnosed with clinical depression and clinical depression and contemplated suicide.contemplated suicide.

Also to make the magic world more Also to make the magic world more interesting J. Rowling used discriptions interesting J. Rowling used discriptions of mythical creaturs.One of them, for of mythical creaturs.One of them, for example is a example is a hipogriffhipogriff which looks which looks much alike as a gryphon. much alike as a gryphon.

Moreover, while writing the first book, Moreover, while writing the first book, Rowling’s mother died after a 10-Rowling’s mother died after a 10-year battle with a serious disease year battle with a serious disease

and this death heavily affected her and this death heavily affected her writing and that she introduced writing and that she introduced much more detail about Harry’s much more detail about Harry’s

loss in the first book because she loss in the first book because she knew about how it felt. knew about how it felt.

Thus we may see that J.K. Rowling Thus we may see that J.K. Rowling used real people to describe her used real people to describe her characters and there also were characters and there also were

some tragic events which some tragic events which influenced the book. So, may be influenced the book. So, may be these things made this book so these things made this book so

popular, as in spite of all the magic popular, as in spite of all the magic she tells about real things we face she tells about real things we face

in everyday life. in everyday life.

The survey.The survey. When looking for the information about J.K. Rowling’s When looking for the information about J.K. Rowling’s

biography I wondered to find out how many people know who biography I wondered to find out how many people know who wrote stories about Harry Potter.wrote stories about Harry Potter.

Also it was interested for me to know if many people read Also it was interested for me to know if many people read books or watch films of Harry Potter series and how much books or watch films of Harry Potter series and how much they liked them.they liked them.

I asked students and teachers of our Gymnasium the I asked students and teachers of our Gymnasium the following questions:following questions:

1. Do you know who is J.K. Rowling?1. Do you know who is J.K. Rowling?

2. Did you read any book or watch any film about 2. Did you read any book or watch any film about Harry Potter?Harry Potter?

3. Do you think the story of Harry Potter is interesting, 3. Do you think the story of Harry Potter is interesting, usual or uninteresting?usual or uninteresting?

The results.The results.I asked 88 people and got the following results:I asked 88 people and got the following results:

The first question showed that quantity of people who know The first question showed that quantity of people who know J.K. Rowling and who don’t know her is almost equal.J.K. Rowling and who don’t know her is almost equal.

65%2%

33%

Yes, I did Heard something No, I didn't

For the second question if they read any book or For the second question if they read any book or watched any film about Harry Potter most of the watched any film about Harry Potter most of the

people answered positively. people answered positively.

84%

2%14%

Yes, I did Heard something No, I didn't

For the third question about how they liked For the third question about how they liked the books and the films most of the people the books and the films most of the people

admitted that they liked them.admitted that they liked them.

61%24%

15%

Interesting Usual Uninteresting

The conclusionThe conclusion

When working on this project I learned a lot of When working on this project I learned a lot of interesting information both about the author of interesting information both about the author of

Harry Potter books and the way she wrote it. So, it Harry Potter books and the way she wrote it. So, it helped me to understand this book better. helped me to understand this book better.

And making a survey helped me to know how much And making a survey helped me to know how much this book is popular among the students of our this book is popular among the students of our Gymnasium and also it helped me to learn to Gymnasium and also it helped me to learn to

communicate with people of different ages and communicate with people of different ages and professions. And I’m sure this experience may help professions. And I’m sure this experience may help

me in future.me in future.