Harry Potter and the Sorcerers

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, And Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

Both Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Alice in Wonderland belong to the fantasy genre because of the numerous events that happen in both books that are not connected to the real world, because of the presence of various mythological beings and animals and because of the readers' expectations that the events in the book are supernatural. However, it is also interesting to note that both books, despite being in the fantasy genre, have serious connection with the real world, especially in what the main characters are concerned. Based on the real world, in fact the books become fantastical representations of natural events.

Both books start in a similar manner by making the reader face the magic and creating a fantasy that allows the authors to transpose the reader in a supernatural environment. In Alice in Wonderland, the connection with the fantasy world is done through the rabbit hole, although there are several real life elements that lead up to that. The beginning of the book does not anticipate the fantastical continuation of the story: Alice and her sister are sitting on a riverbank and her sister is reading a book. However, the apparition of the rabbit complaining about running late is essential in announcing the fantasy that is about to develop: the rabbit can talk. Elements such as the key by the glass table and bottle labeled "drink me" are further instruments by which the author is brining the reader closer to the fantasy world, in which Alice enters by going down the rabbit hole.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in facts starts already with the fantasy world, there is nothing to make this transition smooth as it is in Alice in Wonderland. The wizard world is celebrating the downfall of Lord Voldemort. The allusions to the fantasy world are very clear here, compared to the element sin Alice in Wonderland: wizards and magical curses and a lightning bolt that leaves only a small scar on Harry Potter's forehead when Voldemort plans to murder him.

One of the important elements of fantasy in Alice in Wonderland is the implication of animals throughout the book and the fact that they generally tend to have human characteristics, notably the gift of speech. They are not necessarily entrusted with supernatural powers, like in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, but they talk and give advice. In Chapter 5, for example, the caterpillar is presented as a wise individual who listens and gives advice to Alice. The March Hare is probably another good example, although the tea party takes less of a fantasy approach and more of a parody. An exception to this could be the Cheshire Cat, but only because its size and presence in a tree bring about extra mystery to the character, to the degree to which the reader can attribute it supernatural powers without it having any.

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, as mentioned, animals are fantastic through everything going from their supernatural capacities to their physical appearance. Fluffy, for example, is a three-headed dog, guarding the passage to the underground chamber. The dog is clearly an allusion to the mythological Cerberus, but there are also several other similar fantastic animals throughout the book.

It is interesting to note how, in both Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and in Alice in Wonderland, there always is a strong connection with the real world. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, beyond the fantasy and supernatural events that abound throughout the book, the reader cannot help to see the usual social relations that are born in a secondary school or a high school, between the different students there. Despite the fact that they study at magic school, inherent issues, like dealing with the class bully or doing homework, are always present. Similarly, Alice is also an early teenager struggling with some of the problems of that age: growing too big, meeting new people and learning to deal with them, tackling new situations that arise in her life etc.

This is similar with many of the characters in both books. Although fantastic characters, they retain many of the usual human characteristics. Dumbledore is, of course, a powerful wizard, but he is also, at the same time, a wise teacher, knowing when to punish and when to encourage. Characters like the queen, from Chapter 8 of Alice in Wonderland, is just like any irrational dictator or boss, in fact. The supernatural beings are all reunited in their overarching humanity.

In fact, L. Carroll draws on many of the characters of his time to paint realistic portraits for many of the characters in his own book. Some are clear allusions to politicians or well-known figures of his day, which is not something that happens in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, although we do recognize in this book some overarching typologies of people.

Alice in Wonderland also has a linear approach to the events, in the sense that Alice goes from one event to another in a continuous journey to diversify and amplify her knowledge and personality. Despite the fact that she returns at the same point from the beginning of the book (the river bank and her sister), she has gone, in the fantasy land, through a series of experiences that will improve her as a human being and individual.