A Glossary of the Magical Terms and Elements used in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Novels

Abstract

The aim of this essay is to get a closer approach to J.K. Rowling’s saga Harry Potter, one of the most famous series of novels of the last times. It is unquestionable the fame both the writer and her books have acquired in the last twenty years, becoming the most successful science fiction saga in the period, possibly together with George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire. The seven novels that make up the whole story and the other three complementary books have created a magic world which has captivated the attention and devotion of so many people all around the world. In order to understand this world of fantasy which accommodates Rowling’s fiction, my main purpose in this essay is to compile a glossary of the magical elements and terms used in the novels (including spells, fantastic creatures, objects and characters) that may facilitate the reading of the novels. In this glossary, arranged according to different categories, every term and element will be analysed taking into account their etymology, their antecedents or their influences from different cultures and folklores, because the wizarding world of the Harry Potter books is very rich in this aspect.

El objetivo de este trabajo es el de hacer un acercamiento a Harry Potter, de J.K. Rowling, una de las más famosas sagas de novelas de los últimos tiempos. Es indudable la fama que durante los últimos veinte años ha adquirido tanto la escritora, como los libros, pasando a convertirse, posiblemente, en la saga de ciencia ficción más exitosa durante este período, junto a Songs of Ice and Fire, de George R.R. Martin. Tanto las siete novelas que conforman la base de la historia, como los otros tres libros complementarios de la serie, conforman el mundo mágico que ha cautivado a tanta gente por todo el mundo. Para acercarnos este mundo de fantasía que respalda la obra de Rowling, mi propósito principal en este trabajo es reunir un glosario de términos, ya sean hechizos, criaturas fantásticas, personajes y objetos que conforman la saga. Cada uno de esos conceptos se analizará en términos de precedentes, influencias de diferentes culturas y folclores, ya que el mundo mágico que conforma la saga de Harry Potter es rico en éstas.