Recognising Rowling's interesting writing techniques

It's interesting to be reading J.K.'s first novel again, but this time in French. Because I'm not fluent, I'm forced to read more slowly and to pay a great deal more attention to the words.

Sounds funny, doesn't it? But I'm finding it a very worthwhile exercise because I'm seeing things, recognising strategies J.K. is using, that I had never really noticed before. For example, she does a wonderful job of pre-introducing characters, often long before they become regular parts of Harry's life.

McGonagall, Dumbledore and Hagrid all appear early at Privet Drive, then disappear for several chapters. Harry encounters Draco Malfoy in Madam Malkin's robe shop and then doesn't see him again until the Hogwarts Express. And Quirrell makes a similar appearance: at the Leaky Cauldron during Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley and then, chapters later, at the opening feast at Hogwarts.

It's a useful strategy because it gives the reader a feeling of familiarity with the character when they start to take on a larger role in the story.

It also highlights J.K.'s other neat strategy: she usually introduces a characteristic (either a physical or behavioural marker) by which the character will be recognised whenever he or she appears later. For example, Draco is known by his pale skin and his nose, the Weasleys are all recognisable by their red hair with Ron's long nose an extra marker, while Hermione has the infamous bottle-brush hair and big teeth.

Rowling is then careful to repeat the description each time the character re-appears on the scene.

This is a highly effective strategy since it gives the reader more than one way to remember the character. In fact, we are probably more likely to remember the witch with the stern face and tight bun than we are to remember the name "McGonagall", at least at the start.

It sort of reminds me of the way ancient Greek epic poets used to assign similar trademark descriptions to characters to help us remember them. I've never forgotten "the winged-footed Achilles" from my high school classes!