Did you know that Harry Potter is the fifth best-selling book worldwide, with over 107 million copies sold and that it is now the best-selling children's novel? But did you also know that before Harry Potter, the best-selling children's novel of all time was Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland? It may seem hard to believe for those of you who know the topsy-turvy world of Wonderland, with its endearing Mad Hatter and its frightening Queen of Hearts who is so fond of yelling for people to be beheaded. Yet it's not just children that these two novels appeal to. Adult readers love both stories too. But why?
As a child, I loved both books equally and have fond memories of my brothers, and even my mum, all fighting over each newly released Harry Potter book, so that in the end Mum decided to read us a chapter every night, like she used to when we were little children! However, it is not until I read the books for a second time, as an adult studying literature, that I realise the depth of the language hidden in both. Did you realise that, in Harry Potter, 'Diagon Alley' is actually 'Diagonally'? And that 'Knockturn Alley' is 'Nocturnally' (at night)? Each, of course, have their own connotation within the magic world.
Both authors tell their stories by using poems too. Have a read of the nonsense poem 'Jabberwocky' in Alice and Wonderland and 'The Sorting Hat Song' in Harry Potter. Both authors loved playing with language and J. K. Rowling uses Latin and obsolete words (words which are old-fashioned and no longer used). Here are a few examples:
- 'Dumbledore' is old English for 'bumblebee', because she pictured Dumbledore humming to himself.
- Apparate and disapparate combine the words 'appear', 'disappear' and 'evaporate'.
- Protego Totalum means 'total protection'.
- Grimmauld Place is a grim (depressing or serious) old place.
Have you ever read Alice in Wonderland or a Harry Potter book? What did you think?
Harry Potter ni kitabu cha tano kwa kuuza zaidi ulimwenguni, na zaidi ya nakala 107 milioni zimeuzwa, na sasa ni riwaya ya watoto inayouzwa zaidi. "Hata hivyo, kabla ya Harry Potter, kitabu cha kwanza cha watoto kilichouzwa zaidi ni ""Alice in Wonderland"" ya Lewis Carroll." "Hii inaweza kuonekana vigumu kuamini kwa wale ambao wanajua ulimwengu wa ""Wonderland"" na ""Mad Hatter"" na ""Malkia wa Hearts"" ambaye anapenda kupiga kelele kwa watu kuwa na vichwa." Hata hivyo, si watoto tu ambao riwaya hizo mbili zinawavutia. Wasomaji wazima hupenda hadithi zote mbili pia. Lakini kwa nini? """Nilipokuwa mtoto, niliipenda vitabu vyote viwili sawa na nina kumbukumbu nzuri za ndugu zangu, na hata mama yangu, wote wakipigana juu ya kila kitabu kipya cha Harry Potter, kwa hivyo mwishowe Mama aliamua kutuambia sura kila usiku, kama alivyofanya wakati tulikuwa watoto wadogo." Hata hivyo, ni mpaka niliposoma vitabu kwa mara ya pili, kama mtu mzima anayesoma fasihi, kwamba nilitambua kina cha lugha iliyofichwa katika zote mbili. Je, unajua kwamba, katika Harry Potter, 'Diagon Alley' ni kweli 'Diagonally'? Na kwamba 'Knockturn Alley' ni 'Nocturnally' (kwa usiku)? Bila shaka, kila moja ina maana yake mwenyewe katika ulimwengu wa uchawi. Waandishi wote wawili husimulia hadithi zao kwa kutumia mashairi pia. "Kama vile ""Jabberwocky"" katika Alice na Wonderland na ""The Sorting Hat Song"" katika Harry Potter." J.K. Rowling alitumia maneno ya Kilatini na maneno ya zamani (neno ambalo ni la zamani na halitumiwi tena). Hapa ni mifano michache: - 'Dumbledore' ni Kiingereza cha kale kwa 'bumblebee', kwa sababu yeye picha Dumbledore humming kwa mwenyewe. - Apparate na disapparate kuchanganya maneno 'kuonekana', 'kutoweka' na 'kuyeyuka'. - Protego Totalum humaanisha 'kulinda kabisa.' - Grimmauld Place ni mahali pa zamani chungu (chungu au mbaya). Je, umewahi kusoma Alice katika Wonderland au Harry Potter? Ulikuwa na maoni gani?