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Reader Comments: (Page 7)

ly Hallows, eh?

I can just imagine the last or second to last chapter being called just that (this chapter also be the final showdown between Riddle and Harry). What it means, however... We'll have to play back the tape for that.

The first book was titled the Philosophers Stone (it was something else for you americans but the original title was the Philosophers stone) and it was the object that Riddle wanted to regain power.

The second, Chamber of Secrets, is pretty obvious. It told the story of the chamber and it came to be the place where Harry ends up fighting the Basilisk.

The third, Prisoner of Azkaban, was about Sirius Black entirely (Riddle barely even had a role in it, save for the Prophecy about him and Wormtail)

Goblet of Fire surprised me though. So far, the title items/characters have played a huge role in the respective book. The Goblet of Fire didn't do much else than sort the TriWizard Champions.

Order of the Phoenix. More or less like Prisoner of Azkaban.

Half-Blood Prince. We all know that was Severus, although it seemed to be another person throughout the entire book. Where have we seen that? Might it have been Riddle's diary in Chamber of Secrets?

And now, ly Hallows. I can't seem to figure out what the hell it's supposed to stand for. And to be honest, it doesn't have that same feeling to it, that the other novels has. Book Seven is probably THE MOST anticipated book of the century, it should have a much stronger title, a title which gives you the impression of greatness. For instance, Lord of the Rings. It had a powerful last title (Return of the King - atleast powerful in comparison to it's predecessors)

I have my doubts regarding the authenticity of this title.

Posted by Rane from Swedens. on December 24, 2006 3:19 PM

There's no doubt about it. Harry Potter and the ly Hallows is the official title of Book 7. It was the answer to a puzzle on J.K. Rowling's official website, and it has been announced officially by Harry Potter UK publisher Bloomsbury and US publisher Scholastic.

Posted by Dave Haber from Los Angeles, CA on December 24, 2006 3:54 PM

"ly Hallows" - Hallows or hallowed? If the description of hallows as a sacred place or something sacred is to be accepted, then what item is more hallowed than a soul in this life? The part of all of us that lasts for eternity is the soul. What item could we hold as more hallowed than that?

The ly part referring to those portions of Voldemort's 'hallowed' soul that he has divided and torn apart. As Dumbledore proved, destroying one of these had very serious consequences. So these hallowed pieces of soul have very dire consequences to those who encounter them, perhaps ly.

To me, it all comes to the title referring to the ly or ly portions of Voldemort's 'hallowed' soul. I think in the end, Mrs. Rowling is not going to be so obscure in the title of her book as to what it is referring to. The title refers to Harry's search for these ly portions of Voldemort's soul. Remember that this is still a book geared at children readers and maybe J.K. is not going to be so obscure.

But I do believe that J.K. has borrowed quite a bit and it certainly wouldn't surprise me if this book parallels the fabled Arthurian quest.

Posted by Brian from Hilton Head, SC on December 24, 2006 5:28 PM

Wow! That's a really dark title. I think that it's the darkest title of them all. Although, if it doesn't take place at Hogwarts, I'm going to miss that place. A lot. I'm going to miss all of the lessons and the humor that J.K. manages to put into her books through them.

But the TITLE HAS BEEN RELEASED! YAY!

Posted by Harry Potter Fan from Ravenclaw Tower on December 25, 2006 03:56 AM

“ly Hallows” refer to either four objects (horcruxes or perhaps, antihorcruxes) that, in the Arthurian, Fisher-king (holy grail), Tarot card tradition have been 1)cup, 2)sword, 3)wand (or spear) and 4) plate, stone or pentacle.

Or, given that “HP and the Hogwarts’ Hallows” and “HP and the Hallows of Hogwarts” were both reserved for copyright several years ago by JKR’s lawyers, coupled with the fact that JKR said the “graveyard could not be shown where the director wanted it shown in GOF (and remember that “no Hogwarts Headmaster has ever been buried on the Hogwart’s grounds”) may mean that the ly hallows refer the tombs of the four founders that (like the chamber of secrets) are magically concealed within Hogwarts. What is the room of requirement really?

I think the term ly was chosen specifically because it does not (necessarily) mean ly. The term is a perfectly acceptable one meaning “-like.”

At first I thought the new title was so stupid that “HP and the happy squirrel” would have been better, but thanks to some research, I now see that it hints at Harry’s further inmeshment in the hero’s quest/journeythat has been his destiny (like all heroes) since birth.

Posted by leah from nyc on December 25, 2006 08:33 AM

In all of JKR's books, the title has referred to someone or something that has permeated the events of the book and especially had a powerful impact on Harry's life throughout the book. In a way it is all-encompassing for that book. I love reading everyone's ideas but have to say, I believe the same holds true for DH so, in my opinion it has to go beyond a specific time and place (like Godric's Hollow or Halloween).

There's been a bit of controversy as to whether Hallows is a noun or verb. I think it could be both: a verb-the act of blessing an object (usually for God but in this case perhaps for Lord V.) which turns ly; and a noun-either a collection of saintly relics or the place in which powerful objects are kept that appear -like or has power over . If Jo has considered both parts of speech to be appropriate, it sounds to me like a reference to both the creation of the Horcruxes blessed by the spell that would create them for Lord V. requiring a to occur as well as the collection of relics or powerful objects (again Horcruxes) and the place where they are kept which we know from HP can cause the of anyone seeking to retrieve them. We know finding them has to be Harry's quest in this last book.

And, I do agree with those who have said it seems it be an Arthurian quest (perhaps with Ginny, short for Ginevra (seven letters) the Italian form of Guinivere at his side). Also, knowing Jo's knowledge of folklore and mythology, it's quite possible that Celtic legend play a very strong role in this book. A final thought--where exactly is Godric's Hollow if you have to fly over Bristol? Did Harry begin his life anywhere near the site of Arthur's castle? Perhaps Harry isn't so much the heir of Gryffindor as a descendant of King Arthur. I know that's way out there, but such is the nature of speculation.

Posted by Hannah on December 25, 2006 11:58 AM

When I first heard about the title, I thought it would have to do with Harry going to Godric's Hallow, but after a while, I thought about the way J.K. leads us to think something, but it's totally different. I think it might have to do with Halloween, too.

Posted by Anisa from Mesa,AZ on December 25, 2006 1:03 PM

As much as I want to see Harry's parents and Sirius return in Book 7 to help Harry, I do not see it as a possibility. The title is ambiguous, just like the prophecy, and can be interpreted in many ways. The title alone could mean that the soles of Harry's departed relatives return; however, the events leading up to the final book do exactly the opposite.

JKR has said in interviews that, while she hated ing Sirius and Dumbledore, she had to. Their s were not in vain. JKR wants Harry to fight the final battle on his own. Harry even mentioned in HBP that he must leave behind the belief that someone is protecting him (I don't have the book with me, but it was after Dumbledore's ). He realized that one by one, the people that cared him have stood between him and . First his father, then his mother, then Sirius, and finally Dumbledore. JKR has taken all these people away for a reason and I do not believe that it is so that they can return from the in some form to help Harry in the final battle with Voldemort.

The title can mean many things, but I think it be one very specific thing, rather than being some general idea of the book. All the previous title have been very specific to one thing, so I don't think it mean the search for the horcruxes or the horcruxes because we already know that is coming. It be one specific event, thing, or location that play a significant role in the series.

Only time (and JKR) tell!

Posted by Lisa from North Carolina on December 26, 2006 01:19 AM

I like the theory about "Authurian quest" because it does seem to highlight JK's thought process. Harry's last adventure is a "quest"...in search of the remaining horcruxes but does he get ed when he tries to destroy the last one? Is that when his scar disappears? (The mark of an evil wizard bestowed on him by Voldemort?) Does that mean Voldemort's soul then live on in Harry's body and never be vanquished? Nah...JK wouldn't be that sinister...would she? Then again, good triumphs over evil but never completely destroys it...as long as there's something good, there always be evil. Harry does not have the power to "" Voldemort but he does have the power to "vanquish" him...which means "to eliminate, defeat, make defenseless"...to name a few. That sounds alot like the same thing that happened when Voldemort tried to Harry when he was a baby...doesn't Voldemort get it? He can't get rid of Harry...he couldn't then and he can't now. Having Harry's blood in him now only protects Harry even more because it gives the dark lord a taste of being "human". (ie: having human emotions and frailities and his first taste of love.) A chink in his armor, so to speak. Sorry for the ramblings but the posts on this subject conjure-up all sorts of possibilities...thanks Dave!

Posted by Dee from South USA on December 26, 2006 03:08 AM

well, this is some news.. I only read this today here at this very website.. good news though, gives us some more to speculate about.

to continue on what Rane from Swedens. on December 24 wrote...

i also thought about the other titles and their significance to their related books, and the following struck me: Books which are more about LV (SS/PS,CoS etc)have titles that mean something of substance (if you see what i mean, real objects so to speak),
and books which are more about HP and related things (e.g. PoA) have titles which are more about HP or other important people (OotP).
since i read some of the comments, i saw there are many different meanings to the title. I translated the title to dutch and it said: "fatale heiligdom/Doods Heiligt" or freely translated to english it would say: "fatal sanctuary".
with this in mind, i believe the title suggests more like a place or a taken action. I also think that the book be more about HP than about LV (LV play a big role, since he is the goal of the entire serie) but that's just a thought...

Posted by Bart v. Dongen from Strijen, The Netherlands on December 26, 2006 1:53 PM

I think that the "ly Hallows" refers to the remaining horcruxes that Harry has to find yet. At first, when I came across the title, I thought that it refered to the eaters or something like that. Anyway, the title has more meaning beyond the name, I'm sure.

Posted by John Allanegui from The Philippines on December 26, 2006 4:33 PM

I was very suprised when I heard that the name of the long awaited book was the ly Hallows. Of course my immediate thoughts were Godric Hollow's. But they have two different spellings. And anyway, Harry had said in the 6th book that he would go straight to Godric's Hollows...so that would be in the beginning-and the duel between Harry and Voldermort must be in the end.

Posted by Rachel from Melbourne, Australia on December 26, 2006 9:51 PM

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