Abstract: Joanne Kathleen Rowling is one of the most important contemporary British magic writers in the twentieth century. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone fully illustrates Rowling’s writing techniques and strategies in respects including Symbolism. This thesis mainly concentrates on the analysis of the symbolic meanings in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and summarizes the symbolic significance of the main characters and the scenes. The thesis falls into three parts. The first part mainly makes the introduction to Rowling, her Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and the definition and development of Symbolism. The second part analyses the symbolic meanings of characters: Harry Potter, Dumbledore and Voldemort, and objects, namely the Philosopher’s Stone, the Lightning-Shaped Scar and the Magic Wand in the novel. Lastly, through the analysis of symbolic meanings of characters and objects in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, a conclusion is made to restate Symbolism reflected and the significance in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Key words: Symbolism; Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; symbolic meaning

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction.1

1.1 Introduction to J.K. Rowling

1.2 Introduction to Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

1.3 Introduction to Symbolism

2. Symbolic Meanings of Characters in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.4

2.1 Symbolic Meaning of Harry Potter

2.2 Symbolic Meaning of Dumbledore

2.3 Symbolic Meaning of Voldemort

3. Symbolic Meanings of Objects in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone8

3.1 Symbolic Meaning of the Philosopher’s Stone

3.2 Symbolic Meaning of Harry’s Lightning-Shaped Scar

3.3 Symbolic Meaning of the Magic Wand

4. Conclusion13

Bibliography.14

Acknowledgements..15