Character Study: Severus Snape

While I was impatiently waiting for the final Harry Potter book to come out, I took to indexing the dialogue markers of various chapters in Half Blood Prince. I had such lofty goals, intending to index the entire book before the final installment was published. Alas, I only have about five chapters analyzed total. Oh well. One of the things I noticed from the few chapters that I did index is that Rowling has proven her genius and attention to details yet again. In the second chapter, Spinner's End, Snape's loyalties are questioned and she is careful that Snape is as slippery as ever, right down to his dialogue markers. Even if these findings are easily made without a focused study of the markers, it's still pretty freaking neat.

For the sake of my poor fingers, I am going to begin from the section where Snape enters. I've put names in brackets where all the confusing pronouns go. I've placed a few notes in bold next to the indexing that will be further explained in the reflection below. Also, please note that the pages reflect the hardbound A.A. Levine version.

(page 22)

• "..." said the man, opening the door a little wider, so the light fell upon [Narcissa] and her sister too.
• "..." [Narcissa] said in a strained whisper. "..."
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]
• "..." [Bellatrix] said curtly as she passed him.
• "..." [Snape] replied, his thin mouth curling into a slightly mocking smile as he closed the door with a snap behind them.

(page 23)

• "..." Snape asked, setting himself in the armchair opposite the two sisters.
• "..." Narcissa asked quietly.
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]
• "..." said Snape lazily.
• "..." [Wormtail] said, in a squeaky voice. "..."
• "..." said Snape. "..."
• "..." [Wormtail] squeaked avoiding Snape's eyes.
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]

(page 24)

• [no marker--implied to be Wormtail]
• "..." said Snape silkily. "..."
• [no marker--implied to be Wormtail]
• "..." said Snape sneering. "..."
• "..." [Snape] said, raising his glass and draining it.
• As Narcissa took her second drink, she said in a rush, "..."
• "..." said Snape."..."

(Page 25)

• [Narcissa] took a great, shuddering breath and started again. "..."
• "..." snarled Bellatrix. "..."
• "..." repeated Snape sardonically. "..."
• [no marker--implied to be Bellatrix]
• "..." said Snape. "..."
• "..." [Bellatrix] said loudly, striding out from behind the sofa to slam her glass upon the table. "..."

(Page 26)

• Snape smiled.
• [Bellatrix] hesitated.
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]
• Snape did not press the point. He picked up his drink again, sipped it, and continued, "..."
• "..."--[Snape] inclined his head slightly to Narcissa--"..."

(Page 27)

• "..."said Bellatrix passionately. "..."
• "..." said Snape in a bored voice. "..."
• "..." [Bellatrix] shrieked; in her fury she looked slightly mad. "..."
• "..." said Snape calmly. "..."
• "..." [Bellatrix] jeered. "..."
• "..." said Snape. "..."
• [no marker--implied to be Bellatrix]* power struggle, cut off
  
• "..." said Snape, betraying a hint of impatience for the first time. "..."

(Page 28)

• "..." [Snape] pressed on, a little more loudly, for Bellatrix showed every sign of interrupting, "..."
• [no marker--implied to be Bellatrix]* power struggle, cut off
  
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]* dumbledore's name mentioned--unable to read Snape
  
• "..." [Bellatrix] began, in tones of outrage.
• "..." said Snape, impatient again. "..."

(Page 29)

• "..." sneered Bellatrix. "..."
• "..." said Snape. "..."
• "..." said Bellatrix, firing up at once. "..."
• "..." said Snape, his voice delicately inflected to suggest his disbelief. "..."
• "..." said Bellatrix, flushing. "..."
• "..." said Narcissa, in a low and deadly voice, looking up at her sister.
• "..." said Snape smoothly. "..."
• "..." said Bellatrix furiously. "..."
• "..." said Snape. "..."
• "..." snarled Bellatrix. "..."
  

(Page 30)

• [no marker--implied to be Snape]
• [no marker--implied to be Bellatrix]
• "..." asked Snape.
• [no marker--implied to be Bellatrix]* power struggle, flustered
  
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]
• "..." [Bellatrix] jeered. *cut off snape--regains a marker
  
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]* defensive, trails off
  
• [no marker--implied to be Bellatrix]
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]*begins lenghty monologue
  

(Page 31)

• [no marker--implied to be Snape]
  
• "..." asked Bellatrix. "..."
• "..." asked Snape. "..." (for Bellatrix had made a scathing noise), "..."

(Page 32)

• Taking advantage of her silence, Snape turned to her sister. "..."
• Narcissa looked up at him, her face eloquent with despair. "..."
  
• "..." Narcissa continued, her eyes still closed. "..."
• "..." said Snape at once. "..."
• "..." [Bellatrix] said triumphantly to her sister. "..."
• "..." [Snape] said in a low voice. "..."
• "..." said Narcissa, breathing more freely. "..."

(Page 33)

• "..." said Bellatrix, her fleeting look of satisfaction replaced by a look of outrage. "..."
• "..." said Snape. "..."
• "..." [Narcissa] whispered, tears sliding down her pale cheeks. "..."
• "..." said Bellatrix indifferently. "..."
• Narcissa began to cry in earnest, gazing beseechingly all the while at Snape. "..."
• "..." [Narcissa] persisted. "..."
• "..." said Snape, still looking away from her. "..."
• "..." sobbed Narcissa. "..."
• Bellatrix gasped; Narcsisa seemed to lose her nerve. "..."

(Page 34)

• "..." said Snape flatly. "..."
• "..." choked Narcissa. "..."
• [Narcissa's] face close to [Snape's], her tears falling onto his chest, she gasped, "..."
• Looking down into [Narcissa's] tearstained face, [Snape] said slowly, "..."
• [no marker--implied to be Narcissa]
• "..." repeated Snape quietly. "..."

(Page 35)

• [Narcissa] crumpled, falling at [Snape's] feet, sobbing and moaning on the floor. "..."
• "..." said Bellatrix ruthlessly. "..."
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]
• [no marker--implied to be Narcissa]
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]
• [no marker--implied to be Narcissa]
• [no marker--implied to be Snape]
• Bellatrix, however, let out a cackle of triumphant laughter. "..."

(Page 36)

• "..." [Snape] said quietly. "..."
• "..." said Snape coldly.
• "..." [Snape] said.
• Narcissa spoke. "..."
• "..." said Snape.
• [no marker--implied to be Narcissa]
• "..." said Snape.
• "..." whispered Narcissa. "..."

(Page 37)

• "..." said Snape.

Reflection:

The strongest thing I observed is that less is definitely more. For example, notice that Wormtail's name is never recorded in the markers. He is either a pronoun squeaking, or not even given the luxury of a dialogue marker at all. Snape is elusive as ever, and when he has markers outside of "Snape said" they are often followed by an adjective beginning with the letter s, as you can find on page 24 with "said Snape silkily." The few seconds of narration in between his words in these instances have a strong alliteration, giving the illusion that his words are hissing like a snake.

I hypothesize that there seems to be two reasons why Rowling decided against utilizing dialogue markers for certain sections of text. The first, and most obvious, is simply for the sake of flow. Too many he-said and she-saids bog down the narration. The second is that a lack of markers represents power. Look at the Wormtail example again. By lacking markers more frequently than his name is mentioned, he is truly a worthless character, emphasized by the fact that he is being holed away in Snape's house to act the servant. I also noticed that Snape cuts across Bellatrix often before she can finish her thoughts or gain access to a marker, taking over the conversation. However, when Snape is being called on to help Draco on page 35, Bellatrix is the only person whose name is recorded. This is the section where she has the most control of the dialogue, mocking Snape. An interesting contrast to this theory, however, is that on pages 30-31 Snape has a lengthy monologue. He has three paragraphs of text, but not a single marker. I viewed this as the opposite of what I have already suggested, in that, he has so much control of the conversation not even the narrator can barge in.

Anyway, that's about it for that. Questions? Comments?

Teaching Kids to be Criminals.

Clearly many wonderful things can be said about the innovative tale The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. They have been said and I am not going to waste your time by reiterating exactly how amazing this book truly is. Instead, I would like to impart this tiny pearl of wisdom I have gleaned from the book: if you want kids to read books, convince them they too can learn to commit misdemeanors and petty crimes. I am of course referring to a snippet found on pages 192-193:

Hugo watched as she fiddled with the pin inside the lock until it clicked and the door opened.

"How did you learn to do that?" asked Hugo.

"Books," answered Isabelle.

It is so subtle, yet brilliant! I know that if I were a ten year old boy reading this, I would want to keep reading books until I figured out how to do something as awesome as breaking into a door with only a hairpin (Though, if I really were a ten year old boy, would I have much access to bobby pins?). Heck, I'm an adult and I wish I read books that taught me how to open doors with pins. In fact, I'm feeling kinda ripped off. I've read how many books since I learned how to read and not one has given instructions on this important life skill?? I must be reading the wrong books.


Tangent: I got pretty curious about the film A Trip to the Moon and found it reminded me of one of my favorite videos in middle school by the Smashing Pumpkins. I always enjoyed the artistic elements of that music video, but now I can put it into context. Overall, I must give Selznick credit for such a thought-provoking/outside-source-seeking/hell-of-a-good book.

Gripes.

Working on a project for principles of searching, I traveled back to my high school in order to work one on one with an "information client" and showcase my awesome search skills. This was all fine and dandy until we hit the stacks. It was in that moment I realized how smart of a decision it was for me to become an elementary school media specialist instead of working in a high school. Not because of how immature the client acted in the porn section (his psychology assignment: is porn harmful?) or because his friend came over and pretended to beat him up. There is plenty of immaturity in elementary school aged children, I'm well aware.

No, it was that moment that I got mistaken for a high schooler BY a high schooler. Often times older people will project my age to be about 16 instead of accrediting me the almost 22 years I've breathed oxygen. I've gotten used to it. (Though there was that time in April a woman guessed I was in 8th grade when I informed her I wasn't in high school, instead of guessing I was at the very least a freshman in college. That stung.) But high schoolers should be able to sense when they are looking at someone older than them, right? Geez!

And whenever I've described my plight of being mistaken for a high schooler, people tell me what a good thing it is and how much I'll love it when I'm older. The problem is, I'm not older. In a few semesters I will be out in the real world with a masters degree, getting mistaken for a high schooler. If only I even liked high schoolers. Alas, I find them revoltingly annoying and plan on sending any future children off to boarding school so as to solve the cognitive dissonance that will occur when I have to like my kids, yet they have to be teenagers. All right, maybe that's not entirely true--but still! Trying to get a job and get taken seriously by future employers will be difficult if I appear as if I hang out at malls on Friday nights with all my bros since that's the only place my parents will drop me off.

A Series of Unfortunate Supplements

A list of Dewey Decimal classifications that would prove very handy indeed if the curious reader were to happen upon The Penultimate Peril: Book the Twelfth from Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. If you notice I left a classification of note off the list, please let me know! Also, much thanks to Thompson-Nicola Regional District Library System for painstakingly listing all of the Dewey classifications, making this post possible.

000 Generalities
020 Library and Information Science
025 Library operations
100 Psychology and Philosphy
101 Theory of philosophy
118 Force & Energy
121 Epistemology (Theory of knowledge)
123 Determinism & indeterminism
128 Humankind
131 Occult methods for achieving well-being
135 Dreams & mysteries
152 Perception, movement, emotions, drives
Fallacies & sources of error
168 Argument & persuasion
174 Economic & professional ethics
175 Ethics of recreation & leisure
176 Ethics of sex & reproduction
178 Ethics of consumption
200 Religion296 Judaism
300 Social Sciences
371 School management; special education
400 Languages
469 Portugese
500 Math and Science
547 Organic chemistry
594 Mollusca & Molluscoidea
613 Promotion of health
621 Applied physics
674 Lumber processing, wood products, cork
697 Heating, ventilating, air-conditioning
786 Keyboard & other instruments
792 Stage presentations
800 Literature and Rhetoric
831 German poetry
954 General history of Asia South Asia India
999 Extraterrestrial worlds


I checked online to see if this list was previously made, and came up with nada. What I did find, however, was this excellent Lemony Snicket resource concerning literary allusions in the final book. If you check out the main page, you will find some fancy delights--including Lemony Snicket's ipod playlist.

EDIT: I stand corrected. My very own professor Jill Ratzan created a list of her own, as you can view in the comments section of this post. I have added a few of the classifications I seemed to have glossed over after looking over her collection. If you are interested in a more detailed list relating the classifications to the relevant places in the book, I highly recommend Jill's list.