Velazquez 1 Alyssa Velazquez Logan Bearden ENC 1145-31 30 January 2014 Paper 1: Third Draft Novels contain the

power to illustrate, create and evoke different types of moods and emotions to their readers. With the use of text, an author can create anything they would like their readers to understand and imagine. The authors use of descriptive words in their text can help readers to visualize, feel, connect and even transport them to whole new worlds. This use of imagery through text is an essential element of reading a novel; in a readers mind the text they read can create an image of how the mood and environment is while the scene is occurring. A film, on the other hand, uses moving images and sound to depict the scene and set mood, using elements such as lighting and soundtrack music to create and enrich the scene. Novels provide the power to fully envelop their readers through descriptive imagery while films usually can only provide their audience with an outsiders perspective. For this paper I plan on doing a comparison between the elements used in the film and the novel to depict the scene of Dumbledores death. Albus Dumbledore is such an essential character to this series that his death was not only one of the most important events that occurred in the novel, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but in the overall series. By doing a comparison of these two mediums I plan to explore and explain the use of these elements and how they can either help or hinder the visualization of the scene for readers/viewers. The scene occurs basically in the same way between the two mediums: Harry and Dumbledore return to Hogwarts, Harry hides, Dumbledore speaks to Malfoy who has come to kill him, other Death Eaters enter the scene and finally Severus Snape enters and kills

Velazquez 2 Dumbledore all while Harry watches from his hidden place. Though the plot is the same, there are some minor differences between the two depictions such as dialogue and different characters .In addition to these plot changes are the different elements used in each medium that differ the way the scene is seen. The moments leading up to Dumbledores death created a sense of urgency and struggle from Harry as he watches the whole scene unfold, unable to assist because Dumbledore had immobilized him from doing so. This scene is written so that the readers imagine the scene from the eyes of Harry rather than from a third person perspective. Harry is depicted as being frozen in place, watching the scene with the inability to move: Harry stood imprisoned within his own invisible, paralyzed body, staring at the two of them (585) This choice of having Harry frozen creates a sense of tension between the struggle of Harry wanting to assist but physically being unable to do so. The vivid description of this struggle affects the readers as well because we can empathize and connect to this struggle, deepening the emotion that readers feel while reading this scene enfold. During the interaction between Dumbledore and Malfoy and the other Death Eaters, Dumbledores character becomes progressively weaker as the chapter continues. This description of Dumbledores weakness shows him as being slumped on the floor too weak to move: As Dumbledore slid a little down the ramparts, the strength in his legs apparently fading, and Harry struggling fruitlessly, mutely, against the enchantment binding him.(587) . This description varies vastly from the way Dumbledore is portrayed as a strong and commanding image. With the readers reading this increase of weakness from this once strong great man it only seems to emphasize the tragedy of his death and affect the readers with this tragedy as well.

Velazquez 3 The film depicts this scene more from a third person perspective. This perspective is apparent in the way that the scene was filmed, alternating between showing the scene between Malfoy and Dumbledore and where Harry is in relation to this encounter. In addition to relationship in space between characters, is the choice of having Harrys character move. The film portrays Harry as being hidden below the wooden floor that Dumbledore and Malfoy are on, showing up as having the freedom to move about the lower deck and watch what is occurring. This choice of having Harry move about almost makes the viewers optimistic that should Dumbledore need assistance Harry is capable of doing so. The film loses the aspects of intensity and suspense because Harry is moving around while watching rather than being frozen and watching so viewers can to see Harrys internal struggle. The film also loses the intensity of Snapes character by a plot change in which Snape is shown gesturing to Harry to be quiet before moving into the view of Dumbledore, Malfoy and the other Death Eaters. This gesture to be quiet gives his character and that moment a sense of predictability in which the viewers know Snape is going to interfere whereas in the novel his abrupt arrival shocks the readers and Harry. The film also portrays Dumbledore throughout as a capable strong figure momentarily defenseless trying to reason with Malfoy and the other Death Eaters. The film could have portrayed Dumbledore in a weakened state, similar to that described in the novel and have produced a similar affect. The most probable reason this was not done was because of how the camera is able to move in space and capture the images of lighting and figures. With the camera alternating between showing Harry watching and what is actually occurring it would make the most sense to have Dumbledore standing. By standing Dumbledore is still visible to Harry and helps to create the illusion of the viewers watching the scene from Harrys perspective, which is done in the novel.

Velazquez 4 The lighting of the scene is an important element in the film depiction of this scene. The novel portrays a starry night sky whereas the atmosphere in the film is dark and cloudy. The shadows in this scene are probably necessary to include because the scene would be hard to film and see the characters on screen without some lighting. Having lighting in this way also creates a mood of fright and conflict. Music is also a very important asset that is used during this scene. During the conversation between Malfoy and Dumbledore the music is slightly muted ranging from the long, deep and extended notes of a cello to the rapid high energy notes from string instruments. Each offer different dynamics that create dramatic tension and suspense for viewers. While Dumbledore is speaking to Snape, there is no music or sound other than the breath of each character while they are speaking. Silence is used here to create anticipation and suspense, making the words that are spoken tense and meaningful.. The dynamics and instruments used together in this scene offer an audio experience for viewers that can only be successfully utilized in the medium of film. The film does an interesting depiction of Dumbledores actual death, emphasizing Dumbledore being struck by Snapes curse and falling down the tower. The uses of camera angles and of slow-motion make the depth of the tower seem that Dumbledore is falling into an infinitely continuing drop. The use of no audio sound from Dumbledore and the soundtrack music during this part also adds to the drama. The score alters to a celebral like chanting hymn that assists in the illusion of Dumbledore falling into this infinite drop and evoking the audience to feel the tragedy and heartbreak of this death. The description of Dumbledores actual death in the novel, on the other hand, is not overtly descriptive or as dramatic as the movie portrays it to be. In the novel the chapter concludes with Dumbledores death and his fall down the tower but only in one long sentence: For a split second, he seemed to hang suspended beneath the shining

Velazquez 5 skull, and then he fell slowly backward, like a rag doll, over the settlements and out of sight. (596)The length of the sentence and the commas used throughout this sentence give the description a sense of pause, time and suspension. The placement of this sentence at the end of the chapter is also important, providing a sense of finality that would not work if placed in the beginning or middle of a chapter. In text, imagery and description were the main elements that brought to life the scene of Dumbledores death whereas the darkness, the use of camera, lighting and the soundtrack music enhanced this scene to its viewers. Though somewhat different, the mediums of novel and film both with their own unique elements were able to capture the tragedy of Dumbledores death that resonated with readers and audience members.

The Half-Blood Prince, a choral hymn for Dumbledore. This almost religious, light choral chant in Latin is a limp version of something you'd hear in Hans Zimmer's decline.