What does classic or great literature mean to you? Surely not the same to me.
Now put 10 critics in a room with one book. There will come up at least 15 differing opinions.
And, when discussing the most popular series in the history of literature, surely this range of opinions increases exponentially.
The series has been translated into 73 languages and adapted into 8 popular films. Sice the first novel was published 20 years ago, the world of Harry Potter has grown to be worth more than 25$ billion.
But is this enough to considerer the Harry Potter series as classic literature?
One thing that is clear is that Harry Potter has impacted young readers and the publishing industry in profound ways. Hillary Crew suggests that the series has been “magic” for many young people who have, over a number of years, whittled their own wands, dressed up in “invisible capes” and acted out their own versions while going on to read a great deal more of everything. Source.
It's weel known that the series have a lot of popularity, but can we equate that with quality?
J.K. Rowling (the author) is very good at what she does, which is producing great entertaining stories and characters that brings new energy to old tropes. She has never intended to produce classic literature, she doesn't try to do that here.
The books are accesible, they draw readers in and make reading a fun activity. By and large, the books are page-turners.
Harry Potter probably won't be recognized among the most significant literary works in the history of the Western world. Of course it's not Shakespeare or Dante. But does it even matter? Most of the people that put these lists together are literary snobs anyway. Books like this are about enjoyment, and if Harry Potter fits the bill, that's great. The series accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do, which is spin an enthralling story that captivates a generation. And it does it well. Source
Maybe the Harry Potter series can't be compared with such great classics of literature, but it has been a beginning to many children and teenagers in the world to start reading.
Most of the teenagers who had read the Harry Potter series agree it was the first book they had ever read. And, it was they way they got interested in literature. Isn't that what we want at the end? to have our children interested on reading instead on playing videogames? Surely we do.
As Rowling grows as a writer, Harry grows as a character, and young adults grow as readers. (Mary Catherine Russell). Source.
And, most of all, it has a lot of life lessons that our children can learn from reading it.
