Spellbound by reading : A study of opportunities for self-recognition in two Harry Potter-books

To be able to develop their reading skills, pupils need not only to practise but also to be willing to practise. Being enticed to read is therefore an important factor for the development of reading. Research has shown that part of the attraction of reading is that readers can recognize themselves in the different constituents of a book, for example being able to identify with characters and finding the setting plausible. The books about Harry Potter have enticed many young people all over the world to read, and the question of what this attraction consists of is an interesting one, especially with regard to the fact that the books have many elements of magic and seemingly alien elements. The aim of this study is to investigate and reveal potential opportunities for self-recognition offered to the reader by the Harry Potter books. The study consists of a textual analysis focusing on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The study shows that both books offer the reader multiple opportunities for self-recognition, which can be linked to factors such as the reader’s emotional participation and the motifs in the books