Pedagogy at Hogwarts : A literary analysis of teaching methods and theories at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books

Abstract: This essay argues that the Harry Potter books can be used to analyse various methods and theories regarding pedagogy since the school setting is a major part of the stories. J.K Rowling’s characterisation of the teachers is the basis for the analysis, which focuses on the teaching methods of the teachers at Hogwarts, but also how the pupils are affected by them from the critical perspective of cultural studies. The essay will investigate how the pupils are affected by the boarding schools, examination process as well as the grading system. Certain Professors at Hogwarts will also be analysed based on their teaching methods and these professors are Lupin, Snape, Umbridge, Dumbledore and Lockhart. Different methods have been discovered to work differently on different pupils, but the same methods have also been shown to work differently depending on how they are implemented. Leadership styles in the classroom appear to have a heavy influence on the pupils’ performance. This thesis argues that through a literary analysis of the Harry Potter books with a focus on the portrayal of the school setting by using cultural studies as well as pedagogical theories will demonstrate the impact of various teaching methods in the EFL-classroom as well as the regular classroom. In the EFL-classroom, knowledge of how certain methods and theories work can be very beneficial. The ability to provide confidence to pupils has been discussed and that is a part of EFL-teaching that is highly relevant, since it can be difficult for some pupils to find the courage in order to learn.