Godric's Hollow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Harry Potter locale | |
 |
|
| Godric's Hollow | |
|---|---|
| Location | United Kingdom |
| First appearance | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone |
Godric's Hollow is a fictional village in the Harry Potter series.[1] With Hogsmeade established as the only remaining all-magical community in Britain[2], Godric's Hollow must either have a partial-muggle population, or is now completely uninhabited.
Godric's Hollow was the final hiding place of James and Lily Potter prior to being murdered by Lord Voldemort on October 31, 1981.[3] It was at this same time that their son, Harry, was left with his lightning-bolt-shaped scar.
Some readers speculate that Godric's Hollow may have been the home of James Potter's family, and/or the home of long-dead Hogwarts founder Godric Gryffindor. There is also speculation that one of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes could be at Godric's Hollow. At the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter says he will visit the village and his parents' graves.[4]
J. K. Rowling was questioned in an interview for CBBC Newsround as to the connection between Godric's Hollow and Godric Gryffindor.
Q: The significance of the place where Harry and his parents lived - the first name...
J. K. Rowling: Godric Gryffindor. Very good. You're a bit good, you are, aren't you. I'm impressed.
—CBBC Newsround[5]
As for the village's exact location, there is speculation that Godric's Hollow is somewhere in Wales (possibly making Harry Potter of Welsh origin). The reason for this speculation is the fact that, when carrying baby Harry from Godric's Hollow to Little Whinging in Surrey, Rubeus Hagrid flew over Bristol — which is near the border between England and Wales. As J. K. Rowling was born and lived around the Bristol area, later moving to Chepstow, Wales, it is a possibility that Godric's Hollow could in fact be based on one of the locations she grew up in, perhaps Winterbourne, South Gloucestershire. The references to this area of the United Kingdom in the books make them all a possibility.
Bowman Wright, the inventor of the Golden Snitch, was once an inhabitant of Godric's Hollow.
[edit] References
- ^ Rowling, J. K.. Section: F.A.Q. (English). J.K. Rowling Official Site. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
- ^ Rowling, J. K. [1999-07-08] (2001-09-11). “THE DEMENTOR”, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Scholastic. DOI:10.1223/0786222743. ISBN 0-439-13636-9. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
- ^ Rowling, J. K. (2001-09-11). “THE BOY WHO LIVED”, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Scholastic. ISBN 0-590-35342-X. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
- ^ Rowling, J. K. [2006-07-16] (2006-07-25). “THE WHITE TOMB”, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Scholastic. ISBN 0-439-78596-0. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
- ^ JK interview Part 4 - questions and queries (English). CBBC Newsround. BBC (2002-10-23). Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
