Harry Potter
Order of the Phoenix

3 Page Book Report with Analysis

By Angel Elendili
HOL ID: an411


This novel is the fifth installment of the of the seven part series by JK Rowling and

my favorite thus far. The story begins with the now familiar structure used in all her

novels with Harry Potter in his uncaring “caregivers” home, the Dursley family. It

always begins on Harry’s birthday. I believe the set structure of this; following

through to the end of Harry’s school year is to give the readers something to depend

on, something they can trust. People by nature come back and enjoy what’s familiar.


The coming of age Harry Potter was resorting to hiding in bushes under windowsills

to hear the evening news. He was listening for news of the Dark Lord Voldemort

after he barely escaped with his life after his resurrection. However he found none.

His friends had only written cryptic messages to him all summer. Thoughts dwelled

on the fact that he had a Godfather now yet, still somehow found himself dwelling in

the Dursley home. So, the story begins with a Harry Potter that is stressed to his

limit. His limits are continually tested throughout the novel.


There were a few new character introductions in this novel starting with Nymphodora

Tonks. She had the ability to change her appearance at will. This is why JK Rowling

chose Tonks as her last name. It is derived off the word Tonka. Tonka is a bean

that holds more than one type of seed plant inside. This parallels her many

appearances all wrapped up in her one outward appearance package.


The introduction of Luna Lovegood happens on the Hogwarts Express. There is clever

foreshadowing of her taking a fancy to Ron Weasley. Luna or “Looney” as some of

the student wizards call her is an irony of sorts because her father who works for

the Quibbler (which is compared to jargain gossip magazines) ends up helping by

printing the truth when the Ministry bought out the Daily Prophet. She believed in

the magazine all along despite all the hype. Her lending out her “good” “love” and

help proved she wasn’t really that Looney after all.


Lastly there was the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge.

She was the “bridge” between the Ministry of Magic and the Hogwarts School

System. She kept the Ministry informed of all the things that “needed” a change at

the school. She was pure evil as forced Harry Potter to write with a Quill that would

cut the sentences into his very flesh as he wrote. Harry Potter’s Gryffindor courage

and bravery (even if it was naïve) shown through keeping this a secret, not telling

anyone for a long time what was really going on in those detentions.


There was also more inside lessons on predjudism. I say more because JK Rowling

is very clearly expressing her concern of predjudice in the world through the

pureblood, muggle struggle and also through the house elve's enslavement. She

puts in more don’t pre-judge people by their appearance lessons with Dumbledore

bringing in a humanoid creature as a divination teacher, a centaur. This wasn’t a

good idea in Umbridge’s prejudice eyes.


The biggest part of the plot unfolding is this installment was learning about the

Prophecy about Lord Voldemort and someone (Presumably Harry). By this we learn

that Professor Trewlany isn’t a mystic fake she so seems to be... and that

Dumbledore does have a weakness.


Dumbledore’s weakness is the very same as Harry Potter’s Strength, love. The

nurturing father figure comes out in him in the end and blinds his decision-making

abilities. You come to realize that even the Great and Powerful Dumbledore is still

just a man. He is a man as vulnerable as any other. Just as all boys have to make

the transition of being a boy to becoming a man; Headmaster Dumbledore has to

make the transition of being the father figure of a boy to becoming the father of a

man. This harsh reality full of love and regrets grow the bond of their relationship

even closer.


Even more character developing happens when Harry Potter learns Professor Snape

is in the Order of the Phoenix. Harry and Snape both have been trying to figure out

what the heck is going on in each other’s head from the very beginning. A cruel

ironic twist of fate occurs when Snape has to give Occlumency lessons to help Harry

keep Voldemort out of Harry’s mind. The hard part for Harry was one of

Dumbledore’s mistakes, not telling him why he needed the lessons. Upon invading

Snape’s pencieve, Harry not only begins to be confused about his hatred of Snape,

but also becomes confused about his respect for his own father, James Potter.



This is where Harry’s limit is pushed to the limit even more. He confronts Sirius

Black, his Godfather about the sixteen-year-old James. He is only left with more

mixed feelings about Sirius himself.



When Aunt Petunia receives a howler, Harry is left unknowing of what to make of her

as well. Does she actually care for him? He finds himself protecting Dudley, the very

person he would love to flatten from dementors. Could he actually care for his

cousin?



At face value the story line and plot is a quite mysterious, exciting wizard adventure.

A closer look reveals the mortality and human frailness of life. A story about not

always taking everything or anyone at what they seem. It’s a story that reminds

you that all people are more than their reputation. Everyone has many layers to

their emotions, which make who they are. Harry is just starting to see all of these

barriers breaking down in him not knowing how to perceive anyone. In the anguish

of this reality combined with the death of Sirius Black leaves Harry in a fragile state.

This leaves all of us readers longing for the next installment. This is the true mark of

a good writer. Where JK Rowling will take the story is anyone’s guess. But, what she

leaves us with from The Order of the Phoenix is a bridge into a magical world that

parallels our own, helping us bridge the gap between the layers of man’s emotions.

Beautiful Analysis!
I always love to see students who relate their classwork to a book they read! I feel as if I have actually taught you something that you will always remember! All the main aspects of the book were covered, along with a we written analysis, plus your own interpretations! Nice work.

50 Points :)