Blog #1, Prompt #2

            I feel as though this quote really registers with the Harry Potter books, because so often in the series, we are given red herrings and lead to believe one thing when something entirely different is actually true.  For example, throughout the entire second book, while Harry, Ron, and Hermione are trying to figure out who opened the Chamber of Secrets, we are constantly having to “modify our expectations” while they explore the various possibilities. At first, we are lead to believe that Draco Malfoy might be the culprit. We go along with the trio as they use Polyjuice Potion to investigate, and end up realizing that he is not the Heir of Slytherin. After that, there is some suspicion that Hagrid might be the Heir of Slytherin, and we discover through some investigation and a discussion with a large spider, that Hagrid is not guilty either. We are continually introduced to new possibilites that might solve the mystery, and as soon as we think we have found the criminal, we are proved wrong and are pointed in a completely different direction.

I think that it is important to incorporate these red herrings into literature, because it really keeps the reader on their toes. It forces the reader to read the text with more care and pay more attention to the little things going on in the background in order for them to figure out what is really going on in the story. When a story is extremely predictable and has no essence of mystery, it gets quite cumbersome to read. A book that keeps the reader guessing and requires some thought, such as the books in the Harry Potter series, is a much more enjoyable and beneficial literary experience.