Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Before we start this video, I just
wanted to quickly mention that only 20% or so of you are subscribed, so if you enjoy
regular Harry Potter content and want to support the channel, then please consider subscribing.
In this video, I’m going to be discussing the famed Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry,
as well as the courses that students take while attending the school.
Hogwarts was founded when four 10th century witches and wizards got together, and decided
that they had, in the sorting hat’s own words: ‘the selfsame yearning, to make the
world’s best magic school’. These founders were Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw,
Salazar Slytherin and Helga Hufflepuff. Thus, Hogwarts was born. The name Hogwarts actually
came from founder Rowena Ravenclaw, who had a dream where a ‘warty’ hog lead her to
a cliff by a lake - it’s also been speculated that this is how they chose the location for
the school. After its establishment, like with any institution, a crest was formed for
Hogwarts. Emblazoned upon the school crest are the words ‘Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus’
- which roughly translates to ‘Never tickle a sleeping dragon’. Hogwarts is, in Hagrid’s
words “the finest school of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the world” and the students
of Hogwarts are taught under, in Hagrid’s words: “the finest headmaster that Hogwarts
has ever seen: Albus Dumbledore.”
So Hogwarts produces some impressive witches and wizards, but, When a Hogwarts student
graduates- are they prepared for the real world? Do they know as much about muggle subjects
as..Muggle graduates? Are magical classes an addition to the curriculum? Or a replacement?
We know that Hogsmeade is one of the last settlements inhabited solely by wizards, witches
and other magical beings. What this possibly tells us is that many of the Hogwarts graduates
will go on to live amongst muggles in non-magical communities, and it really seems like they
should be prepared for the environments that they’re going to end up living in. If they’re
only taught magic, that would probably be an issue at some point or another.
So, Hogwarts, what do they teach? In a video that I made a couple of months ago, I discussed
ALL 21 subjects taught at Hogwarts. However, I’m not going to just regurgitate all 21
courses from that video, so I won’t outline them here. If you want to check that one out,
I’ll leave a link in the description. What am I going to do, however, is single out the
courses that pertain to muggle subjects, or have similarities with muggle subjects.
First up is astronomy- these astronomy classes take place in the Astronomy Tower. The classes
are led by Professor Aurora Sinistra, and much like in the muggle world, these astronomy
lessons surround the observations of the night sky via telescopes. Homework for this class
involves learning the names of stars, constellations and planets, as well as their location, movements,
and environments.
Astronomy is defined as follows: “Astronomy is a natural science that studies
celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain
their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies,
and comets.”
So really, there’s no need for Hogwarts to deviate or pivot on the subject of Astronomy,
as magical concepts are not necessarily applicable here. It’s actually one of the only classes
where use of magic is not necessary at all. Astronomy is a required class for the first
five years of study and is optional in the last two. Harry was taking his Astronomy O.W.L.
in 1996 when Rubeus Hagrid was confronted by Professor Umbridge and a team of Aurors
in what was an attempted sacking, this was also the night that Minerva McGonagall took
"no less than four Stunners to the chest."
Next up we have Alchemy. Alchemy is a sort of composite subject which mixes Transfiguration,
Potions and Muggle Chemistry. It teaches students about the disciplines of an ancient magic:
the study of the four basic elements – fire, earth, water, air – and how to manipulate
them for the purpose of transmuting substances. However, alchemy isn’t taught to everyone,
and Pottermore states that only “Some students are allowed to study Alchemy at Hogwarts and
receive special instruction in that discipline”. Pottermore also discusses the relationship
between alchemy and muggle chemistry. So, while it’s not purely a muggle subject,
the study of alchemy should have some transfer over to muggle chemistry.
Next up we have Muggle Studies. We can easily derive that this class is more of a muggle
subject from the name. Muggle Studies was taught by Charity Burbage (and a different
version of it was later taught by Alecto Carrow). It involves the study of Muggle culture "from
a wizarding point of view." This subject can be subcategorized in to Muggle Art and Muggle
Music. The intention for this class was to teach witches and wizards about muggle culture
so that they can blend in when they need to. I think that this course is of particular
importance if witches and wizards are eventually wanting to reside in non-magical communities.
Next up is Herbology, well, sort of. Herbology is taught by Professor Pomona Sprout, and
it looks at the study of magical plants and how to take care of them. However, at Hogwarts
there are many greenhouses which hold a variety of plants- and I’m willing to bet that at
least some of them are non-magical. If you look at the list of known potions ingredients
in the Harry Potter Lexicon, you will find ingredients that are naturally occurring in
the world, and are not necessarily magical.
Next up is Arithmancy, sort of, Arithmancy is a branch of magic concerned with the magical
properties of numbers. It’s Hermione’s favourite subject, and there is an advanced
offering for the class. I’d like to think that arithmancy mainly covers arithmetic,
but in reality it likely has more of a focus on numerology. We know that numerology is
important in Harry Potter, particular the significance of the number 7 - which seems
to show up everywhere. HOWEVER, I’m sure that a foundation of mathematical knowledge
is required for this course, and I’m sure in the earlier years of taking it students
are eased in to the numerology side, and more of an emphasis is placed on the arithmetic
side.
Last up we have ancient runes. The Study of Ancient Runes is taught by Professor Bathsheda
Babbling. It is a theoretical subject that involves the studying of ancient runic scripts.
I say that this course isn’t necessarily magical, because runes are found in the Muggle
world and are not exclusive to the Wizarding world. Taking this subject, while not necessarily
massively practical in everyday life, could help someone pursue a career in archaeology,
or something of the sort.
So, these are the only subjects from which I can extract potential muggle application.
However, I’m sure that there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes. By the time most
students have started at Hogwarts, they’ve already received some level of education,
either by home-schooling or attending muggle primary school. It was this introduction to
schooling that gave them their academic base, and it is of my impression that the topics
at Hogwarts bridge back to these foundational subjects in many ways. There are many professions
in the wizarding world, and if we look at a core subject like English as an example-
we can link lots of magical careers that would rely heavily on this subject. Journalists
for the daily prophet, head of the auror office, politicians like the minister of magic, all
of these professions would seemingly require a higher than primary school knowledge of
English. The skill of writing is reinforced at Hogwarts through essay writing; but it’s
important to note that most of the subject matter is magical, not Muggle. So, my thought
is that these foundational subjects are mixed in to the curriculum wherever possible or
applicable, maybe they just aren’t discussed because they’re not particularly exciting.
Whichever way you look at it, some professions are going to require math, english and/or
science-whether they’re magical in nature or not. So it makes no sense that students
would grow into adulthood with no knowledge of these subjects. Canon never actually dictates
how a magical child would receive advanced instruction in math or science at Hogwarts-
and while I don’t feel that there’s necessarily a huge emphasis on these topics in the curriculum,
I think that there is perhaps more happening behind the scenes than we are aware of. Additionally,
I would expect that those who desire to learn more about these subjects would have the opportunity
to do so, through apprenticeships or perhaps in some instances through tailored instruction.
And that’s it for this video! I hope you guys enjoyed it, did I miss any subjects?
Do YOU think that muggle subjects are perhaps emphasized a little more behind the scenes?
Let me know down in the comment section below.
Until next time
There is plenty to be learned even from a bad teacher- what not to do, how not to be