Harry Potter, Script, and the Meaning of Life

Abstract

The seven volumes of J. K. Rowling's story of Harry Potter enjoy stunning popularity worldwide.

The Boy Who Lived Well: Harry Potter as a Novel Tool for Teaching Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Skills to Youth

“…The novels have been identified as addressing central themes of adolescent development from a psychoanalytic framework, 13,14 as well as addressing the major questions of Yalom's existential psychotherapy. 15 The themes of bereavement in the series, most prominently Harry's loss of his own parents, have been highlighted for use with youth who are processing and grieving their own losses. 16 One of the major advantages of Harry Potter as a teaching tool is that readers are able to identify with the characters in the books and to ponder links with their own experiences including their relationships and emotional reactions.…”