Significance and Meanings of Patronus Forms

[persian85033]

Originally Posted by TENSHI

Yeah, both had cats, but I think it's important to differ what kind of cats.

Umbridge had a long haired cat and it is said that those are lazy, selfish and arrogant who sit the whole day inside and wait to be served. While other cats, like McGonagall's are supposed to be running around outside, doing work etc.

Aw, kitties, that's just what I love about them. So beautiful, and peaceful one second, a little lion trying to rip your fingers off the next. Now, the fact that it's long haired doesn't mean it's lazy or selfish.lolSissy's a shorthair, and she's just like that. But I love her just the same. Cats are just...well, I guess I should say schizophrenic. I hope i spelled that right. One of my teachers said it was because they hear voices inside their heads, and they obey them. And dear me, you should try to restrain them when they don't want to be restrained. A cat is definitely a more formidable opponent than a dog. Even some of those fat pampered cats we see. It's all just part of their charm.

[Hes]

Does anyone think that Tonks' patronus might have changed back to her original form (pre-HBP) or that it stayed a big four legged creature (wolf?), her patronus during her longing for Lupin?

[TheCurio]

Originally Posted by HesHPfan

Does anyone think that Tonks' patronus might have changed back to her original form (pre-HBP) or that it stayed a big four legged creature (wolf?), her patronus during her longing for Lupin?

I think it changed. She still loves him, but her love for him isn't her whole being anymore.

[moondust]

It seems like a patronus is just something that is very close to your heart... I always thought it was interesting that Tonks' patronus changed forms

[Carinae]

Have we added Ginny's horse Patronus to the list?

About Cho Chang's swan, it's probably the simplest to understand. Firstly, swans symbolise beauty and elegance (and we all know Cho Chang is all that, according to JKR). Secondly, there is a sadness about swans. I'm sure you've all heard of 'swan songs'. It must have something to do with Cho's constant crying and fragility.

[Lunatic]

Luna: The Rabbit is the"Man in the Moon" in a lot of Eastern cultures. A fictional parallel using this same symbolism is Sailor Moon. Her name is Usagi (rabbit).

Ginny: Mare, I think of the Goddess Epona reported in Celtic myth. Mysterious, fertile (she is the daughter of mother who had six pregnancies), shy at first and whose trust must be earned. She also was the only Celtic Goddess to spread into the Roman World, which Rowling, a classics scholar would encounter.

James and Lily: Stag and Doe, interesting.

Cho: Swan, elegant and assosiated with Hera, Zeus's jealous wife. Notice that Harry and Cho's rift started with Cho's misplaced jealously.

Ernie Macmillian: Boar the meat fed of heros in Vahalla in Norse Myth and a protective talisman. Ernie is certainly heroic. He is the first volenteer for the wizardling "final battle".

Dumbledore: Phoenix, Young Dumbledore is a arrogant wizard who has his arrogance "burned out" by his sister's accident and his encounters with Grendalwald. He thus becomes is reborn as the headmaster of Hogwarts and wise teacher.

Origin of Patronus Charm?: North American Indian Vision Quest, like chocolate and potatoes, adopted, given a fancy latin name, and assimilated into European Wizardling lore?

This is what I could think of off the top of my head. I'll think about it some more.

All the Best,

Lunatic

[Chosenoneknux]

Some of those others are just plain funny.

Cho Chang: Swan: HAHA should be more like Medusa Snake... the stupid whiny *female word* mare
Aberforth: Goat: 'stubborn old goat'
Ernie: Boar: 'bore'


James and Lily: Stag and Doe, symbolic of their togetherness

[LoveWeasleys]

Originally Posted by Lunatic

Ginny: Mare, I think of the Goddess Epona reported in Celtic myth. Mysterious, fertile (she is the daughter of mother who had six pregnancies), shy at first and whose trust must be earned. She also was the only Celtic Goddess to spread into the Roman World, which Rowling, a classics scholar would encounter.

Wow that is really interesting! Thanks for the insight. When I first saw this was her patronus I made the connection of a hero's faithful steed that we see so often in fairytales and classic "hero" stories. The sort of kindred spirit that the hero shares with his mare. But, I really like this insight and I think it is safe to say that Jo knew about the legend behind this Celtic Godess.

Originally Posted by Lunatic

Cho: Swan, elegant and assosiated with Hera

I thought Hera was associated with peacocks?

Originally Posted by Lunatic

Dumbledore: Phoenix, Young Dumbledore is a arrogant wizard who has his arrogance "burned out" by his sister's accident and his encounters with Grendalwald. He thus becomes is reborn as the headmaster of Hogwarts and wise teacher.

Nice interpretation!

Originally Posted by Lunatic

This is what I could think of off the top of my head. I'll think about it some more.

Yes, please do! These are interesting.

Originally Posted by HesHPfan

Does anyone think that Tonks' patronus might have changed back to her original form (pre-HBP) or that it stayed a big four legged creature (wolf?), her patronus during her longing for Lupin?

Originally Posted by TheCurio

I think it changed. She still loves him, but her love for him isn't her whole being anymore.

Erm... I think it stayed the same. I think this was a way that Jo showed they were soul mates and reflected how a deep love and desire for a person can influence the patronus so that when the Silver Doe came around and we got the explanation for it we as readers were able to accept it because we had seen something like it before in more minor characters.

J

[Lunatic]

Originally Posted by LOVEWEASLEYS04

I thought Hera was associated with peacocks?
J

Your right. Cho was the one I was least "sure" on. Thanks for the feedback, I really enjoyed it.

All the Best,

Lunatic

[Mama_Molly]

Originally Posted by Sub Zero

- Otters are totem animals, meaning there is a leader of the otter clans who keeps everyone in check (Hermione is definitely the brains of every operation)

- Swans are elegant and graceful (Cho is very graceful, Harry is taken aback by her elegance and beauty)

- Goats have slits for eyes and have unbelievable peripheral vision, plus four stomachs (I don't know how this would relate to Aberforth)

8m57w6 - I wanted to make that point! See:
Also - Otters are related to the weasel . . .

And . . . Swan mate - they have actuall parings that raise kids - no wonder she had a hard time adjusting to life after her first "paring" occured with Cedric . . . maybe her memory is the Ball . . .

Maybe the four stomachs relates to the food he serves?

I wonder if some people were surprised when they saw what form their Patronei took, seeing it as part of their soul uncovered.

Personaly, I imagined James and Lily's Patronei being independent of each other and they then later noticed that their Patronei were similar as an impetus to gettting to know each other better?

Didn't James turn himself into a Stag in order to be Lupin during "that time of the month"?

I'm so glad Ginny's was something independent, strong, smart and beautiful like a horse!

IN that Wilkepedia link it says,

Severus Snape was the only Death Eater, including Voldemort himself, to be able to produce a Patronus

[TheCurio]

Erm... I think it stayed the same. I think this was a way that Jo showed they were soul mates and reflected how a deep love and desire for a person can influence the patronus so that when the Silver Doe came around and we got the explanation for it we as readers were able to accept it because we had seen something like it before in more minor characters

I just think that Tonks's patronus changed because she got what she wanted, whereas Snape's won't because he never can.

[Mama_Molly]

AND NEVILL IS A DOVE!!

(sorry about yelling - I got too excited . . .)

[Tenshi]

Originally Posted by Mama_Molly

AND NEVILL IS A DOVE!!

(sorry about yelling - I got too excited . . .)

That's really surprising.
How did you find out?

[Mama_Molly]

Originally Posted by Celeborn

Big list here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patronus_Charm

I suspect they had help from JKR!!!

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by Celeborn

Big list here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patronus_Charm

Is that definately accurate? If so it is useful and interesting.

[Tenshi]

I don't know if it's accurate. I wasn't able to find anything on Jo's site, accio quote and the Lexicon.

[LoveWeasleys]

Originally Posted by Mama_Molly

Didn't James turn himself into a Stag in order to be Lupin during "that time of the month"?

Yup, but I also believe Harry mentioned that was patronus was the same as his dad's. I am guessing there is a connection that the if a wizard is an animagus then there animal form is the same as their patronus. Like we seen in McGonagal's cat and James's stag.

Originally Posted by Mama_Molly

Personaly, I imagined James and Lily's Patronei being independent of each other and they then later noticed that their Patronei were similar as an impetus to gettting to know each other better?

Very possible! I kind of like to think that it was Lily's undoing, that she produced the patronus and saw that it was a match to James's and was unable to hide her affection for him any longer.

[Lyra Black]

Originally Posted by LOVEWEASLEYS04

Yup, but I also believe Harry mentioned that was patronus was the same as his dad's. I am guessing there is a connection that the if a wizard is an animagus then there animal form is the same as their patronus. Like we seen in McGonagal's cat and James's stag.

Where do we learn James's patronus is a stag? I can't remember it ever being stated. Have people just assumed this is the case? Besides, Snape's patronus is a doe but his animangus form is a bat so obviously the two forms don't have to be the same. It's possible that he had a previous patronus that was a bat, but that seems a surprising form for a patronus to take.

[TheCurio]

Snape's patronus is a doe but his animangus form is a bat

Snape isn't an animagus. It doesn't say that anywhere.

[ileana23]

Originally Posted by Azimuth

It is. After she, Harry and Luna are coming out of the Ravenclaw common room, she sends signals to the other three heads of house in the form of three cat patronuses.

Her cat wears glasses, (Minerva's Patronus) right?