J.K. Rowling uses Latin in the Harry Potter series to make a statement about the importance of teaching Latin in schools and also to ridicule certain aspects of English boarding schools, such as teachers, courses, and archaic traditions. It is clear that J.K. Rowling expects the reader to have some experience with Latin in order to fully understand her work. By integrating Latin into the names of characters, spells, charms, and drawing historical figures from the classic era, the author asserts her mastery of a language which few of her American readers understand or appreciate.

Some examples of the author’s usage of Latin in the text can be seen in the names of the characters. Albus (Dumbledore) comes from “alba” which means white or pure. Severus (Snape) means “severe” or “strict”. Minerva (McGonagall) derives from the roman moon goddess, but also means “wise”. Draco (Malfoy) means “dragon”. It is easy to see, then, how the names of the characters further the characteristics of that person. Their names indicate certain traits about them, which may be obvious enough anyway. Adding the Latin here simply makes it more obvious. It also indicates that Rowling believes readers should know Latin in order to fully understand the text.

Rowling also uses Latin in her spells and charms. While this may be attributed to simply using a foreign language to make the spells and charms seem more fanciful and archaic, her choice of Latin as the grounds only serves to further her belief that Latin should still be taught, learned, and widely used. The Latin that Rowling uses is either directly from Latin or a derivation of Latin words. “Accio”, a summoning spell, comes directly from the Latin, “accio”, which means to summon. In Harry Potter, to “apparate” is to suddenly appear from another location. This comes directly from the Latin “appareo”, which means to appear. “Crucio” is a spell used to torture a person. It is a dark magic spell used almost exclusively by Dark wizards and witches. This comes from the Latin for “to torture”. When Hermione’s teeth are enlarged, the spell “Densaugeo” is used. This word comes from two Latin words, “dens” which means “teeth” and “angueo” which means “to enlarge”. One very commonly used spell in the novels is “expecto patronum”. This is the spell used to ward off soul sucking dementors. In literal translation, it means “I expect a protector”. A ghostly animal form emerges to protect the spell caster from the dementors. Dementors are also from Latin. “Mens” is Latin for mind. The genitive singular form of this noun is “mentis”, so it can easily been seen here as direct Latin also. “De” means “away from” or “about”. Here it is probably “away from”. So “dementors” means “those away from the mind”. The dementors take away the soul, so that the body still functions but with no real brain function. Rowling’s excessive use of the Latin in these charms and spells would make it impossible for the non-Latin reader to fully comprehend the uses and intentions of them. By putting Latin into nearly every spoken spell, she asserts that without Latin, none of these spells would be possible.

In addition to the use of Latin, the author also comments within the text on the English boarding school system. It can be noted that many of the classes which are taken by Harry Potter and his classmates are immensely useful, such as Transfiguration, Charms, and Potions. However, some classes seem to not be useful to them at all. For example, later in the series, the students take divination. This is a class taught by a fraud who claims to be able to see the future. This is generally regarded by all of the protagonists as a waste of time. They do not do their assignments properly, simply making things up as needed. They degrade the class and instructor often. Even Hermione, the apt pupil, disdains the class, even to the point of walking out of it. Another questionable class is History of Magic. Thus class was “easily the most boring” (133) and is taught by a ghost. The teacher had been so old that he died and his ghost got up and began teaching the classes. He is clearly inept, as he has no corporal body and also gets his facts confused like getting “Emeric the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up” (133). By giving Harry Potter teachers who are incapable of properly instructing the class, Rowling is asserting the ineptitude of the teachers given in normal English boarding schools.

Rowling’s distrust of the school system is further seen with the exams given to assess the abilities of the students. “O.W.L.’s” are an exam given to all students. It stands for “Ordinary Wizarding Levels”. This is in direct parody of “ordinary levels, an exam taken in the British school system. However, after this exam there is another test called “N.E.W.T.’s”. This stands for “Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Levels”. This is clearly not something that Rowling condones, or she would have given it a nicer name.