Learning From J. K. Rowling Books - Part 2

Let’s continue with Chapter 1 of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J. K. Rowling.  We’re looking for the Elements and patterns:

“When Mr. and Mrs. Dursley woke up on the dull, gray Tuesday our story starts, there was nothing about the cloudy sky outside to suggest that strange and mysterious things would soon be happening all over the country. Mr. Dursley hummed as he picked out his most boring tie for work, and Mrs. Dursley gossiped away happily as she wrestled a screaming Dudley into his high chair.”

J. K. Rowling starts a new scene (an Element).  She starts with the setting: a dull, gray, and cloudy Tuesday.  She again hints at the mystery (“mysterious things”).  She then moves the plot along with action.  Note the strong action verbs: hummed, gossiped, and wrestled. 

“None of them noticed a large, tawny owl flutter past the window.”

The mystery continues with action.

“At half past eight, Mr. Dursley picked up his briefcase, pecked Mrs. Dursley on the cheek, and tried to kiss Dudley good-bye but missed, because Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing his cereal at the walls. "Little tyke," chortled Mr. Dursley as he left the house. He got into his car and backed out of number four's drive.”

Again, moving the plot along with action.  Note how J. K. Rowing is not Telling us about the Dursleys (e.g., Dudley is spoiled, etc.), but we are learning it through there actions.

“It was on the corner of the street that he noticed the first sign of something peculiar -- a cat reading a map. For a second, Mr. Dursley didn't realize what he had seen -- then he jerked his head around to look again. There was a tabby cat standing on the corner of Privet Drive, but there wasn't a map in sight. What could he have been thinking of? It must have been a trick of the light. Mr. Dursley blinked and stared at the cat. It stared back. As Mr. Dursley drove around the corner and up the road, he watched the cat in his mirror. It was now reading the sign that said Privet Drive -- no, looking at the sign; cats couldn't read maps or signs. Mr. Dursley gave himself a little shake and put the cat out of his mind. As he drove toward town he thought of nothing except a large order of drills he was hoping to get that day.”

J. K. Rowling has told us that mysterious and strange things were coming.  The owl may not have grabbed your attention, but the cat reading the map sure is.  A good lesson to be learn from this paragraph is action and reaction  (Again note some of the strong action verbs: jerked, blinked, starred, shake).  Mr. Dursley sees the cat with a map, (Cat puts the map away) he looks again and sees no map, he stares at the cat, it stares back, he drove away, the cat is looking at the street sign.

Also notice that this action and reaction was interrupted twice by Mr. Dursley’s internal thoughts.  Writing all action can is boring so it it spiced with (character) description.