MuggleNet's "New Clues" Theory Board

Cody_DeDannan · Sleuth Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 18

All this chess symbolism is confusing me. I always was rubbish at chess. But one thing did stand out to me, the other name for a castle; rook. The only thing I thought of then was Rookwood. Those good with symbolism...does Rookwood fit into that chess game and its imagery at all?

greyniffler · Super Sleuth Joined: 20 Sep 2004 Posts: 609

Remember, rook is also the name of a `common, gregarious, crowlike Old World bird.'

Serpentina_Seriphinus · New Member Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 1

While reading the chess-scene, the whole second war events are unfolded in front of our eyes.
Ron takes the leadership, moves the chesspieces, works out the strategy, so it's easy to associate him with Dumbledore's role. Harry is a bishop, and Hermione as a castle symbolises Snape.
On the opponent side the white queen is obviously Bellatrix, the white bishop is Lucius /Voldemort's first man, as Harry is to Dumbledore/ and of course the white king is Voldemort himself.
I agree, that the latter quote foreshadows Sirius' death:

ridgeback · Moderator Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 797

Serpentina_Seriphinus,
Excellent, excellent post!!!!! Your analysis of the Chess Game from the first book is very insightful…. However, this “Chess Game” clue is about the chess game between Harry and Ron in Book 5.
Everyone the clue is:

Hwyla · Super Sleuth Joined: 26 Sep 2004 Posts: 296

While Serpentina_Seriphinus was analyzing the wrong chess game, she reminded me of Hermione's role as the castle in that game - so I'd like to thank her. Since it is a Castle that Harry is trying to 'convince' to smash the pawn (it's just a pawn) does this say anything about something in the future?

A few posts ago I said that I saw that pawn as Snape (while I think he also plays a more important piece on Harry's side of the board) And at the end of Bk5 I see Harry as quite willing to 'smash' Snape. Could this foreshadow Harry urging Hermione to 'smash' (blow his cover) Snape (it's only Snape) while she's unwilling to do so?

Isn't it odd in Wizard's Chess for a chess piece to be reluctant to 'smash' another piece? So far, I don't think we've seen that. As Hermione said in Bk1 - 'that's barbaric' (because the pieces were so rough with each other) and Ron replies 'that's wizards chess'. I think we can say the same for war

Also Serpentina_Seriphinus, got me thinking of other chess moves. While it wasn't an actual chess game - it's been pointed out in Ch28 'Snape's Memory' - that during the Marauders 5th-yr O.W.L.s JKR is very specific about where these guys sat in relation to Snape.

I'm connecting these two situations since the only reason Harry even saw the memory was the occlumency lessons, which were the reason Snape came to #12 in the first place, interupting the game.

So, we look at the seating in relation to Snape's position to them. RBrian1 kindly mapped out the chess positions on Ch28, 'Snape's Memory', p14, Spt 27

Hwyla · Super Sleuth Joined: 26 Sep 2004 Posts: 296

Hello again - posting after myself, but thought I should clear up something from my last post...in replotting the guys' positions in 5th-yr OWLs (as it was pointed out to me that the person I quoted had plotted incorrectly) I now must say the positions are:
James - Snape = 1 Knight move,
Siruis - Snape = 2 Knight moves,
Lupin - Snape = either Castle OR Bishop move.

So, regarding THIS thread Lupin could still be a Castle with the implications I stated in my last post, but he also might not be.

Doesn't really change my conclusions regarding this thread, but I needed to mention this in case someone else got other ideas from the positions I previously stated.

Also note this most likely affects my idea that the seating arrangements/chess positions in Snape' Memory foreshadowed the Shrieking Shack/werewolf prank. Again, not this thread, but since I had mentioned it before, I thought I ought to correct myself, before someone took it an ran away with it.

imathogwarts · Sleuth Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 18

A metonym is a word that takes the place of another word, like if you say, "the White House..." when you really mean the president.

I saw the words "castle" and "pawn." Castle could be a metonym for the headmaster, and in this case I think that it means Umbridge. Of course, she is not the headmistress at this point, but it may be pointing to the future.

The pawn could be Harry. The castle wants to squash Harry. As we know, Umbridge would really like to get rid of Harry, because they may not want everyone to know that Voldemort is back. She has already tried to with the dementors.