Monday, April 1, 2013

A is for Albus

And so it begins...

This month, I'm participating in the A-Z Challenge. I'll be posting every day Monday - Saturday for the entire month of April. Each post will coincide with a letter of the alphabet. For each post, I will be writing mini-mini character analyses on some of my favorite YA characters. If you're a first time visitor or a new follower, please let me know in the comments section.


A is for Albus Dumbledore.

It seems fitting to start with a character like Dumbledore. J.K Rowling did an excellent job with his characterization. Being a moral center in her series, it would have been easy for her to make Dumbledore too perfect. But if any character is too perfect, then the character is flat. Flat=predictable=boring=blah. Major characters must be round in order for them to be relatable and to resonate.

Strengths: a leader, wise, forgiving, understanding, skilled, intelligent

What makes him a round character: his forgiving/trusting side is often referred to as a downfall, he's slightly arrogant, his brother doesn't like him, he doesn't explain his actions which sometimes frustrates Harry Potter

Why I love him: Albus is the type of person I want to trust and the type of leader I want to follow.

A special thanks to Arlee for starting this wonderful (and kind of terrifying) challenge!

1 down. 25 more posts to go.

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24 comments:

  1. VikLitApril 1, 2013 at 4:25 AM

    Albus is a great pick for A!

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  2. Laura ClipsonApril 1, 2013 at 4:36 AM

    Great choice for A! I love Dumbledore; like you said, he could have been too perfect but I think his flaws are what make him such an excellent character.

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  3. Alex J. CavanaughApril 1, 2013 at 4:56 AM

    He wasn't perfect, but he was a great leader with charisma to boot.

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  4. Tara TylerApril 1, 2013 at 5:03 AM

    awesome a post! loooove dumbledore! great choice!

    happy a day!

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  5. Natalie AguirreApril 1, 2013 at 5:36 AM

    Great choice for A.

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  6. fairbettyApril 1, 2013 at 5:57 AM

    I am Soooo excited to read through your list of characters now!!! Yay! What a great A to Z topic! I may have to copy you next year.

    and

    I love love love Albus Dumbledore.

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  7. Barbara WatsonApril 1, 2013 at 6:51 AM

    One of may favorites in all of literature. Life lessons can be pulled from his sentences.

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  8. randi leeApril 1, 2013 at 9:55 AM

    Great theme and great choice! Albus really is a perfectly well rounded character. Will be following you from a to z :)

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  9. Donna L MartinApril 1, 2013 at 10:09 AM

    I like Albus...wouldn't it be great to have a mentor like him?

    Good luck with the challenge! I participated last year and had a blast!

    Donna L Martin
    www.donasdays.blogspot.com

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  10. DeepaApril 1, 2013 at 10:10 AM

    LOVE Albus Dumbledore! Great theme!!

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  11. Andrew LeonApril 1, 2013 at 11:10 AM

    Now I'm wondering if you could do the whole alphabet with just Harry Potter...

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  12. Rosalind AdamApril 1, 2013 at 11:22 AM

    Great character for your A. :-)

    Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain

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  13. LD MastersonApril 1, 2013 at 12:29 PM

    Dumbledore was a great character, no argument.

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  14. Carol KilgoreApril 1, 2013 at 3:42 PM

    Great A!

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  15. Dana MartinApril 1, 2013 at 3:53 PM

    Greetings! Stopping by on the A-Z Blog Tour. Great stuff!! Keep it up. Only 25 to go. :) I think you will have no trouble at all!!!

    Best wishes!
    Dana
    www.danamartinwriting.blogspot.com

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  16. Sylvia NeyApril 1, 2013 at 6:14 PM

    I miss reading the series with my middle school students! I quit teaching to be a mom full time. I can't wait til my girls are old eough the read the Potter books with me.

    New follower here. I'm stopping by from the "A to Z Challenge" and I look forward to visiting again!

    Sylvia
    http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/

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  17. Catch My WordsApril 1, 2013 at 7:49 PM

    You described Albus perfectly. I think my biggest fault as a writer is characterization. It's easy to fall into the trap of the stereotypical characters.

    Stopping by from A-Z.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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  18. Daisy CarterApril 1, 2013 at 8:22 PM

    Ahh..Albus is awesome! I think I would have had a really hard time choosing between Albus and Atticus. Ooh, such a tough call. Now I want to do an A v. A throwdown!

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  19. Brett MinorApril 1, 2013 at 9:04 PM

    I actually cried when he died.

    Dropping by from A to Z. First year participating and very excited.

    Brett Minor
    Transformed Nonconformist

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  20. smug princessApril 1, 2013 at 9:32 PM

    Love Albus! Great theme. Wish I would have thought of it.

    Visiting via A-Z and new follower. =]

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  21. MichelleApril 2, 2013 at 12:48 AM

    Got to confess: I haven't read a single Harry Potter story... not even one line...

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  22. UnknownApril 2, 2013 at 2:37 AM

    Hi Kimberly, I think of all the blogs I have visited on the list I am most excited at yours. I can't wait to read about all the characters. You started with a cracker!

    www.writerachael.com/blog

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  23. Laura S.April 2, 2013 at 7:50 AM

    Ooo, great choice for A. Albus was seemingly so perfect, but he had quite the backstory with some big flaws. What a wonderful character. J.K. Rowling was masterful at characterization!

    Happy A to Z-ing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines

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  24. AkossApril 2, 2013 at 2:22 PM

    I love everything about Albus. Everything! lol

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