Getting Medieval in the Classroom

This article outlines how, from a pedagogical perspective, J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series provides an entry point for teaching themes important in Western culture, from race, identity, and gender to faith, history, and social hegemonies. It also considers the usefulness of Rowling’s medievalism as a tool for introducing students to the Middle Ages, as well as for challenging them to explore issues relevant to both the medieval period and the twenty-first century. The discussion highlights a number of key topics that relate easily to medieval and modern contexts, that easily overlap with each other, and that provide opportunity for creative and traditional approaches, and offers teaching practices that can be applied in both secondary and post-secondary environments.