ARTIFACT 7: Discussion Board Post by Meredith P.

Dear Jennifer,

I completely agree with your question and have asked it myself many times. Long ago I read Harry Potter, book number five. I absolutly hated it. I thought Harry's tone in the whole book was agressive and mean. Recently I started listening to the same book on CD and realized that I, the reader, gave Harry all the "mean" characteristics. Hearing the voice on the CD, sounded nothing like the voice that I heard when I read it.

I think one of the main things authors have to accept is that their stories are not always read the same way. While I thought that Byron was confused and scared, you viewed him as sarcastic. That is why authors usually have to be careful with what they write and how they write it. Some areas of literature are meant to be read retrospectively. It seems to me that Baker wanted the confusion of the tone. This story, and many poems are meant for the readers to develop their own perspective. I believe that Baker wanted the reader to unravel their own feelings and emotions in the character of Byron. If we were put in his situation how would we react? I gave Byron the tone of sadness, confusion, and in the end acceptance... because that is how I would have reacted.

Sincerely,
Meredith Pate