John Granger explores The Hunger Games series

John Granger, described as the “Dean of Harry PotterScholars” by TIME magazine’s Lev Grossman, will give a lecture titled “Catching Fire: the Artistry and Meaning of The Hunger Games” at 7 p.m. Monday, March 31, in Wallenberg Hall inside the Denkmann Memorial Building, (35207th Ave.). The lecture is free and open to the public.

The lecture will demonstrate Granger’s exploration of The Hunger Games series, including the literary alchemy, ring composition, and formal artistry of the books. He also will explain how each element brings us to an imaginative experience of the story’s core value, namely sacrificial love between the two main characters, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.

During his time on campus, Granger also will speak to Augustana students in two classes, Adolescent Literature and the Soul of Harry Potter.  

Granger is the foremost North American interpreter of the Harry Potter books and has written extensively as well about The Hunger Games. His insights about the Christian content and value of the Harry Potter books within the tradition of English fantasy literature have been published in a number of books, including Harry Potter’s Bookshelf: the Great Books behind the Hogwarts Adventures (2009). Granger also has been a keynote speaker at Harry Potter conferences around the world and given more than 100 radio, newspaper and television interviews regarding this subject.