⚡Potter Puzzles #5 - Mentored
This is a puzzle cache it is not located at the posted location.
Harry Potter has a complicated relationship with mentorship, framing adults particularly those in teaching roles in a negative light. Teachers are not just incompetent at teaching, but in some cases actually evil and yet some of the worst teachers play the most important parts. By examining these mentors successes and failures we can denote some Potter-infused principles of mentorship.
1. Good mentors admit their own biases and areas of ignorance.
In the chamber of secrets, Gilderoy Lockhart is the teacher for defence against the dark arts. His lack of practical experience instead crimping others work means he tends to drone on in lectures full of inconsistencies used essentially to demo his next book.
2. Good mentors ask the people they’re mentoring about their goals.
McGonagall took Harry seriously when he said he wanted to be an Auror, and she told him exactly what classes and grades he’d need in order to accomplish that goal. She heard his determined tone offered him the tools he needed to ensure nothing could deter him.
3. Good mentors understand that their mentees aren’t simply younger versions of themselves.
Sirus Black was one of the more positive mentor figures included in Harry Potter he was vicious in defending Harry's rights to the other authority figures of the book but tender in his care. However, he still acted as an erodent of Harry's self-confidence when he sometimes confused Harry with himself and Harry’s father when they were teens. He saw Harry's deer Patronus and commented only on its reflection of his father.
4. Good mentors encourage their mentees to dream big dreams, but they also help them set realistic goals.
Severus Snape threw Harry into learning the difficult, scary work of occlumency without offering the slightest hint of kindness or emotional support! He expected the teen to achieve results immediately so Voldemort could not enter harry's mind. It is often noted that while Snape's choice with the dark lord was heroic it does not justify his treatment of Harry.
5. Good mentors don’t play favourites
Professor Lupin is my favourite Harry Potter character but his loyalty to his friends not to reveal the illegal deer, dog and rodent animagus is an omen to the favouritism he shows to those he loves. In school, Lupin was a bit of a nerd who toed the school rules but watched on the sidelines as his friends blatantly disregarded them sometimes in ways that showed poor character (the harassment of Severus Snape). As Harry's teacher, he has knowledge of the boy's flouting of the rules but his family connection saves Harry from taking responsibility for his actions.
6. Mentors aren’t always what they seem.
An obvious trend in the series is the seemingly nice mentors having darker agendas. Professor Quirrel had the demon personified dark lord hidden behind a cowl, Moody (Barty Crouch Jr.) was leading Harry to certain death by the end of term and even Dumbledore normed the risking of Harry's life.
7. Good mentors deserve our gratitude and appreciation.
While truly good mentors seem remote in Harry Potter there are several invested and nurturing but flawed authority figures who support him. A support which all children thoroughly need and those that cared become fans most deeply celebrated characters. Young people are often torn about how to live their life, needing other perspectives but also understanding, so it is great to see that those characters that advocate for young people are respected and loved.
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.
.