Skip to main content

Why didn't Harry use the right-hand-rule (or other methods) to solve the Triwizard maze?


As with most labyrinths with conjoined borders, there are age-old methods of solution, such as simply placing one hand on a wall and proceeding through the maze without removing it until you come to either the centre or the exit (right-hand-rule). Yet IIRC Harry neglects to try this, let alone address any traditional maze-solving methods at all during the Third Task.


I'm sure the case is different for enchanted mazes, but I was wondering specifically whether this was actually addressed canonically at all, either by J.K. Rowling or the directors/screenwriters (books or movies).



Answer



Not addressed anywhere in canon, as far as I'm aware. With that in mind, let's proceed with speculation.


Even if we ignore the fact that the structure of the maze may potentially be changing (because it's magic), there are several factors that would cause Harry not to use a maze solving algorithm:





  1. He's probably not aware of them. I can't imagine Harry did a lot of maze solving prior to coming to Hogwarts because the Dursleys aren't the kind of people who take him places. He's also not portrayed as the kind of person who would study maze solving algorithms for fun.




  2. The wizarding world - including Harry by his fourth year - have a tendency to prefer magical solutions over more mundane ones, to the point where they will completely overlook potentially better solutions that don't involve magic.




  3. The Triwizard Task was a race. A maze solving algorithm may eventually lead Harry to his goal, but eventually doesn't necessarily cut it when you have to be first.




  4. The Task wasn't designed to primarily test their ability to solve mazes. The primary purpose was on testing the Champions' ability to react to different situations and solve different types of problems. The maze aspect was ultimately secondary.





  5. Harry knew he needed to get to the centre of the maze, and therefore prepared a spell that would keep him on the right track (supposedly - I have doubts about whether what's described in the books actually makes any sense). Being constantly pointed in the direction you need to go is possibly more efficient than a maze solving algorithm.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...
Post a Comment
Read more

futurama - How much time is lost in 'Time Keeps on Slippin''

In time Keeps on Slippin' , Farnsworth creates a basketball team which he matures by abusing Chronitons. This leads to time skipping forward by random, but ever increasing amounts. How much time was skipped in this way? Answer Unfortunately, I don't think a good estimate can be made for this, for two reasons: Many of the time skips move forward by an indeterminate amount of time. At one point, the Professor mentions localized regions of space skipping forward much more than others. We then see two young boys on the street below complaining about having to pay social security, only to suddenly become senior citizens and start complaining about wanting their money. Thus, each individual could have experienced a different amount of time skippage.
Post a Comment
Read more

aliens - Interstellar Zoo story

I vaguely remember this story from my childhood: it was about an interstellar zoo that came to Earth with lots of bizarre and unusual species, and humans would file through and gape at all the crazy looking creatures from other planets. The twist came at the end when the perspective shifted to the other side of the bars and we discovered that the "creatures" were traveling through space on a kind of safari. They thought they were the visitors and we were the animals. Neither side knew that the other side thought they were the zoo creatures. Answer Got it. Zoo, by Edward D. Hoch. Published in 1958. Link to Publication History Link to PDF
Post a Comment
Read more

tolkiens legendarium - Did Gandalf wear his Ring of Power throughout the trilogy?

After Gandalf discovered that Sauron was back and sent Frodo on his quest to Rivendell, did he continue to wear Narya (one of the Three Rings)? It seems like a huge risk to continue to wear it after the Nazgûl (Ringwraiths) started to try and reclaim the One Ring; if they managed to get the ring to Sauron, couldn't he be corrupted by his power? Whatever powers Narya bestows upon him couldn't possibly be worth the huge risk, could it? Answer When Sauron forged the one ring and put it on his finger, the other ring bearers were immediately aware of him and his intentions and removed their own rings. There is no reason why they couldn't merely do so again. As soon as Sauron set the One Ring upon his finger they were aware of him; and they knew him, and preceived that he would be master of them, and of all they wrought. Then in anger and fear they took off their rings. "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," Silmarillion
Post a Comment
Read more