Skip to main content

harry potter - Are all the teachers at Hogwarts professors and if so, why?


When I last read Harry Potter, I remember all of the teaching staff being professors.


Nothing in What are the requirements to teach at Hogwarts? implies there's any need to be qualified as a professor to join. Also (at least in the UK), "Professor" is a title granted by peers.



So, are all the teachers at Hogwarts professors, and if so...why?



Answer



Are all the teachers at Hogwarts professors?


Based on all the information available in the seven primary books, the answer seems to be that yes, all teachers at Hogwarts are professors.


Except in instances where teachers refer to each other by their first names, every teacher at Hogwarts is referred to as "Professor" by both students and their fellow teachers. In Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore corrects Harry when he refers to Severus as "Snape", saying that it's "Professor Snape".


Why?


To complete the circular logic: because they teach at Hogwarts. That seems to be the only requirement for being called "Professor". If there are others, they're definitely not explained in the books. That said, there's generally an assumption - Defence Against the Dark Arts aside - that if you're teaching at Hogwarts, you're probably an authority in your field (even if that's not backed up by being good at teaching); "Professor" strikes me as a suitable title to communicate that status.


I also think that talk of what it means or how it's used in the US or the UK just confuses the issue. We're not talking about the US or, even, the UK; we're talking about the Wizarding community. Just because they share a word doesn't mean that it has the exact same meaning or connotations as it does in the Muggle world.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...
Post a Comment
Read more

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

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