Melissa’s Letter Essay #10: Tales of Beedle the Bard

Dear Reader,

For my tenth letter essay i read the book Tales of Beedle and Bard. Though a mere 111 pages, i truly loved it. It is a fantasy genre by the world renowned author, J.K. Rowling. If you didn’t infer from the seemingly  magical title, it is a sort of sequel to the book series Harry Potter. It is mentioned in the seventh book as the story to explain the tale of the elder wand, the resurrection stone, and the invisibility cloak.  I won’t speak any further to avoid spoilers.  It doesn’t remain on one story or set of characters. In the seventh book Ron Weasley refers to it as our Cinderella and Goldy Locks. Each story contains  a life lesson and rather than our common ones such as don’t steal, or don’t lie. They have lessons such as magical greed comes with a price and simpler things like don’t take people or things for granted. There are five stories and each have commentary from Albus Dumbledore and his response to what he believes that particular story was about. The stories consists of The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, The Fountain of Fair Fortune,  The Warlocks Hairy Heart, Babbity Rabbity and her Cackling Stump, and The Tale of the Three Brothers.  They are connect by their magical mystery and their boisterous characters with plenty of character.

One part in my favorite story, The Warlocks Hairy Heart was when the warlock’s family tries to tell him that his need to be alone romantically and he denies it.

There was once a handsome, rich and talented young warlock, who observed that his friends grew foolish when they fell in love, gamboling and preening, losing their appetites and their dignities. The warlock resolved to never to fall prey to such weakness, and employed the Dark Arts (Evil Magic) to ensure his immunity.

Unaware of his secret, the warlocks family laughed to see him so aloof and cold.

‘All will change’ they prophesied ‘When a maiden catches his fancy!’

 But the warlocks fancy remained  untouched. Though many a maiden was intrigued by his haughty mien, and employ her most subtle arts to please him, none succeeded in touching his heart”

It’s a shorter paragraph but the way the words work your feelings by making you feel bad for the warlock but mad at the same time for feeling the need to not fall in love to stay yourself.

I have read this book before, but originally  I chose this book because as a very avid Harry Potter fan, any chance i get to connect with my childhood stories, i do. I love how the author in this book connects you to the other story without the same characters or story line. By merely mentioning a single title from the story you feel as if its an extension to the books and as i re-read the books now i feel as if i am apart of it, connected in some way. It brought me back to the times where i was first reading the books, anticipating the young wizards next move. For Harry Potter fans, or none Harry Potter fans, this book has amazing stories and it’s even better if you’ve read the book series.  I give this book a 8 out of 10

-Melissa C.

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5 thoughts on “Melissa’s Letter Essay #10: Tales of Beedle the Bard

  1. I love Harry Potter, and this sounds like something I want to read! It would make a good change to constantly rereading all seven Harry Potter books, 12 times. Each. 😂 This essay gave really good insight as to what I will read about!

  2. Dear Melissa
    This seems like a very interesting book. I have previously read the Harry Potter books and liked them a lot so I’m sure I’ll give this one a try as well!

  3. Dear Melissa,
    I have read this book too in the past! It’s fantastic, my favorite short story was “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart” it was very sweet. If you liked this book I suggest you read “Quidditch Through The Ages” a book similar to this, in the way that it was based off of a book mentioned in Harry Potter (the 3 book I believe is when this one makes its appearance) I’m not sure if you have read it, but if not I would give it a try.

  4. I remember reading this book 2 years ago! If I hadn’t already read it, I would have at least read the back, based on your recommendation.

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