Inspiration/Challenges for Contributions
The goal of this Fest is to explore the character of Severus Snape in light of the the sixth book, Half Blood Prince. Below please find some potential areas of exploration, meant to inspire. Feel free to use your own ideas, of course.
I would find it helpful if you would sign up below in comments, letting me know whether you plan to submit fic, art, and/or meta. As May draws nearer please let me know approximately when you plan to post your contribution so I can make sure they're not all posted on the same day, spamming f'lists.
Inspiration for Fiction, Non-fiction, and Art
1. Questions
Young Severus
Eileen Prince Snape. What was she like? What sort of mother was she to Severus?
Tobias Snape. What sort of man was he? What sort of father? What did Severus think of him and vice versa? Is grown Snape ashamed of his half-blood or not?
Spinner's End. Was this the home Severus grew up in? If yes, what was it like during those years? Was Snape later ashamed of his poor background?
How would Severus have been schooled before Hogwarts? At home? The local muggle school? With other wizarding children? Did Severus have contact with other wizarding families before Hogwarts? Purebloods perhaps - as the poor relation?
Early Magic. When and how did Severus first show signs of magic? What was his parent's reaction? What about later magic - was the scene in OotP of Severus bored in his room killing flies set in Spinner's End? How did Severus feel when he got his Hogwarts letter?
Severus at Hogwarts
First Day. Who did Severus meet on his first day? Was he happy to be sorted into Slytherin?
"Snape knew more curses ..." Sirius said Snape knew more curses when he arrived at school than half the kids in the seventh year and he was part of a gang of slytherins who nearly all turned out to be Death Eaters." True? Did Eileen teach him those curses? If so, why? If not, who did? Or did Severus teach himself from Eileen's books? Did he need to protect himself from people before he came to Hogwarts? Did he know the gang of Slytherins before he came to Hogwarts? Who were those Slytherins and what were his relationships with them?
Slugclub. Was Snape in the Slugclub? What was the relationship between Snape and Slughorn?
Lily. Did Slughorn unfairly favor Lily over Snape? What did Snape think of Lily? Were they rivals or did he admire her? Why did he call her a mudblood when he himself was a half-blood? Did he keep his half-blood a secret?
Advanced Potion-Making. Do the potions notes in this book prove Snape is unusually talented with potions? More so than Lily? What about the hexes and curses? Were these aggressive or defensive? What clues to Snape are there in that book? Why did Harry feel such a bond with the Half-Blood Prince? Why was Hermione so suspicious?
Half-Blood Prince. Why did a pureblood lover call himself the "Half-Blood Prince?" Why would he reference his half-blood rather than ignore it? Can you untangle and communicate his apparently complex feelings regarding blood? Did he really admire purebloods?
The Marauders. Did Snape provoke James and Sirius? Do the notes in Advanced Potion Making, like the Sectumsempra spell, show Snape to be aggressive or was he just trying to defend himself and survive?
Severus and Albus Dumbledore
Snape is guilty. Most of us want to read between the lines of HBP and explain why Snape is not guilty. Can you convince us he is? Can you show us or take us inside the mind of the man who simply got cornered into making an unbreakable vow and had to carry it out? Was the look of hatred on Snape's face when he cast AK directed at Dumbledore or himself?
Snape is not so guilty:
Severus tells Albus about the vow. How did that conversation go? When did it take place?
The plan.What WAS the plan between Severus and Albus? Was Albus dying anyway? If not, and they decided it was better to sacrifice Albus than Severus, what was their reasoning? What plans did Albus leave in place for after he died? Did he leaves contacts and support for Severus?
Legilimency and Occlumency. What was going on between Severus and Albus on the tower with the "please ... Severus ..." and the deep eye gazing? When did Snape become such a good Legilimens? Who taught him?
The Overheard Conversation. The tone of the conversation Hagrid overheard between Albus and Severus has always worried me. Dumbledore sounds so harsh, so authoritarian, with a man so many of us assume to be his friend. What's going on here?
The Pause. When Harry questions Albus about Severus, Albus pauses and thinks before simply replying that he trusts Snape. What was that all about? And why didn't he tell Harry why he trusts Snape?
Albus' Hand. Was Albus dying of the curse that withered his hand? Apparently Snape's knowledge of the dark arts made him a better healer for this wound than Madam Pomfrey. Has the WW avoided knowledge of the dark arts to their detriment? What is Severus' opinion?
DADA. Did Severus know the DADA position was cursed? Did Albus finally tell him when he gave him the position? Was Severus triumphant about getting the job or did he realize it meant the end of being at Hogwarts? What exactly was Snape's relationship with DADA vs. Potions? Did he love both disciplines or was Potions a poor second to dark arts? Did Albus not give Severus the DADA job before because it was cursed or because he thought Severus shouldn't be tempted by dark arts?
Severus and the Malfoys
Narcissa. Cissy seemed to think she could trust and rely on Severus. What is their past relationship? True friendship - or was she just desperate?
Lucius Or is the real relationship between Severus and Lucius? If Severus is on the side of good how does he feel about his betrayal of his friends?
Draco. Does Severus care about Draco or was he just fulfilling the vow? Does he care about Draco himself or just because he is his friends' son? How much did Snape know about Draco's plans? If Draco had told him what his plan was what would Snape have done? Where did Snape take Draco immediately post-HBP? Then what?
Severus and the Death Eaters
Bellatrix. Is there history between Bellatrix and Severus besides her paranoia and suspicion?
Peter. How is it that Severus is able to order Wormtail around? How did that power imbalance come about? Severus' stronger personality? Stronger magical power? Relative standing with Voldemort? What do Wormtail and Severus really think of each other? Why did Voldemort send Wormtail to Snape, who is supposed to be undercover on the side of light? What is Wormtail supposed to be assisting Snape with?
Suave Snape Severus is incredibly impressive in the "Spinner's End" chaper. There is no sign of "pathetic Snape." Is he always so suave and in-control when he's around the death eaters and Voldemort? Is he Voldemort's favorite? How did he manage those conversations with Voldemort when he was having to explain and defend himself? What do the rest of the Death Eaters think of Snape?
Severus and Harry
Sectumsempra. Harry feels a strong affinity for the HBP. He defends him to Hermione and while he seemed appalled at the result of the sectumsempra spell, he did use an unknown curse on someone and in fact was looking for a guinea pig to use it on. How similar are Severus and Harry? What is their connection?
The HBP's copy of Advanced Potion-Making. After the Sectumsempra episode, did Severus deliberately let Harry keep the textbook? He didn't seem to try very hard to get it from him. Is it just a coincidence that Harry was given that particular copy in the first place?
The Flight of the Prince. Is it clear that Snape was actually protecting Harry as he fled? All he seemed to do was defend himself from Harry and he even protected Harry from another DE. Did Harry not notice this? How believable is Snape's excuse that Voldemort wants Harry for himself?
"DON'T CALL ME COWARD!" What is all THAT about?
Other.
What do other characters think of Severus Snape? His colleagues at Hogwarts? Other Death Eaters? Aurors and the Ministry of Magic? The Order of the Phoenix? Was Albus Severus' only supporter?
Post-HBP
Snape and Draco on the run, horcruxes, Harry after them, do they take refuge with Voldemort? Feel free to write a novel. : )
2. Images
* A "Snape Wanted" poster like that of Sirius in PoA
* Spinner's End, exterior
* Spinner's End, interior
* The unbreakable bond
* Teen Snape, the proud HBP, with his potions textbook
* Teen Snape, secretive, with his potions textbook
* Teen Snape in the Slugclub - overlooked by Slughorn?
* Eileen and Severus
* Tobias and Severus
* Snape as Deatheater, trusted by Voldemort
* Snape as Deatheater, envied by Wormtail
* Snape as Deatheater, mistrusted by Bellatrix
* Snape as strong and in control, relied on by Narcissa
* Snape triumphant, finally getting the DADA job
* Snape killing Dumbledore
* "Don't call me coward!"
* Snape and Draco take flight
* Snape explaining himself to Voldemort after HBP
3. Themes
- The dualities of Severus Snape
- dominant and submissive (intensified in HBP)
- strong and weak
- half-blood whilst pureblood supporter
- cruel and protective
- DADA vs Potions. Could these two disciplines represent the two sides of Severus Snape, the dark and destructive versus the constructive? Did teaching potions mean security and safety and finally getting the DADA job mean a fall into hell?
- The fractured/many faces of Severus Snape (I would love to see this portrayed in a surreal art piece)
- Potions master
- Death Eater
- spy
- Hero?
- Not judging people by their appearance. Or should you? JKR can't quite make up her mind on this one.
- Free Will. Does Severus rise above his circumstances? Does he work for the side of good despite how badly it has treated him? Does he demonstrate the triumph of free will in the face of bad influences and bad experiences? Or is the opposite: an example of a difficult childhood producing an unpleasant person? And is so, what does Harry's childhood represent?
I'm short on themes but I'm sure you guys have many more ideas of your own. : )
Happy writing and drawing!
I would find it helpful if you would sign up below in comments, letting me know whether you plan to submit fic, art, and/or meta. As May draws nearer please let me know approximately when you plan to post your contribution so I can make sure they're not all posted on the same day, spamming f'lists.
Inspiration for Fiction, Non-fiction, and Art
1. Questions
Young Severus
Eileen Prince Snape. What was she like? What sort of mother was she to Severus?
Tobias Snape. What sort of man was he? What sort of father? What did Severus think of him and vice versa? Is grown Snape ashamed of his half-blood or not?
Spinner's End. Was this the home Severus grew up in? If yes, what was it like during those years? Was Snape later ashamed of his poor background?
How would Severus have been schooled before Hogwarts? At home? The local muggle school? With other wizarding children? Did Severus have contact with other wizarding families before Hogwarts? Purebloods perhaps - as the poor relation?
Early Magic. When and how did Severus first show signs of magic? What was his parent's reaction? What about later magic - was the scene in OotP of Severus bored in his room killing flies set in Spinner's End? How did Severus feel when he got his Hogwarts letter?
Severus at Hogwarts
First Day. Who did Severus meet on his first day? Was he happy to be sorted into Slytherin?
"Snape knew more curses ..." Sirius said Snape knew more curses when he arrived at school than half the kids in the seventh year and he was part of a gang of slytherins who nearly all turned out to be Death Eaters." True? Did Eileen teach him those curses? If so, why? If not, who did? Or did Severus teach himself from Eileen's books? Did he need to protect himself from people before he came to Hogwarts? Did he know the gang of Slytherins before he came to Hogwarts? Who were those Slytherins and what were his relationships with them?
Slugclub. Was Snape in the Slugclub? What was the relationship between Snape and Slughorn?
Lily. Did Slughorn unfairly favor Lily over Snape? What did Snape think of Lily? Were they rivals or did he admire her? Why did he call her a mudblood when he himself was a half-blood? Did he keep his half-blood a secret?
Advanced Potion-Making. Do the potions notes in this book prove Snape is unusually talented with potions? More so than Lily? What about the hexes and curses? Were these aggressive or defensive? What clues to Snape are there in that book? Why did Harry feel such a bond with the Half-Blood Prince? Why was Hermione so suspicious?
Half-Blood Prince. Why did a pureblood lover call himself the "Half-Blood Prince?" Why would he reference his half-blood rather than ignore it? Can you untangle and communicate his apparently complex feelings regarding blood? Did he really admire purebloods?
The Marauders. Did Snape provoke James and Sirius? Do the notes in Advanced Potion Making, like the Sectumsempra spell, show Snape to be aggressive or was he just trying to defend himself and survive?
Severus and Albus Dumbledore
Snape is guilty. Most of us want to read between the lines of HBP and explain why Snape is not guilty. Can you convince us he is? Can you show us or take us inside the mind of the man who simply got cornered into making an unbreakable vow and had to carry it out? Was the look of hatred on Snape's face when he cast AK directed at Dumbledore or himself?
Snape is not so guilty:
Severus tells Albus about the vow. How did that conversation go? When did it take place?
The plan.What WAS the plan between Severus and Albus? Was Albus dying anyway? If not, and they decided it was better to sacrifice Albus than Severus, what was their reasoning? What plans did Albus leave in place for after he died? Did he leaves contacts and support for Severus?
Legilimency and Occlumency. What was going on between Severus and Albus on the tower with the "please ... Severus ..." and the deep eye gazing? When did Snape become such a good Legilimens? Who taught him?
The Overheard Conversation. The tone of the conversation Hagrid overheard between Albus and Severus has always worried me. Dumbledore sounds so harsh, so authoritarian, with a man so many of us assume to be his friend. What's going on here?
The Pause. When Harry questions Albus about Severus, Albus pauses and thinks before simply replying that he trusts Snape. What was that all about? And why didn't he tell Harry why he trusts Snape?
Albus' Hand. Was Albus dying of the curse that withered his hand? Apparently Snape's knowledge of the dark arts made him a better healer for this wound than Madam Pomfrey. Has the WW avoided knowledge of the dark arts to their detriment? What is Severus' opinion?
DADA. Did Severus know the DADA position was cursed? Did Albus finally tell him when he gave him the position? Was Severus triumphant about getting the job or did he realize it meant the end of being at Hogwarts? What exactly was Snape's relationship with DADA vs. Potions? Did he love both disciplines or was Potions a poor second to dark arts? Did Albus not give Severus the DADA job before because it was cursed or because he thought Severus shouldn't be tempted by dark arts?
Severus and the Malfoys
Narcissa. Cissy seemed to think she could trust and rely on Severus. What is their past relationship? True friendship - or was she just desperate?
Lucius Or is the real relationship between Severus and Lucius? If Severus is on the side of good how does he feel about his betrayal of his friends?
Draco. Does Severus care about Draco or was he just fulfilling the vow? Does he care about Draco himself or just because he is his friends' son? How much did Snape know about Draco's plans? If Draco had told him what his plan was what would Snape have done? Where did Snape take Draco immediately post-HBP? Then what?
Severus and the Death Eaters
Bellatrix. Is there history between Bellatrix and Severus besides her paranoia and suspicion?
Peter. How is it that Severus is able to order Wormtail around? How did that power imbalance come about? Severus' stronger personality? Stronger magical power? Relative standing with Voldemort? What do Wormtail and Severus really think of each other? Why did Voldemort send Wormtail to Snape, who is supposed to be undercover on the side of light? What is Wormtail supposed to be assisting Snape with?
Suave Snape Severus is incredibly impressive in the "Spinner's End" chaper. There is no sign of "pathetic Snape." Is he always so suave and in-control when he's around the death eaters and Voldemort? Is he Voldemort's favorite? How did he manage those conversations with Voldemort when he was having to explain and defend himself? What do the rest of the Death Eaters think of Snape?
Severus and Harry
Sectumsempra. Harry feels a strong affinity for the HBP. He defends him to Hermione and while he seemed appalled at the result of the sectumsempra spell, he did use an unknown curse on someone and in fact was looking for a guinea pig to use it on. How similar are Severus and Harry? What is their connection?
The HBP's copy of Advanced Potion-Making. After the Sectumsempra episode, did Severus deliberately let Harry keep the textbook? He didn't seem to try very hard to get it from him. Is it just a coincidence that Harry was given that particular copy in the first place?
The Flight of the Prince. Is it clear that Snape was actually protecting Harry as he fled? All he seemed to do was defend himself from Harry and he even protected Harry from another DE. Did Harry not notice this? How believable is Snape's excuse that Voldemort wants Harry for himself?
"DON'T CALL ME COWARD!" What is all THAT about?
Other.
What do other characters think of Severus Snape? His colleagues at Hogwarts? Other Death Eaters? Aurors and the Ministry of Magic? The Order of the Phoenix? Was Albus Severus' only supporter?
Post-HBP
Snape and Draco on the run, horcruxes, Harry after them, do they take refuge with Voldemort? Feel free to write a novel. : )
2. Images
* A "Snape Wanted" poster like that of Sirius in PoA
* Spinner's End, exterior
* Spinner's End, interior
* The unbreakable bond
* Teen Snape, the proud HBP, with his potions textbook
* Teen Snape, secretive, with his potions textbook
* Teen Snape in the Slugclub - overlooked by Slughorn?
* Eileen and Severus
* Tobias and Severus
* Snape as Deatheater, trusted by Voldemort
* Snape as Deatheater, envied by Wormtail
* Snape as Deatheater, mistrusted by Bellatrix
* Snape as strong and in control, relied on by Narcissa
* Snape triumphant, finally getting the DADA job
* Snape killing Dumbledore
* "Don't call me coward!"
* Snape and Draco take flight
* Snape explaining himself to Voldemort after HBP
3. Themes
- The dualities of Severus Snape
- dominant and submissive (intensified in HBP)
- strong and weak
- half-blood whilst pureblood supporter
- cruel and protective
- DADA vs Potions. Could these two disciplines represent the two sides of Severus Snape, the dark and destructive versus the constructive? Did teaching potions mean security and safety and finally getting the DADA job mean a fall into hell?
- The fractured/many faces of Severus Snape (I would love to see this portrayed in a surreal art piece)
- Potions master
- Death Eater
- spy
- Hero?
- Not judging people by their appearance. Or should you? JKR can't quite make up her mind on this one.
- Free Will. Does Severus rise above his circumstances? Does he work for the side of good despite how badly it has treated him? Does he demonstrate the triumph of free will in the face of bad influences and bad experiences? Or is the opposite: an example of a difficult childhood producing an unpleasant person? And is so, what does Harry's childhood represent?
I'm short on themes but I'm sure you guys have many more ideas of your own. : )
Happy writing and drawing!