Quidditch Through the Ages

“Anyone who plays or watches Quidditch regularly will relish Mr. Whisp’s book, as do those of us interested in wider wizarding history. As we have developed the game of Quidditch, so it has developed us; Quidditch unites witches and wizards from all walks of life, bringing us together to share moments of exhilaration, triumph and (for those who support the Chudley Cannons) despair.”

In his foreword, Albus Dumbledore suggests that Quidditch has had a positive effect on wizarding society as it encourages witches and wizards to come together in the spirit of cooperation and healthy competition. By praising Quidditch for its positive effects, this passage advances the book’s theme of Unity and Celebration Through Quidditch.

“If they were to keep a means of flight in their houses, it would necessarily be something discreet, something easy to hide. The broomstick was ideal for this purpose; it required no explanation, no excuse if found by Muggles, it was easily portable and inexpensive.”

By describing how European wizards and witches developed the flying broom as an everyday vehicle, the author develops her theme of Protecting the Wizarding World. This detail helps the reader imagine the everyday life and necessities of an average medieval wizard.

“By the twelfth century, however, wizards had learned to barter services, so that a skilled maker of brooms could exchange them for the potions his neighbour might make better than himself. Once broomsticks became more comfortable, they were flown for pleasure rather than merely used as a means of getting from point A to point B.”

This passage explains how brooms became a comfortable and reliable form of transportation. These details help the reader understand how witches and wizards came to invent broom sports, such as Quidditch, and add to the book’s theme on The History and Evolution of Wizarding Society.