Dark Arts Defence – Basics for Beginners
Dark Arts Defence – Basics for Beginners
Book information
Publisher
Subject
- "Some of the spooky material in this book should be familiar to you. Some of it will almost certainly be breathtakingly new to you. All of it is essential to obtain a thorough understanding of the Dark Arts and of all the other formidable, scary, creepy things which are out there."
- — Description of the book on its back cover[src]
Dark Arts Defence – Basics for Beginners[2] was an introductory levelDefence Against the Dark Arts textbook issued by theMinistry of Magic. The authors who wrote this book also wroteAbracadabra: An A-Z of Spooky Spells.
Contents[]
- Dolores Umbridge: "There will be no need to talk."
- Hermione Granger: "No need to think is more like it."
- — Hermione Granger on the textbook's valueless purpose[src]
The book's 68b & 68c pages
The book was presented only a theoretical examination of the topic, and lacked practical information on counteringDark Magic, such as how to use defensivespells.
Favoured Position for a Left-Handed Hex Breaker andIntercepting a Counter Incantation 'On-the-Go' are among the techniques covered by this title, on pages 68b and 68c, respectively.
History[]
- "Your previous instruction in this subject has been, disturbingly, uneven. But you will be pleased to know, from now on, you will be following a carefully structured, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic."
- —Dolores Umbridge as she hands out the textbook[src]
In the1995–1996 school year, whenDolores Umbridge was theprofessor of Defence Against the Dark Arts class ofHogwarts school, she supplied herfifth year students with a book each, and had them read from it and understand only the theories for their examinations. Although she claimed it was a "carefully-structured, Ministry-approved" guideline to repair the previously unstable curriculum, it was in truth to prevent the students from being trained in combat and becomeAlbus Dumbledore's soldiers to overthrow the Ministry, a paranoid fear stemming fromCornelius Fudge.[1]
During one of the lectures, Umbridge had the class read the book and copying the "approved text four times to ensure maximum retention".[1]
Behind the scenes[]
- In thefilm adaptation ofHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, this book is used inDolores Umbridge's fifth-yearDefence Against the Dark Arts class, rather thanWilbert Slinkhard'sDefensive Magical Theory.
- Instead of the usual of students buying the textbook before the start of term, Umbridge handed out the books during their first class because, as it is written in the cover, it is a Ministry of Magic issue.
- Also, this book's latter titleBasics for Beginners is the title of the first chapter of the bookDefensive Magical Theory used in the novel.
- InLEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Umbridge used abook transfiguring spell to transform defensive books carried by members ofDumbledore's Army into this book. In addition, the books are pink with acat playing with yarn in the front cover.
- The illustration on the book's front cover contains an infinite regression, an example of theDroste effect.
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)(First appearance)
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- Harry Potter: The Artifact Vault
- The Art of Harry Potter: Mini Book of Graphic Design
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery(Mentioned only)
- The Magic of MinaLima: Celebrating the Graphic Design Studio Behind the Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts Films
