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Help[Opinions] Re: Damn!
in reply to a message by babybackribs
The difference with asphodel and Tom is that Tom has dozens of other associations, and asphodel has only one or two.
Tom- St. Thomas, my dad, one in my cousin's class, a local reporter, Tom Thumb, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Tom Arnold, Tom Sellack, Tom Brady, Doubting Thomas, Peeping Tom, Nicholle Tom, Tom and Jerry, tom cats and turkeys, the musical Tommy, etc
Asphodel- a plant that was mentioned in a potions class in Harry Potter. It could have been mentioned in herbology or some other discussions too, but was part of Snape's speech the first day of class as first years. Yes, I probably do remember more from the books and movies than I should, but my mind works that way.
I'm sure people are sick of 'Oh, that's a HP name" but some names will always have that stigma. I possibly have a Minerva in my tree who died long before the books, but if I named a daughter Minerva, she'd hear "Oh, like Professor McGonnagall" for her entire life. If you're sick of hearing that from a couple of comments and you're only asking about the usability of a name, you probably shouldn't use the name, because the kid would have it even worse.
Tom- St. Thomas, my dad, one in my cousin's class, a local reporter, Tom Thumb, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Tom Arnold, Tom Sellack, Tom Brady, Doubting Thomas, Peeping Tom, Nicholle Tom, Tom and Jerry, tom cats and turkeys, the musical Tommy, etc
Asphodel- a plant that was mentioned in a potions class in Harry Potter. It could have been mentioned in herbology or some other discussions too, but was part of Snape's speech the first day of class as first years. Yes, I probably do remember more from the books and movies than I should, but my mind works that way.
I'm sure people are sick of 'Oh, that's a HP name" but some names will always have that stigma. I possibly have a Minerva in my tree who died long before the books, but if I named a daughter Minerva, she'd hear "Oh, like Professor McGonnagall" for her entire life. If you're sick of hearing that from a couple of comments and you're only asking about the usability of a name, you probably shouldn't use the name, because the kid would have it even worse.
This message was edited 7/28/2013, 9:03 AM
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I agree, Tom, Harry, Ron, Arthur etc are all names that are more or less well used, I have heard them before, they have other connotations.
I had never heard of Asphodel until I read Harry Potter, and haven't since.
Still, like Quill mentioned, it has some fantastical/mysterious qualities, and I rather like it, but it seems a little too much for real life use.
I had never heard of Asphodel until I read Harry Potter, and haven't since.
Still, like Quill mentioned, it has some fantastical/mysterious qualities, and I rather like it, but it seems a little too much for real life use.
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It might well be too much for everyday use, but not because it's mentioned once in passing in HP. That's like saying "cauldron" or "robes" are too HP.
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I think that some of the fantastical/ mysterious qualities come from hearing about it for the first time in Harry Potter. At least it's intensified by it.
I bought some asphodel for my garden. I also bought a monkshood.
I bought some asphodel for my garden. I also bought a monkshood.
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It was mentioned in HP because of its fantastical/mysterious qualities.
The ancients planted the flowers near tombs, regarding them as the form of food preferred by the dead, and many poems refer to this custom. The name is derived from a Greek word meaning sceptre.
I found that on some website. Also if you google Asphodel the first thing that comes up is Asphodel Fields. I'm sure these associations are why Rowling used the plant in the first place, much like how she used vampires and centaurs.
The ancients planted the flowers near tombs, regarding them as the form of food preferred by the dead, and many poems refer to this custom. The name is derived from a Greek word meaning sceptre.
I found that on some website. Also if you google Asphodel the first thing that comes up is Asphodel Fields. I'm sure these associations are why Rowling used the plant in the first place, much like how she used vampires and centaurs.
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I'm in the US, so I don't have the same familiarity with asphodel as she or anyone in Britain does. For me, it was the first time I heard of it.
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I'm also in the US.
Point is, it's a magical plant mentioned once in passing in the Harry Potter books. I don't think that qualifies it as a "Harry Potter" name.
Point is, it's a magical plant mentioned once in passing in the Harry Potter books. I don't think that qualifies it as a "Harry Potter" name.
This message was edited 7/29/2013, 6:04 AM
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