Summary
TheHarry Potterseries has ingrained itself in pop culture in a number of ways, one of the biggest of which being Hogwarts Houses. For fans, the different Houses act as a sort of personality test that they can slot people into depending on their traits. Asking another fan what their Hogwarts House is is a common way that Potterheads bond and get to know each other. The four Houses - Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff - all represent different personality types and value different traits.
Gryffindor and Slytherin are definitely the most well-known, as most of the main characters are from one of those two Houses, and they therefore get the most mentions over the course of the series. However, the other two Houses deserve just as much attention, which is why this article is focused on Ravenclaw specifically. Ravenclaw is the House represented by the colors blue and bronze, and their symbol is an eagle. But what exactly are the traits that would get a person sorted into Ravenclaw, and who aresome of the notable Ravenclawsin theHarry Potterseries?
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What Are The Strengths of Ravenclaws?
Ravenclaw is typically known as the “smart House”, but this is a bit reductive of what the Ravenclaw traits actually are. Ravenclaw values things like learning, wisdom, wit, and intellect, and the students who are sorted into this house are typically aligned in that vision. Many, but not all,Ravenclaw students are more academically motivatedand tend to be very talented in school. They also tend to be creative, and might use unconventional methods of magic that other houses wouldn’t have thought of.
Ravenclaws can be very creative, and even a little eccentric, though many are celebrated for these difference of thought. Ravenclaws are curious, and are inquisitive about the world around them, always interested in learning more. Ravenclaws run the gamut between being logical and rational, and being more out-of-the-box thinkers, which is what makes the House so interesting. Though they don’t get as much attention from the series as some of the other Houses, Ravenclaws are beloved within the fandom and are generally quite unique.
What Are The Weaknesses of Ravenclaws?
While Ravenclaws are academically motivated and tend to do well in school, this can also be a downfall of theirs. Many Ravenclaws are so competitive when it comes to their academics that they will backstab each other, as well as other students, in pursuit of getting top marks. Sometimes those traits of being logical can get in the way of compassion and empathy if a member of Ravenclaw takes things too far and is more focused on their mind than their emotions, but this seems to be more of a rare occurrence.
Of course, there are also members of Ravenclaw who are not motivated by academic success; rather, they seek to use the good reputation of their House to gain popularity among their peers. This isn’t always a bad thing, as some people will do so in a way that feels natural and also reflects their true personality, but there are some who take it too far and become more arrogant with their knowledge and reputation. Because Ravenclaws are so well-respected among the Hogwarts Houses, it’s possible that students who are in the housemight grow a bit of a big egobecause of their reputation and also their intelligence generally.
Who Are the Most Famous Ravenclaws?
Though Ravenclaw doesn’t have as much representation in theHarry Potterseries as some of the other Houses, there are stilla number of important characters who hail from this house. One of the most prominent Ravenclaws that Harry encounters during the series is Luna Lovegood. She represents the more creative and eccentric side of Ravenclaw, while also being quite clever in her own right. Harry also had some other important classmates who were in Ravenclaw, including his one-time love interest Cho Chang and her friend Marietta Edgecombe. Several Hogwarts professors hailed from Ravenclaw, including Professor Flitwick (who was the head of Ravenclaw House), Professor Trelawney, and Professor Quirrell.
Ollivander, the famed wandmaker, was a Ravenclaw, and demonstrates a remarkable ability to remember every wand he’s ever made. Gilderoy Lockhart was also sorted into Ravenclaw, and he represents that more arrogant side of Ravenclaws that can occasionally come out. Of course, the most famed Ravenclaws of all might bethe founder of the Houseand one of the founders of Hogwarts as a whole, Rowena Ravenclaw, and her daughter Helena, who haunts Ravenclaw House as the Grey Lady ghost.
