A Tale of Two Bingleys: Was JK Rowling Hinting at Pride and Prejudice? Day 8 of the 12 Days of #FantasticBeasts

On the eighth day of Fantastic Beasts, my true love said to me... Are we all fools in love?

Welcome to day 8 of the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts! When Charlotte questioned Lizzie in Pride and Prejudice (the film), Are we all fools in love? she was foretelling the actions of at least two sets of couples: Lizzie and Mr. Darcy, and Jane and Mr. Bingley. But could she have perhaps seen even further into the future to another set of parallel couples? Scroll below for another section from Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts.

SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE OR READ THE SCRIPT BOOK!

Runespoor by Kayla Perkinson

In a section from my newly released book, Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts, I examine how Rowling hints at one of her favorite authors, Jane Austen, through teasingly naming the banker Mr. Bingley:

A Tale of Two Bingleys

The most intriguing aspect about Bingley at this point is his name, and the fact that he is important enough to name in the script. If he is a link to the Mr. Bingley of Pride and Prejudice knowing Rowling is a huge Austen fan, what does his name signify? Is it a nod to Austen’s well-loved character, or to a theme of her classic novel?

One possible link I see between Fantastic Beasts and Pride and Prejudice is the development of two parallel love stories: Newt with Tina and Queenie with Jacob. Could Mr. Bingley's meeting with Jacob be a tip of the hat from one secondary lead to his counterpart?

Jacob is a good-hearted fellow, like Bingley, and Queenie is “…the most beautiful girl ever to don witches’ robes” (p. 79). Austen's character Jane, Mr. Bingley's love interest, is considered a great beauty, her mother remarking, “I was sure you could not be so beautiful for nothing!” Indeed, when Jacob says “Mr. Bingley!” in the vault scene, you can almost hear Mrs. Bennett’s shrill cry. (I cover more of this parallel relationship later in the book.)


Finally, as if to make sure we noticed Mr. Bingley and remember him going forward, he appears at the end of Fantastic Beasts among the No-Maj having their memories washed clean. Mr. Bingley is in his shower, his wife nearby brushing her teeth. Clearly we are meant to remember the Bingleys.


Do you think that Rowling hinted at Pride and Prejudice merely as a tease? Or is she going for something more? What other elements of P&P do you see in Fantastic Beasts?

Be sure to check out all posts for the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts!

About the Book:

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts

Explore JK Rowling's secrets, one clue at a time!

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts is THE guide for all Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them fans eager to experience anew the excitement of of finding clues and sharing speculation, just like they enjoyed during the height of the Harry Potter series. New fans will be amazed at the secrets lurking underneath the surface of Rowling's newest film. Diving deeply into the story's mysteries, S.P. Sipal offers a detailed analysis of the analogies, myths, and clues JK Rowling hid on screen and on page to charm her fans once again.

Discover and explore such questions as:

• Is there an Animagi hidden in the story?
• Why will there be FIVE movies?
• What secret is Modesty hiding?
• Did Frank wipe out ALL the memories from that fateful night?
• And was Grindelwald already in possession of the Elder Wand?

S.P. Sipal has analyzed the mysteries behind the Harry Potter series for over a dozen years. A sought-after presenter at fan, writing, and academic conferences both at home and abroad, her books have also delighted writers, teachers, and fans alike. Now she turns her expert attention to investigating the beginning of Rowling's exciting new series. Join her as she prepares you to dig into the layers of subtext yourself to claim what treasures await...before the Niffler beats you to it!

Rowling's Death Chamber of Memories: Day 7 of the 12 Days of #FantasticBeasts

On the seventh day of Fantastic Beasts, my true love said to me... Did Rowling import bottled water from the river Lethe?

Welcome to day 7 of the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts! Memory is an important theme running through Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Today, we examine an important myth behind a crucial memory scenes.

SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE OR READ THE SCRIPT BOOK!

Swooping Evil by Kayla Perkinson

In my newly released book, Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts, I examine how memory is used throughout the movie. Here is a sample from how it is used in the death chamber scene:

Waters of Memory

In ancient Greece, the river Lethe was one of the five rivers of the Underworld. As the dead passed through or drank its waters, their memories were erased. This cleansing was the only way they could pass on to the afterlife in the Elysium Fields. Virgil further clarified that the dead must erase all memories of the former life to be reincarnated.

MACUSA must have imported some bottled water from the river Lethe, because the waters of “rippling potion” in their death chamber acts like a memory siphon and giant Pensieve to lull those about to be executed to death.

The executioner extracts Tina’s happy memories to taunt her onto the death chair floating above the waters. She gazes down upon:

1. Her mother calling her pumpkin, calling her to bed
2. Tina in Second Salem Church, stopping Mary Lou’s abuse with a spell and comforting Credence.

At this point, Pickett releases Newt. In his struggle to overpower the executioner, her wand drops into the pool. The waters transform into “vicious black bubbles” (p. 170), and Tina’s memories turn dark.

3) Mary Lou threatens Tina and calls her a witch.

As we are shown by what happens when the wand falls into the pool, the intended are executed by the rising flames-like waves of the black waters of death. Their final memories their worst.
Death by a brutal form of baptism.


Through her death chamber scene, Rowling twists the old expression "his life passed before his eyes." By using memories to lull the condemned to death, are the executioners being kind or cruel? What do you think?

Be sure to check out all 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts!

About the Book:

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts

Explore JK Rowling's secrets, one clue at a time!

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts is THE guide for all Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them fans eager to experience anew the excitement of of finding clues and sharing speculation, just like they enjoyed during the height of the Harry Potter series. New fans will be amazed at the secrets lurking underneath the surface of Rowling's newest film. Diving deeply into the story's mysteries, S.P. Sipal offers a detailed analysis of the analogies, myths, and clues JK Rowling hid on screen and on page to charm her fans once again.

Discover and explore such questions as:

• Is there an Animagi hidden in the story?
• Why will there be FIVE movies?
• What secret is Modesty hiding?
• Did Frank wipe out ALL the memories from that fateful night?
• And was Grindelwald already in possession of the Elder Wand?

S.P. Sipal has analyzed the mysteries behind the Harry Potter series for over a dozen years. A sought-after presenter at fan, writing, and academic conferences both at home and abroad, her books have also delighted writers, teachers, and fans alike. Now she turns her expert attention to investigating the beginning of Rowling's exciting new series. Join her as she prepares you to dig into the layers of subtext yourself to claim what treasures await...before the Niffler beats you to it!

Could the Niffler Dig Up More Trouble? Day 6 of the 12 Days of #FantasticBeasts

On the sixth day of Fantastic Beasts, my true love said to me... Who wouldn't want a cute little furry pet with a predilection for pilfering everything glittery?

Welcome to day 6 of the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts! Today we're analyzing the cutest and most troublesome of Newt's little beasts who gets the whole plot Rowling...



SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE OR READ THE SCRIPT BOOK!

Niffler by Kayla Perkinson

A Tunnel of Trouble

While the Niffler gets the most screen time, it’s one of Newt’s least dangerous creatures…aside from getting Newt arrested. Described as a “furry black cross between a mole and a duck-billed platypus” (p. 14), Newt’s Niffler wins the cute factor. He also has a predilection for pilfering everything glittery, which keeps Newt in a lot of trouble. From a beggar’s hat to a dog collar to a jewelry store, if it glitters, he wants it.

It almost seems the Niffler’s sole role in the film is to cause wild, crazy action while looking adorable. But this is JK Rowling we’re talking about.

Nifflers do have one other quality—they are great diggers and will tunnel deep within the earth in search of treasure. We know the Nazis liked to tunnel themselves, whether to find or store treasure, to create bunkers, or for other military advantages. Perhaps the Niffler will prove more useful than troublesome to Newt and Team in the coming films. Especially if Newt has a whole family of them.

However Rowling decides to utilize this cute little pest's skills, I'm sure he'll burrow into something useful before series end!

If you’d like to see an animal that may have inspired the Niffler, check out this CNN report on a newborn puggle (see here), which Rowling retweeted on November 21, 2016.

What do you think? What kind of useful "treasure" do you think Rowling's Niffler could dig up before series end?

About the Book:

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts

Explore JK Rowling's secrets, one clue at a time!

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts is THE guide for all Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them fans eager to experience anew the excitement of of finding clues and sharing speculation, just like they enjoyed during the height of the Harry Potter series. New fans will be amazed at the secrets lurking underneath the surface of Rowling's newest film. Diving deeply into the story's mysteries, S.P. Sipal offers a detailed analysis of the analogies, myths, and clues JK Rowling hid on screen and on page to charm her fans once again.

Discover and explore such questions as:

• Is there an Animagi hidden in the story?
• Why will there be FIVE movies?
• What secret is Modesty hiding?
• Did Frank wipe out ALL the memories from that fateful night?
• And was Grindelwald already in possession of the Elder Wand?

S.P. Sipal has analyzed the mysteries behind the Harry Potter series for over a dozen years. A sought-after presenter at fan, writing, and academic conferences both at home and abroad, her books have also delighted writers, teachers, and fans alike. Now she turns her expert attention to investigating the beginning of Rowling's exciting new series. Join her as she prepares you to dig into the layers of subtext yourself to claim what treasures await...before the Niffler beats you to it!

Did Rowling Hide an Animagi in Fantastic Beasts? Day 5 of the 12 Days of #FantasticBeasts

On the fifth day of Fantastic Beasts, my true love said to me... Come on, this is a JK Rowling story. Shouldn't there be an Animagi lurking about?

Welcome to day 5 of the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts! Scroll below the spoiler spacing for speculation regarding a hidden animagi!

SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE OR READ THE SCRIPT BOOK!

Dung Beetle by Kayla Perkinson

A Possible Animagi in Fantastic Beasts

I fully expect that an Animagi in hiding will appear within the series at some point. With that in mind, I watched carefully for any stray animal sightings within the script book. The one that intrigues me the most is the pigeon at the Second Salem Church that Credence scares away in scene 28. In fact, this scene, as written, is only two paragraphs long, and the first and longest of the two is all about the pigeon. It’s as if this scene exists to show that pigeon.

Is the pigeon a witch or wizard watching over Credence?

The person I would most suspect of watching over him would be Teenie Tina. Maybe she can be very teeny, like a bird. And as it so happens, she has a magazine called Transfiguration Today in her apartment. If Tina were an Animagi, with her peaceful and somewhat awkward demeanor, I think a pigeon would suit her quite well.

However, she is supposedly in the company of Newt at the time the pigeon visits Credence. The scene at the church falls between the opening of Jacob’s case in front of Graves at the wand permit office in MACUSA, and Newt and Tina back on the streets of the city to locate Jacob. It's also set in the script as the scene tag slips from “Day” to “Afternoon.”

Tina could have slipped away from Newt briefly before they left, perhaps during a bathroom break, leaving him under someone else’s guard. But it is not mentioned. However, we see in Scene 33 how easily Newt slips away briefly from her. Is this a clue that she could have done the same earlier?

Later, after escaping from MACUSA, the team lands on a rooftop overlooking the city where a pigeon coop is housed. As if to make sure we noticed the pigeon reference, Queenie reads Jacob’s mind that his grandfather kept pigeons.

One of the cons against Tina as the pigeon is that she didn’t transform to save herself during the execution scene. I could see this being explained away in a couple of ways—MACUSA could have protections against this sort of transformation, as Hogwarts did against apparating. Or, she could have hesitated to do, hoping to save Newt as well, until it was too late.

Whether the pigeon is Tina (my bet!) or another witch or wizard, I will be on the hunt for another sighting in the next movie.

One last thought—would a talented wizard who had a strong enough interest in animals to become a Magizoologist not also care enough to become an Animagi? Perhaps that’s why Newt seems to understand their language so well.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this theory. What do you think? Is Tina an Animagi? Could Newt be? Could they go on an animal date in a future movie?

Be sure to check out the other posts for the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts!

About the Book:

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts

Explore JK Rowling's secrets, one clue at a time!

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts is THE guide for all Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them fans eager to experience anew the excitement of of finding clues and sharing speculation, just like they enjoyed during the height of the Harry Potter series. New fans will be amazed at the secrets lurking underneath the surface of Rowling's newest film. Diving deeply into the story's mysteries, S.P. Sipal offers a detailed analysis of the analogies, myths, and clues JK Rowling hid on screen and on page to charm her fans once again.

Discover and explore such questions as:

• Is there an Animagi hidden in the story?
• Why will there be FIVE movies?
• What secret is Modesty hiding?
• Did Frank wipe out ALL the memories from that fateful night?
• And was Grindelwald already in possession of the Elder Wand?

S.P. Sipal has analyzed the mysteries behind the Harry Potter series for over a dozen years. A sought-after presenter at fan, writing, and academic conferences both at home and abroad, her books have also delighted writers, teachers, and fans alike. Now she turns her expert attention to investigating the beginning of Rowling's exciting new series. Join her as she prepares you to dig into the layers of subtext yourself to claim what treasures await...before the Niffler beats you to it!

JK Rowling Reveals Tina and Queenie's Ilvermorny Houses! Day 4 of the 12 Days of #FantasticBeasts

On the fourth day of Fantastic Beasts, my true love said to me... Which House would you be in at Ilvermorny?

Welcome to day 4 of the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts! Today we have a special treat as JK Rowling leaked some new backstory information on a couple of the main characters from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. On Twitter, in response to a fan question, she revealed the Ilvermorny Houses for both Tina and Queenie. I'll cover it below the spoiler warning.

Also, exciting information for me personally, my clue book has released a day early! Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts is now LIVE! Check it out here on Amazon!

SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE OR READ THE SCRIPT BOOK!

Occamy in a Teacup by Kayla Perkinson

Now that you're all here for the spoilers and discussion...

Rowling answered fan questions on Twitter yesterday revealing the Ilvermorny Houses for Queenie and Tina. I was especially thrilled as I'd guessed one of them right!

She also stated that should Jacob have gone to Ilvermorny, he would have been in Wampus.

In this excerpt below from my newly released Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts, I guessed correctly Queenie's house, but missed Tina's. I'd focused on Tina having charged in to protect Credence as a crusading warrior. Instead, I should have linked her to the Soul aspect of Thunderbird and placed her there. Like Harry seeking Quintessence, Rowling's new protagonists, both Newt and Tina, will be chasing after deeply spiritual connections.

Excerpt on Ilvermorny from Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts. 

Ilvermorny sets up an interesting contrast to Hogwarts. Where Hogwarts was founded by four of the most magical witches and wizards of their age, Ilvermorny was founded by one family. However, this family was made up of different types of people. There were two adopted sons, a No-Maj immigrant and a Pureblood immigrant, and then their daughters. We could also consider a founder in a magical being, the Pukwudgie. Even though it was one family, they had very diverse components.

The school does not play a prominent role in the movie, although quite an extensive history is given on Pottermore. Ilvermorny is mentioned once by Queenie, which prompts Newt to counter that Hogwarts is better.

In the Theme chapter, I cover the important theme of an inclusive society which Rowling’s backstory builds. Here, I’ll focus on the make-up of the four Houses.

I consider this chart a starting point. As we find out more about Ilvermorny and the other wizarding schools going forward, some of this information may prove useful.

We know that Madam Picquery was in the Horned Serpent House, but have not (at this point) been informed of any others. I’d guess Tina was in Wampus and Queenie in Pukwudgie.

Ilvermorny House	Founder	Student Character	Element	Body
Thunderbird	Chadwick Boot, Wizard	Adventurers	Air	Soul
Wampus	Webster Boot, Wizard	Warriors	Earth	Body
Horned Serpent	Isolt Sayre, Pureblood	Scholars	Water	Mind
Pukwudgie	James Steward,    No-Maj	Healers	Fire	Heart

The body column is my guess based on the other aspects of the Ilvermorny Houses that have been revealed. It ties in with other thematic elements covered in my clue book. I'm hoping this chart will prove useful as more information is released.

What other witches and wizards have we met that probably went to Ilvermorny? Do you want to take a stab at guessing their houses?

Be sure to check out the other days of 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts by following this link.

About the Book:

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts

Explore JK Rowling's secrets, one clue at a time!

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts is THE guide for all Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them fans eager to experience anew the excitement of of finding clues and sharing speculation, just like they enjoyed during the height of the Harry Potter series. New fans will be amazed at the secrets lurking underneath the surface of Rowling's newest film. Diving deeply into the story's mysteries, S.P. Sipal offers a detailed analysis of the analogies, myths, and clues JK Rowling hid on screen and on page to charm her fans once again.

Discover and explore such questions as:

• Is there an Animagi hidden in the story?
• Why will there be FIVE movies?
• What secret is Modesty hiding?
• Did Frank wipe out ALL the memories from that fateful night?
• And was Grindelwald already in possession of the Elder Wand?

S.P. Sipal has analyzed the mysteries behind the Harry Potter series for over a dozen years. A sought-after presenter at fan, writing, and academic conferences both at home and abroad, her books have also delighted writers, teachers, and fans alike. Now she turns her expert attention to investigating the beginning of Rowling's exciting new series. Join her as she prepares you to dig into the layers of subtext yourself to claim what treasures await...before the Niffler beats you to it!

What Series Element is Hiding in Melody Barebone's Hopscotch Chant? Day 3 of the 12 Days of #FantasticBeasts

On the third day of Fantastic Beasts, my true love said to me... Did Earth, Wind, and Fire write Melody's Hopscotch chant?

Welcome to day 3 of the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts! Today I have the third and final post focused on Modesty Barebone. Be sure to check out part one of her hopscotch chant from yesterday.

SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE OR READ THE SCRIPT BOOK!

Dougal the Demiguise by Kayla Perkinson

Now that you're all here for the spoilers and discussion...

Part 1 of Modesty's Hopscotch Chant is posted here.

Part 2 of Modesty's Chant from Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts:

Modesty’s chant continues with details of these witches’ deaths:

Witch number one, drown in
a river!
Witch number two, gotta
noose to give her!
Witch number three . . . (p. 154)

Notice that in page numbers, the above section with witch one and two comes after the stanza below with witch three and four. Rowling mixed it up a bit for us, not wanting to make it too easy. And perhaps to end on the most important one, for this book at least.

. . . Witch number three,
gonna watch her burn,
Witch number four, flogging
take a turn. (p. 54)

Drowning, hanging, burning, and flogging—while all are traditional methods for killing witches, my guess is that Rowling uses Modesty’s chant to hint at particular deaths to come. Before series end, we can expect to see someone die from a variation on each of these, and we’ve already seen one.

While none of the three deaths in this first movie was a literal flogging, two were symbolically so. A flogging is a beating with a stick or whip. Senator Shaw and Mary Lou took a flogging by Obscurus, and Chastity was the casualty of this last attack. Shaw’s scarred and broken body, which Mary Lou’s later reflected, showed all evidence of having taken a beating.

I want you to notice something else about the four types of deaths mentioned. Something elemental:

1. “drown in a river” = Water
2. “gotta noose to give her” = suffocation, lack of Air
3. “gonna watch her burn” = Fire
4. “flogging take a turn” = a switch, from a tree, Earth

This elemental running bit will be found and highlighted a few times in my clue book. The four elements run through the symbols of Ilvermorny and make up four parts of the theme of five, which this series is based on.

I’m willing to bet we’ll hear more of Modesty’s chant in the second film to give us a hint of the most important “death”...death number five. Tomorrow we'll move on to a different character and clue from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them!

What do you think? Is Rowling hinting at deaths to come here? And who do you think will not survive the Fantastic Beasts pentalogy?

Be sure to check out the other posts for the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts!

About the Book:

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts

Explore JK Rowling's secrets, one clue at a time!

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts is THE guide for all Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them fans eager to experience anew the excitement of of finding clues and sharing speculation, just like they enjoyed during the height of the Harry Potter series. New fans will be amazed at the secrets lurking underneath the surface of Rowling's newest film. Diving deeply into the story's mysteries, S.P. Sipal offers a detailed analysis of the analogies, myths, and clues JK Rowling hid on screen and on page to charm her fans once again.

Discover and explore such questions as:

• Is there an Animagi hidden in the story?
• Why will there be FIVE movies?
• What secret is Modesty hiding?
• Did Frank wipe out ALL the memories from that fateful night?
• And was Grindelwald already in possession of the Elder Wand?

S.P. Sipal has analyzed the mysteries behind the Harry Potter series for over a dozen years. A sought-after presenter at fan, writing, and academic conferences both at home and abroad, her books have also delighted writers, teachers, and fans alike. Now she turns her expert attention to investigating the beginning of Rowling's exciting new series. Join her as she prepares you to dig into the layers of subtext yourself to claim what treasures await...before the Niffler beats you to it!

What Secrets are Hiding in Modesty Barebone's Hopscotch Chant? Day 2 of the 12 Days of #FantasticBeasts

On the second day of Fantastic Beasts, my true love said to me... A witch flying on a switch is about to die!

The second day of the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts is here! I hope you caught yesterday's character analyses of Modesty Barebone. Today we continue with the clues hiding in her hopscotch chant. All of these are excerpts from my clue book: Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts (releasing this week!).


SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE OR READ THE SCRIPT BOOK!

Niffler by Kayla Perkinson

Now, let's continue...In a couple of different scenes in the Second Salem Church, we see Modesty skipping through chalked blocks, singing:

My momma, your momma,
gonna catch a witch,
My momma, your momma,
flying on a switch,
My momma, your momma,
witches never cry,
My momma, your momma,
witches gonna die! (p. 52)

Take out the repetitive “my momma, your momma,” a hint as to who the witch is, and we have:

gonna catch a witch,
flying on a switch,
witches never cry,
witches gonna die!

Question—Why is the witch flying on a switch instead of the classical broom? Of course, a broom is a type of thick switch, but more likely, Rowling is hinting at the switch used by parents to spank children.

And who is the momma we see spanking a child in Fantastic Beasts? Mary Lou’s preferred weapon, however, is Credence’s own belt. She was also dead before the end of the film.

Mary Lou was a witch in both mannerisms and heredity. As the descendant of Scourers (see her character entry), she had a witch or wizard in her family tree. Through her myopic view of people different from herself and her mistreatment of the children who should be under her love and protection, she is presented as a cruel, abusive woman, hearkening back to an older understanding of witch.

So, Mary Lou, flying on her switch of a belt, never cried in her abusive treatment of Credence and died at the end of Fantastic Beasts.

We'll continue with the second half of Modesty's chant tomorrow to see what hints Rowling might be hiding for the whole series. Be sure to come back for all 12 days!

Have you seen the film yet? What did you think of the Second Salemers? Did Modesty's chant surprise you?

Be sure to check out the other 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts!

About the Book:

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts

Explore JK Rowling's secrets, one clue at a time!

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts is THE guide for all Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them fans eager to experience anew the excitement of of finding clues and sharing speculation, just like they enjoyed during the height of the Harry Potter series. New fans will be amazed at the secrets lurking underneath the surface of Rowling's newest film. Diving deeply into the story's mysteries, S.P. Sipal offers a detailed analysis of the analogies, myths, and clues JK Rowling hid on screen and on page to charm her fans once again.

Discover and explore such questions as:

• Is there an Animagi hidden in the story?
• Why will there be FIVE movies?
• What secret is Modesty hiding?
• Did Frank wipe out ALL the memories from that fateful night?
• And was Grindelwald already in possession of the Elder Wand?

S.P. Sipal has analyzed the mysteries behind the Harry Potter series for over a dozen years. A sought-after presenter at fan, writing, and academic conferences both at home and abroad, her books have also delighted writers, teachers, and fans alike. Now she turns her expert attention to investigating the beginning of Rowling's exciting new series. Join her as she prepares you to dig into the layers of subtext yourself to claim what treasures await...before the Niffler beats you to it!

Is Modesty Barebone a Witch in Hiding? Day 1 of the 12 Days of #FantasticBeasts

On the first day of Fantastic Beasts, my true love said to me... Look! A witch in hiding!

Today we start the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts! To celebrate, I'm sharing with you one of my character analyses from Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts (releasing this week!): Modesty Barebone.

SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE OR READ THE SCRIPT BOOK!

Doxy artwork by Kayla Perkinson

Now, for those of you eager to start delving into the secrets of JK Rowling's newest work, here are a few thoughts on Modesty Barebone:

From Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts

At eight, Modesty is the youngest of the adopted Barebone children. We have no idea how long ago she joined the family, but as Credence informs us, she still misses her eleven brothers and sisters. Perhaps this is why she, above the older Chastity and Credence, shows more spirit and rebels against Mary Lou. You have to cheer when she throws her Second Salemer leaflets into the air in glee, despite Chastity’s warnings.

The biggest hint of something more going on with Modesty comes when Credence sneaks into her bedroom, believing her to be the Obscurus.

A single bed, an oil lamp, a sampler on the wall: AN ALPHABET OF SIN. Modesty’s dolls lined up on a shelf. One with a little noose around its neck, another tied to a stake.
(p. 201).

It’s a bleak room, witness to a bleak childhood. No wonder in her fantasies, magic would seem a wondrous gift rather than the abomination her Ma makes it to be. Perhaps that’s why she hid away the toy wand Credence finds.

In the confrontation that follows, while we know it is Credence who kills Mary Lou as the Obscurus, it appears to be Modesty who snatches the belt out of her hands with magic. Modesty who makes the belt slither out of her reach like a snake. And Modesty who looks back at her mother with defiance.

For Modesty is the defiant one. Defiantly she sought to protect her older brother against the foul Senator. Afraid and upset when their mother beats him, Modesty showed love in protecting her older brother from the woman who was supposed to love and nurture him.

It seems Mary Lou has been forming her family from the children of witches and wizards in order to squash the magic out of them. If the hint of magic in Modesty is real, I believe she will play a key role in saving Credence before series end.

One question regarding Modesty—where did she get the wand from? Was it really a toy, or was it given her as a nod of encouragement from an interested party?

I have more on Modesty in other sections of my clue book and will discuss the chant she hopscotches to tomorrow. Be sure to come back!

What are your thoughts on Modesty? Please share any thoughts about the movie as a whole or Modesty in particular below!

Join the Celebration:

I'm celebrating the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts with clues and insight released every day and spoilery forums for all! To help spread the word, my publisher, Deep River Press, is offering some special incentives. If you're a blogger or active on any social media platform and would like to participate, drop me a note in the comments or email me at SPSIPAL AT gmail DOT com.

And be sure to check out the other 12 Days of Fantastic Beast here!

About the Book:

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts

Explore JK Rowling's secrets, one clue at a time!

Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts is THE guide for all Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them fans eager to experience anew the excitement of of finding clues and sharing speculation, just like they enjoyed during the height of the Harry Potter series. New fans will be amazed at the secrets lurking underneath the surface of Rowling's newest film. Diving deeply into the story's mysteries, S.P. Sipal offers a detailed analysis of the analogies, myths, and clues JK Rowling hid on screen and on page to charm her fans once again.

Discover and explore such questions as:

• Is there an Animagi hidden in the story?
• Why will there be FIVE movies?
• What secret is Modesty hiding?
• Did Frank wipe out ALL the memories from that fateful night?
• And was Grindelwald already in possession of the Elder Wand?

S.P. Sipal has analyzed the mysteries behind the Harry Potter series for over a dozen years. A sought-after presenter at fan, writing, and academic conferences both at home and abroad, her books have also delighted writers, teachers, and fans alike. Now she turns her expert attention to investigating the beginning of Rowling's exciting new series. Join her as she prepares you to dig into the layers of subtext yourself to claim what treasures await...before the Niffler beats you to it!