Summary
- Each Hogwarts house in the Harry Potter series have their own unique traits that sets students apart.
- Funny enough, these traits also match those of the four Pevensie children in The Chronicles of Narnia series.
- Many wonder if J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia when creating the lore behind Hogwarts' history.
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The world of fantasy has been around since long before the stories of King Arthur. Tales of myth and quests have only grown more refined and made way for iconic stories, like The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. However, one of the most impactful sagas to come in the past few decades has been the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling. From its main character to the world around it, it's clear that the story is both a whole new world and one inspired by tales past. But one mystery has tied the series to another impactful series -- The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, which will receive a new adaptation by Greta Gerwig.
The Harry Potter books have found clever ways to integrate its story into a larger world of magic and myth, such as tying its history to the wizard Merlin. However, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry featured its own lore with its four founders. But it's been debated whether these founders were inspired by or directly linked to the four Pevensie siblings that served as the main characters of Lewis' books.
Updated on September 21, 2023 by Katie Doll: It's no secret that J.K. Rowling looked to other stories for inspiration for the magical world of Harry Potter. Whether it's a pure coincidence or not, each Pevensie perfectly matches a Hogwarts house, combining two fantasy series that are beloved by fans.
The Pevensie Children Are Similar to Hogwarts' Founders
Like the Pevensies, Hogwarts founders were four close companions who, while sharing differing qualities, believed they should share their knowledge with those willing to learn. However, where the four siblings sought to rule Narnia and protect it from evil, the Hogwarts founders opened a school to impart their wisdom and qualities to young minds. But these same qualities also defined the four siblings in Narnia almost to the letter.
Peter Pevensie and Godric Gryffindor
As the oldest of his siblings, Peter had a natural-born ability to be a leader, always stepping up to the plate. But like Gryffindors Harry Potter, Ron Weasley or James Potter, he rarely ever had a game plan before jumping in as the hero. Leading with his heart sometimes meant leading with his emotions, when in reality he should've used his brain. He becomes a swordsman and a warrior to protect his family, upholding the bravery value of the Gryffindor house. He does embody the negative traits of a Gryffindor though, like cockiness. He was also gifted a sword, which Godric Gryffindor also possessed and became an artifact of the Hogwarts house. Peter even carried a shield with the Lion Aslan on it -- the same animal that acts as Gryffindor's mascot.
Lucy Pevensie and Helga Hufflepuff
The most underrated of the houses, Hufflepuff gets a bad reputation for oddly being the sweetest house. Sure, it didn't have a lot of name-dropping heroes like Harry Potter or Hermione Granger, but it did have Cedric Diggory, who fought bravely in the Triwizard Tournament. Cedric displayed an act of kindness shortly before his death, letting Harry take the cup to become the winner. His good-natured persona is similar to that of Lucy's. Lucy has a kind and loyal heart unlike anyone else in the series, showing acceptance to everyone she comes across. She also shows bravery like Peter, but is motivated by the desire to help others in need.
Susan Pevensie and Rowena Ravenclaw
Ravenclaw is known for producing some of the smartest bookworms at Hogwarts. It's the reason why many people believed Hermione was supposed to be placed in Ravenclaw, but being a lover of knowledge and books isn't the only trait Ravenclaw students have. They also need to be practical and thoughtful, which is what Susan embodies. She often has doubts about Narnia and looks at things from a sensible standpoint. Unlike her siblings, she doesn't enjoy Narnia because she hates change and isn't exactly imaginative.
Edmund Pevensie and Salazar Slytherin
Like Hufflepuff, Slytherin doesn't have a good reputation -- but for different reasons. Slytherin has produced the most Dark Wizards, including Lord Voldemort and the Malfoy family. However, that doesn't mean every student is necessarily evil. Harry Potter's son, Albus, was a Slytherin student but showed no signs of evil. Severus Snape, despite having a nasty attitude and obsession with Lily Potter, had a brave heart and risked his life to protect the Wizarding world. Like many Slytherins, Edmund was drawn to power by the White Witch, which meant betraying his siblings. He has a mischievous nature to him, but also brutal in battle.
Are Narnia and Harry Potter Connected?
As of now, J.K. Rowling has never stated that the founders of Hogwarts were directly inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia. That said, Rowling has said that those books were a huge influence growing up. As a result, it's most likely that these four founders were meant as loose nods to the children of Lewis' books. This was also best shown by the personalities of each child, who, at their core, shared similarities to the founders of Hogwarts. However, while they may appear to be archetypes or even directly connected, The Sorting Hat stated in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that each witch and wizard found their way to one another from different parts of the world.
The Chronicles of Narnia featured its own share of magic and wonder that captured the minds of readers, similar to Harry Potter. That said, being an inspiration to even the likes of J.K. Rowling may have led to the founders of Hogwarts sharing slight aesthetic and characteristic similarities. Though there's no direct line to tie the founders together, the comparisons, at the very least, show how the world of fantasy has influenced future creators and kept the dream of not one but multiple stories alive thanks to clever connections.
The Chronicles of Narnia films are available to stream on Disney+. The Harry Potter movies can be streamed on Max and Peacock.