Two of the best things in the world, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and "Harry Potter", have a lot in common. Aside from the large amount of space set aside in my brain to memorize random quotes and facts from these two stories, both stories share many similar objects, plot devices, character attributes, and themes. Although Python's "Holy Grail" is an exact historical representation of the Arthurian Grail legend, some might argue that the "Harry Potter" story reflects actual ancient texts more than the 1974 film. Harry has many things in common with King Arthur. . Both characters were orphans who grew up with their cousins ​​and were mentored by wise men with big beards. Neither knew of its importance until it was revealed to them through mystical, somehow divine means, and both men fell in love with a woman named Ginerva. Certainly no less important, one of the most important trials in the lives of both Harry and King Arthur was the quest for a mystical cup: the Holy Grail for Arthur and the Triwizard Cup for Harry. The Holy Grail, according to legend and "Indiana" Jones”, is the cup from which Jesus and his disciples drank during the Last Supper. Later writings also say that the cup was used to collect the blood of Jesus as he was crucified. Although sometimes depicted as a rather elaborate and jeweled cup, it is much more likely that Jesus, the poor son of a carpenter, drank from a simple wooden cup (Ford). "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" features two goblets, both of great importance. The Goblet of Fire is a wooden cup that determines who will participate in the Triwizard Tournament. When Filch takes out the Chalice, it is stored in “a large wooden chest studded with jewels” (Rowling, 254). Sir Thomas Malory, au...... middle of paper... Did Rowling include all these allusions to the ancient Arthurian myth? In short, because it makes the story more impressive and gives it a little more depth. Almost everyone has heard of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and perhaps Rowling thought that associating his story with the great tales of the past would enhance the value of her epic novels. Almost all Weasleys are named after/modeled after characters/items related to King Arthur, as are some locations (Voldemort's lake), passwords (Caput Draconis), and magical artifacts. I, for one, immediately recognized many of the references and found them quite captivating. Of course, it's also possible that Rowling simply finds it fun to sneakily insert bits of classical mythology into her novels and watch as her fans try to find them. a deep and general meaning to all this.