The Way Authors Use Words

When reading my many books, I noticed how the authors used word play or puns as names for their characters. I found some pretty fun names and some interesting origins in my reading. Here are some examples I want to show you:

In The True Meaning of Smekday, the main character is named Gratuity. Defined from the dictionary, gratuity is "a material favor or gift", which is usually money, and is given in return for service. In other words, a tip. Which turns out to be the character's nickname.

Trial By Journal is chock full of puns and word play. Almost every characters name has to do with their occupation and/or an animal. For example, one of Lily Watson's (no pun there) fellow jurors is named Woody Pecker (woodpecker, of course) and he owns a furniture store. Anna Conda styles snake-skin clothing. Penny Gwen sells tuxedos. The supposed murderer and murdered boy both have bird names-Bob White and Perry Keet. Lynn Goe (it took me a while to get this one, but I suppose it is lingo) is against child jurors (children should See no Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil). I liked reading all the creative names, and it's a good story too!!

Asterix in Britain is an old comic book about this Gaul named Asterix and his friend Obelix, and they travel to Britain to help defend a little town from being taken over by Romans. I just recently noticed how the author had some fun with the names.

Gaul Names
Anticlimax
Mykingdomforanos (I don't get this one, do any of you readers?)
Overoptimistix
Vitalstatistix
McAnix
Cacofonix (the musician whose music is ear shattering)
Haystax
Hiphiphurrax

Roman Names
Tillius Stratocummulus
Encylopaedicus Britannicus

The names are all like this, but I am surprised that I just noticed them!

In Harry Potter, there must be almost one hundred characters in all the books put together! I did some (more) reading and found out a couple of the origins of the names and spells. The names often reflect the characteristics of the character.
Rita Skeeter (Miss Skeeter): Like mosquito, a bloodthirsty pest. Indeed, Miss Skeeter is always out looking for the bloody details on a story, being a pest the whole time.
Severus Snape: Like severe, snub, and snipe. An unpopular and strict teacher who can't get the job he wants.
Professor Sprout: Like sprout. She teaches the study of magical plants.
Draco Malfoy: Like dragon (Draco=Latin for dragon), malevolent, malignant, and malfeasance. Draco is a true enemy of Harry.
Voldemort: Like death (mort = Latin for death) and Vol de mort (French for 'flight from death') Voldemort continually causes death but escapes from it himself.
Albus Dumbledore: A tricky one. Albus = Latin for white, Dumbledore= old English word for bumblebee White bumblebee. Go figure.

Latin origins can easily be found for all spells, and they usually explain exactly what that spell does.
I got these origins from Verbatim magazine, edited by Eric McKean, in the article by Jessie Randall. To read more interesting origins of names, places, things, passwords, and spells in the Harry Potter books, go here!