"The Tales of Beedle the Bard" 2008 Quiz

Answer: Hermione Granger

Albus Dumbledore left a copy of the original book to Hermione, and Hermione faithfully translated the series of tales from ancient runes. Most wizard children, who have grown up in wizard homes, are already quite familiar with all of these tales. This is an opportunity for Muggle-raised children to become acquainted with these famous tales.

Answer: Professor Dumbledore

Professor Dumbledore wrote his own commentary for each tale, which appears after the story. J.K. Rowling indicates that Professor Dumbledore has written his notes primarily for wizard families, so she supplies her own supplementary notes for Muggle readers.

Answer: "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot"

The first tale is "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot." It's an elegant tale of a benevolent wizard who helps people in need with his magic pot. Unfortunately, the kind wizard's son did not share his father's charitable heart.

Answer: Invisibility Cloak

There were three brothers, who used their magical prowess to cross a forbidding river. The river was, in fact, a way for Death to gain unwary
victims, who were unable to navigate the hazardous currents. Nevertheless, Death decided to grant prizes to the three brothers for being able to avoid his trap. The first two brothers, being overly ambitious, asked for the Wand of Destiny and the Resurrection Stone, respectively. The third brother, being the most humble and prudent, asked for the Invisibility Cloak, so that he could avoid Death.

Answer: Asha, Altheda and Amata

The three witches, Asha, Altheda and Amata, all suffer from some great misfortune. They hope to reach the Fountain in order to find happiness. Asha has an incurable illness. Altheda has been a victim of theft by a sorcerer, and Amata suffers from a broken heart.

Answer: He is influenced by the comments of his servants.

One day, the warlock heard two of his servants discussing the his plight. One servant remarked that it is sad that no one loves the warlock. The other servant suggested that the warlock is incapable of attracting a suitable partner. Spurred by these remarks, the warlock sets out to find a worthy woman.

Answer: "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump"

"A long time ago, in a far-off land, there lived a foolish King who decided that he alone should have the power of magic." This is the first sentence in the tale of "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump." As it happens, the King was taken in by an impostor with no true magical skills.

The time comes when the impostor has to give up his ruse, and enlists Babbitty to assist him. The imposter's plan went awry and all turned out well for the witches and wizards in the kingdom.

Answer: All of them

In Professor's notes to "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump," all three curses were rendered as Unforgivable curses in 1717. It is also noted that usage of these curses would be subject to the most severe penalties.

Answer: Chattels are things that you own.

Beedle writes, "This well-beloved wizard lived to a goodly age, then died, leaving all his chattels to his only son." In this case, chattels refers to all of the father's personal possessions. This, of course, includes the pot, with the slipper inside. Inside the slipper, there was a slip of paper, which read, "In the fond hope, my son, that you will never need it."

Answer: "Human efforts to evade or overcome death are always doomed to disappointment."

Albus Dumbledore states in his commentary that the moral of the story could not be more clear: "Human efforts to evade or overcome death are always doomed to disappointment." Essentially, the youngest brother was not only humble, but wise, as well. He realized that meeting Death is inevitable, and that he could only prolong his existence.

In the end, the third brother removed the Invisibility Cloak, gave it to his son, and finally met Death, as a friend.