This actually works, as long as you wrap the sandwich in aluminum foil first.

When I was temping at MSO, this method was being used by one of the Christmas party caterers to make chocolate sandwiches. So it's good enough for Martha Stewart, anyway.

Sam was Frodo's gardener because Gaffer Gamgee was Bilbo's gardener--Gamgees pretty much come with the property.

Sam's a house-elf!

I see Hagrid as a Jane Goodall, focused on a microcosm, that while not panoramic, is still an important part of the whole, and possibly even a key to perceiving the whole.

I never would have thought of this, but it's an interesting take on Hagrid. I don't know that much about Goodall, but is she as inept when away from chimps? It seems like she must have more people skills to be such an effective advocate and fundraiser. Having said this, I like Hagrid. He has a good soul, and he's nice, if sometimes clueless. I agree that he too often needs to be saved by children, and I don't like that aspect of HP, but I do like his character, both in the books and movies.

Sam's a house-elf!

With clothes. Please be clear about the clothes thing.

I finished reading Paths Of The Dead on holiday -- I can't believe I let it slide so long. Was this supposed to be the one rife with in-jokes or something? I really liked it, much more than the previous Paarfi-penned stories. A large contributor to that, disproportionately perhaps, was the fact that the gods don't talk with that looping locution. It just made the device more palatable for me, somehow, seeing it applied and eschewed.

My dad took my copy, because he needed something to read on his 6 hour bus trip. I wonder how far he got before his eyes strangled him.

Goodall is not inept, and that's where the analogy breaks down. But it is, or was, an effortful shift for her to adjust to human society's pace, and I don't know if Hagrid could adjust. If, you know, he wanted to, or thought it worthwhile.

I just think his priorities are different, and as long as there are people to handle the overall stuff, I see no reason why he shouldn't be left to handle what he's good at. Which is the animals, and connecting with the kids on a level that the other grownups don't do.

I don't see that it makes him a laughable character, or a trite one. Again, my issues at work, but I think Dumbledore uses Hagrid's skills where they can be of good use. Whether Hagrid isn't aware of, doesn't have, or chooses not to care about having the social skills the other Hogwarts adults have and use, he does connect with animals, and with the kids.

If I were sending my own young children to Hogwarts, I would expect someone else in authority to assist in Hagrid's classes. But then all the other instructors and professors endanger wizardlings in their classes, as well. So the comparison to child safety IRL schools may be irrelevant.

I don't see that it makes him a laughable character, or a trite one

Did anyone say he was? I think he's annoying as all hell, but not remotely laughable. As for trite -- I haven't found any deep characters yet.

My main point was that he's not alien to US characterisations, and he's not like Samwise either.

Did anyone say he was?

Perhaps not. It felt a bit like ridicule--again, my own issues.

I can't disagree with your point that he isn't like Samwise. I don't think a class difference explains him. I'm not convinced Hagrid is a magical negro character, though, if that was your "not alien to US characterisations" other point.

We may not be meant to agree on this. I like him, though he isn't remotely a woobie to me.

I'm not convinced Hagrid is a magical negro character, though

I stick by almost -- as pointed out by someone the fact he has no moral lesson to teach irretrievably undercuts that. But he's lower status and pretty clearly polarising in terms of a rallying point. I'm quite clearly Slytherin, because I do no have the appropriate emotional response to him -- but the good guys clearly do.

This is, of course, reasonably true about most of the characters -- Rowling isn't dealing with any characters that complex. I just think it's more basic in the way she's defined reactions to Hagrid.

if that was your "not alien to US characterisations" other point.

Nope. He can be not-alien and not Magical nor Negro -- do you agree with that? I mean, do you see him as an example of something only English lit can do?

When I try to fit him into US mythos, I think of Paul Bunyan or Bigfoot--because of the physical, naturally. But Bunyan accomplished something--his legend had a simple lesson, and Bigfoot of course has none that I can think of, except to be exotic and mysterious.

I can't think of a place in US lit where he would fit, can you? This may be only my own inability to separate him from the story in which I encountered him, so I'd be interested to see where you can place him.

Honestly, the guy that leapt to mind? Jim in Huck Finn. Which sort of emphasizes ita's point.