Introduction / Katrin Berndt and Lena Steveker -- pt. 1. Heroism in generic perspective. A paradox: the Harry Potter series as both epic and postmodern / Mary Pharr -- Harry Potter and the battle for the soul: the revival of the psychomachia in secular fiction / Rita Singer -- The diffusion of gothic conventions in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003/2007) / Susanne Gruss -- Harry and his peers: Rowling's web of allusions / Lisa Hopkins -- pt. 2. The formation of the hero. 'Your soul is whole, and completely your own, Harry': the heroic self in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series / Lena Steveker -- Harry Potter's archetypal journey / Julia Boll -- Harry Potter: the development of a screen hero / Jennifer Schütz -- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), or, how Harry Potter becomes a hero / Nadine Böhm -- pt. 3. Heroic originals, friends and foes. Harry Potter and the idea of the gentlemen as hero / Christine Berberich -- Hermione Granger, or a vindication of the rights of girl / Katrin Berndt -- The influence of gender on Harry Potter's heroic (trans)formation / Karley Adney -- Adult heroism and role models in the Harry Potter novels / Maria Nikolajeva -- Heroism at the margins / Kathleen McEvoy