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{{Youmay|[[Divination (class)|the Hogwarts subject]]|[[Divination|the magical discipline]]}}
 
{{Youmay|[[Divination (class)|the Hogwarts subject]]|[[Divination|the magical discipline]]}}
 
{{Class_infobox
 
{{Class_infobox
  +
|name=Divination
 
|image=[[File:Divination_class.png‎|250px]]
 
|image=[[File:Divination_class.png‎|250px]]
 
|professor=*[[Sybill Trelawney]]
 
|professor=*[[Sybill Trelawney]]
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|classroom=*[[Divination Classroom]]
 
|classroom=*[[Divination Classroom]]
 
*[[Classroom Eleven]]
 
*[[Classroom Eleven]]
|required textbooks=*[[The Dream Oracle]] by [[Inigo Imago]]
+
|required textbooks=
  +
*[[The Dream Oracle]] by [[Inigo Imago]]
 
*[[Unfogging the Future]] by [[Cassandra Vablatsky]]
 
*[[Unfogging the Future]] by [[Cassandra Vablatsky]]
|required equipment=}}
+
|required equipment=
  +
}}
 
{{Quote|So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. Books can take you only so far in this field...|[[Sybill Trelawney]] talking to the class about Divination|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
 
{{Quote|So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. Books can take you only so far in this field...|[[Sybill Trelawney]] talking to the class about Divination|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
   
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{{Quote|Broaden your minds, my dears, and allow your eyes to see past the mundane!|[[Sybill Trelawney]] to a Divination class|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
 
{{Quote|Broaden your minds, my dears, and allow your eyes to see past the mundane!|[[Sybill Trelawney]] to a Divination class|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
   
[[File:DivinationHarryRon.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Harry Potter]] and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] in Divination class in [[1993]].]]
+
[[File:DivinationHarryRon.jpg|thumb|left|230px|[[Harry Potter]] and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] in Divination class in [[1993]].]]
 
Divination is an elective subject available beginning in a student's [[third year]]. Students study a myriad of ways to scry information about the future, including [[Tessomancy|tea dregs]], crystal balls, visions, and Astrology and horoscope charts. Other methods of divining the future include smoke patterns, dreams, tarot cards, and the interpretation of [[prophecy|prophecies]], though the latter is quite rare. Guides and textbooks allow students of Divination to discern or translate what observed symbols intend to mean.
 
Divination is an elective subject available beginning in a student's [[third year]]. Students study a myriad of ways to scry information about the future, including [[Tessomancy|tea dregs]], crystal balls, visions, and Astrology and horoscope charts. Other methods of divining the future include smoke patterns, dreams, tarot cards, and the interpretation of [[prophecy|prophecies]], though the latter is quite rare. Guides and textbooks allow students of Divination to discern or translate what observed symbols intend to mean.
  +
[[File:Divination_class.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Some of the [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] students attending Divination class in [[1995]].]]
 
 
Students of this class convene in one of two places: Professor [[Sybill Trelawney]]'s office in the [[North Tower]], or the Divination Classroom which is on the ground floor of the castle.
 
Students of this class convene in one of two places: Professor [[Sybill Trelawney]]'s office in the [[North Tower]], or the Divination Classroom which is on the ground floor of the castle.
  +
 
[[File:Divination_class.jpg|thumb|235px|Some of the [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] students attending Divination class in [[1995]].]]
   
 
Because the subtle science of Divination is not exact, and "woolly", [[Hermione Granger]] had great difficulty with, and disdain for, it. After consulting with Professor [[Minerva McGonagall]], who shared Hermione's scepticism for Divination, and then being insulted by Professor Trelawney about how she lacked the requirements for Divination, Hermione dropped out of the class altogether with dramatic flair to concentrate on [[Study of Ancient Runes|Ancient Runes]] and [[Arithmancy]].
 
Because the subtle science of Divination is not exact, and "woolly", [[Hermione Granger]] had great difficulty with, and disdain for, it. After consulting with Professor [[Minerva McGonagall]], who shared Hermione's scepticism for Divination, and then being insulted by Professor Trelawney about how she lacked the requirements for Divination, Hermione dropped out of the class altogether with dramatic flair to concentrate on [[Study of Ancient Runes|Ancient Runes]] and [[Arithmancy]].
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Some students, such as [[Harry Potter]] and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], also could not achieve any success in this course, and regretted ever taking it. In order to scrape a pass in the course, they merely made up plenty of things when it comes to predicting the future, not taking the work seriously. They usually added plenty of tragedies, so Professor Trelawney would be satisfied, despite the false predictions could be far-fetched. They would also make fun out of the class whenever possible, as when Ron saw nothing but thick white swirl in the [[crystal ball]], he joked about foreseeing a very foggy night, to which his friends laughed.
 
Some students, such as [[Harry Potter]] and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], also could not achieve any success in this course, and regretted ever taking it. In order to scrape a pass in the course, they merely made up plenty of things when it comes to predicting the future, not taking the work seriously. They usually added plenty of tragedies, so Professor Trelawney would be satisfied, despite the false predictions could be far-fetched. They would also make fun out of the class whenever possible, as when Ron saw nothing but thick white swirl in the [[crystal ball]], he joked about foreseeing a very foggy night, to which his friends laughed.
   
  +
==Known professors==
[[File:Professor_Trelawney.jpg|thumb|334px|[[Professor]] [[Trelawney]] teaching a [[Divination]] Lesson in [[1995]]. ]]
 
===Professor Trelawney===
 
   
 
===Trelawney===
 
{{Dialogue a-b|Trelawney|The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice.|Hermione|Well honestly...'the fates have informed her'... Who sets the exam? She does!|Professor Trelawney and [[Hermione Granger]] in Divination|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
 
{{Dialogue a-b|Trelawney|The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice.|Hermione|Well honestly...'the fates have informed her'... Who sets the exam? She does!|Professor Trelawney and [[Hermione Granger]] in Divination|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
  +
 
[[File:Professor_Trelawney.jpg|thumb|left|225px|[[Professor]] [[Trelawney]] teaching a [[Divination]] Lesson in [[1995]]. ]]
   
 
[[Sybill Trelawney]] began teaching Divination circa [[1979]], and was still teaching until [[1998]]. Her beginner's class relied heavily on the art of [[Wikipedia:Scrying|scrying]]; however, Trelawney's teaching style did not go over well with most students. Only students [[Lavender Brown]] and [[Parvati Patil]] seemed to really take to the subject. Others fell asleep in her heavily-incensed and stifling classroom or considered the class to be a joke. [[Hermione Granger]] decided to quit the class for good, as [[Sybill Trelawney]] told her that she had not the inner eye, and because she thought [[Sybill Trelawney]]'s predictions were inaccurate, and the few accurate ones are due to mere chance. Not many students liked her because they thought she was mad.
 
[[Sybill Trelawney]] began teaching Divination circa [[1979]], and was still teaching until [[1998]]. Her beginner's class relied heavily on the art of [[Wikipedia:Scrying|scrying]]; however, Trelawney's teaching style did not go over well with most students. Only students [[Lavender Brown]] and [[Parvati Patil]] seemed to really take to the subject. Others fell asleep in her heavily-incensed and stifling classroom or considered the class to be a joke. [[Hermione Granger]] decided to quit the class for good, as [[Sybill Trelawney]] told her that she had not the inner eye, and because she thought [[Sybill Trelawney]]'s predictions were inaccurate, and the few accurate ones are due to mere chance. Not many students liked her because they thought she was mad.
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Her rather ineffective teaching methods made her a primary target for [[Hogwarts High Inquisitor]]'s negative evaluations, being bombarded with questions and demands during probation, and eventually, Trelawney was dismissed for inadequate performance. She was reinstated at the end of the year.
 
Her rather ineffective teaching methods made her a primary target for [[Hogwarts High Inquisitor]]'s negative evaluations, being bombarded with questions and demands during probation, and eventually, Trelawney was dismissed for inadequate performance. She was reinstated at the end of the year.
   
===Professor Firenze===
+
===Firenze===
[[File:Firenzeinharrypotter.jpg|thumb|130px|[[Firenze]].]]
+
[[File:Firenzeinharrypotter.jpg|thumb|170px|[[Firenze]].]]
 
Starting in [[1995]], [[Firenze]] began teaching Divination after Professor Trelawney was viciously fired by [[Hogwarts High Inquisitor|High Inquisitor]] [[Dolores Umbridge]]. Firenze's lessons took place in [[Classroom Eleven]], on the ground floor, because he is a [[centaur]] and could not climb up a ladder. His classes focused mainly on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology Astrology]. He continued to teach the subject in 1998.
 
Starting in [[1995]], [[Firenze]] began teaching Divination after Professor Trelawney was viciously fired by [[Hogwarts High Inquisitor|High Inquisitor]] [[Dolores Umbridge]]. Firenze's lessons took place in [[Classroom Eleven]], on the ground floor, because he is a [[centaur]] and could not climb up a ladder. His classes focused mainly on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology Astrology]. He continued to teach the subject in 1998.
   
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*''[[The Dream Oracle]]'' by [[Inigo Imago]]
 
*''[[The Dream Oracle]]'' by [[Inigo Imago]]
 
*''[[Unfogging the Future]]'' by [[Cassandra Vablatsky]]
 
*''[[Unfogging the Future]]'' by [[Cassandra Vablatsky]]
  +
==Grades==
  +
===Pass===
  +
*Outstanding [O]
  +
*Exceeds Expectations [E]
  +
*Acceptable [A]
  +
===Fail===
  +
*Poor [P]
  +
*Dreadful [D]
  +
*Troll [T]
   
 
==Known O.W.L.s==
 
==Known O.W.L.s==
[[File:Pansy divination.PNG|thumb|right|250px|Divination lesson during an O.W.L. year.]]
+
[[File:Pansy_divination.PNG|thumb|235px|Divination lesson during an O.W.L. year.]]
 
* [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|Barty Crouch Jr]]
 
* [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|Barty Crouch Jr]]
 
* [[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]]
 
* [[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]]
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==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
*It is interesting to note that when Harry and Ron begin making up predictions in their Divination homework in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', they happen to predict, exactly, the dangers that await Harry in the [[Triwizard Tournament]]: first that he will be "''in danger of burns''" (the first trial of overcoming a [[dragon]]); next that he will "''lose a treasured possession''" (Ron, his best friend, whom he will have to recover from the [[Merpeople]]); then get "stabbed in the back by someone you thought was a friend" (his D.A.D.A. professor); and finally "''come off worse in a fight''" (clearly, his duel with Lord Voldemort in the [[Little Hangleton graveyard]]). Similarly, whilst they are making up predictions, Ron and Harry "foresee" that Harry will lose his bet that Ron will win his fight (which he supposedly came off worse in). This also comes true (more or less) again with respect to the Triwizard tournament as it is later revealed that [[Ludo Bagman]] lost his bet that Harry would win the Triwizard tournament outright (which culminated in Harry coming off worse). They also claim they will drown, which nearly happens in the Second Task. Furthermore, although we do not hear any more of their fabricated predictions after that it is noted that they grew "steadily more tragic" and even predicted their own horrific deaths - eerily enough, later events do steadily grow more tragic and many wizards and witches do die horrifically in the future (particularly in [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]).
 
*It is interesting to note that when Harry and Ron begin making up predictions in their Divination homework in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', they happen to predict, exactly, the dangers that await Harry in the [[Triwizard Tournament]]: first that he will be "''in danger of burns''" (the first trial of overcoming a [[dragon]]); next that he will "''lose a treasured possession''" (Ron, his best friend, whom he will have to recover from the [[Merpeople]]); then get "stabbed in the back by someone you thought was a friend" (his D.A.D.A. professor); and finally "''come off worse in a fight''" (clearly, his duel with Lord Voldemort in the [[Little Hangleton graveyard]]). Similarly, whilst they are making up predictions, Ron and Harry "foresee" that Harry will lose his bet that Ron will win his fight (which he supposedly came off worse in). This also comes true (more or less) again with respect to the Triwizard tournament as it is later revealed that [[Ludo Bagman]] lost his bet that Harry would win the Triwizard tournament outright (which culminated in Harry coming off worse). They also claim they will drown, which nearly happens in the Second Task. Furthermore, although we do not hear any more of their fabricated predictions after that it is noted that they grew "steadily more tragic" and even predicted their own horrific deaths - eerily enough, later events do steadily grow more tragic and many wizards and witches do die horrifically in the future (particularly in [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]).
*Given the above (as well as the nature of [[Sybill Trelawney]]'s gift) it may be that - with respect to the art of Divination - true talent does not lie in making accurate predictions, it is in ''recognising'' that they have been made.
+
*Given the above (as well as the nature of [[Sybill Trelawney]]'s gift) it may be that - with respect to the art of Divination - true talent does not lie in making accurate predictions, but in ''recognising'' that they have been made.
 
*As revealed in ''[[Pottermore]]'', [[J. K. Rowling]] had originally devised Divination to be compulsory from the first year.<ref name="Pottermore">''[[Pottermore]]'' - [http://www.pottermore.com/en/book1/chapter10/moment2/hogwarts-school-subjects/2 Hogwarts School Subjects (J.K. Rowling's thoughts)]</ref>
 
*As revealed in ''[[Pottermore]]'', [[J. K. Rowling]] had originally devised Divination to be compulsory from the first year.<ref name="Pottermore">''[[Pottermore]]'' - [http://www.pottermore.com/en/book1/chapter10/moment2/hogwarts-school-subjects/2 Hogwarts School Subjects (J.K. Rowling's thoughts)]</ref>
 
*Harry and several of his classmates attended [[Divination Homework Meeting]]s in the [[1995-1996 school year]].
 
*Harry and several of his classmates attended [[Divination Homework Meeting]]s in the [[1995-1996 school year]].

Revision as of 21:06, 7 April 2014

"So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. Books can take you only so far in this field..."
Sybill Trelawney talking to the class about Divination[src]

Divination is a subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It teaches methods of divining the future, or gathering insights into future events, through various rituals and tools. The magic taught in this class, as well as the ability to say prophetic things is a branch of magic referred to as "divination."

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore had originally decided that this course should no longer be taught at Hogwarts, it being considered obscure and inaccurate to most. However, seeing the applicant for the teaching post was the famous great-great-granddaughter of a celebrated seer, Dumbledore decided to give her a chance. When she made a Prophecy that impressed Dumbledore, she was granted the position (though the true reason was to protect her from Lord Voldemort, who wanted to hear the rest of the prophecy).

Class information

"Broaden your minds, my dears, and allow your eyes to see past the mundane!"
Sybill Trelawney to a Divination class[src]
DivinationHarryRon

Harry Potter and Ron Weasley in Divination class in 1993.

Divination is an elective subject available beginning in a student's third year. Students study a myriad of ways to scry information about the future, including tea dregs, crystal balls, visions, and Astrology and horoscope charts. Other methods of divining the future include smoke patterns, dreams, tarot cards, and the interpretation of prophecies, though the latter is quite rare. Guides and textbooks allow students of Divination to discern or translate what observed symbols intend to mean.

Students of this class convene in one of two places: Professor Sybill Trelawney's office in the North Tower, or the Divination Classroom which is on the ground floor of the castle.

Divination class

Some of the Hogwarts students attending Divination class in 1995.

Because the subtle science of Divination is not exact, and "woolly", Hermione Granger had great difficulty with, and disdain for, it. After consulting with Professor Minerva McGonagall, who shared Hermione's scepticism for Divination, and then being insulted by Professor Trelawney about how she lacked the requirements for Divination, Hermione dropped out of the class altogether with dramatic flair to concentrate on Ancient Runes and Arithmancy.

Some students, such as Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, also could not achieve any success in this course, and regretted ever taking it. In order to scrape a pass in the course, they merely made up plenty of things when it comes to predicting the future, not taking the work seriously. They usually added plenty of tragedies, so Professor Trelawney would be satisfied, despite the false predictions could be far-fetched. They would also make fun out of the class whenever possible, as when Ron saw nothing but thick white swirl in the crystal ball, he joked about foreseeing a very foggy night, to which his friends laughed.

Known professors

Trelawney

Trelawney: "The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice."
Hermione: "Well honestly...'the fates have informed her'... Who sets the exam? She does!"
— Professor Trelawney and Hermione Granger in Divination[src]
Professor Trelawney

Professor Trelawney teaching a Divination Lesson in 1995.

Sybill Trelawney began teaching Divination circa 1979, and was still teaching until 1998. Her beginner's class relied heavily on the art of scrying; however, Trelawney's teaching style did not go over well with most students. Only students Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil seemed to really take to the subject. Others fell asleep in her heavily-incensed and stifling classroom or considered the class to be a joke. Hermione Granger decided to quit the class for good, as Sybill Trelawney told her that she had not the inner eye, and because she thought Sybill Trelawney's predictions were inaccurate, and the few accurate ones are due to mere chance. Not many students liked her because they thought she was mad.

While her lessons were relatively safe, Professor Trelawney was renowned for predicting the death of a student each year. These prophecies never came true, although Lavender Brown's did find out that her pet rabbit had died on the predetermined date Professor Trelawney dictated on her first day of class. Also, she had predicted that Neville Longbottom would break a cup from her china tea set.

Her rather ineffective teaching methods made her a primary target for Hogwarts High Inquisitor's negative evaluations, being bombarded with questions and demands during probation, and eventually, Trelawney was dismissed for inadequate performance. She was reinstated at the end of the year.

Firenze

Firenzeinharrypotter

Firenze.

Starting in 1995, Firenze began teaching Divination after Professor Trelawney was viciously fired by High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge. Firenze's lessons took place in Classroom Eleven, on the ground floor, because he is a centaur and could not climb up a ladder. His classes focused mainly on Astrology. He continued to teach the subject in 1998.

Firenze had been kicked out of his group in the Forbidden Forest. Bane had accused him of serving humans, and banished him. He decided to work as a professor in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as he couldn't set foot in the Forbidden Forest because he would be trampled to death by the Centaur herd.

Textbooks

Grades

Pass

  • Outstanding [O]
  • Exceeds Expectations [E]
  • Acceptable [A]

Fail

  • Poor [P]
  • Dreadful [D]
  • Troll [T]

Known O.W.L.s

Pansy divination

Divination lesson during an O.W.L. year.

Behind the scenes

  • It is interesting to note that when Harry and Ron begin making up predictions in their Divination homework in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, they happen to predict, exactly, the dangers that await Harry in the Triwizard Tournament: first that he will be "in danger of burns" (the first trial of overcoming a dragon); next that he will "lose a treasured possession" (Ron, his best friend, whom he will have to recover from the Merpeople); then get "stabbed in the back by someone you thought was a friend" (his D.A.D.A. professor); and finally "come off worse in a fight" (clearly, his duel with Lord Voldemort in the Little Hangleton graveyard). Similarly, whilst they are making up predictions, Ron and Harry "foresee" that Harry will lose his bet that Ron will win his fight (which he supposedly came off worse in). This also comes true (more or less) again with respect to the Triwizard tournament as it is later revealed that Ludo Bagman lost his bet that Harry would win the Triwizard tournament outright (which culminated in Harry coming off worse). They also claim they will drown, which nearly happens in the Second Task. Furthermore, although we do not hear any more of their fabricated predictions after that it is noted that they grew "steadily more tragic" and even predicted their own horrific deaths - eerily enough, later events do steadily grow more tragic and many wizards and witches do die horrifically in the future (particularly in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows).
  • Given the above (as well as the nature of Sybill Trelawney's gift) it may be that - with respect to the art of Divination - true talent does not lie in making accurate predictions, but in recognising that they have been made.
  • As revealed in Pottermore, J. K. Rowling had originally devised Divination to be compulsory from the first year.[1]
  • Harry and several of his classmates attended Divination Homework Meetings in the 1995-1996 school year.
  • Albus Dumbledore never took this subject himself.[2]

See also

Appearances

Notes and references

Divination
Trelawney's first Divination lesson in the trio's third year
Professors: Percival Rackham · Mudiwa Onai · Sybill Trelawney · Firenze
Known Seers: Calchas · Cassandra Vablatsky · Cassandra Trelawney · Gellert Grindelwald · Inigo Imago · Johan Hoffman · Liz Tuttle's mother · Mopsus · Professor Mopsus · Susie Sooth · Tycho Dodonus · Unidentified Canadian Seer · Unidentified female Seer · Unidentified male Seer
Textbooks: The Dream Oracle · Unfogging the Future
Methods: Astrology · Bibliomancy · Capnomancy · Cartomancy · Catoptromancy · Crystal-gazing · Crystal ball · Dream interpretation · Fire-omens · Heptomology · Horoscope · Ichthyomancy · Lithomancy · Myomancy · Ornithomancy · Orrery · Ovomancy · Palmistry · Personal chart · Phyllomancy · Prophecy · Rune stone · Scrying mirror · Tarot cards · Tessomancy · Xylomancy
Divination at Hogwarts: Divination (class) · Divination Classroom · Divination staircase · Sybill Trelawney's office · Classroom Eleven · Xylomancy (class)
Wizarding education
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Hogwartscrest
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The eleven schools
Beauxbatons · Castelobruxo · Durmstrang · Hogwarts · Ilvermorny · Koldovstoretz · Mahoutokoro · Uagadou
Specialised schools
Academy of Broom Flying · Charm School · Euro-Glyph School of Extraordinary Languages · Merge School of Under-Water Spellage · The Naaszcademy of Magizoology · Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts · Young Wizards Daycare Center