J.K. Rowling at Harvard: The Importance of Imagination
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EN: Non-restrictive Relative Clause: The word 'where' is used as a relative adverb to introduce additional information about a specific place (the research headquarters). It is preceded by a comma, indicating that the information is supplementary rather than essential to identify the location.
He moved to London, where he found a job in a bank.
EN: Prepositional Phrases as Modifiers: 'At the research headquarters' and 'of Amnesty International' act as modifiers to provide specific details about the location and ownership of the workplace.
The manager of the company works at the main office.
EN: Amnesty International is a global non-governmental organization focused on human rights. Rowling's experience there significantly influenced her world view and her writing, particularly themes of justice and empathy in the Harry Potter series.
EN: The Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle) is used to describe an action that was completed before another action or point in time in the past. In this sentence, the mothers 'had lost' their children before Rowling 'heard' the recordings.
By the time the police arrived, the thief had already escaped.
EN: A Relative Clause starting with 'who' provides more information about a person (the mothers). Here, it acts as an adjective to specify which mothers are being discussed.
I met a woman who works for the United Nations.
EN: The sentence refers to Rowling's real-life experience working for Amnesty International, an organization that advocates for human rights. 'Smuggled letters' highlights the extreme risks people took to report human rights abuses from oppressive regimes.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses, creating a contrast between the negative aspects (evil and cruelty) and the positive aspect (helping others).
The weather was cold, but the sun was shining brightly.
EN: The verb 'see' is a verb of perception. When followed by an object and a present participle (verb-ing), it emphasizes an action in progress or a scene being witnessed.
I saw him walking across the street.
EN: Amnesty International is a global non-governmental organization focused on human rights. Rowling's experience there significantly influenced her perspective on empathy and the choice between what is right and what is easy, themes prevalent in her writing.
EN: Noun Clause as Object: The phrase starting with 'what' acts as the direct object of the verb 'witnessed'. It follows the structure 'what + subject + verb', functioning as a noun in the sentence.
I don't know what he wants to achieve.
EN: Relative Clause with Omitted Relative Pronoun: The phrase 'they have never even met' is a relative clause modifying 'those'. The relative pronoun 'whom' or 'that' is omitted because it serves as the object of the verb 'met'.
The people I work with are very professional.
EN: This sentence reflects the core values of Amnesty International, an organization focused on human rights. It highlights the concept of 'altruism'—helping others without expecting anything in return, even when the recipients are complete strangers.
EN: The correlative conjunction 'not only... but also...' is used to connect two parallel words, phrases, or clauses, emphasizing that both parts are true.
He is not only a talented musician but also a brilliant painter.
EN: Noun clauses starting with 'that' function as the object of a verb (like 'argued') to report a statement or belief.
She believes that education can change the world.
EN: In this context, Rowling redefines 'imagination' from a purely creative tool to a moral necessity. This reflects her background working for Amnesty International, where she learned that the ability to imagine someone else's pain is the first step toward social justice.
EN: The verb 'allow' is commonly used in the pattern 'allow + object + to-infinitive' to express that someone or something makes it possible for another person to do something.
The new law allows citizens to vote online.
EN: A relative clause starting with 'that' is used here to provide essential information about the noun 'experiences'. It functions as an adjective to define which experiences are being discussed.
I want to buy the book that you recommended yesterday.
EN: In this context, 'gift' refers to an innate human ability (imagination/empathy) rather than a physical present. Rowling emphasizes that empathy is what distinguishes humans from other species.
EN: The verb 'prefer' is used to express a choice or liking of one thing over another. When followed by an infinitive (to + verb), it indicates a specific preference in a particular situation.
I prefer to stay home and read on rainy days.
EN: Parallel structure with the conjunction 'and' connects two infinitive phrases ('to ignore...' and '[to] refuse...'). In this sentence, the second 'to' is omitted for conciseness, which is common when the subject remains the same.
She likes to swim in the ocean and surf the waves.
EN: This sentence reflects a common theme in social justice discourse: the concept of 'willful ignorance.' It suggests that ignoring the plight of others is not a passive act but a choice that carries moral weight.
EN: The structure 'describe A as B' is used to define or characterize someone or something in a specific way.
The critics described the new movie as a masterpiece of modern cinema.
EN: A relative clause starting with 'that' is used here as an adjective to provide more information about the noun 'moral failure'.
He made a decision that changed his entire life.
EN: In this context, Rowling is addressing the concept of empathy. 'Willful blindness' is a powerful term used in ethics and law to describe a situation where a person intentionally avoids acknowledging a painful or problematic truth to escape responsibility.
EN: The First Conditional is used to talk about real and possible situations in the future. It follows the structure: 'If + present simple, will + base verb'.
If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'on behalf of' means representing someone or for the benefit of a particular group.
The lawyer spoke on behalf of the victim.
EN: The term 'the voiceless' refers to marginalized groups in society who lack the power or opportunity to speak for themselves, such as victims of human rights abuses, which aligns with Rowling's work at Amnesty International.
EN: The use of a semicolon (;) to connect two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. It acts as a bridge between two complete sentences without using a coordinating conjunction like 'and' or 'but'.
Success is not final; failure is not fatal.
EN: The use of a relative clause (adjective clause) where the relative pronoun 'that' or 'which' is omitted. In 'the power (that) we need', 'we need' modifies 'the power'.
This is the book I bought yesterday.
EN: This quote is from J.K. Rowling's 2008 Harvard commencement speech. It reflects her belief that human empathy and collective action are more powerful than any supernatural force. It emphasizes personal agency and social responsibility.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
representing or for the benefit of someone else
a deliberate failure to acknowledge or learn about something, especially to avoid responsibility
people who lack the power or influence to make their opinions or needs known