Hi everyone after reading Harry Potter and The Half-Blood prince for the third time i noticed something that i never really took any intrest of...and im sure other people do not care about it either. But it kept buggin me on page 600 chapter 30 He suddenly remembered a few of Dumbledores words Nitwit,Oddment,Blubber and Tweak i wonderred what they meant along with everyone else in the Book i traced them up in a dictionary and came across the following

Nitwit: Informal (Stupid incompetent person)

Oddment: Something unusual worth collecting

Blubber: Noise whilst Crying or Someone who is fat

Tweak: Pull, Pinch, Squeeze or adjust

i wondered what these could mean please could anyone try and figure out a phrase or sentenc ethat could put these words into sence. Thankyou

In Book 1, Dumbledore is making a small speech before the Welcoming Feast, saying he has just a few words to say:

As you all have probably noticed by now, I've moved this topic to the forum for discussion of the first four books. The Post-HBP forum is strictly confined to talk about Book Six.

As for "nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak" ... I don't think it has any deep meaning, really. As I understand it, Bumblebee's right on track when s/he (sorry, I don't know your gender!) says that it's nonsense, plain and simple. I think this is JKR's way of having a little dig at people who make formal, long-winded speeches full of esoteric vocabulary and allusions... that ultimately mean very little. Applies to politicians, teachers, bosses -- you name it.

lol, i dont think it is anything significant really, i would doubt it very much that it is important. dumbledore is merely making a humorous statement.

Hi Jay934!!

I just started reading Book One again to take better notes...as it becomes more and more evident I missed a lot even the second time through...

I do think they are significant... as in between "Welcome" and "Thankyou"... they were the first words Harry ever heard Dumbledore speak. He turns to Percy (ch.7 pg.123 us) and asks a bit uncertainly "Is he -- a bit mad?"

On the train he had just seen Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog card which reads "Albus Dumbledore... considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times..."

This poor kid... has just found out he's a famous wizard... and is thinking that he has no idea where he's going... but that it has to be better than where he left... and the Headmaster of Hogwarts greets his students "Nitwit,Oddment,Blubber and Tweak".

I think I'd be tweaking too!

Then at Dumbledore's Funeral it shows what an impression it had made upon Harry... and how fond of Dumbledore's "oddities" if he remembered it 5+ years later !!

It may have been Harry's fond Farewell...

I never thought more of this than being a joke from DD. A good one I might say too, it was one of the few times I laughed out loud whilst reading the books, I was really taken back by that comment, reading it over and over again.

I quote HBP:

Ive always looked at Dumbldore as not strange, but hmm eccentric might be the word i'm looking for but he's very aware of eccentricity (?) so it's almost purposeful. I think Dumbledore wanted to be remember as outgoing like he was in the first book. Easy going. In the later books there was a lot of responsibilty put on him and maybe some of this eccentricty and fun persona was gone.

honestly i just think it was done to lend some insight into DD right in the beggining. As soon as he is mentioned he comes off as this all powerful wizard which he is. But that line just lends to the rest of him. Everyone was expecting a huge speach or somthing and he says those. To me it was pry DD own personal joke and harry remebers that becuase it is the first time he really sees DD.

in the 1-3 books Dumbledore had no cares in the world except running his school after the 4th book and Voldemort returned he lost his fun side and was always serious

We know that JKR loves words and their histories, so it may be dangerous simply to assume that her use of specific ones is meaningless beyond delineating a character quirk.

Nitwit -- This is one of many references to "stupidity" in the series, and I suspect it is ironically employed in most cases, at least from the author's standpoint.

Oddment -- Well, Harry certainly qualifies as one of these, doesn't he, particularly from the point-of-view of someone like Slughorn. Of course, given the way this series operates, I wouldn't be surprised if there is at least one other character who is even more valuable than he, not to mention perceived as far more "unspecial" by the wizarding world.

Blubber -- There are certainly a lot of fat references in the books, but these likely pale in significance next to all the tears, some of which we already know have extraordinary powers.

Tweak -- More generally, to tweak means to change slightly, perhaps implying that an alteration is in prospect for someone before the story ends. Additionally, the word can refer to making a joke, so maybe someone is going to pull the ultimate prank on evil at the climax of the series?

In summary, is there a character out there who has hidden great worth while being dismissed by most as unintelligent (or even mad) and whose true importance will only be revealed when (s)he defeats at least one villain through a process that involves a personal metamorphosis consisting of equal parts laughter and tears?

Just a thought...

the only person i can think of is NEvile Longbottom, he matches the description and he was the other boy born at the end of July, he could play a role!!!!

Hmm...my interpretation of the words?

Nitwit--Dumbledore was referring to Quirrell for seeling his soul to Voldemort. I think I would call him a nitwit too.

Oddment--I think Dumbledore had just smelled someone's breath, and said it was so odd they needed a mint.

Blubber--This may be a direct dig at Crabbe and Goyle. Or perhaps he just wanted to cheer up Harry by referring to Dudley and his largeness.

Tweak--I think he was just so excited to see all the ickle first years he wanted to tweak their little cheeks.

But really, I don't think they really meant anything. Like someone said, it may have been a poke from Jo to other people who always have to make big long speeches. I mean, what did Harry remember about Dumbledore? He remembered these four words. Not all that serious hooplah. I think that's one of the things Harry admires about Dumbledore. He was a very intelligent man, but he didn't find it necessary to use big words and make his speeches any longer than he had to.

yeah im gonna have to change my position and say that they really dont have an underlying hidden message, it would be pointless i believe

Wow! i have to agree with you on all of these meanings of the words. they seem to all fit and they are rather funny meanings too. still they could mean something different but i like what you've thought they might mean. very descriptive and very well thought of. like your way of thinking. "Nitwitt.Oddment. Blubber. Tweak! hehehe!

dont you all love how we devour these books and then during the span betwoon the novels we grasp at every little thing to make a point, i love it.. keep it up because as long as we keep reading who cares!!!

I think it will mean something. like the sentence in the socond book, where he says he will never be gone when no one at Hogwarts were loyal to him. I dont know in what way, but if Harry remembers them, and it got written down, it will mean something. JKR always writes things in the HP-books that will mean something later. Nothing is a coincidence in the books, nor these four words

hey guys i found an anagram website,
and i got this :
"moribund wet-blanked wit debt"
......

Those words are vocalizations of the sparkle in Dumbledore's eye that Rowling always writes about. They show his off-kilter humor and wit. He's the greatest wizard of all times - but he also doesn't take himself too seriously. I find this to be a very very important aspect of Dumbledore's character.

I disagree that Dumbledore lost his sense of humor and got all serious after the first three books. I can think of many instances of his humor and wit in the later books. In my opinion, it's a consistant facet of his personality and one that makes him so lovable and human.

In HBP, the scene with him and the Dursleys is filled with funny things he says. In that same book, he says something to Harry about stepping out into the night and pursuing that flighty temptress, adventure and I literally laughed out loud.

Nitwit, oddment, blubber and tweak have served their purpose in connecting Dumbledore and Harry, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if we saw them again.

perhaps im just being silly here, but, could it possibly mean,
that because of certain peoples stupidity, that their collection of things, created crying and forever altered the rest of the world?
i mean it kind of makes sense if you applied it to the books.
because of voldemorts own stupidity of trying to handpick the earth with only purebloods, he created sorrow and suffering which forever changed the lives of everyone around him?
i mean it makes sense if you take it into consideration.

I think that these words are just a strange asortment or words, that are different, yet sound good together, don't they? Dumbledore was trying to say something like be untied as a whole? Maybe they represent the four houses, saying that they may be different, but have to united from within each other?

It's like what the sorting hat said. They have to stand togeter. maybe Dumbledore's telling the school this, but in a way that's not exactly plain. Making the students read between the lines ...

Eh, probably not, but that's all i could come up with. It's either that or Dumbledore's more insane than we thought! Lol!

I don't know what Dumbledore's words mean, but I think they are just to be funny. They sound cool anyway.

i think this is JKR just telling us how... on-in-a-million dumbledore can be by randomlly saying these words.

You know, I was about to say whoever made this thread was siriusly overanalyzing but I read the comments and I suddenly got an idea! *jumps up and down in excitement* I rarely get ideas! Even nonsense ones like this one!

What if nitwit, oddment, blubber and tweak somehow represents the four founders? I remembered the Marauders. It seemed like nothing but then it meant something.


Then again, maybe I'm just overanalyzing stuff but still... When it comes to JK, the craziest stuff are the ones that always happens.

QUOTE

Those words are vocalizations of the sparkle in Dumbledore's eye that Rowling always writes about. They show his off-kilter humor and wit. He's the greatest wizard of all times - but he also doesn't take himself too seriously. I find this to be a very very important aspect of Dumbledore's character.

I disagree that Dumbledore lost his sense of humor and got all serious after the first three books. I can think of many instances of his humor and wit in the later books. In my opinion, it's a consistant facet of his personality and one that makes him so lovable and human.

In HBP, the scene with him and the Dursleys is filled with funny things he says. In that same book, he says something to Harry about stepping out into the night and pursuing that flighty temptress, adventure and I literally laughed out loud.

Nitwit, oddment, blubber and tweak have served their purpose in connecting Dumbledore and Harry, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if we saw them again.

I agree completely with you. Out of all the things that person was saying about Dumbledore, those four words are what come to Harry's mind. Dumbledore may have been all those things that person was saying in his speech, but, to Harry, they're not the important things. Dumbledore would have never wasted his time saying all those things that no one would remember in a day or two. He always spoke in a way that would be remembered. Harry appreciates that because he knew Dumbledore better than anyone, I'd say. Those other things didn't matter to Harry. I also think that's why Harry finds it humorous. He's laughing because he could see Dumbledore saying something like "Nitwit, Oddment, Blubber, Tweak!" in a situation like that.


P.S. I laugh out loud ALL the time while reading the books. I think Jo inserts humour so well. When I'm reading on my break at work, or in the library at school between classes I get some strange looks because I laugh so much and so hard at things that happen in the books. In particular, things with Ronald. He's hilarious. [Actually, I find that all the Weasley's have an amazing sense of humour, really.]

The scene with Dumbledore at the Dursley's is one of my favourite ever and I find it absolutely hilarious.

I want to apologise for disrupting the flow of the thread for a second here, but I just HAVE to ask this: in the UK version the order of these words is 'Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!'. Most people here have it as 'Nitwit! Oddment! Blubber! Tweak!' (like the thread title) and I was just wondering if the American version switched it... can't imagine why that would be, but the order kind of, erm, matters ... to me. I'm really curious, so if there was anyone who could please put me out of my misery I'd be very grateful!

QUOTE(Capricorn @ May 11 2007, 10:04 AM) [snapback]385266[/snapback]

I want to apologise for disrupting the flow of the thread for a second here, but I just HAVE to ask this: in the UK version the order of these words is 'Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!'. Most people here have it as 'Nitwit! Oddment! Blubber! Tweak!' (like the thread title) and I was just wondering if the American version switched it... can't imagine why that would be, but the order kind of, erm, matters ... to me. I'm really curious, so if there was anyone who could please put me out of my misery I'd be very grateful!

I didn't notice this until you pointed it out, but yes, it is the same in the American Version. On page 123 [weird page number, by the way] of the Scholastic version it says:

QUOTE

"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we being our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

Good eye, mate. :]

The way i see it? they are just dumbledore words. Dumbleys just weird like that.

Mod Edit: Please elaborate in your posts. You should know by now that posts like this one are too short.

Ooh, I forgot all about checking this thread! Thanks a lot meanmuggin!

As for what the words mean... I always assumed them to be code words of some sort to make the food appear. It's just another one of those consistency things, the fact that he never does it again. Like them only singing the school song once. I think it's something JK Rowling wrote in the first book and just didn't put into subsequent ones because it's not that important.

Mabye it is a code because harry remember's it in his funeral and if it were unimportant she wouldnt have put it in but on the other hand she was only going to write that one book for a bit of money i read somewhere so it could be unimportant. But i think it is a code its not latin is it?

I think Harry involuntarily remembered something that showed who DD really was... a semi-crazy genius who was awesome! He didn't want to sit and be sad, but rather remember all the good times. It was a very interesting choice of words (none of them describe DD, however) and I don't think they were too important.

The words might be the name of some of the hose elves, and they might be some sign to tell them to send the food up or something but i don't really know?

I think it was just Dumbledore being totally random. He wanted the students to realize, especially the scared little first years that life at school is not all serious. He is an authority figure, but still just another guy. He was being funny and at the same time letting the students know that he cared about the same things they do, getting a hot meal ASAP. His words relaxed everyone and set the tone for the evening.

I remember when Harry gave Fred and George the money for the joke shop he said that we all can use a laugh sometimes.. It seems to me that Dumbledore's spirit might have reminded Harry of that at the funeral. DUmbledore did have a great sense of humor and these four nonsense words just to me were a reminder that sometimes we take our selves too seriously.

I think that he just said words that sounded odd, or maybe they were the first words that came into his mind.

Those were just words to help break the ice with the first years and make them feel more relaxed. And he is after all alittle mad. He enjoys himself and thats is his idea of a confusing joke.