I’m having anaphor resolution problems. What does this sentence mean?
And an ancient wizard to whom that ward meant nothing gazed upon them both, the witch and the weeping young wizard.
I can’t figure out what “that ward” refers to. If *that ward” meant “description”, then it could refer to the adjective “ancient”. But “ward” doesn’t mean “description”. Replace “ward” with “district”, “department”, “wing”, “parish”, “charge”, “dependent, “”protection”, “wall”, or “guard” does not make sense to me either. If I grasp at straws, “that ward” could refer to Hogwart’s Ancient Wards, but that’s a stretch.
Ack, several people complained about this. I’ve edited Ch. 93 to make it clearer (update should propagate shortly). The ward is Prof. McGonagall’s vision-blurrer.
Yes, I flagged this too. I also considered the possibility that it’s a typo, and should be “word”, in which case it refers to “NO” or “forever”. Spell checkers wouldn’t catch it, and I know in my own writing I’m more likely to substitute a wrong word that I’ve used recently.
I’m having anaphor resolution problems. What does this sentence mean?
I can’t figure out what “that ward” refers to. If *that ward” meant “description”, then it could refer to the adjective “ancient”. But “ward” doesn’t mean “description”. Replace “ward” with “district”, “department”, “wing”, “parish”, “charge”, “dependent, “”protection”, “wall”, or “guard” does not make sense to me either. If I grasp at straws, “that ward” could refer to Hogwart’s Ancient Wards, but that’s a stretch.
“Ward” almost certainly refers to the spells McGonagall cast to protect herself and Harry from public view.
Ack, several people complained about this. I’ve edited Ch. 93 to make it clearer (update should propagate shortly). The ward is Prof. McGonagall’s vision-blurrer.
Yes, I flagged this too. I also considered the possibility that it’s a typo, and should be “word”, in which case it refers to “NO” or “forever”. Spell checkers wouldn’t catch it, and I know in my own writing I’m more likely to substitute a wrong word that I’ve used recently.