Why Should Students Like to Have Severus Snape as a Teacher?

Although he was initially presented as a hated and partial teacher because of his ambiguous behaviours in J.K Rowling’s
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the character provided a plot twist that shed a positive light on his admirable
characters. This study aimed at elucidating Severus Snape’s praiseworthy characters that make him an exemplary
teacher. As an interpretive study, the reading was conducted in Miles, Huberman, and Saldana’s model of interactive
qualitative analysis. The data were collected through repeated reading of the novel to identify Snape’s characterizations,
which were then condensed and reduced into those that represent positive traits as a teacher. These positive traits are
elaborated to provide a comprehensive data display which leads to conclusion drawing. The four processes were
concurrently conducted to allow trustworthy analysis. The analyses reveal four values, including discipline,
hardworking, social awareness, and responsible, that identify Severus Snape as a good teacher despite his nature as an
unfriendly individual. Pedagogically, students need teachers with these traits. Thus, the reading of the novel should be
accompanied by the more critical impetus that prevents students and children from misjudging Severus Snape at face
value merely because he cannot endorse the main characters' dangerous exploits.