Why Snape Said “Out for a Little Walk in the Moonlight Are We” in 'Azkaban'

In the movie Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, we hear a famous line from Professor Snape, directed at Remus Lupin: "Out for a little walk in the moonlight, are we?"

What is a Tag Question?

This type of expression at the end of a sentence is known as a tag. When combined with the tag, it forms a tag question. The use of a tag question can have various meanings, often dependent on the speaker’s intonation.

Types of Tag Questions

There are essentially two ways to form a tag question:

"You're a student right"

"You're a student aren't you"

Both of these examples are typically used when the speaker already assumes the listener's agreement and is seeking confirmation or further validation.

Understanding the Context

In Snape's statement, "Out for a little walk in the moonlight, are we," let's break down several key points to understand the grammatical and contextual nuances:

The Subject

The first part of the sentence doesn't explicitly state the subject. However, it's likely implied that "you" is being addressed, so the sentence can be rephrased as "Are you out for a little walk in the moonlight?"

Subject Agreement

Typically, in a tag question, the subject of the sentence and the pronoun in the tag should agree. So, instead of "are you out for a little walk in the moonlight, aren't you," it should be "Are you out for a little walk in the moonlight, aren't you?"

The Meaning of "We"

The use of "we" in the tag is unusual and may suggest that Snape is not referring to himself and Lupin walking together. Rather, it's likely a sarcastic or confrontational way of indicating that Snape has caught Lupin alone on his walk. This is a way of including both the speaker and the listener but perhaps not in a nice way.

The Grammar Behind the Snark

This type of expression, particularly in spoken English, is often easier to understand through examples rather than strict grammatical rules. Let's break down another example to illustrate this principle better:

Example: Thorny Words with “We”

Imagine Snape discovers Lupin eating a big slice of chocolate cake in the middle of the night. A neutral observation would be:

“Oh look, you are having a midnight snack.”

Through the evolution of language, people started substituting “we” for “you” to soften or even to mock the statement. So, instead of just saying "you," Snape might say:

“Oh look, we are having a midnight snack.”

Notice that the context clearly defines that only Lupin is eating the cake. By using "we" in this context, Snape's neutral statement takes on a more condescending and accusatory tone.

The Sarcasm and Rhetorical Question

To make the statement even more sarcastic, Snape might turn it into a rhetorical question:

“Having a midnight snack are we?”

This question, framed within the context of catching Lupin, is not meant to elicit a response but to subtly accuse and shame Lupin. Similarly, Snape's original statement, "Out for a little walk in the moonlight, are we," is intended to cast suspicion and shame upon Lupin, indicating that Snape has caught Lupin on his walk.

Conclusion

In summary, the use of "we" in a tag question and the structure of Snape’s statement reflect his sarcastic and accusatory intent in the movie. Understanding such nuances in spoken English can help non-native speakers grasp the complexities of English grammar and its usage in conversational settings.

If you have any further questions about English grammar or phrases used in dialogues, feel free to ask!