THIS IS A HP VIRGINS AND VETERANS THREAD. Vets, please include any thoughts that reveal spoilers or any foreshadowing whatsoever in SPOILER TAGS. This is done by typing [ spoiler ] whatever you're spoiling [ / spoiler ], without the spaces. If you want to gush about it openly, please feel free to create a separate post to do so - just be clear in the title that it will include series spoilers.
As with the last discussion, I found some interesting discussion questions online. Feel free to answer some/all of them if you don't know where to start! Otherwise, feel free to spill whatever is on your mind!
1) A favorite line in this book is on the first page. Dudley says, “Pass the frying pan.” “You’ve forgotten the magic word,” says Harry irritably and the Dursleys go bonkers. Do you have a favorite scene or line in Chamber?
2) a - If this is your first time reading, what did you think? If you're rereading, what stuck out to you this time?
3) ***Please hide your answer in a SPOILER tag*** The visit to Knockturn Alley and Mr. Borgin’s shop also sets up scenes in future books. Can you think of some examples? What other themes and items are introduced in Chamber that resurface in later books?
4) Were Harry and Ron justified in flying the car to school?
5) Colin Creevey accuses Malfoy of being jealous of Harry. Do you think Draco is jealous of Harry?
6) What is the significance of Harry’s fears that he should have been in Slytherin? Why is this so important?
7) There are a number of occurrences of socks in the books. Can you think of some of them? Is this significant or just coincidence? [Harry uses a sock to free Dobby, Dumbledore says he’d see himself in the Mirror of Erised holding a pair of socks, Harry uses socks to hide the
8) Dumbledore tells Harry, “Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled [the sword] out of the [Sorting] Hat.”. What does it mean to be a true Gryffindor, or Slytherin, or Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw?
9) If you could make polyjuice potion, who would you want to turn into for an hour?
10) What is Snape thinking when he realizes Harry is a parselmouth?
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ETA: Next up is "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." The discussion thread will take place on Monday, March 23rd (two weeks from today), unless the majority of you have objections.
Please note: This is the last book we will read entirely and discuss at the end. After Azkaban, I'll create a checkpoint thread to discuss important points as we go along. They will probably be weekly check-ins vs. the two weeks that we've been doing.
2) a - If this is your first time reading, what did you think? If you're rereading, what stuck out to you this time?
I'm going to come back and answer the rest of the questions, but the part that always sticks out to me in Chamber of Secrets is Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday party. It's such an interesting scene, and every time I read it I feel disappointed that they didn't include that in the movie.
Just a quick comment now but I'll be back. I HATE the second movie and so I usually skip right to book three when I read them, but this book is actually much better than I remember. It does seem in some ways that it a book of set up for future stuff!
“With sorrow—for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection—we dissent,”
Post by ginandjucie24 on Mar 9, 2015 7:27:31 GMT -5
1. My favorite quote from this book, is when Mrs. Weasley say "AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU HOME". To me it reminds me of when your parents would say "Don't make me turn this car around" on road trips.
2. What stuck out to me. During the dueling club, with Snape and Lockhart. Snape uses the Expelliarmus spell this is Harry's go to spell,
I found it interesting that he/we first learn of it from Snape.
3.
4. No they were not. I think the could have asked for help, by sending an owl to Hogwarts. The platform 9 3/4 has been there a very long time, and for it to close up would have been a big deal. They
5. I think Malfoy doesn't like anyone and he sees himself better than everyone.
I am going to have to come back and answer the rest of the questions.
Post by EloiseWeenie on Mar 9, 2015 8:11:56 GMT -5
I'm on Book 4 (I couldn't wait, LOL) and now I'm having a hard time deciphering what was in which book, LOL.
1) A favorite line in this book is on the first page. Dudley says, “Pass the frying pan.” “You’ve forgotten the magic word,” says Harry irritably and the Dursleys go bonkers. Do you have a favorite scene or line in Chamber? I love Fawkes, especially in the chamber. Riddle laughs when Fawkes shows up, but he blinded the basilisk and healed Harry.
2) a - If this is your first time reading, what did you think? If you're rereading, what stuck out to you this time?
3) The visit to Knockturn Alley and Mr. Borgin’s shop also sets up scenes in future books. Can you think of some examples? What other themes and items are introduced in Chamber that resurface in later books? The shrunken hand, cursed necklace, and vanishing cabinet that Harry hides in, all show up in later books. Other scenes/themes are the whomping willow, Mundungus Fletcher (Mr. Weasley says Fletcher tried to jinx him), Ginny's crush on Harry- and the Weasleys being Harry's favorite people on earth, and the family that he wants to be part of. Harry manipulating Lockhart with his fame, happens again with
4) Were Harry and Ron justified in flying the car to school? No. Because they're kids, they went on impulse. Mr. & Mrs. Weasley could have taken them to school.
5) Colin Creevey accuses Malfoy of being jealous of Harry. Do you think Draco is jealous of Harry? Yes, although I think Draco doesn't realize it. Lucius raised Draco to love power and money. Draco had goons instead of true friends, and bought whatever he wanted instead of truly earning it.
6) What is the significance of Harry’s fears that he should have been in Slytherin? Why is this so important? I think Harry was terrified of being evil, and he feared that the sorting hat saw something evil in him.
Voldemort accidentally made a horcrux inside of Harry, so that's what the sorting hat saw. Harry didn't know this, so he feared there might be a part of him that was capable as being as horrible as Voldemort; a murderer.
I love that Dumbledore tells Harry, “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
7) There are a number of occurrences of socks in the books. Can you think of some of them? Is this significant or just coincidence? [Harry uses a sock to free Dobby, Dumbledore says he’d see himself in the Mirror of Erised holding a pair of socks, Harry uses socks to hide the sneakoscope] Vernon & Dudley's hand me downs, hiding the
, freeing Dobby, Dumbledore and the Mirror of Erised. I don't think there's anything of significance.
8) Dumbledore tells Harry, “Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled [the sword] out of the [Sorting] Hat.”. What does it mean to be a true Gryffindor, or Slytherin, or Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw? Gryffindor- Integrity, Slytherin-Cunning, Hufflepuff-Loyalty, and Ravenclaw-Wisdom
9) If you could make polyjuice potion, who would you want to turn into for an hour? To keep it HP related: McGonagall
10) What is Snape thinking when he realizes Harry is a parselmouth? Ohhhhhhhh shiiiiiiiit.
I'm not quite done re-reading (I lost my kobo on a flight and am still waiting for United to ship it to me in Canada), but I'm like 90% done so I can comment on the one's I have answers for.
2) a - If this is your first time reading, what did you think? If you're rereading, what stuck out to you this time?
I caught so many more future references on this re-read. I don't find the character development is strong in this book, but there are so many new people introduced who are referenced later.
3) ***Please hide your answer in a SPOILER tag*** The visit to Knockturn Alley and Mr. Borgin’s shop also sets up scenes in future books. Can you think of some examples? What other themes and items are introduced in Chamber that resurface in later books?
Among other things previously mentioned I noticed on this re-read that when Harry is caught by Filch he is rescued by Nearly-Headless Nick encouraging Peeves to destroy a cabinet. This is likely the broken disappearing cabinet that Draco fixes in book 6. During previous reads I was always more focused on Harry finding out that Filch is a squib than on the background action.
4) Were Harry and Ron justified in flying the car to school? No, but they are 12. Also, they had previously used the flying car successfully to bust Harry out of the Dursley's so I can see why they would think it was a good solution.
5) Colin Creevey accuses Malfoy of being jealous of Harry. Do you think Draco is jealous of Harry? Absolutely. It's mentioned at the beginning of the book that while his family is rich, there were doubts about how close they were to Voldemort and if they were as innocent as they pretended. As a result, they have been in disrepute among the general wizarding community. He can't be the big man on campus if members of the other houses think that he's shady.
6) What is the significance of Harry’s fears that he should have been in Slytherin? Why is this so important? In the first book, I think this was mostly tied to the fact that he had no history of experience with the wizarding world other than his run-in with Draco in Diagon Alley and his train ride with Ron. Preferring Ron, he didn't want to go into Slytherin. His experiences in the first book with Draco, Snape, etc. cemented this opinion. By the time we get to this book he is even more firmly anti-Slytherin and the existence of the Chamber of Secrets really points to the dark magic tendencies of Salazar Slytherin and Slytherin as a whole. Having set himself against it, he's very concerned that the Sorting Hat felt he could have belonged there, even more-so considering that other students think he could have been the heir of Slytherin.
7) There are a number of occurrences of socks in the books. Can you think of some of them? Is this significant or just coincidence? [Harry uses a sock to free Dobby, Dumbledore says he’d see himself in the Mirror of Erised holding a pair of socks, Harry uses socks to hide the sneakoscope].
Hermione knits socks as part of her Free House Elves campaign!
10) What is Snape thinking when he realizes Harry is a parselmouth? On previous reads, I assumed he was realizing that Harry was possibly a dark wizard or powerful. This time,
I read it more that Harry was of comparable power or greater than Voldemort since I don't think it was mentioned that Voldemort was a parseltongue until later in the series. I'm still fuzzy on this though. Snape is pretty unknowable.
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
this is one of my favorite quotes from the whole series
I don't want to quote EloiseWeenie answer to #6 in the spoiler tag but I never thought of that aspect of it.
Also I 100% believe that Draco is jealous of Harry- he has fame and popularity which gives him power. All things Draco wants
I had never thought of the spoiler tagged part of #6 either, but I agree with it completely.
I love the end with Fawkes and then Dumbledore's return. I like that the phoenix played such a part in getting them safely out of the chamber, and that the loyalty and faith that Harry had in Dumbledore were what called the bird.
The last line of the book: "And together they walked back through the gateway to the Muggle world." I think it shows that the three are firmly committed to one another and that is so important throughout the series.
Also, everything Dobby!!! I love him (obviously since my dog is named after him) and I just can't with him.
What stuck out to me at the end, when Dumbledore is "debriefing" with Harry and they're talking about Harry being a Parseltongue, Dumbledore explains that Voldy transferred some of his powers to Harry. Harry says "Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?" This really stuck out to me this time, because it was always before a reference to the power. This time it was like "HOLY CRAP, JK told us the ending right there!!!"
3. The visit to Knockturn Alley and Mr. Borgin’s shop also sets up scenes in future books. Can you think of some examples? What other themes and items are introduced in Chamber that resurface in later books?
Parseltongue/ Voldemort's obsession with snakes, the Sword of Gryffindor, Dobby and his devotion to Harry, Lucius and his manor of dark objects/his relationship with Voldemort, the Whomping Willow, Harry's love for the Weasleys
4.Were Harry and Ron justified in flying the car to school?
Absolutely not. But they're 12 year old boys. I think this scene illustrates how impulsive kids that age can be; I think JK (and her editors) had a good handle on what behaviors the kids would exhibit throughout the series.
5. Colin Creevey accuses Malfoy of being jealous of Harry. Do you think Draco is jealous of Harry?
Draco is an entitled little ass. He spent his whole life being told how awesome he is as a Malfoy and how important his name/family is in the wizarding community. I'm sure he also heard a lot of muttering behind closed doors about Harry and how he ruined the Malfoy's status by defeating Voldemort. I think he's probably a little jealous of Harry, but more that he has something to prove to be worthy of being a Malfoy.
10. What is Snape thinking when he realizes Harry is a parselmouth?
(not sure if this is a spoiler or not; figured I'd be safe) I think he's wondering if Voldemort was right in being afraid of Harry and Harry is a powerful wizard and if he will be a dark wizard.
So I've read the whole series several times. I started the series after the first 4 books were out. So I've obviously read the first several books more than the last 1-2.
This has always been my least favorite. It just felt too much like a rehash of the first one. Something mysterious is going on at Hogwarts! The students think they know what's up. But actually, it's something entirely different and at the end, Harry and his friends are the only people in the whole school who can solve the mystery and save the day! So I feel like the series was veering in a kind of formulaic direction here (so glad book 3 veered differently! PoA is my favorite.) I've even skipped this book once or twice on some re-reads.
BUT this time I actually did like it a lot more. Perhaps because it does hold significance for the future of the series?
I really love Harry's visit to the Burrow in this book. It's such a stark contrast to his unhappy life on Privet Drive. And all of the "everyday" magic stuff and activities just sound so fun.
Yes. I think this perfectly highlighted just how much Harry simply wants to be normal and have a family and how that governs so many of the choices he makes throughout the series.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Mar 9, 2015 19:54:45 GMT -5
This is also my least favorite book, and the same things that annoyed me previously still did, lol. But I appreciated all the set-ups for future events. I love Fred, George and Ron orchestrating Harry's escape from the Dursleys, the entire Polyjuice Potion adventure, and the Dueling Club.
1) Do you have a favorite scene or line in Chamber? There are so many good ones! I cheated and googled because I feel like crap right now and I don't feel like digging. “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” "I'd just been thinking, if you had died, you'd have been welcome to share my toilet.” “Of all the trees we could've hit, we had to get one that hits back.” "Haven't I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain?” "Proud?" said Harry. "Are you crazy? All those times I could've died, and I didn't manage it? They'll be furious...” “Lockhart'll sign anything if it stands still long enough.”
2) If you're rereading, what stuck out to you this time? I caught a lot of things that will become relevant in later books. Like PP, I like Sir Nicholas's Death Day party
3) ***Please hide your answer in a SPOILER tag*** The visit to Knockturn Alley and Mr. Borgin’s shop also sets up scenes in future books. Can you think of some examples? What other themes and items are introduced in Chamber that resurface in later books? This was pretty much answered already.
4) Were Harry and Ron justified in flying the car to school? NO! They should have waited by the car like Harry first suggested. God, that was such a bad idea but they're 12.
5) Colin Creevey accuses Malfoy of being jealous of Harry. Do you think Draco is jealous of Harry? Absolutely. The Malfoy family gets off on being better than everyone but they aren't better than Harry. Not even in their own dark wizard social circles because Harry is on the same plane as Voldemort, their leader.
6) What is the significance of Harry’s fears that he should have been in Slytherin? Why is this so important? This is important because it fits into one of the overall themes of the books that choices determine who we are.
7) There are a number of occurrences of socks in the books. Can you think of some of them? Is this significant or just coincidence? I don't think so...that made me google and I found a whole essay on socks in HP! (no major spoilers, mainly focused on socks) www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/socks.html
8) Dumbledore tells Harry, “Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled [the sword] out of the [Sorting] Hat.”. What does it mean to be a true Gryffindor, or Slytherin, or Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw? Gryffindor - Bravery, Slytherin - Ambition, Hufflepuff - Loyalty, Ravenclaw - Wisdom.
9) If you could make polyjuice potion, who would you want to turn into for an hour? Hmm...In the books? I think Mrs. Weasley or Tonks. Both of them are kickass ladies. In real life, Charlie Hunnam's girlfriend.
10) What is Snape thinking when he realizes Harry is a parselmouth? I think he was shocked. He knows what it means to be a parselmouth and I think he was shocked to find that Harry was one since he knew the Potters.
I don't think he realizes about the Horcruxes yet. That seems to be figured out by Dumbledore in later books. If Snape knew about the Horcruxes I assume he would have told Dumbledore. Maybe he does realize the connection between Harry and Voldemort? Like the mind connection that he tries to help Harry block in OOP?
2) a - If this is your first time reading, what did you think? If you're rereading, what stuck out to you this time?
Mostly that I still hate this book because it is so freaking childish, and that it annoys me how pivotal this book is to the overall story arc.
3) ***Please hide your answer in a SPOILER tag*** The visit to Knockturn Alley and Mr. Borgin’s shop also sets up scenes in future books. Can you think of some examples? What other themes and items are introduced in Chamber that resurface in later books?
Horcruxes are the biggest one (which other people have already mentioned), since we learn later that's what the diary was, and of course Harry being a Horcrux. Dumbledore even flat out says that Voldemort put a little bit of himself into Harry. Her ability to tie all these things together over the course of seven books is outstanding and boggling when you look back over everything.
Half Blood Prince Spoilerish (it's about the Latin based roots of spell words):
Harry uses the tickling charm "rictusempra" against Draco during the duel, which translates roughly into "grinning always," and then he later uses the "sectumsempra" curse against Draco (in HBP) which translates into "cut/sever always."
I don't know that it's actually significant beyond JKR using a Latin base for her spells and names, but seems like a really good argument that these kids should have a Latin class right alongside Potions and Transfiguration.
4) Were Harry and Ron justified in flying the car to school?
Absolutely not. This is one of the things that pisses me off about this book so much. Harry was like, "Hey lets wait for your parents" and Ron was like, "No dude, lets just steal the car that we've already gotten ourselves in major trouble already for stealing it at the beginning of summer," and Harry was just like, "Yeah! Good idea!" No. WTF. And also, how did Molly and Arthur not realized that Ron and Harry weren't there on the platform with them? I know they have a lot of kids, but everyone is so gaga over Harry that *someone* (Ginny maybe?) should have been like, "Hey, where's Harry? Oh, and Ron?"
5) Colin Creevey accuses Malfoy of being jealous of Harry. Do you think Draco is jealous of Harry?
Yes. Draco is used to being the center of the universe with his parents, and it kills him that not only is Harry more famous, but that Harry blew him off and acted coolly toward him when they met at the robe shop in Year 1.
6) What is the significance of Harry’s fears that he should have been in Slytherin? Why is this so important?
It's important because he made the choice to NOT be in Slytherin.
8) Dumbledore tells Harry, “Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled [the sword] out of the [Sorting] Hat.”. What does it mean to be a true Gryffindor, or Slytherin, or Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw?
I think this theory nails it:
9) If you could make polyjuice potion, who would you want to turn into for an hour?
I'd turn into my H and have him turn into me, and then we'd have kinky sex as each other. I know I'm not the only one to have this thought (and although I haven't looked, I'm sure there is fanfic about this out there somewhere).
8) Dumbledore tells Harry, “Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled [the sword] out of the [Sorting] Hat.”. What does it mean to be a true Gryffindor, or Slytherin, or Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw?
I think this theory nails it:
I hate this theory because Ron isn't Hufflepuff. Hufflepuffs value hard work, fair play, loyalty, and patience. Ron does not value hard work, as he always copies from Hermione,
he thought he use felix felicis during a quidditch match and was ok with cheating, he left Harry when things got rough looking for Horcruxes (although I guess he came back, but whatever)
, and he's shown time and again he has no patience (like flying a car to Hogwarts instead of waiting for his parents to come out of platform 9 3/4).
Although I read that the sorting hat was stuck between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor for Hermione, and she asked for Gryffindor.
10) What is Snape thinking when he realizes Harry is a parselmouth? I think he was shocked. He knows what it means to be a parselmouth and I think he was shocked to find that Harry was one since he knew the Potters.
I don't think he realizes about the Horcruxes yet. That seems to be figured out by Dumbledore in later books. If Snape knew about the Horcruxes I assume he would have told Dumbledore. Maybe he does realize the connection between Harry and Voldemort? Like the mind connection that he tries to help Harry block in OOP?
I agree that he thinks there is a connection, but I don't think he ever knows about the horcruxes. Dumbledore was really secretive about them, and I think Dumbledore only told Harry. Regulus figured it out on his own, but I don't think Snape ever knew.
I agree with you about Snape not knowing about the Horcruxes. Even Bellatrix didn't know the significance of the object she was asked to protect in her vault at Gringotts. Voldemort didn't confide in people. Snape did know the prophecy (at least part of it): "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord..." I think seeing that Harry was a Parseltongue caused Snape to realize that the prophecy had some validity and that Harry was more powerful than anyone realized.
8) Dumbledore tells Harry, “Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled [the sword] out of the [Sorting] Hat.”. What does it mean to be a true Gryffindor, or Slytherin, or Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw?
I think this theory nails it:
I hate this theory because Ron isn't Hufflepuff. Hufflepuffs value hard work, fair play, loyalty, and patience. Ron does not value hard work, as he always copies from Hermione,
I kind of dig it, because I have a soft spot for Hufflepuff, lol. Ron IS immensely loyal. I'm sure not everyone in Hufflepuff is exactly the same. Plus, whose to say if Ron had ended up in Hufflepuff that peer pressure wouldn't have caused him to develop more patience or a better sense of fairness?
I can't remember if it's Ron or Hagrid who says that everyone thinks Hufflepuff is a bunch of duffers, but... But we already know that 1) the books are from Harry's perspective and 2) Harry has a grudge against Slytherin because people he likes told him Slytherin was bad, and he has a rivalry with Malfoy. So whose to say his impression of Hufflepuff is correct? Justin Finch-Fletchly says that he was going to Eton before he got his Hogwarts letter and Eton is considered one of the most exclusive boys schools in the UK, so he's definitely no slouch.
Cedric Diggory is a Hufflepuff, and was chosen to represent the entire school in the triwizard tournament. If Moody hadn't messed with the goblet of fire, Diggory would have been the ONLY wizard from Hogwarts, meaning the best in the school to go into a head-to-head magic competition. AND he made it to the end of the maze with Harry, beating Fleur and Krum. So again - he's definitely no slouch!
And yes, later on Hermione mentions that the sorting hat could see her in both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. No surprise there.
I hate this theory because Ron isn't Hufflepuff. Hufflepuffs value hard work, fair play, loyalty, and patience. Ron does not value hard work, as he always copies from Hermione,
I kind of dig it, because I have a soft spot for Hufflepuff, lol. Ron IS immensely loyal. I'm sure not everyone in Hufflepuff is exactly the same. Plus, whose to say if Ron had ended up in Hufflepuff that peer pressure wouldn't have caused him to develop more patience or a better sense of fairness?
I can't remember if it's Ron or Hagrid who says that everyone thinks Hufflepuff is a bunch of duffers, but... But we already know that 1) the books are from Harry's perspective and 2) Harry has a grudge against Slytherin because people he likes told him Slytherin was bad, and he has a rivalry with Malfoy. So whose to say his impression of Hufflepuff is correct? Justin Finch-Fletchly says that he was going to Eton before he got his Hogwarts letter and Eton is considered one of the most exclusive boys schools in the UK, so he's definitely no slouch.
Cedric Diggory is a Hufflepuff, and was chosen to represent the entire school in the triwizard tournament. If Moody hadn't messed with the goblet of fire, Diggory would have been the ONLY wizard from Hogwarts, meaning the best in the school to go into a head-to-head magic competition. AND he made it to the end of the maze with Harry, beating Fleur and Krum. So again - he's definitely no slouch!
And yes, later on Hermione mentions that the sorting hat could see her in both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. No surprise there.
Lol, I think you misunderstand me. I love Hufflepuff, and I was sorted there on Pottermore. I think Ron is an ass, and does not exemplify the traits they represent. There's no indication in the books of him belonging in Hufflepuff or the sorting hat considering putting him there.
I've been thinking about why this book was not a favorite, and I think Nonny said it. The book is childish (appropriately so due to their ages, but still.) I've always HATED the Gilderoy Lockhart parts, Ron's broken wand, and the fear/suspicion that falls on Harry in this one.
But it has one of my favorite endings, and I ADORE the part at the Burrow. The view into the magic way of life parts at the beginnings of the books are usually my favorites.
1) A favorite line in this book is on the first page. Dudley says, “Pass the frying pan.” “You’ve forgotten the magic word,” says Harry irritably and the Dursleys go bonkers. Do you have a favorite scene or line in Chamber?
One of my favorite scenes is when Malfoy insults Hermione and the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team goes nuts, particularly Fred and George. Those two were always portrayed as goofballs, particularly in the movies, but these scenes really show the depth of their character. I also think having everyone go nuts that way really emphasized how horrible a word it was--and in turn, how horrible Malfoy was.
2) a - If this is your first time reading, what did you think? If you're rereading, what stuck out to you this time? How awful Harry was to Colin. Harry was such a 12-year-old in this book--Colin was just like him, in some respects, coming from a Muggle background and looking at all of it with such awe. He could have been nicer to Colin (and more direct with him when he was annoying) instead of trying to brush him off all the time.
4) Were Harry and Ron justified in flying the car to school? Of course not, but I think this, like so much else, highlights how tuned in Rowling is to teenage mentality and way of thinking. Of course a pair of 12-year-olds will think this is a good idea.
5) Colin Creevey accuses Malfoy of being jealous of Harry. Do you think Draco is jealous of Harry? I think not only is it jealousy for the attention, but also that he's internalized his father's love of the dark arts, and so sees Harry as the enemy. Harry represents everything he hates: connected to Muggles, defeater of Voldemort and possessor of the attention and skill he believes belongs to him.
7) There are a number of occurrences of socks in the books. Can you think of some of them? Is this significant or just coincidence? [Harry uses a sock to free Dobby, Dumbledore says he’d see himself in the Mirror of Erised holding a pair of socks, Harry uses socks to hide the
I think the use of socks is only convenient; considering they wear robes (has she ever said if they wear anything under them??), socks are really the only clothing items readers can relate to.
8) Dumbledore tells Harry, “Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled [the sword] out of the [Sorting] Hat.”. What does it mean to be a true Gryffindor, or Slytherin, or Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw? I've never liked the whole identification by houses because it makes personalities so one-dimensional.
9) If you could make polyjuice potion, who would you want to turn into for an hour? I can't think of anyone
10) What is Snape thinking when he realizes Harry is a parselmouth? No idea
Other thoughts: I just reread the scene with the three of them in Hagrid's house while Ron is puking up slugs. I love how, in the movie, they give the explanation of the term to Hagrid, making him much more of an adult figure for them, but I hate how, in the movie, Ron is relegated to Harry's sidekick. In the books, he has so much more of a role.
One thing that I hate about the end of the book is that it's just so dumb that none of the teachers managed to figure out what it was? Or where it was?? They all knew Myrtle had been killed by it. How incompetent were these teachers?
Post by Dumbledork on Mar 10, 2015 19:43:32 GMT -5
6) What is the significance of Harry’s fears that he should have been in Slytherin? Why is this so important?
8) Dumbledore tells Harry, “Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled [the sword] out of the [Sorting] Hat.”. What does it mean to be a true Gryffindor, or Slytherin, or Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw?
I think these two are actually related. With #6, well, first, I think Harry just wants so bad to not screw up in his parent's world. He's told Slytherin is where "the bad wizards" go, so I think he's mostly fearful of Slytherin because he doesn't want to disappoint his parents. He wants so bad to honor their memory, make them proud of him, and really, make their death worthwhile. I think he sees Slytherine as a step towards dishonor to them.
I think the Sorting Hat saw the Horcrux/Voldemort in him, that small sliver of a descendent of Slytherin, and saw how he could be good there because it's "in his blood."
Spin it over to Dumbledore at the end of the book with the whole "Only a true Gryffindor…" spiel.
I think Harry IS a true Gryffindor. Like his awesome Seeker skills, I think being a Gryffindor is in his blood. I think the three Peverell brothers are descendants of Gryffindor, and the Potters are descendants of Peverell. I think Harry's an actual descendent of Godric Gryffindor.
Voldemort is a descendent of both Slytherin and the second Peverell brother- who apparently would be the opposite of Snape, good Gryffindor guy loving a Slytherine girl.
Harry is a descendent of both Gryffindor and the youngest Peverell brother.
8) Dumbledore tells Harry, “Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled [the sword] out of the [Sorting] Hat.”. What does it mean to be a true Gryffindor, or Slytherin, or Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw?
I think this theory nails it:
I hate this theory because Ron isn't Hufflepuff. Hufflepuffs value hard work, fair play, loyalty, and patience. Ron does not value hard work, as he always copies from Hermione,
he thought he use felix felicis during a quidditch match and was ok with cheating, he left Harry when things got rough looking for Horcruxes (although I guess he came back, but whatever)
, and he's shown time and again he has no patience (like flying a car to Hogwarts instead of waiting for his parents to come out of platform 9 3/4).
Although I read that the sorting hat was stuck between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor for Hermione, and she asked for Gryffindor.
Cedric was cool with the cheating he and Harry did in GOF.
I don't know. I think Ron fits Hufflepuff. It doesn't say they never falter in their loyalty or are only truly loyal to one thing, just that they're extremely loyal. And he is. He left Harry later because of the Horcrux's affects but also because he was scared for his family. He's loyal to his family, he's loyal to his friends, he's loyal to Hogwarts.
He doesn't value written homework, but he's never shown to do unwell in hands-on learning and he works hard in all of the challenges that come in the upcoming books with the Ministry and such.
He's okay with Quidditch and homework cheating, trivial things, but he's always opted for fairness between wizards- purebloods, halfbloods, and Muggle born- and later even for elves and other creatures.
And I think you have to be fairly patient to play chess or put up with Hermione… or Percy and the twins.
Still, I get what you're saying. I think Neville is the better "should have been in Hufflepuff, but asked to be in Gryffindor" candidate.
It is "generally known" (ie people tell Harry) that Snape wants the DADA job and everyone assumes that's why he's a bitter grumpy asshole. But he LOVES potions, right? He's the half blood prince who completely rewrites his own potions textbook. I might be forgetting things in later books, but other than when he takes over DADA when Slughorn returns, is there any concrete evidence that Snape wishes he had the post? Or is it just rumour and gossip?
I might be remembering wrong or thinking movie, not book, but I think in his Pensieve memories, Snape and Dumbledore are talking and Snape says something like "Is that why you never let me teach DADA?" and Dumbledore says "I thought it might be too much of a temptation."
I hate this theory because Ron isn't Hufflepuff. Hufflepuffs value hard work, fair play, loyalty, and patience. Ron does not value hard work, as he always copies from Hermione,
he thought he use felix felicis during a quidditch match and was ok with cheating, he left Harry when things got rough looking for Horcruxes (although I guess he came back, but whatever)
, and he's shown time and again he has no patience (like flying a car to Hogwarts instead of waiting for his parents to come out of platform 9 3/4).
Although I read that the sorting hat was stuck between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor for Hermione, and she asked for Gryffindor.
Cedric was cool with the cheating he and Harry did in GOF.
I don't know. I think Ron fits Hufflepuff. It doesn't say they never falter in their loyalty or are only truly loyal to one thing, just that they're extremely loyal. And he is. He left Harry later because of the Horcrux's affects but also because he was scared for his family. He's loyal to his family, he's loyal to his friends, he's loyal to Hogwarts.
He doesn't value written homework, but he's never shown to do unwell in hands-on learning and he works hard in all of the challenges that come in the upcoming books with the Ministry and such.
He's okay with Quidditch and homework cheating, trivial things, but he's always opted for fairness between wizards- purebloods, halfbloods, and Muggle born- and later even for elves and other creatures.
And I think you have to be fairly patient to play chess or put up with Hermione… or Percy and the twins.
Still, I get what you're saying. I think Neville is the better "should have been in Hufflepuff, but asked to be in Gryffindor" candidate.
Eh, I think it's a pretty big stretch that Ron would be Hufflepuff.
Ironically I read that Neville argued with the sorting hat to put him in Hufflepuff, but the sorting hat wanted him in Gryffindor. I guess that completely fucks the theory that you have to ask to be sorted into Gryffindor!
plus, most gryffindors, and ravenclaws for that matter, didn't buy into blood purity. That's not a very convincing argument for putting someone in Hufflepuff. And the thing with Cedric kind of did exemplify Hufflepuff, because it was more about fair play than cheating. He thought that everyone should be on equal ground if they were facing the same challenges. Ron "cheated" at quidditch to win.