Analysis of 'Harry Potter and The Sorcerer'S Stone'

Book Summary

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone is a book written by J.K. Rowling about a boy named Harry. When Harry was a baby, his whole family was killed by the evil wizard Voldemort. However, Voldemort was not able to kill Harry. After years of Harry living at the Dursely’s house, a mysterious man named Hagrid shows up on Harry’s 11th birthday to tell him that he possesses magical powers. Hagrid then takes Harry to attend Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he faces the challenge of a lifetime.

Character Descriptions

Harry Potter- The main character and protagonist of the book. Has a lightning bolt scar on his forehead from where Voldemort failed to kill him as a baby. Harry found out that he was a wizard on his 11th birthday from Hagrid, and was enrolled into Hogwarts. Harry was very shy and timid at first, but matures and becomes brave by the end of the book from the many challenges he faced trying to capture the Sorcerer’s Stone.

‘Harry had taken one stop towards it when a slithering sound made him freeze where he stood. A bush on the edge of the clearing quivered…Then, out of the shadows, a hooded figure came crawling across the ground like some stalking beast. Harry, Malfoy, and Fang stood transfixed. The cloaked figure reached the unicorn, it lowered its head over the wound in the animal’s side, and began to drink its blood.’

Hermione Granger- Comes from a purely Muggle family, meaning a family where no one holds any special powers. At first, she comes off as an extreme goody two shoes and know-it-all to Harry. However, by the middle of the book, she loosens up a bit and tells lies to cover for Harry. She even helps tremendously in the quest to find the Sorcerer’s stone. By the end of the book, she had developed a special friendship with Ron and Harry.

“Goodness, didn’t you know, I’d have found out everything I could if it was me.” – Hermione Granger

Ron Weasley- Harry’s first friend at Hogwarts. Ron comes from a very poor family and wears hand me down clothes. He is very shy, and isn’t very good at magic. However, Harry appreciates how loyal Ron is to him and he becomes Harry’s closest friend.

Hermione: “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed- or worse, expelled.”

Ron: “She needs to sort out her priorities!”

Literary Devices

Simile- “Harry’s legs were like lead again.” Pg. 96

Metaphor- “He was a big, beefy man with hardly any neck, although he did have a very large mustache. Mrs. Dursley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck, which came in very useful as she spent so much of her time craning over garden fences, spying on the neighbors.” Pg. 1

Allusion- Paracelsus was on the chocolate frog card that Harry opened on his first ride on the Hogwart’s Express pg. 82

Foreshadowing- ‘He was talking about interfering with what the planets say is going to happen… They must show Voldemort’s coming back… Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me… I suppose that’s written in the stars as well.’ Pg. 138

Personification- The Sorting hat pg. 96

Vocabulary

Tawny- having the color of tanned leather

Chortle- laugh quietly or with restraint

Grudging- Petty or reluctant in giving or spending

Astride- With one leg on each side

Scrawny- inferior in size or quality

Hoodlum- An aggressive and violent young criminal

Snivel- Snuff up mucus through the nose

Warlock- A male witch or demon

Ashen- Pale from illness or emotion

Apothecary- A health professional trained in the art of preparing drugs

Key Passage

‘There are all kinds of courage,’ said Dumbledore, smiling. ‘It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom.’ Pg. 247

Key Passage Explanation

This passage is key to the story because it shows the theme of the book. All of the characters had to develop courage and bravery throughout the story to accomplish their goals and/or solve the problems they faced. For example, at the beginning of the story Harry was very timid and wasn’t very brave. By the end, he had developed courage.

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