chapter discussions, SS/PS, chapter 5, Diagon Alley

[jelly92784]

No: HPFGUIDX 187871

CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone
Chapter Five:  Diagon Alley

1.  Harry begins getting introduced to the wizarding world and its ways from the beginning of this chapter with owl post and different money.  When you first read this chapter, what were some of the things that interested or captivated you about the sights to which harry, and we, are introduced?

Janelle:
I don't really remember what my first reactions were, but looking back at the chapter now I'm guessing that I was starting to get a Halloween-like feel about it.  This is where were first hear about goblins and vampires and potions ingredients, so I'm sure that my mind started wandering in that direction.


2.  This chapter is full of information that is either vital to the rest of the series or foreshadows events to come or themes in the series.  What jumps out at you in this chapter that is important to the rest of the series?

Janelle:
Obviously there are things like the brother wands and the idea of breaking into Gringotts which show how integrated the entire series is.  The two things that jump out at me most, however, are things that at one point I thought might be really important, which turned out not to be.  Specifically, the wand in the window at Olivanders (I thought it might be a horcrux, hidden in plain sight), and the rubies being weighed by a goblin at Gringotts (after seeing the british cover for DH I thought they might have come from Gryffindor's vault).


3.  We've already been introduced to Rowling's magnificent sense of humor in this book, but we see more of it in this chapter.  Even the name Diagon alley, and the authors of some of the school books.  What things tickled your funny bone when reading this chapter?

Janelle:
I did always enjoy "Vindictus Viridian" and Hagrid's statement that cursing Dudley wasn't necessarily a bad idea!

 
4.  Harry gets his first real introduction to his fame when he arrives at the Leaky Cauldron.  What was your reaction to this scene?  Did you think anything about Quirrel's behavior?  Did you think Doris Crockford would be more than the extra she was?
 
If anything Dedalus Diggle is the one that I would have expected to play a bigger role, given the fact that Harry had seen him before.  As far as Quirrell, I took Hagrid at his word in saying he was a generally nervous guy and I didn't have any suspicions about him.


5.  Do the words engraved on the silver doors of Gringots foreshadow what will happen in DH, when Harry goes to steal the cup?

Janelle:
In reading them again I think that the wording is interesting in the way that it relates to Harry and his later break-in.  It says to beware of the "sin of greed" (and we know that Harry was not breaking into the bank due to greed), it also says to beware of taking what you didn't earn (I would argue that Harry did earn that cup!), the third part, however, about taking what was never yours is the one that trips him up in the end.  The cup was never his and so he does find more than treasure in that vault and he has to fight his way out.  


6.  Harry and Draco have their first meeting in this chapter.  We know that this is a vital first meeting, affecting both boys for the rest of the series.  Thinking back to just this moment, without the knowledge you have now, what did you think of this meeting? How could Harry and or Draco have behaved differently to change the relationship between them for the future?  Could this have seriously affected events in the future?

Janelle:
I think it's interesting that Draco automatically assumes that Harry is a pure-blood wizard and begins talking to him in a somewhat-friendly manner.  That being said, I don't know that much could have changed this interation.  Draco is just being himself- it's not the way that he treats Harry that turns Harry off, it's the way that he speaks- he even uses the word "bully."  If Harry hadn't grown up being bullied he might not have thought of Dudley right away and he might not have disliked Draco right away.  If Draco hadn't been such a brat, he might not have said those things.  Maybe if Draco had opened with something different Harry might have befriended him, sat with him on the train a month later, ended up in Slytherin and started out his years at school very differently.  Eventually, however, I think Harry's true nature as a good, caring person would have won out.  Dumbledore still would have taken him under his wing- unfortunately, though, Harry wouldn't have had the support of Ron and Hermione to get him through.


7.  Harry develops his anti-Slytherin feelings in this chapter, based on Draco's behavior and Hagrid's line about there not being a witch or wizard who went bad that wasn't in Slytherin.  From POA onward, we know this isn't true.  Did you believe the bad Slytherin theme at this point in the story?  Could Hagrid really not have known that people from all houses could become followers of Voldemort?  Are there any other instances of misinformation in this chapter?

Janelle:
Because the story had been told in such simplistic ways up to this point, I definitely bought into the concept of Slytherin being bad.  As far as Hagrid's statement, I'm sure that he doesn't really beleive it- he was probably just exaggerating, generalizing (not a good thing to do, but something everyone does).  He wasn't thinking about the possible effect on Harry hearing it.  I can't think of any other instances of direct misinformation, although there is the ambiguity of Quirrell's position at Hogwarts- how long has he been there?  When did he take time off?  How long has he been the DADA teacher?  (All things that we can answer now- kinda, but things that we were unclear on as the new-teacher-every-year thing became more evident!)

 
8.  Over dinner, Harry expresses his fears and insecurity to Hagrid, worrying about what people will expect of him.  What does this say about harry?

Janelle:
I think that this shows that Harry is a normal, modest kid.  The fame hasn't gone to his head- he doesn't automatically believe that he's going to be a great wizard just because everyone says so.  He doesn't have a lot of confidence in himself at this point.  That's something that he has to work for, like everybody else.


9 At the end of the chapter, Hagrid puts Harry on a train for home.  For a child who had never been to London and probably not far from Privet drive on his own, how did he get back to the Dursleys?

Janelle:
Interesting question, I guess we can't really know the answer but here are a few possiblities:  Maybe the Dursley's live quite close to the train station and Harry could walk home?  Maybe Hagrid/Dumbledore will have arranged for the Dursley's to pick him up?  Maybe Mrs. Figg happens to be nearby and takes him him?

10 please add any of your own questions or thoughts that come to mind as you read this chapter.

Janelle:
Re-reading this chapter now, it is amazing how much information there is.  This is not only Harry's introduction to the wizarding world, but the reader's as well.  We get an inkling of Hagrid's drinking, Draco's attitudes, Ollivander's role, the dynamics between the houses, and so many other things that are important throughout the series, however, we never feel overloaded with information, most of it is small details that you ignore initially and pick up on later!