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

[bboyminn]

No: HPFGUIDX 187876

---  "sherriola" <sherriola at ...> wrote:
>...
> 
> CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone/Philosopher Stone
> 
> Chapter Five:  Diagon Alley
> 

> 
> 
> I've always thought of this chapter as a fun chapter, full of delight and wonder.  ...
> 

bboyminn:

Let me start by saying this is one of the most wonderful chapters
in the entire series. We get to share in Harry's wonderment as
he enters with wizard world for the first time. We also get to 
share in Harry's doubt, which is equally nice, and very touching.

> 
> Questions:
> 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?
> 

bboyminn:

It seems Harry is on an emotional rollercoaster. He wakes 
depressed, sure it was all a dream. The opens his eyes to find 
Hagrid on the couch and an owl at the window. He swells with
joy. Then, as he lets the owl is, he feels a rush of fear,
thinking that the owl attacking Hagrid's coat might mess it
all up for him. 

And the theme seems to carry through; fear of not having money,
joy of knowing his parents left him an inheritance, uncertainty
about buy all these odd things from his list in London, the
thrill and confusion as everyone in the Leaky Cauldron rushes
to shake his hand, and on and on it goes in a never ending
rush of changing emotions. 

I can't think of a single scene is this chapter that is not
thoroughly thrilling and engrossing.

>
> 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?
> 

bboyminn:

JKR is using this opportunity to establish important characters,
and quickly lay the ground work for the rest of the story. I
think pretty much everything we, and Harry, encounter is 
important in some way. Though certainly some characters are more
important than others.


> 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?
> 

bboyminn:

The ride on the carts under Gringott's was pretty thrilling and
certainly establishes Harry's sense of wonder and joy at the
amazing world he has been brought into. If Harry had any doubts
about going to Hogwarts and being part of the wizard world, they
are certainly gone after this trip to Diagon Alley.

> 
> 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?
> 

bboyminn:

Well in pretty much any book, a character, no matter how seemly
insignificant at the moment, that stands out, will certainly be
important later in the book.

I really like Doris Crockford and Dedalus Diggle. They are
people Harry is certain to remember for a long time to come. I
also think there is a certain thrill for both Harry and Dedalus
when Harry remembers Dedalus. I think it might be a sign to
us that Harry hasn't been as alone as he thought he was. 
Remember at some point Dumbledore says he has watched Harry 
more closely than Harry could every imagine.

I also think, in a subtle way, meeting Dedalus again in the wizard
world helps confirm to Harry that this is real and not just a
dream.  


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

bboyminn:

Oh most certainly. I didn't see it at the time, but the whole
security thing at Gringott's should have been a clear sign to
any astute reader, that future trouble was brewing at Gringott's. 

It took us 7 books to get there, but we were definitely going
there are sure as the sun shines. 

> 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?
> 

bboyminn:

In a sense, as other have indicated, we see Draco in his true
colors here. He has a sense of privilege and entitlement that
only comes from growing up rich. I suspect had he known
who Harry was, he would have been far more polite and deferential.
And, that could have altered things.

But I think the true break between them comes in a later chapter
when they meet on the train, and Draco offers to shake Harry's
hand. But, unwisely on Draco's part, that hand shake is 
conditional. It means accepting Draco, and rejecting Ron, who
Harry likes a lot. 

If Draco had been polite, and not put Ron and his family down,
I think Harry would have shook his hand, and they would have
been off to a somewhat polite and formal start. But Draco's
complete rejection of Ron, Harry's first true friend, is
unacceptable. Further, Harry's rejection of Draco's hand 
shake is the rejection that sets Draco against Harry for years
to come.

That, much more than their first meeting, is what set them 
apart, which turns them irrevocable against each other. Though
the first meeting set the stage in a way that makes it very
easy for Harry to accept Ron and reject Draco. 

> 
> 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?
> 

bboyminn:

I think it was clear that Slytherin's were generally bad, and
I think that hold true through out the story, even to the end.
But generally bad is not specifically bad. Certainly there would
be exceptions. 

I believed Slytherin's have a tendency to be bad, but even this
early I doubted whether they were uniformly to the last person
bad. 

It almost has to be this way in any book. There have to be
acceptions amoung both the good guys and the bad guys, 
otherwise, it would likely be a poorly written story.


> 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?
> 

bboyminn:

Ah...finally we are to one of the most touching and endearing
scenes in this chapter, and perhaps in the entire series. 
I could so clearly picture Harry and Hagrid in a hamburger 
restaurant (likely a fast food joint) Hagrid way to big for 
the seats, and Harry feeling and looking very small in comparison.
I saws a fan artwork of that scene that captured the mood 
perfectly, over sized Hagrid and small downtrodden desperate 
Harry. I was very moved by this moment.

I think it says Harry has doubts. He sees himself as a very 
ordinary guy, continually belittled and diminshed by the 
Dursleys, yet people expect great things of him. How can
plain ordinary 'just Harry' be expected to accomplish 
extraordinary things? His doubt are very understandable, and
for me very touching. 


> 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?
> 

bboyminn:

This is a hotly debated issue. OK, Harry takes the train back
to Little Whinging, but then what? Does he phone the Dursleys?
Does he have money for the phone? Does he call collect? Is the
train station close enough for Harry to walk? It seems as if
it is already getting dark when Harry sets off, how late was
it when he finally got home, and what happened when he did
arrive home? Did the Durlsy's treat him like he had the plague 
and avoid him? Were they angry with him? 

A lot of unanswered questions here. Yet, the answers to those
questions, interesting as they may be, really don't move the
story forward. So, in the story, we move on.


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