CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 6: Talons and Tea Leaves

[Mike]

No: HPFGUIDX 189536



>Mike: I'm not sure how, but the summary part of Sherry's Chapter
>Discussion got dropped. So, here it is:

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
Chapter Discussions

Chapter Six
TALONS AND TEA LEAVES

We are introduced to a lot of new information and concepts in this chapter. Hermione is taking more classes than seems possible. The trio takes their first lesson in Divination and meet Professor Trelawney. Trelawney begins to predict Harry's death by telling him about the Grim. Minerva introduces the Transfiguration class to her animagi form and then also tries to comfort Harry regarding Trelawney's predictions. Hagrid teaches his first class with Buckbeak. Draco is injured by Buckbeak and the campaign to sack  Hagrid and execute Buckbeak begins.


Questions:
1. Why did you think the Dementors affected Harry so badly, compared
to everyone else?

2. Did you think anything was going on with Hermione's schedule or
have any idea of how she was taking so many classes?

3. Did you think Sir Cadogan would become a more important character,
or was he just comic relief?

4. Harry shows concern for Sir Cadogan by moving closer to the picture and asking if he is ok. On the other hand, Ron is scornful of the Knight and comments at parting that they'll call him if they need someone mental. Do you think the contrast in attitudes of the two boys says anything in particular about them? Is this an indication of their overall and eventual characters/personality, or is it just young teenage boy attitudes?

5. Did you think Trelawney was a true seer or a hoax? Did you expect any of her predictions to come true, even the simple ones? Do you think any of them did come true later? Just the predictions in this first lesson.

6. Did you think Harry had truly seen a Grim?

7. We meet our first animagi in this first Transfiguration class. Did you think this would be significant, or was it possibly just another fun magical ability?

8. Do you think a person's Animagi form says anything about his or  her character? Take McGonagall, does a cat fit her as you've come to know her through the series?

9. How did you like Hagrid's first lesson? Do you think he had potential to be a good teacher? Would you have enjoyed this first class?

10. What did you think of Harry's interaction with Buckbeak? Did you think we would see Buckbeak again, as we did throughout the series?

11. What are your thoughts on Draco's actions in this lesson? Should he have listened more to Hagrid's instructions? Does he have any blame in the fact that he was injured? Should 13-year-olds be taught to interact with dangerous creatures?

12. Did you agree that Hagrid should be disciplined for this lesson or that Buckbeak should be executed over what happened to Malfoy? Did you guess the significance Buckbeak's execution would play later in the book?

13. And one for fun. Because I laughed a lot in this chapter, did you have a favorite funny line in this chapter?

Please feel free to add your own thoughts or questions.

Sherry