Chapter Discussion: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 11, The Duelling Club

[ZaraG]

No: HPFGUIDX 189044

This message is a Special Notice for all members of

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups

In addition to being published onlist (available in webview), this post is also being delivered offlist to email in boxes to those whose "Message Delivery" is set to "Special Notices." If this is problematic or if you have any questions, contact the List Elves at:
HPforGrownups-owner @yahoogroups.com (minus that extra space)

CoS Chapter Eleven: The Duelling Club

At the start of this chapter, Harry seeks Ron and Hermione out to relate to them all he has learned, and finds them beginning the process of brewing the Polyjuice Potion for their plan to spy on Draco, their suspect in the petrifications. Some time later in furtherance of this plan. Hermione reveals they will need boomslang skin, which they will need to steal from Snape's office. Hermione suggests Harry create a diversion to distract Snape while she sneaks away to steal the ingredient. Harry tosses a firecracker into Goyle's
potion to accomplish this.

A week later, announcements are posted announcing a Duelling Club. This proves a popular activity and many students show up, perhaps hoping for pointers on how to deal with the monster believed to be stalking the school. The instructor proves to be Lockhart, assisted by Snape. In the course of the first meeting of the club, Harry and Draco duel, and Harry is revealed before the school as a Parselmouth when he speaks to a snake Draco conjures. This makes Harry the prime
suspect to be "Heir of Slytherin", as Slytherin was another Parselmouth, it is why the snake is the symbol of his House, suspicions that are only further inflamed when, at the end of the chapter, Harry is the first to discover the petrified body of Muggleborn student Justin Finch-Fletchley and Nearly Headless
Nick.

Discussion Questions:
1. How convincing did you find the evidence presented by the Trio of Draco's possibly being the "Heir of Slytherin"? (Colin was victimized because Draco was angry about losing, Lucius must have opened the Chamber in the past, Draco planned to stay for the holidays, etc.)

2. Goyle's Swelling Solution, when splashed about the class, caused various students to experience swelling. Does Goyle possess hitherto unsuspected talents for Potionmaking?

3. What is your opinion of Snape's handling of the incident Harry caused in his class?

4. Why do you think Draco and "some Slytherins" cheered Snape's success in disarming Lockhart?

5. With the entire series in hand – why do you think Snape arranged to pair Harry and Draco to practice in the Duelling Club? Has your opinion changed since the first time you read the scene? What do you think Snape whispered in Draco's ear?

6. What did you make of the COS revelations (its association with Slytherin and Dark Wizards) about this talent, before we learned if the soul bit in DH?

7. In this chapter various characters react to this revelation. Harry fears he is a descendant of Slytherin. Ernie and other Hufflepuffs discuss this as Harry eavesdrops. What do you make of these opinions? What does it show us about Wizard society? Is it trying to tell us anything in particular about people/life?

8. The Duelling Club meeting is one of my very favorite scenes in the movies, primarily because I adore the performances of Rickman as Snape and Branagh as Lockhart in this scene and how they bring the characters to life in it just as I had imagined them. Is there any point to Rowling's juxtaposition of these characters in this scene aside from (undeniable) comic effect?

--Zara

NOTE: For more information on HPfGU's chapter discussions, please see " POST DH Chapter Discussions" at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/database?method=reportRows&tbl=33

Next Chapter Discussion, Chapter 12, "The Polyjuice Potion", on March 21, 2010.

If you would like to volunteer to lead a Chamber of Secrets chapter discussion, please drop a note to HPforGrownups-owner @yahoogroups.com (minus that extra space).