CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 17: The Heir of Slytherin

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 189231

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CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Chapter 17: The Heir of Slytherin

You've read the books.

You've seen the movies.

So here is a very brief summary.

Harry, Ron and Lockhart find themselves in a dark tunnel. Lockhart reveals the
secrets of his success and attempts to Obliviate the boys. The spell not only
backfires, but causes the tunnel to collapse. Harry goes on to the Chamber of
Secrets. He meets Tom Riddle who reveals both Ginny's secrets and his own. Harry
defends Dumbledore. Fawkes and the Sorting Hat appear. Fawkes blinds the
Basilisk. Harry kills the monster with the Sword in the Hat. However he is
poisoned by the Basilisk. Fawkes cures him, and Harry destroys Diary Riddle with
a fang from the monster. Fawkes carries Harry, Ron, Ginny and Lockhart out of
the tunnel.

Questions:

The first two questions are based on this quote:

"I suppose the real reason Ginny Weasley is like this, is because she opened her
heart and spilled all her secrets to an invisible stranger."



1. How is the magical diary in CoS like a modern Muggle device that young
(and not so young) use? Do you think this was intended as a warning?

2. How does Riddle's comment fit with the theme of secret keeping we see
throughout the Harry Potter series?

3. Riddle says he grew stronger on the diet of deepest fears and darkest
secrets. What dark creature does this recall? Is this also the nature of a
Horcrux? Did the locket in DH do the same thing?

4. How did Ginny hide her feather-covered, paint-splattered robes? Did
House Elves clean them without telling anyone?

5. When the Basilisk appears, Fawkes flew off Harry's shoulder. Harry
wanted to cry, "Don't leave me!" Compare this to Harry's experience in DH when
he goes to face Voldemort in the forest.

6. Several times Riddle's expression is described as "hungry." Young
Severus's expression was described the same way in DH. What do you make of this?

7. Riddle comments on how similar he and Harry are. We can make several
comparisons: Harry and Tom; Severus and Tom; Severus and Harry. What is JKR up
to with this Trio?

8. What questions do you have?

I'd like to thank Alla for her patience and assistance and for keeping the
discussions going.  

Potioncat


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