Chapter Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban Ch 16: Professor Trelawney's prediction

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PoA Chapter 16: Professor Trelawney's Prediction:

Summary

Although the weather is warm, students are inside studying for various exams.
Percy is very tense as he prepares for N.E.W.T.S. and even the twins are working
on their O.W.L.S. Hermione's schedule is full with two different times having
two tests listed. Buckbeak's appeal date has been announced, but the executioner
will be attending with the officials. The Trio thinks Malfoy has already
determined the verdict.



Third year exams are very hands on—transfiguring tortoises into teapots, casting
cheering charms on each other, navigating a DADA obstacle course. Ron and Harry
decide to "make up stuff" when viewing the crystal ball. Harry "sees" a
hippogriff and Trelawney asks if he sees such details as a missing head, or
blood, or a weeping Hagrid. Then she becomes rigid and delivers a prediction.



"It will happen tonight. The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by
his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before
midnight
the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master. The Dark
Lord will rise again with his servant's aid, greater and more terrible than ever
he was. Tonight
before midnight
the servant 
will set out
to rejoin
his
master."



Trelawney denies ever making a prediction about the Dark Lord. When Harry goes
to the common room to tell Ron and Hermione, he learns Buckbeak has been
sentenced to death. Hermione retrieves the Invisibility Cloak so they can visit
Hagrid. While there, Hermione discovers Scabbers. The Trio leaves just as the
men from the ministry arrive. Scabbers is squealing and struggling against Ron's
restraint, but even so, they can hear the sound of the ax fall.



Questions:

1. Hermione finally faces a Boggart—and it turns into McGonagall telling her she
failed. What does this bit of comic relief tell us about the character?



2. JKR's description of the exams makes for a very amusing read. Which joke most
tickled your funny bone?



3. Using everything you know about Trelawney, and especially the events of this
chapter—what makes her tick? What kind of character was JKR writing?



4. OK, everyone thought this prediction was about Sirius Black the first time
they read it. (If you didn't, why not?) So, now that we know the future—how
true or accurate is this prediction? What does "chained these twelve years"
mean?



5. Trelawney's first prediction was set in motion by Snape blabbing to LV. What
set this one in motion? Will Harry do anything because of or in spite of hearing
her words?



6. How does the prediction set the reader up, or set the mood? Would the events
(both in the book and the series) seem different if the reader had not been
exposed to the prediction?



7. Did the sudden switch to Hagrid's problems distract the reader (or Harry)
from the prediction?



8. The Trio hears the ax fall, and Hermione says, "They did it." Did Buckbeak
lose his head—or was the Trio already there?



9. Do you have any questions?


Potioncat



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