Discussion Questions for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

(Some questions adapted from www.scholastic.com and www.hp-lexicon.org)

1. When Harry tells Professor Dumbledore that Professor Lockhart's Memory Charm backfired and left him with total amnesia, Professor Dumbledore comments, "Impaled on your own sword, Gilderoy!" Hmm. Do you think that Professor Dumbledore knows anything about Professor Lockhart's published lies before Professor Lockhart destroys his own memory? If he does know, why does he let Professor Lockhart teach at Hogwarts with a track record of Obliviating innocent people? And why let someone completely incompetent teach Defense Against the Dark Arts?

2. When Lucius and Mr. Weasley fight in Flourish and Blotts, the insults Lucius throws at Mr. Weasley about money and blood are the exact same things for which Draco mocks Ron at Hogwarts. How much of Draco's feud with Harry and Ron is based on his own feelings and how much arises from his father's influence? Do we get any sign at all that Draco is trying to distinguish himself from his father? How is Draco and Lucius's relationship different from Ron and Mr. Weasley's?

3. We get a brief glimpse of Hermione's dentist parents when she goes to London to meet Harry and Ron in Chapter 4. Mr. Weasley can barely contain his excitement over meeting real Muggles. Still, the Weasley family lives near a Muggle village (Ottery St. Catchpole). Since Muggles have an overwhelming majority in the world, how is it possible that wizards can know so little about Muggles? What preconceptions about Muggle life do you see from most wizards?

4. House elves are not cute little fantasy creatures. They have a powerful magic of their own but are essentially enslaved to their owners. Rowling sets this up in many ways when Harry first meets Dobby and in the rest of the book. Can you think of examples?

5. What is the significance of Harry’s fears that he should have been in Slytherin? Why is this so important?

6. How does the game of Quidditch represent Harry’s life at Hogwarts? Consider the position he plays on the team—”seeker.” How is that role similar to the role he plays in the fight against evil?

7. Draco buys himself a place on the Slytherin Quidditch team. Do you think superior skill or superior equipment is most important in winning a game? Why?

8. When Fudge, Dumbledore, and Mr. Malfoy are in Hagrid’s hut, did Dumbledore know Harry was in the room? Explain your answer.

9. Why do some wizards consider themselves superior to Muggle-born students? In what ways could their elitism and snobbery initiate conflict at Hogwarts and within the larger magical community?

10. Tom Riddle is one of the brightest students ever to attend Hogwarts. So is Hermione. How might she have turned out, if she hadn’t made friends with Harry and Ron?

11. Discuss how Rowling uses caricatures, such as depicting unpleasant people like Dudley as grossly overweight, and how this might influence characters’ and readers’ prejudices regarding obese people. How could Rowling have achieved successful characterization without describing these people’s physiques?

Here are ten questions on the colours which appear in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". The quiz is about the book, not the film. Enjoy! (http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz137619fc31f0.html)

1. What colour does Ron's bedroom appear to Harry?

a) scarlet; b) orange; c) tangerine; d) bright red

2. What colour do the flames turn when you use Floo powder?

a) bright red; b) bright yellow; c) bright blue; d) emerald green

3. What colour are the Slytherin robes when they play Quidditch?

a) green; b) scarlet; c) canary yellow; d) blue

4. What colour stars come from the mouth of the Salamander?

a) bright blue; b) bright yellow; c) tangerine; d) bright orange

5. What colour is the cover of the secret diary?

a) silver; b) gold; c) black; d) azure

6. What colour tie was Cornelius Fudge wearing when he came to take Hagrid to Azkaban?

a) scarlet; b) purple; c) brown; d) silver

7. What colour is the snakeskin?

a) black; b) brown; c) green; d) yellow

8. What colour robes is Ginny wearing in the Secret Chamber?

a) silver; b) black; c) blue; d) grey

9. What colour moustache did Uncle Vernon have?

a) fair; b) brown; c) ginger; d) black

10. What colour hat does Peeves wear to Nearly Headless Nick's party?

a) blue; b) orange; c) yellow; d) green

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30