Harry Potter - HP Chapter Analysis: Sorcerer's Stone, Chapters 14-15

Ben · 03-16-2004, 01:53 PM

This has taken absolutely forever. My bad.

Chapter 14
As Easter approaches, Hermione begins to worry about exams, while Harry and Ron merely try to keep up with the tremendous amount of homework assigned. One day, Hagrid comes upon them studying in the library. They bombard him with questions about the Sorcerer?s Stone. He invites them to come and talk to him later but says he does not promise that he will reveal anything. They visit Hagrid?s hut later, and Hagrid tells them he does not know what else is guarding the stone besides the three-headed dog. He does tell them which teachers cast spells to guard the stone. He adds that he will never give out any information on how to bypass the dog.
Hagrid shows the students a dragon egg that he won in a poker game the previous night. Dragons are illegal, but Hagrid wishes to raise one anyway. Later, Harry gets a note saying the dragon egg is hatching. Excitedly, he and his friends rush over to Hagrid?s to watch the dragon?s birth. The children realize that Hagrid must get rid of this dragon, which Hagrid names Norbert, before he grows too big. They decide to write to Charlie, Ron?s older brother, who is studying dragons in Romania. Charlie agrees to help them and arranges for them to meet some of his friends to take the dragon away. The plan is set for the children to meet Charlie?s friends at midnight one Saturday atop the tallest tower of the castle. They take the invisibility cloak and sneak up carrying Norbert. Charlie?s friends come and take the dragon away. As they descend from the tower, they forget to wear the invisibility cloak, and Filch catches them.

Chapter 15
Filch takes Harry, Hermione, and Ron to Professor McGonagall?s office to be punished. She accuses them of concocting the whole dragon story to lure Malfoy out of bed and get him into trouble. As punishment, McGonagall deducts fifty points from Gryffindor for each of the three wrongdoers. Harry is horrified that his house will lose 150 points. When the bad news is circulated the next morning, Harry quickly falls from his pedestal as Quidditch star. He considers resigning from the Quidditch team, but Wood convinces him that doing so would be useless.

Harry resolves not to get involved in any more suspicious activities, but a week later he overhears a conversation in which Quirrell appears to give in to someone, presumably Snape, as if Snape is pressing him to do something. Harry and his friends try to figure out what to do, but they cannot come up with a plan of action. Harry, Hermione, and Neville are told to report to Hagrid that night for their detention. When they show up, they are surprised to find that detention will be held in the surrounding Forbidden Forest. Malfoy, who has also been given detention, objects to being forced outside like a servant.

Hagrid points to some traces of unicorn blood on the ground and explains that they will be going into the forest to find out what has been harming the animals. They split up into two groups: Harry and Hermione with Hagrid, Neville and Malfoy with Hagrid?s dog, Fang. They penetrate deep into the forest. Harry sees signs that the other group is in trouble, but Hagrid discovers that Malfoy has merely been playing tricks on Neville. Hagrid sends Harry off with Malfoy, taking Neville along with himself. Harry and Malfoy come across a mysterious cloaked figure drinking the blood of a recently killed unicorn. Malfoy and Fang run away, leaving Harry alone. A centaur named Firenze rescues Harry and carries him back to Hagrid. On his way back, Harry learns that the cloaked figure was Voldemort and that he was drinking unicorn blood to sustain himself until he could obtain the Sorcerer?s Stone.

Unanswered Questions

What has happened to Harry's Grandparents? Both Lily and James' parents are unmentioned, how did they die? where did they go? what is going on?
Okay! So we know Lily had green eyes. So what is the big deal with Harry's? JKR mentions it several times. Why is it important?
Why is the shape of his scar signifigant? ...I still like my swish and flick theory!
How far apart in age is Dudley from Harry?
What is so important about location? #4 Privet Dr., Grimauld Place, Godrick's Hollow?
Do you have to be really emotional to be able to do wandless magic? If so I know that half of the population could do some damage one week a month!
Well, if you have to be emotional, Harry is pretty whiny why can't/doesn't he do it now?
Owl service, how does it work? How do the owls know where to go, how fast can they go, etc?
How do Hogwart letters get addressed so specificly? or do only Harry's letters get addressed that way?
What's the deal with owls, and just how special are they really are? Do they have any magical background/powers we don't know about?
Who is [b[Mark Evans[/b], and what is his connection to Harry and/or the magical world? Is Mark related to Lily? Or is it nothing at all?

Got any more? Let us know!

Previous chapters:
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
CHapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapters 11 - 13

[ 03-16-2004: Message edited Ben ]

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***Pav*** · 03-19-2004, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ben:
This has taken absolutely forever. My bad.

Unanswered Questions[*] What has happened to Harry's Grandparents? Both Lily and James' parents are unmentioned, how did they die? where did they go? what is going on?

[*] Who is Mark Evans, and what is his connection to Harry and/or the magical world? Is Mark related to Lily? Or is it nothing at all?

JKR said about Harry�s grandparents: They're all dead and not particularly important to the story, although you will find out a little bit more.

We have to wait...

I wonder about Mark Evans, too! Possibly Harry will find one family member, it would be great... [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[ 03-19-2004: Message edited Linda Claudia Behr ]

Ben · 03-19-2004, 08:05 PM

Mark Evans seems a bit random. I'd say it's coincidental he's an Evans. But then again, it may not be.

magicman · 03-19-2004, 11:05 PM

Yeah, JK has a habbit of slipping things in that we don't pay attention to until sometime later.

Anla · 03-19-2004, 11:22 PM

Is there any way to get around the whole thing about the Dursleys being Harry's only surviving blood relative on his mother's side? Because if not, then he can't be a relative. But then, why give him that last name? It's confusing. [img]smilies/look.gif[/img]

The return of Harry's invisibility cloak at the end of this chapter made me suspicious as to just how much Dumbledore really does know about what's going on, and how much he's putting into place for Harry to go up against Voldemort. He knew that Harry might want to use the cloak for something, and was putting the pieces in place so that when the time was right, Harry was able to do what he had to in order to stop Voldemort.

**Gabriela** · 03-22-2004, 07:53 PM

The Mark Evans thing is confusing. I mean, it really seemed like such a little detail and I didn't even notice/realize it was in there until someone else pointed it out. But we also know JKR is big on details and little clues and things that seem to mean nothing at the time and then have them turn out to be something important.
I love how Harry says he won't get into any suspicious events or happenings, and then is right back at it a week later [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

-Delilah- · 03-23-2004, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anla:
The return of Harry's invisibility cloak at the end of this chapter made me suspicious as to just how much Dumbledore really does know about what's going on, and how much he's putting into place for Harry to go up against Voldemort. He knew that Harry might want to use the cloak for something, and was putting the pieces in place so that when the time was right, Harry was able to do what he had to in order to stop Voldemort.

Very interesting and I agree. Of course we know that Dumbledore knows more than he lets on and I think it does seem that he seems to give Harry clues and different things (invisiblity cloak) etc. that help nudge Harry in the right direction.

Quote:

Originally posted by Gabriela:

I love how Harry says he won't get into any suspicious events or happenings, and then is right back at it a week later [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

I know! Harry's resolution to stop getting involved in "extracirricular activities" didn't last very long... [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

Also Mark Evans? [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img] Where is this person mentioned? [img]smilies/look.gif[/img]

[ 03-23-2004: Message edited -Delilah- ]

***Pav*** · 03-23-2004, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gabriela:
The Mark Evans thing is confusing. I mean, it really seemed like such a little detail and I didn't even notice/realize it was in there until someone else pointed it out. But we also know JKR is big on details and little clues and things that seem to mean nothing at the time and then have them turn out to be something important.
I love how Harry says he won't get into any suspicious events or happenings, and then is right back at it a week later [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

Exactly! [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

However, Petunia never insinuated she had another sibling. Perhaps Petunia's and Lily' s father was called Mark. There can be a connection with JKR's hint Harry's grandparents are all dead and not particularly important to the story, although you will find out a little bit more. I wonder which is true.

[img]smilies/look.gif[/img]

[ 03-23-2004: Message edited Linda Claudia Behr ]

Anla · 04-09-2004, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gabriela:
I love how Harry says he won't get into any suspicious events or happenings, and then is right back at it a week later [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

He meant well. [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

sarzy · 05-01-2004, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anla:


The return of Harry's invisibility cloak at the end of this chapter made me suspicious as to just how much Dumbledore really does know about what's going on, and how much he's putting into place for Harry to go up against Voldemort. He knew that Harry might want to use the cloak for something, and was putting the pieces in place so that when the time was right, Harry was able to do what he had to in order to stop Voldemort.

A very good point. An ongoing theme in all the books has Harry getting hold of either information or items that eventually helps him in his inevitable battle with Voldemort.

I have a question with regard to Snape's interraction with Quirrell. If he was onto Quirrell, and questioning his actions as is evidenced by their Forbidden Forest conversation, and then again when he is muttering the counter curse during the Quiditch match, then why is it always up to Harry to figure it all out and save the day? Why does Snape not alert Dumbledore to his suspicions, or if he does, why is the reader not privy to it? Is it normal practice for a teacher to try and kill a student in a Quiditch match, and for Snape to know about it, and nothing is done?

Ben · 05-01-2004, 02:25 PM

Well obviously Snape was doing something about it. By counter-cursing Quirrel. I think Dumbledore is keeping most other people in the dark about what he's doing with Harry. Snape probably wouldn't like the idea of Harry doing all these things and would contest Dumbledore. Since Snape doesn't like Harry and also probably thinks a school kid can do very little about Voldie.

I think that sounds about right. Make any sense?

sarzy · 05-01-2004, 02:46 PM

That's a good analogy Ben. I agree that Snapedoes often act to protect Harry I was just wondering why more wasn't done to keep him protected from Voldemort, with all the knowledge Dumbledore seemingly has. I do find it interesting that it is often left to Snape to protect Harry--I smell a plot device. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I guess it's hard for me to do chapter analysis of books prior to the final chapters of OotP, when we found out once and for just how much Dumbledore really knew about Harry and Voldie.

Ben · 05-04-2004, 03:35 AM

I agree about finding it harder to analyse the chapters from the books early on after we know everything that's happened. It works both ways though, you see things that you never saw before and vice versa.

I'm de-topping this thread for the time being and I'll start a new thread when we have the new software going. We have too many topped threads!