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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 1

Vocabulary: Define the following words and find each in context. Provide a page number for each.

Craning-- stretching one’s neck in order to see something better

“Shuddered to think”-- the thought is unpleasant

Tawny

Chortle

Getup-- an outfit or costume

Rejoice-- to express great happiness

Stern

Pursed lips-- having the lips tightly closed together, usually an expression of distaste

Quiver

Contrary

Spectacles-- eyeglasses

Rummage

Pinprick-- a tiny point

“Distinctly ruffled”-- clearly upset

Irritably-- in a way that shows annoyance

Downright-- absolutely; completely

Sensible

Persuade

Exasperated

Flatter

Noble

“Piercing stare”-- a way of looking at someone intentlyAstride-- sitting on top of

Slinking

Tidy-- neat and clean, everything in its place, nothing unusual

Astonishing

Comprehension: Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Use QUOTES to support your answers.

1. What strange occurrences does Mr. Dursley notice that foreshadow the arrival of Harry?

2) Why is Harry sent to live with the Dursleys? What happened to cause it, and why were the Dursley’s chosen over someone more like Harry?

Discussion: As your group discusses this chapter, be sure to talk about the following topic.What would be a benefit to Harry growing up without knowing who he is to the wizarding

world? What would be a disadvantage? Do you think Dumbledore made the right decision in leaving him with the Dursleys? Why or why not?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 2


Fateful

Shrill

Rapped

Parcel

Frantically

Revolting

Intently

Murmur

Vigorous


1. How can you tell Dudley is extremely spoiled?

2. Why do the Dursley’s bring Harry to the zoo with them, even though they don’t want to?

3. What strange interaction does Harry have with the snake?

Discussion: As your group discusses this chapter, be sure to talk about the following topic.

1. What were Harry’s dreams? (One was an actual dream when he was asleep, one was a hope.) Discuss how these dreams may foreshadow what will happen later in the story.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Chapter 3: The Letters from No One


Knickerbockers

Coat of arms

Whelk

Parchment

Promptly

Quiver

Pelting

Timid

Gleeful


1. Why is it strange that Harry receives a letter?

2. On page 36, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia are talking about the letter. Aunt Petunia asks, “‘...how could they possibly know where he sleeps? You don’t think they’re watching the house?’” Who do you think “they” are? What makes you think this?

3. How do the Dursley’s feel about the letters Harry is receiving, as evidenced by their subsequent actions? Remember to quote the text to support your answer.

Discussion: As your group discusses this chapter, be sure to talk about the following topic.Harry notices several noises as he counts down to his eleventh birthday, culminating in a loud boom and a knock on the door at the precise moment he turns eleven. Make a prediction about what is happening and who the visitor is. If you already know, imagine how each character must be feeling as they hear the knock.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 4: The Keeper of the Keys


rasping

amber

cower

bewildered

quailed

reckon

urgently

persuade

Codswallop-- nonsense

clout


1. Describe Rubeus Hagrid. Explain why he showed up to see Harry and why he gets so angry at the Dursleys.

2) Where is Harry going to go with Hagrid? What is special about this place?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 5: Diagon Alley


puncture (62)

transfiguration (66)

cauldron (67)

phial (67)-- vial; a small glass container for holding liquids

pewter (67)-- a dull gray metal

beaming (69)-- smiling hugely and proudly

stammer (70)

apothecary (71)

burnished (72)

heed (72)-- pay attention to; be careful

vast (73)

stalactites (74)-- pointed rock structure that hangs from the top of a cave, like an icicle

stalagmite (74) -- pointed rock structure that forms on the floor of a cave and points upward

billow (75)

ravine (75)

infernal (76)-- irritating and tiresome when used in slang (literally relating to fire or hell)

quill (79)

miniscule (81)-- very tiny

spindly (82)

pliable (82)

laden (86)


1. The other boy that Harry meets while being fitted for a robe appears to have strong opinions. What sort of comments does he make about Hogwarts and his opinions? What does this tell you about this character’s personality?

2) Mr. Ollivander remarks on the wand that fits Harry, calling the situation “curious.” Explain why he feels this way. Predict why this might be important to the story.

3) Why do you think the author writes Hagrid’s dialogue so differently than the other characters’? Read the following passage from page 63. Re-write the passage on lined paper, changing Hagrid’s dialogue into standard American English. Attach your paper to this page.

“Don’t worry about that,” said Hagrid, standing up and

scratching his head. “D’yeh think yer parents didn’t leave yeh

anything?”

“But if their house was destroyed--”

“They didn’ keep their gold in the house, boy! Nah, first stop fer

us is Gringotts. Wizards’ bank. Have a sausage, they’re not bad

cold-- an’ I wouldn’ say no teh a bit o’ yer birthday cake, neither.”

“Wizards have banks?”

“Just the one. Gringotts. Run by goblins.”

“Goblins?”

“Yea-- so yeh’d be mad ter try an’ rob it, I’ll tell yeh that. Never

mess with goblins, Harry. Gringotts is the safest place in the world

fer anything yeh want ter keep safe-- ‘cept maybe Hogwarts. As a

matter o’ fact, I gotta visit Gringotts anyway. Fer Dumbledore.

Hogwarts business.” Hagrid drew himself up proudly. “He usually

gets me ter do important stuff fer him. Fetchin’ you-- gettin’ things

from Gringotts-- knows he can trust me, see.”

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 6- “The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters”


puncture (89)

prefect (96)

clamber (97)

alchemy (103)

tripe (104)

lurch (111)

throng (111)

turret (111)


1) Why do the Dursleys leave Harry at the station with such a nasty sense of amusement?

2) What can you tell about the family that helps Harry get onto the Hogwarts Express successfully (the Weasleys)? Explain at least three things you learn about them and how you know.

3) What strikes Harry as odd about the pictures of people in the wizarding world?

4)While on the train, Harry meets Draco Malfoy for the second time. When was the first? Did this chapter confirm your first impressions of Draco, or do you feel differently about him now? Explain.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 7- “The Sorting Hat”


stern (113)

drone (113)

peer (114)

linger (114)

“a ruff and tights” (115)

mutely (116)

frayed (117)

chivalry (118)

toil (118)

cunning (118)

queasy (119)

amid (120)

pompously (122)

miffed (124)

irritably (124)

gaunt (124)

treacle (125)

pier (125)

sallow (126)

cackle (129)


1. The author uses descriptive language to help the reader visualize the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Describe the way you envision the Great Hall, providing some examples of the language the author included that helped you picture it.

2) The Sorting Hat reveals some of the major characteristics shared by the students in each house at Hogwarts. Name each house and describe what the members of that house are like, based on what the Sorting Hat says.

3) Into which house does Harry almost get sorted? Why doesn’t the Sorting Hat follow through on this placement? Why do you think Harry does not want to be in this house? What house does Harry eventually join?

4) If you were to be a student at Hogwarts, which house do you think you would be in? Why?

5) Describe Harry’s first impression of Professor Snape. What predictions do you make about this character?

Discussion: As your group discusses this chapter, be sure to talk about the following topic.

Which three characters appear in Harry’s dream at the end of the chapter? Why do you think the author chooses to include these particular characters in the dream? To what other instance might the “burst of green light” allude? Do you think this is intentional foreshadowing on the part of the author? Explain.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 8: The Potions Master

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 9: The Midnight Duel


boastful (144)

prodding (144)

gloatingly (145)

quaver (146)

embers (155)

shrilly (156)


1. Why does Harry fly on his broomstick while Madame Hooch is gone, even though she told the students not to? What does this show about his character?

2) What does Professor McGonagall do with Harry as a result of his flying without permission? Why?

3) What happens as a result of the Fat Lady in the portrait going away after Ron, Harry, and Hermione leave the Gryffindor common room? How does this prove to be beneficial?

4) The friends end up in the forbidden corridor. Explain why it is forbidden.

5) After realizing the creature is guarding something, Harry remembers what Hagrid said-- that, “Gringotts was the safest place in the world for something you wanted to hide-- except perhaps Hogwarts” (162). Make an inference about what may be guarded by the creature, and explain why you think this.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 10: Halloween


keen (163)

glee (164)

enviously (165)

chortled (166)

pelted (168)

trudged (170)

wafting (170)

hovered (171)

askew (172)

lumbered (175)

berserk (176)


1) Why are the students evacuated from the Great Hall on Halloween? (Be sure to include information about who warns them.)

2) Why don’t Harry and Ron go back to Gryffindor tower with the rest of their house? Which teacher do they see going by himself toward the third floor during the evacuation? What does this make you predict about this teacher?

3) How do Harry and Ron become friends with Hermione Granger, though up to that night they didn’t seem to like her much?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 11: Quidditch


Conjured (181)

Diversion (183)

Wheedled (184)

Revolting (188)

Clamber (191)


1. How has Hermione changed since the incident with the troll? Give an example to show this change in her.

2. What led Harry and his friends to believe that Snape was trying to get whatever was hidden in the forbidden corridor?

3. Give evidence to support the students’ idea that Snape was cursing Harry’s broomstick during the Quidditch match. Why does Hagrid disagree with them?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 12: The Mirror of Erised


Taunting (195)

Drawl (195)

Provoked (196)

Festoon (196)

Disgruntled (197)

Notable (198)

Brandished (198)

Chipolata (203)

Tureen (203)

Engulfed (203)

Crackers (203)-- as used here, a party favor that makes a loud cracking noise when pulled apart

Laden (204)

Luminous (204)

Crumpets (204)

Trifle (204)

Ornate (207)

Inscription (207)

Paisley (210)

Transfixed (210)

Entranced (213)


1. What gift does Harry receive from an anonymous giver? Who do you think may have sent it to him?

2. Why does Harry feel that he should use the cloak alone the first time?

3. What does Harry see when he looks into the Mirror of Erised? Why?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 13: Nicolas Flamel


Fanatic (216)

Sinister (217)

Urged (218)

Alchemy (220)

Elixir (220)

Biased (221)

Grim (221)

Brooding (224)


1. How did Harry find out who Nicolas Flamel is? Who is he?

2. Why would someone want to possess the Sorcerer’s Stone?

3. Who does Harry overhear in the forest? What does this lead him to believe?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 14: Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback


Inferno (230)

Stifling (231)

Stoat (231)

Stoke (233)

Trowel (234)

“With bated breath” (234)

Furl (236)

Tartan (240)

Jig (241)


1. How do the friends get more information about what is guarding the Sorcerer’s Stone? Explain why this was not a surprising method, based on past events in the book.

2. What was suspicious about the way Hagrid obtained the dragon egg?

3. How do the friends solve the problem of having an illegal dragon at Hogwarts?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Chapter 15: The Forbidden Forest


Alibi (242)

Feeble (242)

Meddle (245)

Resign (245)

Resolution (246)

Kindle (247)

Furor (248)

Leer (248)

Quiver (noun) (249)

Livid (256)

Lurk (257)

Canter (259)

Imprecise (260)


1. Where do the students have to serve their detention? What is their task?

2. What does Harry see in the forest? Why do you think his scar hurts so badly at this time?

3. What does the blood of a unicorn do?

4. To whom does Firenze refer when suggesting someone who might want to use the unicorn blood?

5. Who do you think sent Harry’s Invisibility Cloak back to him at the end of the chapter? Why did they do this?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 16: Through the Trapdoor


Sweltering (262)

Fret (263)

Bask (263)

Urgent (267)

Frantically (267)

Rigid (273)

Omen (273)

Skulk (274)

Cease (275)

Wring (278)

Cringe (278)

Astonishing (281)


1. What does Hagrid tell the children about the identity man who gave him the dragon egg? Relate this to what was seen in the previous chapter- what inference can you make?

2. What does Hagrid realize he divulged to the man who gave him the dragon egg? Why could this prove so problematic?

3. Why is Dumbledore not at Hogwarts? Does this seem coincidental or suspicious?

4. Re-read what Harry says to Ron and Hermione on page 270. What does this reveal about Harry’s character? How does this make him a Hero?

5. When the friends catch the correct winged key, what clue helps you infer that it has already been used?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneChapter 17: The Man with Two Faces


treble (288)

idly (290)

spasm (290)

surge (294)

in vain (294)

hygienic (296)

confiscate (296)

detest (300)

remorse (303)

abysmal (307)

wizened (308)


1. When Harry makes it to the last chamber, whom does he see?

2. Explain the true stories behind the situations that had previously led the children to believe that Snape had malicious intentions.

3. Explain why this chapter is titled “The Man with Two Faces.” Give both the literal and the figurative reasons (hint: what does the expression ‘two-faced’ mean?).

4. Do you agree with Dumbledore’s statement that “Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself”? Why or why not?

5. Though the children’s suspicions of Snape are unfounded, he does hold a grudge against Harry. Explain why.

6. How does Harry obtain the Sorcerer’s Stone, while Quirrell was unable to?

7. Explain the turn of events that leads to Gryffindor winning the House Cup instead of Slytherin.

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