Harry Potter

and the Sorcerer's Stone

Novel Study
 Pre-Reading
F a c t o r O p i n i o n ?
Decide whether each statement is a fact or an opinion. Write F for Fact and
O for opinion.

Harry Potter is the best book ever!

Harry Potter is the first book in a series of 7.
Harry Potter is the coolest main character.
Harry Potter is a fantasy novel.
Harry Potter was written in the 90s.
The Harry Potter books are better than the movies.

Write one fact about yourself and one opinion that you have.
W r i t i n g
Pre-Reading R e s p o n s e
Harry will show many instances of bravery in this novel. In your opinion, what does it
mean to be brave?

Harry will develop a few meaningful friendships in this novel. Tell about a
meaningful friendship that you have. What makes this friendship so
special?
 Pre-Reading
A d v a n t a g e s &
D i s a d v a n t a g e s
Harry is famous for something that he did when he was an infant. He
will continue to be famous his entire life for something he can't even
remember. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages to
being famous since birth?
British Vocabulary
Match the British word to the English
translation
1. Professor 1. Vacation
2. London 2. Mail
3. Knickerbockers 3. Last name
4. Parcel 4. Train
5. Lot 5. Middle School
6. Holiday 6. Paper
7. Secondary School 7. Sharp
8. Parchment 8. Capital of England
9. Post 9. Group of people
10. Rations 10. Package
11. Prune 11. Annoyance
12. Marks 12. Teacher
13. Underground 13. Grades
14. Bloke 14. Underwear
15. Grubby 15. British coin
16. Surname 16. A fixed amount
17. Ruddy 17. Unpleasant person
18. Blasted 18. A man
19. Chappie 19. Dirty
20. Keen 20. Redness
21. Fifty Pence 21. A person
Comprehension Check
Chapter 1
How do the Dursleys feel about the Potters?

Do you think Dumbledore was right to leave Harry with the Dursleys?

Why are people celebrating at the beginning of the chapter?

Why is Harry going to be famous?

 Idioms
Chapter 1 Idioms are phrases that don't LITERALLY mean what they
say. Below are some examples of idioms from Chapter 1.

"Mr. Dursley gave himself a little shake

and put the cat out of his mind." (pg. 3)

"Professor McGonagall shot a sharp look

at Dumbledore and said, "The owls are
nothing next to the rumors that are
flying around." (pg. 11)

Find 3 more idioms from Chapter 1 and write them below.

Comprehension Check
Chapter 2
What does Harry like about his appearance?

Why did Harry get to go with the Dursleys to Dudley’s birthday?

What happens in the reptile house?

What do the Dursleys say happened to Harry's parents? What really happened?
 Simile
Chapter 2 Similes are figures of speech that use 'like' or 'as' to compare
to things. Here is an example of a simile from Chapter 2.

“He turned right around in his seat

and yelled at Harry, his face like a
gigantic beet with a mustache:
“MOTORCYCLES DON'T FLY!”
(pg 25)

What 2 things are being compared in the quote above?

Write 2 more similes that describe Mr. Dursely.

 Point Of View
There are 4 main types of Point of View that can be present in a text. They are:
First Person: the main character is telling the story, they use "I"
statements.
Second Person: you as the reader are telling the story, they use "you"
statements.
Third Person Limited: the narrator is outside of the story and relating the
experiences of a character, they use "he," "she," and "they" statements.
Third Person Omniscient: the narrator has access to the thoughts and
experiences of all characters in the story, they use "he," "she," and "they"
statements.

What is the point of view in Harry Potter?

Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Chapter 2
 Chapter 2
Characterization-Harry Potter
List 3 character traits of Harry Potter:

List 2 actions that Harry has done and what they say about his character:

List 1 thought that Harry has had and what it said about his character:
Comprehension Check
Chapter 3
Who do you think is sending the letters to Harry?

Why won’t Uncle Vernon let Harry open his letter?

What is Harry counting down to?

What do you think Harry would have wished for if he got to blow out candles?
 Onomatopoeia
Chapter 3 Onomatopoeia is sound effects in writing. Below is an
example of onomatopoeia from Chapter 3.

"BOOM. The whole shack shivered

and Harry sat bolt upright, staring at
the door."
Pg 45

List 5 more phrases containing onomatopoeia.

 Mood vs Tone
Many students find it difficult to differentiate between tone and mood of a story, but
they are very different!

The tone of a story shows how the author feels about what they are writing about. A
tone can be optimistic, proud, angry, sarcastic, suspicious, or serious.

The mood of a story is the feeling the reader gets when reading a story. The mood
is the atmosphere the author creates using descriptive language. To determine the
mood, think about the setting, actions of the characters, and language used.

What is the TONE in Harry Potter? What is the MOOD in Harry Potter?

Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Chapter 3
 Chapter 4
Comprehension Check
Who is Hagrid? What is his job at Hogwarts?

What happened to Voldemort?

Why do people NOT like saying Voldemort's name?

Why does Petunia hate Lily?

 Simile
Chapter 4 Similes are figures of speech that use 'like' or 'as' to compare
to things. Here is an example of a simile from Chapter 4.

“His face was almost completely

hidden by a long, shaggy mane of
hair and a wild, tangled beard, but
you could make out his eyes,
glinting like black beetles under all
the hair.”
Pg 45

Write 3 similes comparing things you have read so far in Harry Potter.
 Dialogue
Dialogue is an important tool that writers use to show the conversations that take
place between characters. There are a few rules to follow when writing dialogue:
Use quotation marks before and after the speaker’s exact words.
"You knew?" said Harry. "You knew I'm a --- a wizard?"
Use a comma to separate the speaker from the quote.
"Hagrid," he said, "I think you must have made a mistake. I don't think I
can be a wizard."
When dialogue ends with a period, question mark, or exclamation point, put
the punctuation inside the quotation marks.
“See?" said Hagrid. "Harry Potter, not a wizard - you wait, you'll be right
famous at Hogwarts."
Start a new paragraph when switching speakers.

Write a paragraph with 4 pieces of dialogue that might occur between Harry and Hagrid.

Chapter 4
 Chapter 4
Characterization- Rubeus Hagrid
List 3 character traits of Hagrid:

List 2 actions that Hagrid has done and what they say about his character:

List 1 thought that Hagrid has had and what it said about his character:
Comprehension Check
Chapter 5
How does Harry feel about the boy in the uniform shop? Why?

What house was Voldemort in at Hogwarts?

How do people in the Leaky Cauldron react to seeing Harry Potter?

Why is Harry's wand 'curious?'

 Personification
Chapter 5 Personification means giving human traits to things that
aren't human (animals, objects). Below is an example from
Chapter 5. This quote is an example of personification
because wands can't have brothers, only people can!

“It is curious that you should

be destined for this one, when
it’s brother gave you that
scar.”
Pg 85

Write a paragraph with at least 3 instances of personification.

 Name Importance
Chapter 5 contains a list of books that Harry must get for his first year at Hogwarts.
These authors names have a special tie to the title of the books they wrote. Below
is an example.

"A beginner's Guide to Transfiguration" by Emeric Switch.

Emeric is a variant of Emmerich, which means "whole, universal". This could relate
to him being able to do transfiguration, as he can wholly turn something into
something universally else.
See if you can determine the tie between these author's names and the title of their book.

"One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi" by Phyllida Spore

"Magical Draughts and Potions" by Arsenius Jigger

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by Newt Scamander

Chapter 5
Diagon Alley - Citing the Text
Use the text to determine what is kept at each of the places
Harry and Hagrid visit while in Diagon Alley.
Non-Fiction Reading: The Salem Witch Trials
Throughout the Middle Ages and into the 1600s, many people believed that
witches were real. In the late 1600s in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, women
were actually put on trial for being accused of witchcraft.

It all started when two young ladies began having 'fits' where they would make
strange animal noises, scream, and twitch. They blamed their happenings on
witchcraft, saying some other women in town had cast a spell on them.

People in the town were very afraid of witchcraft. They would give 'tests' to
determine who was a witch and who wasn't. The tests included bizarre and
dangerous things such as repeatedly hurting a person until they confessed to
being a witch.

At least 20 people were killed for being 'witches' and more than 150 were put
in jail. Finally, as more and more innocent people were being accused of
witchcraft, the governor put an end to the trials.

Make a connection between this text and what you have read so far in "Harry Potter."

What differences are there between this text and what you have read in "Harry Potter?"
 Chapter 6
Comprehension Check
What problem does Harry have at King’s Cross Station?

What is a prefect?

Name 3 schoolmates that Harry meets in this chapter.

What is Dumbledore best known for?

 Chapter 6
Characterization- Ron Weasley
List 3 character traits of Ron:

List 2 actions that Ron has done and what they say about his character:

List 1 thought that Ron has had and what it said about his character:
 Weasley Family Tree
Use information from the text to figure out the names of all the Weasley family members.
Make sure to go in order!

Father Mother

Oldest Brother 2nd Oldest Brother

Middle Brother

Twin Brother Twin Brother

Youngest Brother

Sister
 Chapter 7
Comprehension Check
How are the students sorted into each house?

What house was Harry sorted into? What about Ron? Malfoy?

Why does Harry NOT want to be in Slytherin?

What is the purpose of the houses?

 Foreshadowing
Chapter 7 Foreshadowing occurs when the author gives the reader a
hint to what may happen in the future. Below is an example
of foreshadowing from Chapter 7.
He was wearing Professor Quirrell's
turban, which kept talking to him,
telling him he must transfer to
Slytherin at once, because it was his
destiny.
Pg 130
What do you think this foreshadowing tells about the future? What might we
learn about in the future in regards to Harry Potter's destiny?
 Describing the Houses
We can use adjectives to describe the houses at Hogwarts. Each house has specific
qualities that it deems important in its students. Below are a few examples:

Gryffindor values bravery.

Slytherin values resourcefulness.

Hufflepuff values loyalty.

Ravenclaw values wisdom.

Determine 2-3 more traits that each house values. Hint: you may need to use the Internet!

Gryffindor -

Slytherin -

Hufflepuff -

Ravenclaw -

Chapter 7
Ghosts of Hogwarts - Match the Quote
Use information from the text to figure out which ghost said which line!

"Ickle Firsties! What fun!"

"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second

chance."

"I haven't eaten for nearly five

hundred years."
Comprehension Check
Chapter 8
How did Professor Snape treat Harry?

How is mail delivered to Hogwarts?

Why does Professor Snape like Draco?

What do you think was in the package that Hagrid took from Gringotts?
 Chapter 8
Characterization- Severus Snape
List 3 character traits of Snape:

List 2 actions that Snape has done and what they say about his character:

List 1 thought that Snape has had and what it said about his character:
 Connections
Good readers make connections to what they read. Making connections means that
you are able to identify with something in the text and relate it to something
personal, something you have read, or something you have heard/seen.

Text-Self: A connection to something that has happened to you personally.

"This reminds me of the time..."
Text-Text: A connection to something you have read in another book.
"This reminds me of when I read..."
Text-World: A connection to something you have heard/seen.
"This reminds me of when I heard about..."
Make at least one connection for each of the categories.

Text-Self:

Text-Text:

Text-World:

Chapter 8
Classes at Hogwarts
Use information from the text to figure out which teacher teaches which class, and what their
subject matter is.

Professor teaches Transfiguration.

Professor Snape teaches

Professor Binns teaches

Professor teaches Charms.

Professor teaches Herbology.

Professor Quirrell teaches

Mr Filch is the

and he has a cat named

Opinion Writing
In your opinion, which class would be the best to attend? What makes you think so?
Comprehension Check
Chapter 9
What does Draco do after Neville gets hurt? How does Harry react?

What does Neville get from his Gran?

What was in the forbidden corridor?

How did Malfoy trick Harry and Ron?

 Personification
Chapter 9 Personification means giving human traits to things that
aren't human (animals, objects). Below is an example from
Chapter 9.

“Harry’s broom jumped into

his hand at once, but it was
one of the few that did.”
Pg 146

Re-write one of the scenes in Harry Potter using 2 instances of personification.

 Chapter 9
Characterization- Draco Malfoy
List 3 character traits of Draco:

List 2 actions that Draco has done and what they say about his character:

List 1 thought that Draco has had and what it said about his character:
 Non-Fiction Reading: Cerberus
In Greek mythology, Cerberus was often referred to as the hound of Hades. He is a
multi-headed dog that guards the Underworld to keep the dead from leaving. He
was the offspring of the monsters Echidna and Typhon, and was usually described as
having three heads, a serpent for a tail, and snakes protruding from multiple parts of
his body.

Cerberus ate anyone who tried to escape Hades, the Lord of the Underworld, and
he even stopped living people to enter, but the hero Orpheus gained passage by
charming him with music.
Allusion: an implied reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of another text.
The three headed dog is an allusion of the Greek monster Cerberus. Make a connection
between this text and what you have read so far in "Harry Potter."

List a few differences between Cerberus and what you have read about the three
headed dog.
Comprehension Check
Chapter 10
Why wasn’t Hermione speaking to Harry and Ron at the beginning of the chapter?

Who got Harry the Nimbus 2000? Why do you think she did?

What is Harry’s Quidditch position?

How did Ron defeat the troll?

 Chapter 10
Characterization- Hermione Granger
List 3 character traits of Hermione:

List 2 actions that Hermione has done and what they say about his character:

List 1 thought that Hermione has had and what it said about his character:
Compare & Contrast
Good readers are able to compare and contrast two things to better understand
what they read. In this chapter, you learned about the wizard sport Quidditch.
Quidditch shares a lot of similarities with the sport Soccer. Below, you will
compare and contrast the two sports, using information from the chapter.

Quidditch Soccer

Chapter 10
Quidditch Rules
Use information from the text to figure out the rules of Quidditch.

How many players are on each team?

Each team has:
1
1
2
3

The Chasers handle which ball?

The Beaters handle which ball?
What is the Seeker's job?
What is the Keeper's job?
How many points does catching the Snitch award a team?
When does the game end?
 Chapter 11
Comprehension Check
How did Hermione stop Snape from jinxing the broom?

What teacher got bit by Fluffy?

Who does Fluffy belong to?

Who won the Quidditch match? How?

 Details
Chapter 11 Details are what makes a good story into a great story. The author
uses many details during the Quidditch scene to paint an image in
the reader's mind. Here is an example:
“...stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor
Keeper Wood and Gryffindors take the Quaffle-that's
Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there, nice dive
around Flint, off up the field and-OUCH-that must
have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Bludger-
Quaffle taken by the Slytherins-that's Adrian Pucey
speeding off toward the goalposts, but he's blocked
by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which-nice
play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Johnson
back in possession of the Quaffle...”
Pg 186

Write a paragraph describing one of your favorite things. Use your 5 senses
to guide each sentence.
Opinion Writing
In your opinion, which Quidditch position would you like to play? Why?
 Chapter 12
Comprehension Check
What does Ron see in the mirror of Erised? Why does he see that?

Why aren’t Harry and Ron going home for Christmas?

Who do you think sent Harry the Invisibility Cloak?

What does the Mirror of Erised do?

 Hyperbole
Chapter 12 A hyperbole is a statement that is not meant to be exactly
as it sounds. It is the use of exaggeration to make a point.
Below is an example from Chapter 12.

“A hundred fat, roast

turkeys; mountains of roast
and boiled potatoes…”
Pg 203

Write a paragraph about dinner at your house. Use 3 hyperboles to enhance

your details.
Compare & Contrast
Good readers are able to compare and contrast two things to better understand
what they read. So far in this story, you have learned a lot about Harry and his
friend Ron, They have many similarities, but they also have many differences in the
way they see things. Compare and contrast the two friends' point of views below.

Harry Ron

Chapter 12
Mirror of Erised
The Mirror of Erised shows the deepest desires of one's heart. What would you see
in the Mirror of Erised?
Comprehension Check
Chapter 13
What do the trio tell Neville he needs to do about Malfoy?

What is the Sorcerer's Stone? What does it do?

What is Snape planning to do to get the stone?

How does Harry figure out who Nicholas Flamel is? Who is Nicholas Flamel?
 Chapter 13
Characterization- Neville Longbottom
List 3 character traits of Neville:

List 2 actions that Neville has done and what they say about his character:

List 1 thought that Neville has had and what it said about his character:
Non-Fiction Reading: Alchemy
Alchemy is a form of speculative thought that tried to transform
base metals such as lead or copper into silver or gold and to
discover a cure for disease and a way of extending life.

The most important goals of alchemy have been to prolong life and
to transform metals into gold. It appears that neither was
accomplished.

Alchemical changes seem always to have been positive. Alchemy

always aimed at the great human “goods”: wealth, longevity, and
immortality.

Make a connection between this text and what you have read so far in "Harry Potter."

What are some differences between what you have read in this text, and what you
have read in "Harry Potter" regarding alchemy?
Comprehension Check
Chapter 14
What does Hagrid name his pet dragon? Why can’t Hagrid keep it?

What teachers are guarding the stone?

Who catches the trio when they forgot their Invisibility Cloak in the tower?

What is the trio’s plan to get rid of the dragon?

 Chapter 14
Character Change: Harry Potter
List 3 new character traits of Harry:

List 2 actions that Harry has done that he would NOT have done at the start.

List 1 thought that Harry has has that he would NOT have had at the start.
 Chapter 14
Character Change: Ron Weasley
List 3 new character traits of Ron:

List 2 actions that Ron has done that he would NOT have done at the start.

List 1 thought that Ron has has that he would NOT have had at the start.
 Chapter 14
Character Change: Hermione Granger
List 3 new character traits of Hermione:

List 2 actions that Hermione has done that he would NOT have done at the start.

List 1 thought that Hermione has has that he would NOT have had at the start.
Opinion Writing
In your opinion, which teacher would you like to have at Hogwarts? Why?
 Chapter 15
Comprehension Check
Where do they have to serve detention?

What did Harry see in the forest?

Who does Snape want the stone for?

Why are the other two centaurs mad at Firenze?

Compare & Contrast
Good readers are able to compare and contrast two things to better understand
what they read. So far in this story, you have learned a lot about Harry and his
enemy Malfoy, They have a few similarities, but they also have many differences in
the way they see things. Compare and contrast the two boys' point of views below.

Harry Malfoy

Chapter 15
 Author's Purpose
Authors write stories for a few different reasons.

Reason 1: To inform
Sometimes, authors write to inform, or teach, other people about something.

Reason 2: To persuade
Sometimes, authors write to persuade their audience to do something. They might
be trying to talk their audience into doing something they wouldn't normally do.

Reason 3: To entertain
Most times, authors are writing simply to entertain their audience, or get them to
laugh, cry, get angry, and express other emotions.

What do you think is the author's purpose for writing "Harry Potter?" Use 2 examples
from the text to support your answer.

Chapter 15
Comprehension Check
Chapter 16
How do the trio get past Fluffy?

Who does Harry think Hagrid was unknowingly talking to in the pub about Fluffy?

What did the trio do to Neville?

What tests do the trio have to pass to get to the stone?

 Plot Structure
You can think of the plot of a story like a rollercoaster. First, there is the beginning, where the
reader is gaining background information. The reader may also learn about the conflict during this
part. This is similar to when the riders are getting on the rollercoaster.
Next is the rising action. This is the part in the story when the reader is learning about all the
important information that is going to result in the main conflict of the story. This is similar to
when the rollercoaster is going up the big hill in the beginning.
Then comes the climax of the story. This is where the characters face the turning point of the
story. This is similar to the part of the rollercoaster when you are at the very top of the big hill,
about to do down.
Next is the falling action, or the aftermath of the climax. This is like when the remainder of the
rollercoaster ride.
Last is the resolution, or what happens at the end of the story when the characters solve the
problem. This is similar to the end of the rollercoaster when the riders are getting off.
Explain the plot structure of "Harry Potter" below.

Climax
Falli
ion

ng A
Act
ing

ctio
Ris

Beginning Resolution

Chapter 16
 Summarizing
Summarizing is a great tool that readers can use to help them understand the text
more. A good template to use in a summary is the 5 finger summary.

Somebody - Who is the text mainly about?

Wanted - What was the main character's motivation?
But- What challenges did the main character face?
So - What did the main character do?
Then - What was the resolution?

Use the 5 finger summary to summarize what has happened so far in "Harry Potter."

S
W
B
S
T

Chapter 16
 Logic Puzzle
Use the information below to figure out which order the friends drank their
potions!

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Malfoy were drinking potions.

Harry finished before Ron, but behind Hermione. Neville finished
before Malfoy, but behind Ron. What was the order in which they
finished their potions?

1
2
3
4
5
 Chapter 17
Comprehension Check
Who was Quirrell working for? How does Harry defeat Quirrell?

How does Harry get the stone? What happened to it afterward?

Who was it that gave Harry the Invisibility Cloak?

What can Voldemort not understand?

 Theme
"Harry Potter" is filled with many different themes. Six of the most common themes
in literature are:
Good vs. evil
Love
Redemption
Courage and perseverance
Coming of age
Revenge

"Harry Potter" includes some of these themes, and some other very important ones
that are not listed. Think of 2 important themes in "Harry Potter" and write about
them below. Make sure to cite evidence from the story as to why you believe that
is a recurring theme.

Theme 1: Theme 2:

Chapter 17
 Main Idea & Details
The main idea of a story is the central point or big picture concept that the reader
should walk away with. One of the best ways to determine the main idea is to
identify things that are not the main idea. The main idea is not detailed; it's a
concept that encompasses the entire book.

Details are not the main idea. Details are concepts that support the main idea.
Decide what the main idea of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is, and then
list 3 details that support the main idea.
Main Idea

Detail 1 Detail 2 Detail 3

Chapter 17
 Quote Analysis
Think about the quotes from Dumbledore below, and then write a few sentences about
what you think they mean.

“To the well organized mind, death is but the

next great adventure” (pg. 297)

“The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing,

and should therefore be treated with great
caution.” (pg. 298)

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to

your enemies, but just as much to stand up to
your friends.” (pg. 306)
 Post-Reading
O p i n i o n W r i t i n g
Write a paragraph about which Hogwarts House you believe you belong to.
Optional: take the Sorting Hat quiz first and then decide if you truly belong to
that house.