1 The Boy who lived
The first chapter "The boy who lived" is the best start of a novel I ever read. I had goose bumps from the 1st page on. I don't even know why though. (Holger)
2 The Vanishing Glass
A not funny but dangerous situation is when Harry doesn't know he's a wizard and lets the glass between him and the boa constructor in the zoo vanish and everybody runs out of the reptile house. It's the first time when Harry uses his magic forces without knowing. Luckily it wasn't something worse and nobody was hurt. But it wasn't Harry fault, he doesn't know that he's a wizard. (Bastian)
3 The Letters from No One
When letters keep coming in...
I was laughing myself silly when the letters came out of the chimney and bumped into Uncle Vernon's head. I could really see his dumpstruck face. (Holger)
Dudley´s feelings for Harry
I think the funniest situation is on page 40 when Dudley wants to stuff Harry's head in a toilet and Harry says "No thanks. The poor toilet's never had anything as horrible as your head down it - it might be sick." and runs away before Dudley can work out what he said. It's funny that Harry only could get away because this bully´s got more muscles and less brain. It shows that Harry doesn't need strength and magic to counter bullies. (Bastian)
Addresses
The way the letters that Harry receives are addressed is cool. For example "Mr H. Potter/The Cupboard under the stairs/ 4 Privet Drive/ Little Whinging/Surrey" (page 42) or " Mr H. Potter, The smallest Bedroom/ 4 Privet Drive-" (page 46). I really smiled when I read this. (Jessica)
4 The Keeper of the Keys
Dangerous weapons
Uncle Vernon says: "Who is there... I warn you - I'm armed." How ridiculous can you be, honestly? Uncle Vernon is the silliest Muggle around and that makes most of the situations he is in very embarrassing for him but funny to me! (Cathrin)
A giant comes in...
When Hagrid breaks into the small hut in the Rock, the Dursleys are very shocked. Especially Vernon Dursley thought that nobody could reach them. It is a very good part because Harry´s uncle wants to keep him away from all the magic and from the letters which were sent to him. But Hagrid comes and ruins Vernon Dursleys plans and tells Harry the truth about his magic history and who he is. For the first time the Dursleys are very small in front of Harry. (Marco)
Hagrid tells Harry everything
I like the way Hagrid talks. His slang is so messed up and it makes him so likable. (Holger)
The pig´s tail
Page: 69. "He brought the umbrella swishing down through the air to point at Dudley - there was a flash of violet light, a sound like a firecracker, a sharp sequel and next second, Dudley was dancing on the spot with his hands clasped over his fat bottom howling in pain. When he turned his back on them, Harry saw a curly pig`s tail poking through a hole in his trousers." These are my favorite sentences in Harry Potter because it is funny to see how Dudley, the strongest and worst enemy of Harry in the muggle world, is punished for his bad behaviour with Harry by Hagrid`s umbrella. It`s also funny that Dudley`s bottom becomes a pig`s tail. (Stefan)
And more pig´s tail
It is just too funny, imagining Dudley, the little fat boy running around with a curly pig tail! (Cathrin)
I think one of the greatest situations in the first Harry Potter Book is in the chapter "The keeper of the keys", when Hagrid gives Dudley a pigtail with his magic. (Axel)What a great chapter!
It's the best chapter of the whole book. I like it so much because it's the first time when the bad Dursleys are afraid of someone who belongs to Harry and that at Harry's 11th birthday. The man, Hagrid, who visits Harry, is not normal. He's really huge, twice as big as a normal human. And all the Dursleys are frightened of him. I think it's the best birthday present for Harry. (Tobi)
5 Diagon Alley
About Hagrid
I really liked the passage when Hagrid is reading the newspaper and Harry doesn't want to bug Hagrid but he is nearly exploding because of all the questions in his mind. The way Harry is excited about everything is really great. In my opinion you can really fell the tension Harry feels. (pg.75) (Jessica)
More about Hagrid
I think it's also funny that Hagrid´s got thousand of things in his pockets and doesn't know where he should begin to search when he seeks one of these things. This happens for example in chapter four and five. And when he begins to search, first he finds things he doesn't need yet but empties it out of his pockets whereever he is. It's funny to read what he´s got inside,. for example when he is "scattering a handful of moldy dog-biscuits over the goblin's book of numbers." (page 83). He's got more of an absent minded professor than of somebody who works at Hogwarts where there are so many brilliant teachers. (Bastian)
6 The Journey from platform nine and three-quarters
Uncle Vernon doesn´t understand
When Harry comes to King's Cross Station with the Dursleys and searches for platform 9 ¾ . It is a nice situation when Mr. Dursley says to Harry: " 'Well, there you are, boy. Platform nine - platform ten. Your platform should be somewhere in the middle, but they don't seem to have built it yet, do they?' " Mr. Dursley must think that Harry is crazy because there's no platform 9 ¾. Of course he doesn't know that it exists but only if you run into the barrier. (Bastian)
The strange platform 9 and three-quarters
Another crazy but funny thing in the book is the platform "nine and three-quarters" and how the pupils get to this platform. (Axel)
Something to learn for Harry
Page: 104. "Yes, said Harry. The thing is - the thing is, I don`t know how to - How to get on to the platform? she said kindly, and Harry nodded. All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platform nine and ten. Don`t stop and don`t be scared you`ll crash into it, that`s very important." I find this part very impressive because it shows that Harry is very helpless at the beginning in the wizard world. It is also a sign that his relatives, the Dursleys, don`t want to help him. It is his first time that he was influenced by magic. (Stefan)
Harry meets the Weasleys
page101-102: Harry is standing on platform nine and doesn't know how to get to platform nine and three-quarters. Harry asks first a passing guard but he can´t help him, then Harry really gets desperate and confused until he sees another wizard family. I really like the way Harry is described in this situation and how brave he is acting when asking the mother of the wizard family how to get there. (Jessica)
What´s going on here?
It's a funny part of the book because when Harry comes to the station there are the platforms nine and ten but the one he searches for isn't there. Then he recognizes some people who don't look like normal humans. He asks for help and gets some. He only has to walk through a barrier between platform nine and ten. At first he doesn't believe it, but then reaches platform nine and three quarters clearly. It is his first time that he is influenced by magic. (Tobi)
7 The Sorting Hat
What a party! What a school!
Page: 140 The newcomers sing with Albus Dumbledore the Hogwarts song to everyone`s personal tune:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty, Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they`re bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we`ve forgot,
Just do your best, we`ll do the rest
And learn until our brains all not."
I find this very funny because J.K. Rowling describes her story in a way that some people (like me) can laugh about such crazy things. Because of this song the chapter gets ist own special and fantastic flair. I think it shows that Hogwarts is a funny and great wizard school with crazy teachers and a funny Albus Dumbledore (Stefan)The sorting hat
One of the craziest thing of course is the Sorting Hat, I think. I think it was a good idea from Mrs. Rowling how she let a speaking hat decide which house every pupil will be in. (Axel)
Dumbledore
It´s all a little bit crazy because the headmaster of the Hogwarts School is a little bit crazy. But the best thing is the Sorting Hat. It is a hat which can see into your mind and it can talk, too. All pupils are afraid of a magic test, but there's none. And in the end there is an enormous meal and Harry can eat as much as he wants for the first time. Harry is amazed by the nice atmosphere of the school.(Tobi)
8 The Potions Master
9 The Midnight Duel
Harry shows them all
When Harry gets the Remembrall that was stolen by Draco Malfoy, he really fights for his good name. It is his very first time on a broomstick and nobody expects that he is so good. He shows them all, especially Draco, that he is Harry Potter. (Marco)
Adventure of escaping
Another good scene is when Harry, Hermione and Ron escape from Filch and Mrs. Norris, who were informed by Draco Malfoy. Peeves the Ghost recognises them and makes trouble. They run away from their followers and want to hide in a unknown room where Fluffy the Three Headed dog shocks them. They run away, get back to there bedrooms and are very happy to have had a great adventure. (Marco)
Rivals
I preferred this chapter because it was the first time that Draco Malfoy, Harry's rival, who thought that he himself is real great, shows that he is frightened of breaking the school rules. Not so Harry. He shows that he is brave and stands for what he has said. (Tobi)
Fluffy
What I like in the whole book is Hagrid and his love to monsters. I think it is funny but also normal because Hagrid is a person who is almost alone. So it is normal that he has pets who give him a bit of love. And for a man who is so huge, a normal small cat wouldn't be the right thing. But for the reader it is very crazy and funny when Hagrid calls a monstrous three-headed dog "Fluffy" or a huge dangerous dragon "little baby". (Andy)
10 Hallowe´en
The next morning
page 178: "Malfoy couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that Harry and Ron were still at Hogwarts next day, looking tired but perfectly cheerful." In my opinion this sentence is absolutely great, because Malfoy was so sure that Harry would not be at Hogwarts any more. Then when I read this part I really could imagine how Malfoy had looked like when he saw Harry the next morning. (Jessica)
I'd love to see Malfoy's face and those of his friends, when they think Harry would get kicked out of school for having a broomstick, but soon have to realise, that everything is fine and that it's basically Malfoy's "fault". (Cathrin)
11 Quidditch
I like the Quidditch matches very much. J. K. Rowling wrote the scenes so interesting and exciting. You want to over-read lines to know what happen and if Harry wins. Also Lee Jordan the commentator and his argument with Prof. McGonagall during the game is very funny. (Andy)
12 The Mirror of Erised
How it is to see your own parents for the first time
One of the touchiest moments of the book to me is, when Harry sees his father and mother for the first time. I just like that situation because it must be a very important one in your life, if you've never seen your parents before, except on photos. (Cathrin)
13 Nicolas Flamel
14 Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback
The dragon
page 252: Hagrid explains to Harry: 'las'night I was down in the village havin' a few drinks an' got into a game o' cards with a stranger.' He won the egg of a Nerwegian Ridegeback. The way Hagrid is happy about the egg is really fantastic. He is happy like a little child and behaves like that. Big Hagrid is absolutely sure he can raise a dragon in his hut without anybody knowing anything about that. In this part I really fell sympathy for Hagrid. (Jessica)
Hagrid
Hagrid is an awesome person, because he often does things he is not supposed to do, just like when he wants to keep the dragon as a pet and whinges around like a kid! (Cathrin)
Harry´s troubles
In this chapter Hagrid wants to keep a dragon, but he can not keep him forever and so they want to send it to Ron´s brother. They bring it to the highest tower but forget Harry´s cloak. This shows us that Harry is not a perfect hero. He forgets things everybody forgets. (Marco)
15 The Forbidden Forest
16 Through the Trapdoor
Hermione
Page: 299 "It likes the dark and the damp - So light a fire! Harry chocked. Yes - of course - but there`s no wood! Hermione cried, wrining her hands. Have you gone mad? Ron bellowed. Are you a witch or not?" I find this situation very crazy and lovely because it shows that Hermione who studies very hard and seriously and posesses a big knowledge can be funny in a such serious situation and that`s why I can laugh about that. (Stefan)
A funny situation is when Harry, Hermione and Ron want to get the philosopher's stone and have to kill the Devil's Snare because they had to kill this plant with fire and Hermione forgets that she's a witch who could make fire whenever. (page 299: " 'so light a fire!' Harry choked. 'Yes - of course - but there's no wood!' Hermione cried, wringing her hands. 'HAVE YOU GONE MAD?' Ron bellowed. 'ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?' 'Oh right!' said Hermione.") Always these girls who are in panic first ... :-) (Bastian)
How to get past Fluffy
I think the dangerous, bad and evil dog with the three heads is very funny, because when someone plays music in his present, it falls asleep like a baby. (Axel)
Ron´s humor
Ron's remark to Hermione ("No wood, honestly?") after fighting the Devil's Snare totally cracked me up. (Holger)
17 The Man with two faces
The fight
The great surprise of this chapter is when Quirrell instead of Snape wants to get the stone. But it is not only Quirrell, it is also Voldemort whom Harry must stop alone. Dumbledore comes back in the last second. In this part Harry fights for his first time against the dark side and wins! (Marco)
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