Sunday, February 27, 2011

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

This book is the first of the Harry Potter series that would change the world. In this book a boy named Harry Potter is sent to live with his aunt and uncle after the death of his parents. His aunt and uncle did not want to have Harry live with them and they made that clearly understood. Harry lived under the wide shadow casted by his cousin, and he never got any attention at home. He got hand-me-down clothes, leftovers for every meal, and forced to live in the cupboard under the stairs. For ten years Harry felt like this would be his life forever, until one day a giant man named Hagrid came to him and told him a secret that would change his life forever. Harry found out that he was a wizard and that his parent were not killed in a car crash but murdered by a dark wizard named Lord Voldemort. This man had once tried to kill Harry too. Hagrid told Harry that he was invited to go to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he would learn all about the Wizarding world and how to use magic. Once at the school Harry makes many new friends and learns many new things that he never could have imagined in his wildest dreams. One thing that fascinates him the most is a mirror, however when you look into it you do not see your reflection but you see your hearts deepest desire. When Harry looked into the mirror he saw his family. He had never had a real family, I mean he had, but never one who loved him. Harry became obsessed with going to the mirror, until one day Professor Dumbledore told him that men have wasted their lives in front of it, because they spent their whole lives trying to have what they wanted instead of trying to achieve it.

1. If you were Harry would you go with Hagrid to Hogwarts despite not knowing who he was, if he was crazy, or if where he was going could be worse, but just being optimistic about going to a new place? Or would you stay home even though what you have to live with everyday was horrible, but you knew what you had and there would be no surprises?

2. If you had the image of anything you wanted right in front of you would you spend as much time as you could there or would you try and go get it keeping in mind that people cannot be brought back from the dead, but maybe the memory of them could live on? Would spending time with the image of someone you loved be worth wasting the life you could have?

19 comments:

Rafiq O. 1-2 said...

1.) Heck to the yeah! Haha. I would argue that ANYWHERE is better than the Dursley's house because they treat Harry so bad, and for no good reason!

2.) I don't think it's worth wasting the life I could have. I can understand "visiting" the mirror every so often, but I would have to go live my life and make the most of my circumstances...

Monica J. 1-2 said...

1.I woukd go with Hagrid because no matter where he took me would be better than living where i was plus Hagrid seemed trustable.

2. I think if i had the image i would spend a lot of time with it when i was depressed to make me feel better but i would still live my life as normal as i could.

Freddy B. 7-8 said...

1. I agree with the first two comments. Even if Hagrid took me somewhere horrible it would have to be better than the Dursleys.
2. I feel like just looking at somebody you love would be more depressing than not seeing them at all. I would go a lot if I could interact with them, but otherwise it would just be tantalizing.

jessica b 1/2 said...

1. I agree with everyone who already commented, in the fact that even if he was take to me somewhere undesirable, I would have done anything to get out of the Dursleys house.

2. I think seeing it, would motivate me more to do go out and actually do it.

Natesa W. 7-8 said...

1. I would definitely go with Hagrid! I agree that anywhere is better than with the Dursleys. But Hagrid is a giant, of course he comes from some sort of magical land?

Sydney S. 1-2 said...

1. I would go with Hagrid right away! I agree with everyone else; anything is better then the Dursleys.

2. I don't think that I would spend much time infront of the mirror. Even though you could see the people you miss, it may make you miss them more, and prevent you from living your life.

Sevgim A.1-2 said...

1. I would go with Hagrid. I wouldn't want to stay and live a miserable life like Harry did. I would hope for the best that the place I was going to would be better.

Morgan O 7-8 said...

I would go with Hagrid since I had reasons to believe what he was saying was true. He is a giant (which don't exist in Harry's world) not to mention he did do a bit of magic with his umbrella, so yes i would go with Hagrid.

The mirror of erised reflected a persons strongest desires, which aren't necessarily possible. In Ron's case it would make sense to go out and live your life because being quiddich captain and head boy was quite possible for him, but no amount of living ones life could achieve what Harry wanted (to have a family). Sitting right here of course I would say it makes more sense to live on instead of staring in a mirror, but seeing as I have never been faced with a temptation such as this, I can't be sure.

Hannah K. 1-2 said...

1) Yes, I would- the Dursleys gave Harry no reason to stay with them, and he had reasons to truth Hagrid.
2) It depends on what I saw. If I saw something attainable (like Ron wanting to be Head Boy/Quidditch Captain) I think it would be easier to resist, because you could work towards that goal. However, if, like Harry, I saw lost loved ones, it would be hard stay away from seeing them again, even if they weren't really there.

Nathan S. 7-8 said...

1) Well, something interesting's definitely going on, considering the odd circumstances in which Hogwarts tried to recruit Harry. I'd let curiosity get the better of me and go without a second thought.

Kaitlyn K 7-8 said...

I would definetly go with hagrid because if I were Harry I would see it as anything would be better than the life that I had with the Dursleys.

Hannah J. 7-8 said...

1.yes i would go with hagrid, theres always a new adventure waiting to happen.
2.no,it wouldnt be worth it. its like driving forward but u cant see whats so great in front of you because ur too busy looking in the rearview mirror

Kyle N.1-2 said...

1. Yeah, life was so horrible at the Dursley's. Anywhere could be better. I would also trust the guy that knows about his birth and showed him magic and that it was "real".

2. It depends upon the person you are. If that person, people, or thing you most desired is gone, you might want to spend time with them. But if you know it is not gone, I would say, go for it and try to acheive/accomplish it.

Josie D 7/8 said...

1. I agree with Morgan, I would have every reason to believe Hagrid was telling the truth. Besides, what would I have to lose. Life with the Dursley's versus a life of I don't know what. Easy choice.
2. I admit, it would be hard to stop looking for my desire, even if I knew I could never have it. I would hope I would be able to move on and think about real life rather than just a dream.

AnaleeL7-8 said...

2) I would waste my life away in front of the mirror even though i know the smart decision would be not too I wouldnt be able to help it.

Spencer P. 1-2 said...

I would definitely go with Hagrid to be a wizard and live out a fantasy life rather then staying home.
2. I believe by spending more time staring at something you want will only make it harder to leave and move on with your life.

Megan M 1-2 said...

I agree with everyone; life at the Dursley's was horrible and fortunately for Harry his life did get somewhat better, besides all of the killing and death of friends and family he still had a great life.
Also I know staying in front of the mirror would be the wrong decision but imagine if you lost your parents, brother or sister and now you finally had a way to see them, wouldn't you feel as if you'd be abandoning them or disrespecting their memory?

Anonymous said...

1. If I was in Harry's position, I would go with Hagrid because I could not imagine living my life in a cupboard under a staircase with a family that did not want me.

2. If I had the image of anything I wanted right in front of me, I would be amazed but I would not want to waist my life staring at something that is not really there.

Mrs. Sherwood said...

Thread graded.