Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Theme of The Home
Home is where the Hogwarts is. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, school's not just where you study and learn cools spells; it's a real home. Harry may start out living in a house with the Dursleys, but it doesn't feel like home to him. To abuse the immortal words of Burt Bacharach, that "house is not a home." At Hogwarts, and in Gryffindor in particular, Harry finally feels a sense of belonging and comfort. Responsible adults care about and look after him, and he has good experiences, good meals, and good friends. It's not sugarcoated – there are still small and large-scale enemies – but for the first time Harry finds pleasure and safety in his living space.
Questions About The Home
- Could you ever see yourself feeling "at home" at school, the way Harry does at Hogwarts?
- Why is having a home so important? Is it possible for us to separate the idea of a "home" from an actual house?
- How does Hagrid's house compare with the Dursleys'? How do those houses compare with Voldemort's temporary "home" in this text?
- What do you think are the things that make Harry feel most at home at Hogwarts?
- What is it about Number Four Privet Drive that so un-homey?