How many editions (versions) are there of the first book? How do they differ? Why?
(about 70 words)(content: versions - title - changes - art)(4 1/2 points)

There are two editions: the British one and the American one. The British one was published in 1997 by Bloomsbury Children's Books . The American one was published in 1998 by A. Levine Books / Scholastic Press. It is called "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". The British edition is called "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". There are some different vocabulary words because the Americans can understand them better than the British words. The picture on the cover is different, too, because there were two different creators: Mary Grandpré created the British cover and Thomas Taylor for the American one. (4 points)

by Clarissa (9a)

What kind of books are the Harry Potter books? What is the fundamental theme in them?
(about 40 words)(1 1/2 points)

The Harry Potter books are novels. They are fictional texts but they have some factual elements in them. There will be seven books. Each of them is a part of an ongoing saga. The fundamental theme is the fight between good and evil (the confrontations between Harry and Voldemort). But there are also themes like racism, loyalty and power of love. In the books there are historical elements, too. (1 1/2 points)

by Annesuse (9a)

Describe the character Dudley. (content: what he looks like - his actions - his feelings) (about 90 words)(5 1/2 points)

Dudley is the Dursleys' son and Harry's cousin. His father Vernon says he is a little tyke. His mother Petunia means he looks like a baby angel and like his father. Because of his large pink face, his small watery blue eyes, his thick blond hair, his fat head and because of being very fat and not having much neck, Harry thinks that Dudley looks like a pig. Dudley is very spoiled and uses Harry as his punch-bag. On his birthday he broke out in tears to get some more presents although he breaks all his toys. He hits Harry with his Smelting stick and he always laughs at Harry. He hates him. Dudley is a lazy, brutal and very selfish boy, who is frozen with fear when he sees the giant Hagrid. (5 1/2 points)

by Katharina (9a)

Strange things happened during the first decade of Harry's life. Which ones? (chapter 2, p 31 - 33) (about 60 words) (content : 5)(2 1/2 points)

Aunt Petunia cut Harry's hair so short and only let the hair over his scar. But the next morning his hair was as long as always.
Aunt Petunia tried to put an old sweater of Dudley's on Harry. But it seemed to get smaller and smaller when she tried that.
One day the Dursleys got a letter from school which said that Harry had been climbing school buildings but he had only tried to jump behind the big trash cans outside.
Harry could speak to a boa constrictor and after that the snake tried to get out of the zoo.
Harry sometimes has dreams of flying motorbikes. (2 1/2 points)

by Alexander (9a)

Why does Vernon decide to move Harry to the smallest bedroom? (chapter 3, p 45) (about 30 words) (1 point)

Vernon decides to move Harry to the smallest bedroom because he wants to be the first to receive the strange letters, which arrive. He wants that Harry isn't be able to read the letters, because he is frightened that Harry learns the truth about himself. (1 point)

by Daniel (9a)

What are "Goblins"? (chapter 5, p 82 - 83) (about 30 words) (content : actions - what they look like)(2 points)

Goblins are small but have got very long fingers and feet. They have got their own language. Gringotts is guarded by goblins. Most of them have got a pointed beard and a clever face. (2 points)

by Martin (9a)

Sum up three stylistic devices J. K. Rowling uses in her book. (chapters 1 - 5) Write down an example for each. (about 60 words)(3 points)

J. K. Rowling loves wordplay in names e.g. Dudley Dursley.
Rowling uses dialects for her characters, as well, e.g. the Sottish one uttered by Hagrid. The names of the authors of Harry's school books refer to the subject they are written for, e.g. Adalbert Waffling has wriiten "Magical Theory". "To waffle" means not to be able to decide if yes or no, so this is a good name for a theorist. (3 points)

by Martin (9a)

READING COMPREHENSION

What does Harry tell Ron about the Muggles in chapter 6? (p 110 - 112) (about 60 words) (content: 6)(3 points)

Harry tells Ron that his aunt, uncle and cousin are horrible, and that there isn't a game like Quidditch in the Muggle world. He also mentions that the people on photos stay there and don't go away. He says that he didn't possess any money a month ago and that he had to wear Dudley's old clothes. He mentions he doesn't know anything about his parents and that there aren't such fantastic sweets in the Muggle world.
To Ron it has to seem that the Muggle world is very boring and horrible. (3 points)

by Cathrin (9a)