There are a lot of new words in this chapter.
You will understand some words because they are similar to German words or words from another language which are used in German.
You will recognize new words whose meaning is clear to you because you know other words of the same word family and you have learned some word building rules.
Sometimes you will know the meaning of a word because you have learnt a similar word in another foreign language.
There will certainly also be words whose meaning you don't understand, but which are not really important for an understanding of the text.
Sometimes the context in which a word appears will give you clues to it meaning.
Only look up a word in a dictionary if you can't really guess the meaning of it and it is important for understanding the story.

List of words in chapter 1.

Answer see solution site

Summarize this chapter in four or five sentences

Summary see solution site

Harry is rescued after his parents' murder (October 31st, 1981)

love prevails - sacrifice - salvation - celebration

Hercules, son of Zeus, surviving the snakes' attacks as a child.
McGonagall's transformation into a tabby is from English folklore, in which witches disguise themselves as cats.

1. Mr Dursley

   He is the director of a firm called Grunnings, which make drills (his office is on the ninth floor). He is big and beefy, hardly has a neck and has got a very large moustache. He's not very friendly to his secretary.

2. Mrs Dursley

   She is very thin and blonde, and has got twice the usual amount of neck. She spends her time craning over garden fences, spying on the neighbours.

3. The Dursley family

   They have everything they want. They've got a secret, which is their greatest fear. They don't want anybody to find out that Mrs Potter was Mrs Dursley's sister and anything about her good-for-nothing husband. Their son shouldn't mix with a child like the Potters' son Harry.

4. Dudley Dursley

   He is the Dursleys' son and Harry Potter's cousin. He's a little tyke. He seems to be very spoiled.

5. Lily and James Potter (mentioned)

   They are Harry's parents.
   Info
   They were murdered on October 31st, 1981: James was a trueblood wizard. Lily (=Lily Evans) was Muggle-born. She died defending Harry.

6. Harry

   He is delivered to the Dursleys' house by Hagrid where Dumbledore and Professor Mc Gonagall are monitoring Harry's transfer from the wizard to the Muggle world. Harry has got jet-black hair and a curiously shaped cut, like a bolt of lightning, on his forehead.
   Info
   Harry was born to James and Lily Potter on July 31st, 1980. (This is also J. K. Rowling's birthday.) Sirius Black was named Harry's godfather after his parents had died.

7. Professor McGonagall

   She changes into a cat in Privet Drive. She's a severe-looking woman, a sensible person, wearing square glasses and an emerald cloak. She has got black hair, which is drawn into a tight bun.
   Info
   Minerva Mc Gonagall teaches Transfiguration at Hogwarts School. She is in charge of Gryffinder House.

8. Dumbledore

   As seen on the back cover he has long, silvery grey hair, wears half moon-glasses and he's very wise and noble. He has got blue eyes and his nose is very long and crooked. He's tall, thin and very old. He wears a long purple cloak and high-heeled boots.
   Info
   Aldus Dumbledore is the Headmaster at Hogwarts.

9. You-Know-Who (=Voldemort) (mentioned)

   He seems to have disappeared. He is only called by his proper name by Dumbledore and Dumbledore is the only person he is afraid of. Voldemort has powers Dumbledore will never have. Voldemort killed Harry's parents but couldn't kill Harry because his power somehow broke.
   Info
   Lord Voldemort is a wizard of the Dark Arts. He's feared. He's very evil and powerful. He left the scar on Harry's head. He used to be Tom Marvolo Riddle 50 years ago. After leaving school he learned the Dark Arts.

10. Sirius Black (mentioned)

    He has given Hagrid the motorbike.
    Info
    He's the prisoner of Azkaban in book III. He's also Harry's godfather.

11. Madame Pomfrey (mentioned)

    She likes Dumbledore's new earmuffs.
    Info
    She's the school nurse.

12. Jim Mc Guffin (mentioned)

    He's the weatherman.

13. Hagrid

    He brings Harry to the Dursleys. He's trusted by Dumbledore. He comes on a motorbike. He is huge, twice as tall as a normal man. He's at least five times as wide. He has got bushy black hair and a beard. His hands are the size of dustbin lids, his feet are like baby dolphins. He has vast, muscular arms. He looks wild and is a giant.
    Info
    Rubeus Hagrid is the gentle gamekeeper and the Keeper of the Keys at Hogwarts.

14. Dedalus Diggle

    He has shot stars down in Kent.
    Info
    He's a wizard who hangs out at Leaky Cauldron (=pub through which witches and wizards gain access to Diagon Alley in London).

1. 4 Privet Drive

   The Dursleys live at 4 Privet Drive
   Info
   This is a fictional town of Little Whinging, Surrey

2. Grunnings car park

   This is the car park near Mr Dursley's firm Grunnings.
   He puts his car there. His chair in his office faces away from the window, symbolizing his refusal to look at his world. The office seems sterile and mundane.

3. Godric's Hollow (mentioned)

   This was the home of Harry's parents.
   Info
   Godric's Hollow was north of Bristol. In this novel it is referred to as being completely destroyed by Voldemort's attack.

1. Why do the Dursleys consider themselves to be normal?
   
2. How familiar are they with the Potter family?
   
3. In what ways does Vernon Dursley ignore the strange people and animals he sees?
   
4. Why couldn't Voldemort kill Harry?
   
5. What's a conflict happening already between the Dursleys and the Potters - even before Harry is old enough to talk?
   
6. What is the meaning of "How very wrong he was" (p 8)?
   
7. What signs foretell of Harry's arrival at the Dursleys' when he's a little boy?
   
8. Why do the wizards decide to leave Harry with his aunt's family?
   
9. This chapter was written to inspire questions that will be answered throughout the book (and later books) such as why people saw so many owls that day. What are at least two other questions left unanswered so far, especially about the characters and the conflicts?

   Answers see solution site

Sniglets are words that are not in the dictionary yet but may one day be included e.g. Quidditch - Muggles.
Rowling's most effective stylistic device is the use of names e.g. Dedalus Diggle.
She likes wordplay.
Voice is also a powerful literary tool in novels and the dialogue seems authentic for each character, such as the thick dialect uttered by Hagrid.
Colors are important to the literary style of the novels e.g. green.
Numbers also seem to be symbolic, especially the numerals 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 e.g. 4 Privet Drive (with Harry there are four people).
Task: collect unusual names from chapter one.

Answer see solution site

In the sentences below the underlined words are used in different ways.
Explain their different meanings. Use your dictionary.

1. D. D. liked to do things like smear grape jam all over the walls.
   Vernon D. got stuck in a traffic jam on the way to work.
   
2. Vernon D.'s job was being the director of a firm which made drills.
   A. Dumbledore was firm about taking H. Potter to the Durleys.
   

Answers: see solution site