• Mini-dictionary

  List of words in chapter 4.

  cannon=Kanone; to skid=rutschen; hing=Angel; shaggy=struppig; tangled=verwickelt; to glint=glitzern; to stoop=sich bücken; to stride=schreiten; to squeak=quietschen; to crouch=sich ducken; fierce=böse; to crinkle=faltig werden; rasping=keuchend; prune=Backpflaume; squashed=zerdrückt; icing=Glasur; sticky=klebrig; grate=Gitter; to sag=durchsacken; chipped=zersplittert; amber=bernstein; swig=Schluck; to sizzle=zischen; to fidget=zappeln; gulp=Schluck; to shrink back=zurückschrecken; to cower=sich ducken; to growl=brummen; to boom=dröhnen; to quail=vor Angst zittern; eagerly=begierig; ruffled=zerzaust; to grunt=grunzen; to shriek=kreischen; frog-spawn=Froschlaich; freak=Monstrum; to rant=irres Zeug reden; to scuttle=rennn; outrage=Skandal; anxious=besorgt; to gulp=herunterschlingen; gargoyle=Wasserspeier; tosh=Quatsch; to glare=anstarren; to clench=zusammenpressen; to snarl=dröhnen; beating=Prügel; to cure=heilen; battered=abgenutzt; to stump=ausschalten; to blaze=aufflammen; to clout=schlagen; warty=warzig; toad=Kröte; to beam=strahlen; wand=Zauberstab; to wriggle=sich winden

• Summary

  Summary of this chapter in five sentences

  In this chapter Harry gets to know Hagrid, the keeper of the keys at Hogwarts. After having argued with Vernon Hagrid tells Harry all about the magical world, his parents and Voldemort. Harry can't believe that he is a wizard. Hagrid is finally able to give Harry the letter. He reads the letter from Hogwarts in which he is pleased to come to Hogwarts, the school of witchkraft and wizardry.

  (by Annesuse, Martin, 9a)

• Questions on the text

  1. Describe the emotions of Hagrid, Harry and Vernon when Harry is told about his parents and learns that he is a famous wizard.
     Hagrid is very surprised and even angrier when he hears that Harry doesn't know anything and that he didn't get McGonagall's letter.
     Harry is surprised that the giant knows that it is his birthday. Harry doesn't believe Hagrid at first. He needs proof.
     Vernon is in panic and frightened that his orders and rules could be broken and that anybody could find out about Harry's past. He tries to stop Hagrid from telling him more.

  2. Why is it symbolic that this all happens on Harry's birthday?
     Your birthday always means a new period of your life. Harry is 11 now. So a new year in his life begins. He should also go to a new school at the age of eleven. And it is really new because he will go to Hogwarts.

  3. Why does Harry question Hagrid's veracity? What proof reassures Harry that he is a wizard?
     Wizardry has been stamped out of his life. Additionally he has no proof at first. So he doesn't believe Hagrid. When he sees the 'forbidden' letter with his address and name written by McGonagall, the Headmistress at Hogwarts, he is reassured that everything is true. Hagrid also reminds him of the strange things that happened in his life years ago and which Harry could never explain.

  4. Why don't people want to say Voldemort's name?
     People don't want to say Voldemort's name because they are still afraid of him. Perhaps they think he could reappear if his name is called. They don't want Voldemort to come back to power.

  5. How does Hagrid feel about Dumbledore?
     Hagrid likes and honours Dumbledore very much. He's trusted by him. Hagrid thinks of Dumbledore as a very nice, brave, fair and powerful wizard. He also says that he once helped him to stay at Hogwarts when he was expelled.

  6. Did Aunt Petunia know about Harry's past? Where does it tell you this?
     Of course she knew about Harry's past. She knew that her sister was a wizard, too, because she also got a letter from Hogwarts at the age of eleven and she really went there.

     It tells me this when Mrs Dursley says that her parents liked Lily and were proud of having a witch in the family. This angers Petunia and she tells it Hagrid. Harry asks her if she knew about his past and she says, "Knew! Knew! Of course we knew!". The Dursleys also got a letter from the wizards when the baby Harry was delivered to them.

  7. What's the main conflict between Hagrid and Mr Dursley?
     The main conflict between them is that Vernon didn't tell the truth and that he doesn't want Harry to go to Hogwarts.

  8. What does Mr Dursley insist will not happen, but Hagrid says can't be stopped?
     Mr Dursley insists on Harry's staying and going to the comprehensive school but Hagrid makes clear that Vernon - a Muggle - is not the man to stop the wizards' plan. He means that Harry will go to Hogwarts.

     (by Martin, Clarissa, Katharina, 9a)

• Vocabulary

  A definition tells you what something means or what it is. A good definition doesn't just describe that something, but it tells you what makes it different from other things. The following definitions are poor:

  1. Hogwarts is a school.
  2. Professor Dumbledore is a teacher.
  3. Voldemort is a wizard.
  
  Improve the definitions above by being more specific.

(by Martin, 9a)