Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapters 12 & 13, ‘The Patronus’ & ‘Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw’

December 2, 2007 by 1 Comment

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapters 12 & 13

Mark True statements with a “T” and False statements with an “F.” I will post T/F Answers tomorrow with responses to discussion point posts and my own thoughts. If you disagree with my answers tomorrow, please do send me an explanation about where I went wrong. Click on “Chapter Quiz” for previous quizzes and discussion points.

1. _____ Chapter Twelve, The Patronus, begins with Harry and Ron in the Gryffindor common room, upset with Hermione for telling Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. Hermione hangs out in the library until vacation ends.

2. _____ Professor Lupin begins private lessons with Harry to teach him the Patronus Charm, which, “when it works correctly, it conjures up a Patronus…a kind of anti-dementor – a guardian that acts as a shield.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Chapter Quiz

Tin Man, Harry Potter, and One Argument in favor of Publishing the Whole Back Story

December 1, 2007 by 20 Comments

There are few times I wish I owned a teevee set. In fact, I cannot think of a single time I have regretted putting up the teevee expelling charms around my house soon after I was married. I do own a VHS and DVD player that won’t pick-up signals on which I enjoy watching videos with my family (Count of Monte Cristo last night, an amazing adaptation/abridgment) but the the thought of a teevee “on” in my house, addict-in-recovery that I am, makes me shudder.

This morning, though, Amazon.com sent me an email telling me I needed to check out a teevee show called Tin Man on the SciFi cable channel. I checked it out via the hyperlink they provided. I didn’t rush out to buy a working television, but I did say to myself, “I really hope they release this on DVD.” I’d certainly go to see this if it were in the movie theatres. I’ve read more Wizard of Oz books to my children than I want to admit and this Tin Man program looks like the kind of thoughtful adaptation for postmoderns I’d enjoy. [I was the one in the alley behind the theatre who lost his popcorn and lunch after seeing The Wiz.] The Cain figure alone played by Neal McDonough would be worth the price of admission.

And why do I bring this up on a Harry Potter weBlog? I’m glad you asked.

The discussion here at HogPro has come down pretty heavily against learning more back-story from Ms. Rowling than she decided to include between the covers of her seven stage epic. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Deathly Hallows Discussion Points, Narrative Misdirection

Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapters 10 & 11, ‘The Marauder’s Map’ & ‘The Firebolt’

December 1, 2007 by 7 Comments

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapters 10 & 11

Mark True statements with a “T” and False statements with an “F.” I will post T/F Answers tomorrow with responses to discussion point posts and my own thoughts. If you disagree with my answers tomorrow, please do send me an explanation about where I went wrong. Click on the Category “Chapter Quiz” in the right column for previous quizzes and discussion points.

1. _____ Chapter Ten, The Marauder’s Map, begins with Harry in the Hospital Wing, lamenting the Quidditch loss to Hufflepuff and the demise of his Nimbus 2000 broom.

2. _____ Dumbledore explains to Harry that dementors “drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them” and that “if it can,.the dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself…soul-less and evil.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Chapter Quiz

The Best Books of 2007! (New York Times)

November 30, 2007 by 4 Comments

But the Entertainer of the Year didn’t make the cut.

Huh. Wonder why?

Filed Under: Hog Pro Notes

Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapters 8 & 9, ‘Flight of the Fat Lady’ & ‘Grim Defeat’

November 30, 2007 by 2 Comments

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapters 8 & 9

Mark True statements with a “T” and False statements with an “F.” I will post T/F Answers tomorrow with responses to discussion point posts and my own thoughts if there aren’t any of yours to which I can respond! If you disagree with my answers tomorrow, please do send me an explanation about where I went wrong. Click on the Category “Chapter Quiz” in the right column for previous quizzes and discussion points.

1. _____ Chapter Eight, Flight of the Fat Lady, begins with a description of how everyone hates Defense Against the Dark Arts classes except the Slytherins. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Chapter Quiz