Synopsis       Setting      Plot Structure and Development                Mood/Atmosphere      Style of Writing        Characteristics          Opinion         Links


                                                                  by J.K.Rowling
    This is the very first book of Harry Potter's series.

Synopsis
           Harry Potter parents died in a "car crash" (as he was told) when he was young. Since then, he had been staying with his horrible Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon and their pampered son Dudley Dursley. One stormy night, he was rescued by a giant and is enrolled at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The reason: Harry Potter is a wizard! However, he was not just any ordinary wizard. As a baby, he had managed to survive an attack by the dark lord, Voldemort, who was feared by all and the murderer of his parents.

            He soon learnt that the world of wizardry was very different from the world he had been living in for the past 10 years. Life in Hogwarts was his happiest times in his miserable life. He learnt to play " Quidditch". There were many weird things like talking, moving potraits, owl posting service and secret passages in the castle of Hogwarts. Best of all, the first time in his lfe, he was making friends.
 

            However, his peaceful and happy life in Hogwarts is about to change. Harry and his friends overheard a conversation about a powerful stone, the Philosopher's stone, which is able to give the owner life for eternity. This stone was heavily guarded with spells within the castle. Someone had managed to slip
       pass the spells. The person who desperately wants to get hold of the stone was none other than Voldemort. They had to stop him. They had to prevent him from returning to power. Using the skills they had learnt in Hogwarts, they had to defeat Voldemort to prevent the wizardry world plunging back into the dark days again.

Setting

           Hogwarts is a place far far away from Muggles ( also known as people with no magic). It is situated deep inside a forest where no single Muggle could
       reach or know about. It is a place where witches and wizards learn magic.

Plot Structure and Developement

            The beginning of the book introduces to us about Harry Potter, the lives of the wizards and witches and about Hogwarts. After Harry and his friends learnt about the stone, they become detectives.  It is like a mystery where they do research and find clues to uncover the truth. At the end of the story, there is a turn of event. The truth is not what it seemed to be. It may seem very obvious who the bad person is but he may not be the one.

Mood/ Atmosphere

          There is lots of humourous events and description in this book. For eample, there is this abstract hat describe the Dursleys:
                    " Mr Dursley was a big, beefy man with hardly any neck... Mrs Dursley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck." --- There is a very huge contrast between the husband and wife. One has no neck while the other has too much neck.
             However, the story begins to be more serious and exciting as the story developes, as the truth unfolds.

Style of Writing

           The author writes in a simple way and it is easy to understand. Ther is sufficient descriptions which are not too long. The author tends to emphasize of humorous details. Hence, it makes reading more leisurable.

Characteristic

           The characters are very realistic. Each character has their pros and cons. Each has a very unique characteristic. Ohter than that the lifes of some of the characters are very different from us. Their form of communication is by letters sent by owls. All their pictures come to live.

Opinion 
            This is a book based on childhood fantasy. As a child, I always imagine myself to be superheroes or even people with magic powers and pretend to flying about, helping those in trouble. Books about  magic has always interest me from the time I knew how to read. This is one book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
 
            There is a combination of humour, excitement and mystery in the book. Once you have started to read, you would not bear to put down the book until you have finished it. At times, I have the urge to flip to the last page of the book to find out the ending. Humour is mostly about the Dursley, J.K.Rowling constantly made fun of their shapes and the denial that they are related to wizards. There is also a lot of intersting facts about the wizardry world. There is this chocolate frog where after you eat it, it will produce little cards. These little cards have the information of the greatest wizards that had ever livedl. After you have read it, it will disappear. Excitement and mystery is mostly during the time when they fight against the dark lord and his helper. There is always a rush against time as they try to defeat the evil.
 
            Harry Potter is a character of inspiration. He is humble, brave and has a heart of gold. He has everything, except his size, that makes him a superhero. Reading about his miserable life with the Dursleys, makes me treasure my present live much better.
 
            Hogwarts is like any typical school except that it teaches magic. It has tests and examinations, teachers, detentions and homework like any other school.
       However, Hogwarts is the only school for wizards and witches and it hides many secrets. The castle amazes me. It may seem like any normal school but to me, it is a very magical school. The only way one can enter their dormitory is to tell your house portrait the password.

            In conclusion, this is a must read book, afterall J.K.Rowling is the winner of the 1997 Smarties Gold Award.

                              ...The End...