A Scottish-Canadian Blethering On About Books

I found this second Harry Potter novel to be very similar in structure to The Philosopher's Stone. Mysteriously out of control and dangerous magical events - as opposed to run-of-the-mill benign ones - lead to Potter and his friends investigating a forbidden and secret place within Hogwarts. There they have an encounter with evil, and Harry in particular has to face down some manifestation of his nemesis, Voldemort. As in the first novel, events occurring during the game of Quidditch serve to move the plot forward or expose character motivations. And, as I expect will prove true throughout the series, Albus Dumbledore enables the triumph of good without actively interfering, leaving Harry Potter to develop as the hero.

New elements in this novel include Slytherin racist notions ("mudbloods"), and a lot of expansion on the implications of Harry's rare ability to talk to snakes. Rowling begins to supply some of the history of previous Hogwarts generations. Another new element that I expect will turn up again (whether as introducer of chaos, as here, or only as comic relief) is Dobby, the House Elf.

This may be the one Potter novel for which I have seen the movie, for I have a clear memory of Kenneth Branagh in the comic role of cowardly braggart Professor Gilderoy Lockhart.

Enjoying this project mightily. On the the Prisoner of Azkaban!