POA and the 3rd task to find the Philosopher's Stone, Do they show how 7 PS/SS tasks match 7 books? |
 Feb 22 2007, 06:31 AM
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Madame Pince's House Elf  Posts: 4,606 Joined: 5:46pm January 28, 2005 Location: In HP Book Club 4, awaiting the HBP film's release   |
When in the first book of the Harry Potter series Harry, Ron, Neville and Hermione got lost in Hogwarts, while escaping Filch, they came across a giant three-headed dog which, as Hermione noted, was guarding a trapdoor. Later, when Harry, Ron and Hermione tried to stop the Philosopher's Stone being stolen, they found they had to perform seven tasks.
These were: 1. Get past Fluffy. The way to do so was by playing music, as Hagrid mentioned to a hooded stranger in the Hog's Head inn. 2. Devil's Snare. Getting past this task involved not getting entangled by tendrils of a very dangerous plant. This task was set by Professor Sprout, Hufflepuff Head of House and teacher of Herbology, Neville's best subject. 3. In the third task, set by Professor Flitwick, who taught charms, Harry, Hermione and Ron had to catch the right flying key to open a door. 4. The fourth task involved a giant chess set which had been transformed by Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor and Transformation teacher. Other tasks involved getting past trolls, solving a Riddle about potions, set by Snape, and possibly, the Mirror of Erised. There is a theory which has circulated long before the release of Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince that each of these tasks to get the Philosopher's Stone matched one of the seven books in the series. Already, in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , plenty of linkages could be found, as this book was the one which introduced Hufflepuff, the uses of Herbology, the Mandrakes, Professor Sprout, herself, and Gilderoy Lockhart. This was the volume which included, not only the seven textbooks Gilderoy Lockhart wrote, but also his fraudulent autobiography and, most of all, Tom Riddle's diary, which opened the Chamber of Secrets and released the basilisk contained there. Moreover, the linkages between the second task in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets did not stop with the second book. Gilderoy Lockhart, the Devil's Snare and Neville's parents all met together in the Janus Thickey Closed ward in St Mungo's, in Book 5. Now Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is under discussion. So far, the matching Philosopher's Stone task is the third one, Professor Flitwick's Charmed Keys. Some points to ponder: 1.How does Prisoner of Azkaban match the third task? 2. What charms play an important part in Prisoner of Azkaban, how do we learn about them and who teaches them? 3. In your opinion, could you think of one of the Philosopher Stone tasks which has a better match to this book? 4. How does the both the task and the book differ from the other ones published so far? These are only random ruminations. Perhaps you have your own questions and opinions. This post has been edited by WaggaWaggaWerewolf: Feb 23 2007, 03:05 AM --------------------  Check out the Beedle the Bard Book Club |
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Mar 2 2007, 04:03 AM
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WeasleyCast's Hostess With The Mostest Posts: 6,606 Joined: 2:44am February 20, 2006 Location: At The Burrow taking cooking lessons from Molly |
I must say that since doing my research on this topic to prepare for the Corner Booth chat that we had on this topic Wednesday night, I have become a firm believer that Jo has mirrored the books to a certain extent to the 7 tasks and that looking for the similarities is as much fun as searching for THIPS.
For anybody wanting to look deeper into this topic and see what we discussed, here is a link to the transcript. QUOTE How does Prisoner of Azkaban match the third task? I found a lot of ways and would like to briefly mention a few here: All about quidditch PoA is the definitive quidditch book. This is the only book where we see Harry play in all 3 games, it is the only book where we "see" Harry win the cup, and it definitely highlights his flying skills best in this book. Firebolt connection Harry gets a new broomstick as a gift in the third book and has to fly on a broomstick supplied for him in this task. The "key" Up until this point, we do not really know what happened that night in Godric's Hollow. Okay, so we still don't know everything, but this is the book that gives us critical information. We learn that the Potters knew that Voldemort was after them, we learn that they had a secret keeper, and we learn the identity of the true traitor. Also, Peter escapes to seek out Voldemort, thus acting as the "key" to open the door to the events of books 4 onwards. Its also interesting to note that the key in the task is tarnished and damaged, much like Peter. A little help from my friends Ron and Hermione also fly with Harry and help him by diverting the proper key into his path. We also see their pets playing a large role in this book. QUOTE In your opinion, could you think of one of the Philosopher Stone tasks which has a better match to this book? Nope 
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Mar 3 2007, 03:42 AM
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Madame Pince's House Elf Posts: 4,606 Joined: 5:46pm January 28, 2005 Location: In HP Book Club 4, awaiting the HBP film's release |
And what about Professor Flitwick's role in both incidents? It was Professor Flitwick who set the 3rd task, wasn't it? Wasn't it also Professor Flitwick who reveals other important information Prisoner of Azkaban?
In Chamber of Secrets there was a definite connection to herbology and Professor Sprout. But even in POA Flitwick stays a shadowy figure. Even his house, Ravenclaw, doesn't play much part, or does it? -------------------- Check out the Beedle the Bard Book Club |
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Mar 3 2007, 03:02 PM
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Terrortours Travel Agent Posts: 6,828 Joined: 12:34pm January 24, 2007 |
The only thing I can think of regarding Flitwick was that he was the one who explained about the Fidelius Charm.
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Mar 3 2007, 09:37 PM
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WeasleyCast's Hostess With The Mostest Posts: 6,606 Joined: 2:44am February 20, 2006 Location: At The Burrow taking cooking lessons from Molly |
Well, PoA really does seem to be the book for new charms, just look at the thread we have in here on charms, we found loads of them.
So like Herbology was showcased in CoS, you could say that the study of Charms was a bit highlighted in PoA [although not so obviously]. I think that of all of the books and tasks, placing this one and the 5th one is the hardest -------------------- |
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Mar 10 2007, 09:34 PM
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Madame Pince's House Elf Posts: 4,606 Joined: 5:46pm January 28, 2005 Location: In HP Book Club 4, awaiting the HBP film's release |
I'd agree that POA and the 3rd task are hardest to match up. In the third task, there were three broomsticks used to catch the right key to open the door:
In POA, it was at the Three Broomsticks pub that we first learn of Sirius Black's alleged guilt over Harry's parents' deaths, we also learn of Peter Pettigrew and that all that his mother got to remember of him was a finger and the posthumous Order of Merlin the MOM bestowed on him. As already mentioned, Harry also played in all three Quiddich games, even the one against Ravenclaw. In fact in all the other books, Harry has never participated in a Quidditch game against Ravenclaw. PS/SS: Harry knocked out through 7 tasks search. COS: Ravenclaw game called off due to basilisk. GOF: All Quidditch off, due to Triwizard competition. OotP: Harry banned from playing Quidditch. Ginny plays in his place. HBP: Harry serving Snape's detention. Ginny again plays in his place. Flitwick is not only Charms teacher, he is the head of house for Ravenclaw. It was Flitwick who at the Three Broomsticks, explained about the Fidelius charm, and the role of the Secret Keeper. This post has been edited by WaggaWaggaWerewolf: Mar 10 2007, 09:43 PM -------------------- Check out the Beedle the Bard Book Club |
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Mar 10 2007, 10:16 PM
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Terrortours Travel Agent Posts: 6,828 Joined: 12:34pm January 24, 2007 |
QUOTE I'd agree that POA and the 3rd task are hardest to match up. In the third task, there were three broomsticks used to catch the right key to open the door: <snip> Flitwick is not only Charms teacher, he is the head of house for Ravenclaw. It was Flitwick who at the Three Broomsticks, explained about the Fidelius charm, and the role of the Secret Keeper. So the story Harry heard at the Three Broomsticks had the wrong key/secret-keeper, but the right one was revealed in the Shrieking Shack. |
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Mar 11 2007, 08:40 PM
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Cauldron Bottom Measurer Posts: 112 Joined: 9:48pm February 3, 2007 Location: Norway |
There is definitly a quidditch connection. Also the trio working together, as a team is an important theme in PoA. I think the connection between secret keeper and keys (that Oryx points out) is valid. The secret keeper is the key to finding someone or something that is under the fidelius charm. In PoA we discover who was in fact Voldemorts key to the Potters. The link to Charms as a subject is not very strong (the big subject in PoA is Defence). As for Ravenclaw links, Cho is introduced in PoA, and she's a Ravenclaw. -------------------- "These belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal.
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil." |
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Mar 13 2007, 03:28 AM
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Madame Pince's House Elf Posts: 4,606 Joined: 5:46pm January 28, 2005 Location: In HP Book Club 4, awaiting the HBP film's release |
QUOTE(Maja_Leonora @ Mar 12 2007, 11:40 AM) [snapback]1133716[/snapback] There is definitly a quidditch connection. Also the trio working together, as a team is an important theme in PoA. Yes that is certainly a match, not only because of Quidditch games and Ravenclaw, but also because the broomstick awaiting Harry in the third task presages his getting the Firebolt later as a replacement for his Nimbus 2000. And yes, Harry does meet for the first time, Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw seeker. But he also meets Cedric, the Hufflepuff seeker, who will also figure largely in the next book. Apart from Draco, also a seeker, this is the book of the Three Seekers who each play a decisive part in the series. QUOTE I think the connection between secret keeper and keys (that Oryx points out) is valid. The secret keeper is the key to finding someone or something that is under the fidelius charm. In PoA we discover who was in fact Voldemorts key to the Potters. Yes, what Oryx said was valid, indeed. And just like Pettigrew/Scabbers was missing a finger, the key to the door in the Third PS/SS task had a damaged wing. QUOTE The link to Charms as a subject is not very strong (the big subject in PoA is Defence). I agree that Charms did not play as major a part in POA as did Herbology in COS. The main charm with which Flitwick was associated was the explanation of the Fidelius charm, and the damaged key in PS/SS could have been the link that the wrong person was being blamed for the secret-keeper's betrayal when Lily and James performed the Fidelius charm. Or was it Lily, alone, since she was the one who was good at charms? Also I agree that Lupin's teaching Harry the Patronus charm certainly turned the focus away from Charms and onto DADA. But other important charms were also mentioned that Lupin did not teach. There was Hermione's impervius charm used on Harry's glasses, to keep the rain away, Hermione's alohomora charm also makes a reappearance, as do other charms that we have met beforehand, such as Snape's Expelliarmus charm or the memory charms practised on Aunt Marge. Lupin did both teach and perform the Riddikulus charm, as well as coaching Harry through the Patronus charm. But then we later learn that Remus Lupin had been a pupil of Flitwick's. Possibly a very good pupil of Flitwick's, who was the moderator at the DADA OWLs paper Lupin and friends completed. I wonder if the cheering charms taught in the Charms lesson Hermione missed were related in some way to the Riddikulus charm? And speaking of charms, which characters, :coughAuntMarge/Dracocough: were decidedly lacking in charms? How does the both the task and the book differ from the other ones published so far? It has already been noted elsewhere in the Book Club that POA is the only book in which LV does not make an appearance even by proxy. Or does he? When Prof Trelawney made her prophecy at the end of Harry's divination exam, who on the first read of POA, could have predicted that the 'chained servant' had been Scabbers/Pettigrew all the time? Similarly, of the seven tasks in PS/SS, which task carried the least risk? In my opinion, retrieving the right key and opening the door was much less dangerous than the other six tasks, including passing the trolls, who might have woken up, and the potions task, which carried the risk of being poisoned. -------------------- Check out the Beedle the Bard Book Club |
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Mar 14 2007, 07:30 PM
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Cauldron Bottom Measurer Posts: 112 Joined: 9:48pm February 3, 2007 Location: Norway |
QUOTE(WaggaWaggaWerewolf @ Mar 13 2007, 09:28 AM) [snapback]1135451[/snapback] There was Hermione's impervius charm used on Harry's glasses, to keep the rain away, Hermione's alohomora charm also makes a reappearance, as do other charms that we have met beforehand, such as Snape's Expelliarmus charm or the memory charms practised on Aunt Marge. The fact that the charms are mainly provided by other people might be a way of underlining the theme of being a team, working together, and realying on each other. -------------------- "These belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal.
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil." |
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