Home is where the Hogwarts is. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, school's not just where you study and learn cools spells; it's a real home. Harry may start out living in a house with the Dursleys, but it doesn't feel like home to him. To abuse the immortal words of Burt Bacharach, that "house is not a home." At Hogwarts, and in Gryffindor in particular, Harry finally feels a sense of belonging and comfort. Responsible adults care about and look after him, and he has good experiences, good meals, and good friends. It's not sugarcoated – there are still small and large-scale enemies – but for the first time Harry finds pleasure and safety in his living space.
Questions About The Home
- Could you ever see yourself feeling "at home" at school, the way Harry does at Hogwarts?
- Why is having a home so important? Is it possible for us to separate the idea of a "home" from an actual house?
- How does Hagrid's house compare with the Dursleys'? How do those houses compare with Voldemort's temporary "home" in this text?
- What do you think are the things that make Harry feel most at home at Hogwarts?
- What is it about Number Four Privet Drive that so un-homey?