Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

Chamber of Secrets incorporates elements from several genres, including fantasy, young adult, mystery, and satire. Analyze how the novel fits one or more of these genres, as well as ways in which it diverges from what is typical within that genre.

Several characters comment on issues related to fame, glory, or public perception, including Lockhart, Harry, Draco, and Riddle. Compare and contrast two of these or other characters’ views as they relate to fame or public image.

Compare and contrast the Dursleys’ home with the Burrow. How does each serve to characterize those who live there?

Many of the novel’s chapters end on cliffhangers or at least point the way forward. Analyze one or more chapter endings, specifying how they generate momentum and interest and how the beginnings of the following chapters build on or else release the tension.

Chamber of Secrets is set in the early 1990s. Are there any cultural markers in the magical or non-magical world that align with that time period? How might the novel differ if it were set either a decade earlier or a decade later?

Consider the role of magic in Harry’s daily life at Hogwarts: what purposes does it fill, and what are its limitations, if any?

Riddle reveals himself as Voldemort in the Chamber of Secrets. Analyze one or more of his statements or speeches from this section: What do they reveal about his character?

A significant division in the magical world concerns the proper relationship between wizards and Muggles. Identify a scene where this issue becomes a point of contention between two or more characters, then analyze the rhetoric underlying their interactions: what prevents or facilitates meaningful communication in that scene?