Plot
Strange things are happening at Hogwarts. There are new classes, new teachers and new dangers, including escaped murderer, Sirius Black, who has been seen in the castle’s grounds. No-one knows how Black got away from Azkaban Prison and its horrible Dementor guards or why he would return to his old school, but it seems to have a lot to do with Harry Potter.
Author – J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling interview (may not work in school)
Discover more about J.K. Rowling
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Analysis and discussion
Shmoop – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Themes – universal ideas
Betrayal, family, fear, good and evil, home, justice, revenge, secrets, truth.
More to explore – motifs, symbols, context, setting
Buses, dogs, escapes, haunted houses, magic, magical creatures, maps, pets, portraits, prison, prophecy, rats, teachers, time travel, werewolves.
Did you know?
The British Library created an exhibition called Harry Potter: a history of magic a few years ago. The exhibition has now finished, but you can still explore it by clicking on the link.
Literacy and Language
Foreshadowing is a clue placed by authors that something will happen later in a book. J.K. Rowling does this a lot with names e.g. the Divination teacher, Professor Sibyl Trelawney, shares her first name with the ancient Greek female prophets called sibyls. Both can foretell the future.
How do the names of Remus Lupin and Sirius Black foreshadow what happens in the plot of this book?
Further reading
Discover these titles and more
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Let’s start with books about prison escapes.
Holes by Louis Sachar is the story of Stanley Yelnats, a boy who is found guilty of theft, even though he is innocent. As punishment he is sent to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Detention Centre, where all the boys have to do is dig a hole every day. But the boys don’t know the reason for all the digging. Library copy available.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is one of the most famous books about prisoners ever written. The Library has a graphic novel version.
For some incredible real life escapes and stories of survival, try Survivors : extraordinary tales from the wild and beyond by David Long. Library copy available.
If you’d like more about rats, try Mrs Frisby and the rats of NIMH, a thrilling adventure about rodents on the run. Library copy available.
The Amazing Maurice and his educated rodents by Terry Pratchett Library copy available. Terry Pratchett based his story on The Pied Piper of Hamelin, a famous poem by Robert Browning. But this story is even older and might even be based on a true story. Read more in The grim truth behind the Pied Piper.
And don’t forget the Shrieking Shack. There are plenty of ghost stories in the Library. Try Chill by Alex Nye, a story of betrayal in a haunted house in Scotland. Library copy available.
The haunting of Jessop Rise by Danny Weston is another haunted house story set in 19th century Wales, when a young boy goes to live with his miserly uncle. Library copy available
The Marauder’s Map is important in this book. The girl of ink and stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is another story based on an old map involving mysterious creatures, danger and adventures.
Numeracy
Harry sees the new Firebolt broom for sale in Diagon Alley. He would love to buy one and he thinks he can afford it, but he decides to keep his money.
Is this a good decision?
Health and Wellbeing
J.K. Rowling has said that she created the Dementors as a metaphor for depression.
Read this description of depression here. Do you think Dementors and depression are a good match? Does Harry do the right thing when he asks for help?
Rights Respecting Schools
Harry doesn’t have a signed letter of permission to visit Hogsmeade. Several adults advise Harry not to go but he ignores them and sneaks out using his invisibility cloak and the Marauders’ Map.
Why do the adults treat Harry like this? Do you think it is the best way to behave? Which articles of the UNCRC fit their behaviour?
Developing the Young Workforce
Hagrid and Lupin are both new teachers at Hogwarts in this book.
Do you think they have the right skills and qualities to be teachers?
