Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters edit see section history

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• Harry James Potter: The main character, loyal, courageous and kind-hearted, and known in the Wizarding World as 'The Boy Who Lived' for being the only one to survive a killing curse. He is in Gryffindor.
• Rubeus Hagrid: Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. Half-giant, and a close friend of Harry's. Care of magical creatures teacher.
• Ron Weasley: From a wizarding family, ginger-haired Ron is one of Harry's best friends. He is also in his third year at Hogwarts. He has a pet rat named Scabbers, very scared of spiders.
• Marcus Flint: Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team.
• Hermione Granger: Harry's other best friend. She is muggle-born, and the smartest student in Harry's year. She is also in her third year at Hogwarts. She is incredibly smart, and a bit of a know-it-all.
• Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore: Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
• Pansy Parkinson: A Slytherin and possible girlfriend of Draco Malfoy.
• Lord Voldemort: The Dark Lord aka You Know Who. Caster of the killing curse that Harry survived, and murderer of Harry's parents. Harry's arch-nemesis. Formerly known as Tom Marvolo Riddle.
• Molly Weasley: loving, caring, strong, mother of the Ron Weasley
• Professor Remus Lupin: Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts in this book.
• Sirius Black: Prisoner in Azkaban and also harry potters godfathher
• Charlie Weasley: Ron's other older brother and dragon studier in Romania.
• Montague: A Slytherin chaser on their Quidditch team.
• Peter Pettigrew: Friend of James and Lilly Potter.
• Professor Sybill Trelawney: She is the Divination teacher at Hogwarts. She often makes faulty predictions. She isn't very respected. She keeps mostly to herself.
• George Weasley: Ron's older brother; Fred's twin.
• Madam Pomfrey: Nurse at Hogwarts.
• Professor Minerva McGonagall: Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts and head of Gryffindor house. Deputy Headmistress. Animagi (cat).
• Madam Marsh: Witch at the Leakey Cauldron who is a fan of Harry.
• Seamus Finnigan: Classmate and roommate of Harry.
• Professor Severus Snape: Potions teacher at Hogwarts, head of Slytherin.
• Mr Filch: Caretaker of the castle.
• Professor Filius Flitwick: Professor of Charms. Very short
• Bill Weasley: Ron Weasley's oldest brother
• Bellatrix Lestrange: Not actually in this book.
• Lucius Malfoy: Draco Malfoy's father. He has a great deal of influence in the Ministry of Magic.
• Ginny Weasley: Ron's younger sister, she has a major crush on Harry. Youngest and only female Weasley aside from her mother.
• Dudley Dursley: Cousin to Harry, doesn't like Harry and mistreats him because Harry's different.
• Sybill Trelawney: The Divination teacher.
• Percy Weasley: Ron's older brother. Head Boy.
• Lavender Brown: A Gryffindor who loves Divination.
• Fred Weasley: One of Ron's twin brothers. Beater on Griffyndor quidditch team
• Lee Jordan: Friend of George and Fred, Quidditch commentator. Favours Griffindor when commentating (understandably) but this often gets him in trouble with Professor McGonnagall who believes in impartial commentating.
• Derrick: Hogwart's student.
• Arthur Weasley: Ron's father, married to Molly Weasley; works in the Ministry of Magic.
• Alicia Spinnet: One of the chasers on the Gryffindor Quidditch team
• Parvati Patil: Lavender's friend, a Gryffindor
• Vernon Dursley: Harry's uncle. A fat Muggle who hates imagination and dreads being related to any non-ordinary people.
• Filius Flitwick: The Charms Professor in Hogwarts
• Petunia Dursley: Harry's aunt, and Lily Potter's sister. She's a Muggle. She is also Veron Dursley's wife. She is very mean to Harry, but not as mean to him as Veron Dursley.
• Fang: Hagrid's pet dog
• Angelina Johnson: One of the Gryffindor students and member of Gryffindor Quidditch team.
• Albus Dumbledore: head master, intelligent, wise.
• Dudley Dursley: Harry's rude cousin. He's the muggle son of Petunia and Vernon Dursley.
• Aunt Marge: Harry's "aunt" and Vernon Dursley's sister. She's incredibly mean to Harry, loves her dogs.
• Errol: rons owl, very defective
• Lily Potter: Harry's Mother. married to James Potter. Was killed by Lord Voldemort. She has green eyes, Harry inherited them, sacrificed herself for Harry.
• James Potter: Harry's father. Married to Lily. He and Lilly were killed by Voldemort when Harry was a baby.
• Stan Shunpike: Conductor of the Knight Bus.
• Ernie Prang: The driver of the Knight Bus.
• Bole: Add a description of this character.
• Mrs. Norris: She is Filch's cat.
• Florean Fortescue: Owner of the ice cream parlor in Diagon Alley.
• Cornelius Fudge: Minister for Magic.
• Katie Bell: One of the Gryffindor chasers on the Quidditch team.
• Colin Creevey: A Gryffindor. He is a year below Harry. Looks up to Harry.
• Warrington: A Slytherin Quidditch player.
• Cedric Diggory: Seeker and captain for Hufflepuff.
• Cho Chang: New Seeker for Ravenclaw team.
• Neville Longbottom: He's Harry's classmate who is very forgetful and somewhat accident prone. He's a timid character who has a great interest and skill in Herbology.
• Gregory Goyle: He is part of Draco Malfoy's entourage. He is rather short, has bristly hair, and long, gorilla arms. He's not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree!
• Vincent Crabbe: Draco's other friend in his entourage. He is taller than Goyle, and has a pudding-bowl haircut with a very thick neck. Like Goyle, he is not very bright.
• Penelope Clearwater: Percy's girlfriend from Ravenclaw; a Prefect too.
• Madam Rosmerta: Owns the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade
• Nearly-Headless Nick: He is the Gryffindor ghost who is only nearly headless.
• Peeves: Poltergeist, Causes mischief in the school.
• Buckbeak: Hagrid's Hippogriff pet. Affectionately called Beaky by Hagrid. A Hippogiff is half horse and half eagle. injures draco malfoy.
• Hedwig: Harry's snowy owl, a gift from Hagrid when he first visited Diagon Alley.
• Scabbers: Ron's pet rat. It initially belonged to his elder brother Percy.
• Crookshanks: Hermione's cat.
• Ron Weasley: Ron is Harry's best friend. He is the 2nd youngest of the 7 Weasley children.
• Dean Thomas: Harry Potter's fellow Gryffindor. 3rd year also.
• Madam Hooch: Quidditch Referee and Flight Instructor at Hogwarts.
• Walden Macnair: The executioner that was sent to kill Buckbeak.
• Professor Kettleburn: Retired Care Of Magical Creatures professor.
• Mr. Fortescue: Owner of the Ice Cream Parlor in Diagon Alley.
• Madam Malkin: Diagon Alley store owner, store name is "Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions." Harry buys new robes from her.
• Sir Cadogan: A knight in a painting that takes over the Fat Lady's position when she is attacked by Sirius Black and fears for her life. Sir Cadogan is very brave, but a bit of a dork. He just can't seem to get it together and lacks complete coordination. He teases the kids when they try to get into the tower.
• Filch: Hogwarts caretaker.
• Oliver Wood: Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team with a huge charisma.
• Shin heung Moon: A character who someone put in who isn't actually in this book.
• Moony: One of the Marauders
• Wormtail: An author of the Marauder's Map.
• Padfoot: One of the Marauders

Quotes edit see section history

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• “Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of the year. For another, he really wanted to do his homework but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of night. And he also happened to be a wizard.”

  J.K. Rowling

• “Extremely unusual though he was, at that moment Harry Potter felt just like everyone else- glad, for the first time in his life, that it was his birthday.”

  J.K. Rowling

• “I'm not trying to be a hero, but seriously, Sirius Black can't be worse than Voldemort, can he?”

  Harry James Potter

• “How thick would Harry have to be, to go looking for a nutter who wants to kill him?”

  Ron Weasley

• “They make a fuss about Hogsmeade, but I assure you, Harry, it's not all it's cracked up to be. All right, the sweetshop's rather good, and Zonko's Joke Shop's frankly dangerous, and yes, the Shrieking Shack is always worth a visit, but really, Harry, apart from that, you're not missing anything.”

  Percy Weasley

• “Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business. Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git. Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor. Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball.”

  Marauder's Map

• “'What would your head have been doing in Hogsmeade, Potter?' said Snape softly. 'Your head is not allowed in Hogsmeade. No part of your body has permission to be in Hogsmeade.'”

  Severus Snape

• “'How extraordinarily like your father you are, Potter,' Snape said suddenly, his eyes glinting. 'He too was exceedingly arrogant. A small amount of talent on the Quidditch field made him think he was a cut above the rest of us too. Strutting around the place with his friends and admirers ... The resemblance between you is uncanny.'”

  Severus Snape

• “I don't go looking for trouble, trouble usually finds me!”

  Harry James Potter

• “'Did you see that, Something happened!'”

  Harry (practicing the Patronous Charm)

• “I don't need help. It's obvious what this means. There's going to be loads of fog tonight.”

  Ron Weasley

• “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.”

• “Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs~ Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makersare proud to present THE MARAUDER'S MAP”

  Marauder's Map

• “Mischief Managed!”

  Marauder's Map

• “Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where it keeps its brain.”

  Arthur Weasley

• “The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed.”

  Albus Dumbledore

• “This is no time to be a gentleman! Knock her off her broom if you have to!”

  Oliver Wood

• “He's at Hogwarts...”

  Sirius Black

• “'That felt good...''Good? Brilliant!'”

  Hermione and Ron

• “'What's your name?''Neville Longbottom...'”

  Stan Shunpike and Harry

• “Dementors are amongst the foulest creatures to walk on this earth.”

  Professor Remus Lupin

• “Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him.”

  Albus Dumbledore

• “You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don’t recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble?”

  Albus Dumbledore

• “If you made a better rat than a human, it’s not much to boast about, Peter”

  Sirius Black

• “That suggests that what you fear most of all is — fear. Very wise, Harry.”

  Remus Lupin

• “Ah, well, people can be a bit stupid abou’ their pets.”

  Rubeus Hagrid

• ““How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as they dug into a sumptuous pudding."The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley.Everyone looked up at him."Why?" said Percy curiously."It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them-""-for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.””

  Arthur, Percy, Fred and George Weasley

• ““I dreamed I was buying new shoes last night," said Ron. "What d'ya think that's gonna mean?""Probably that you're going to be eaten by a giant marshmallow or something," said Harry.””

  Ron and Harry

• “Bad news, Harry. I've just been to see Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. She – er, got a bit shirty with me. Told me I'd got my priorities wrong. Seemed to think I cared more about winning the Cup than I do about staying alive. Just because I told her I didn't care if it threw you off, as long as you caught the Snitch first.”

  Oliver Wood

• “And it's Gryfindor in possession again, as Johnson takes the Quaffle - Flint alongside her - poke him in the eye, Angelina - it was a joke, professor, it was a joke...”

  Lee Jordan

• “Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs.”

  Albus Dumbledore

• “Once again you've put your keen and penetrating mind to the task and as usual come to the wrong conclusion.”

  Sirius Black

• “I know how to use a fellytone now.”

  Ron Weasley

• “You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you do die, you need not hand it in.”

  Minerva McGonagall

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Hogwarts
• The shrieking shack
• Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: One of the three major schools. Located some where in Great Britain.
• Azkaban: The worst prison for people with magical talents. These people must have done something terrible to be placed here. The Dementors guard Azkaban Prison. No one has ever broken out, until now...
• Diagon Alley: In London. This is where most people buy all there supplies for the wizarding world.
• Hogsmeade: Students must be 13 years or older to visit the Hogsmeade village.
• London: A place that is magically connected to Diagon Alley.
• Gryffindor Tower: This is the second tallest tower at Hogwarts. It is where the Gryffindors preside in there common room.
• Egypt: Where the Weasleys spent their summer vacation.
• Magnolia Crescent
• Leaky Cauldron: A place in London. In a back room, there is a wall, and if you know how to open it, it leads to Diagon Alley.
• Zonko's Joke Shop: A place in Hogsmeade Village. It is joke shop where most Hogwarts' students will buy there stuff to annoy Filch, the caretaker, or other students and teachers.
• Honeydukes: A famous sweetshop at Hogsmeade.

Organizations edit see section history

• Gryffindor: It is one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, founded by Godric Gryffindor. Its emblematic animal is the lion and its colours are scarlet and gold. Minerva McGonagall is the most recent Head of House. Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, also known as "Nearly Headless Nick" is the house ghost. The particular characteristics of students Sorted into Gryffindor are courage and chivalry, of which the lion is the symbol. Some Gryffindor students are: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, as well as many others...
• Ravenclaw: It is one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, founded by Rowena Ravenclaw. Members of this house are characterised by their intelligence and cleverness. Its house colours are blue and bronze, and its symbol is the eagle. The house ghost, who in life was the daughter of the house's founder Rowena Ravenclaw, is the Grey Lady. Many great wizards and witches have come from this house, including Filius Flitwick, Cho Chang, and Luna Lovegood...
• Slytherin: It is one of the four Houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and is traditionally home to students who exhibit such traits as cunning and ambition. Its emblematic animal is the snake and its colours are green and silver. Founded by Salazar Slytherin, the house is comprised mostly of pure-blood students, due to its founder's mistrust of Muggle-born witches and wizards. The house has a negative reputation, with many claiming that it is the source of most Dark Wizards in Britain, notably Tom Marvolo Riddle, a.k.a. Lord Voldemort, as well as many of his Death Eaters. Some Slytherin students are: Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape and Vincent Crabbe.
• Hufflepuff: It is one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Its founder was the Medieval witch, Helga Hufflepuff. The Head of Hufflepuff is Pomona Sprout. The Fat Friar is the House's patron ghost. Hufflepuff is the most inclusive among the four houses, valuing hard work, patience, friendship and fair play rather than a particular aptitude in its members. Its emblematic animal is the badger, and yellow and black are its colours. Some Hufflepuff students are: Hannah Abbot and Zacharias Smith. Any one can join Hufflepuff. They take in all.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• Muggle: A human who does not exhibit magical talents.
• Mudblood: An offensive term for a wizard or witch who was 'muggle-born' or not born into a wizarding family.
• Azkaban: Prison fortress where wizarding criminals are sent. Guarded day and night by the terrifying Dementors, who drain peace, hope and happiness out of any human who comes too close to them.
• Quidditch: A wizarding game played on broom sticks. Each team has 7 players:3 chasers, 2 beaters, and a seeker. The chaser passes the quaffle and shoots in the goals. The beaters hit to balls called bludgers that try to knock the players off their broomsticks. The beaters knock the bludgers away from their teammates, and back to the other the team. The seeker is so supposed to search for the snitch. It is very hard to catch, but when they do, they win 150 points and ends the game.
• Animagi: Wizards who can turn themselves into animals at will. The singular form is animagus.
• Squib: A Squib is a non-magical person who is born to at least one magical parent. Squibs are, in essence, the antithesis of Muggle-born wizards and witches. They are rare and are looked upon with some degree of disdain by some witches and wizards, particularly pure-bloods.
• Dementor: A dark creature that sucks the happiness and/or souls out of humans.
• Nosh: Food.
• Apoplectic: Of, resembling, or produced by apoplexy: an apoplectic fit.
• Trundle: To roll along.
• Crinoline: A petticoat of haircloth or other stiff material, worn under a full skirt to keep it belled out.
• Roan: Of the color sorrel, chestnut, or bay, sprinkled with gray or white.
• Hippogriff: A magical creature that is a cross between an eagle and a horse. They are able to fly and carry wizards around on their backs.

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Ancient Egypt: Mummy's curses & the powers of the pyramids; also basis in history.
• Witch burning in the 14th century: Basis in history
• The Injustice of Legal Systems: innocents are behind the bars and guilty are not punished.
• The Duality of Life: fun and distress, love and hatred, gain and loss,
• The Importance of Loyalty: trust
• Framing: setting up wrongly.
• Names: alibi.

Errata edit see section history

Before Harry and Hermione go back in time, it is mentioned that Buckbeak is tied to a tree. But when they go back in time, Buckbeak is narrated to be tied to a fence.

p. 40 – The snowy owl clicked her BEAK and fluttered down onto Harry's arm.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and followed by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. J. K. Rowling (Author)

Other Contributors:

1. Cliff Wright (Illustrator)
2. Mary GrandPré (Illustrator) - An American illustrator, best known for her illustrations in the US editions of the Harry Potter books
3. Rufus Beck (Reader)
4. Jim Dale (Performer)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Bram Stoker Award (1999: Best Work for Young Readers)
• Hugo (2001: Best Science Fiction Novel)
• FCBG Children’s Book Award (1999: Longest Novel)
• Whitbread Book Award (1999: Children's Book)
• Locus Fantasy Award (2000: Novel)
• Guardian Award (Finalist, 2000, Shortlist)
• Hugo Award (Finalist, 2000: Best Novel)
• Mythopoeic Fantasy Award (Finalist, 2000: Children's Literature)

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PZ7.R79835 Ham 1999
• Dewey: Add the Dewey Classification.

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Anyone irrespective of their age, can read this series. Good for all ages 9+J.K. Rowling continues her great plotting and pacing, but this book's edgier themes will appeal more to older kids. For most of the school year, Harry believes he is marked for death and stalked by an escaped prisoner. He also battles a creature of kids' worst nightmares: the Dementors.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Children's Books › Series › Fantasy & Adventure › Harry Potter Books
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror › Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
• Books › Children's Books › Authors & Illustrators, A-Z › ( R ) › Rowling, J.K.
• Books › Children's Books › Issues › School
• Books › Children's Books › Ages 9-12

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• J.K. Rowling: Author's Website
• Harry Potter Wiki: A website where you can find out all sorts of things about the Magical World Of Harry Potter.

Movie Connections edit see section history

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (IMDb): 2004.

More Books Like This edit see section history

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

Books Influenced by This Book edit see section history