Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What makes the setting of a magical world appealing or interesting? How might an author create a sense of wonder or danger in a fantasy setting?

Teaching Suggestion: To introduce this prompt by drawing on past experiences, consider asking students to brainstorm fantasy narratives with which they are familiar. Students could discuss what makes the worlds from these stories interesting or different from realistic fiction. If they are not familiar with the rest of the Harry Potter series, this could provide an opportunity to introduce the elements of fantasy established in prior novels.

• “Creating A Sense Of Wonder In Fantasy“ - This article discusses the importance of tone in providing for the reader’s sense of wonder in a fantasy series.
• “How to Build a Fictional World“ - This 5-minute TED-Ed video describes the importance of worldbuilding and provides tips for authors on building their own fictional worlds.

2. How has the Harry Potter series impacted reading trends, particularly among young readers? What about this series might have contributed to its widespread appeal? Do you think this trend will continue? Will the Harry Potter series continue to be popular in the future? Why or why not?