Setting

In the novels “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling uses imagery in order to convey the beauty of Hogwarts, ultimately illustrating the feeling of home and enhances the plot. 

To begin, Rowling begins by highlighting the key features of Hogwarts. For example, when Harry arrives at Hogwarts, the narrator mentions the castle’s structure and the night upon arrival to a new place to set the tone and display the school. This showcases the new feeling Hogwarts brings to the characters who are new to the place because typically students are anxious on their first day of school especially at a new place. Consequently, if the narrator didn’t include these key details about Hogwarts, the place would've seemed like a normal school due to the fact that individuals have never been to a wizarding school before. Furthermore, the narrator chooses to highlight the beauty of the castle as well as the night to enhance the feeling upon arriving at a new place. Therefore, there may be an indication of anxiousness between the characters and Hogwarts; thus, the narrator creates a beautiful and exciting atmosphere by using imagery to enhance the focus of the setting. 

In addition, by showcasing the feeling of home, Rowling shifts to describing the inside of Hogwarts. To illustrate, the narrator displays the common rooms, the great hall, the classrooms, and the corridors with descriptive words to bring attention to the details of the castle. This emphasizes the importance of the setting because it enhances the feeling of a new home for the characters as well as intensifies the routine schedule of the students. Consequently, since the narrator uses the setting to magnify certain aspects of a new home, the place becomes more important throughout the story based on  the plot of the stories that take place at Hogwarts. For example, Fluffy the three headed dog guarding the trap door, the Mirror of Erised, and the bathroom with the opening to the Chamber of Secrets are examples of big setting events that happen within the story. Furthermore, through the description of Hogwarts, the narrator sets the scene for the action to take place due to the fact that describing the place helps the understanding of what is happening in the story. Therefore, it will be beneficial to emphasize the setting for better understanding. 

Overall, J.K. Rowling’s highlights of Hogwarts strengthens the plot of the story she tries to create. By highlighting the key points, she creates a new feeling of home while setting the tone for the events.