Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Coming of Age

The saga of Harry Potter is a long one, and Harry will come into his own more definitively in future entries. But even in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, we get the sense that this mouse has some roar in him.

Harry's coming of age marks not only the discovery that he's a dang wizard, but the realization that he doesn't have to be normal, and there are people who believe in the power of what he can become. The pretty much puts Aunt Petunia in her place, doesn't it?

Questions About Coming of Age

1. In what ways does Harry come of age in this film? In what ways does he still have a lot of work to do?
2. Is coming of age marked by a specific event? Or is it a series of small events constituting a slow process?
3. How do the other children at Hogwarts come of age in the course of the film?

Chew on This

Harry's coming of age begins when he arrives at Hogwarts.

Harry's coming of age starts when he's still a baby and survives the attack from Voldemort.