Harry Potter and the Philosopher's

Stone Review

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first installment in the Harry Potter
series which consists of 8 movies. This was actually my first viewing of the film, as I
have only watched two films from the series:Prisoner of Askaban and the Half Blood
Prince.

To better understand how a successful narrative structure works we were introduced to

a 17 part story cycle by Joseph Cambell called the 17 stages of Joseph Cambell’s
monomyth.

Here is an advanced version

Here is a simpler version

Following this template the story started off with the ordinary world of Harry Potter being
dropped off as a baby to another family so that they can look after him.

Next the call to adventure was letters sent by owls over a decade later telling Harry
he’s ready to learn about his past and begin his future.

Harry’s uncle refuses the call to adventure by stopping Harry from opening the letters so
it seems like he’s not interested in the letter senders.

The supernatural aid is Hagrid who eneter’s Harry’s house and tells him that Harry is
needed as no reply was ever sent.
Harry joins Hagrid and goes to Hogwarts, the place that sent the letters, crossing the
first threshold.

Harry is given a tour of Hogwarts and is told the rules, one in particular is to not go to
certain places as they are dangerous beyond control, making his new environment feel
so distant to his previous one which is the belly of the whale.
The road of trials is when Harry starts his lessons in Hogwarts ranging from magic and
potions to flying on a broom to being a seeker in quidditch.

Harry’s Meeting with the Goddess is his friend when a troll enters Hogwarts and as a
year 1 student he has the courage to save them.

Harry Potter’s Temptation is when he finds out there are secrets in Hogwarts like a
three headed dog guarding a trap door, though not in love he is very interested in what
they are guarding, which is the Philosopher's Stone.

He who can not be named fills in the role of the Atonement with the father as Harry
encounters the man who made him get his scar and other far worse acts such as
Harry’s parents being killed.

The Apostasis is almost Ron that is killed by what’s under the trap door which consists
of a real life magical chess game. Ron sacrifices himself for Harry’s sake.

In the climax of the film Harry confronts he who can not be named prepared this time,
this being the Ultimate Boon, where he defeats the main villain with the stone that he
went above and beyond for.

Once Harry has won the final battle the Hogwarts christmas break is about to start, so
Harry and the other students have to go home, he clearly has stronger feelings towards
the people in Hogwarts than the people at his home which is the refusal of return. Harry
gets a souvenir from his parents which inspires him to be strong heading home.

Harry greets his friends off until he sees them again which is the magic flight.

Harry is excited to know more about his parents but he also is aware that more dangers
await him. Studying while at home is his Rescue from without, where he can feel
connected to magic while being advised to not perform magic away from Hogwarts.
Harry can go back to his normal life, but has the knowledge that he can get along with
people and not feel like an outcast all the time, but even the main focal point Crossing
the threshold.

As Harry’s family knows he can do magic as they knew his mum was magic Harry can
know when to pick his battles and when to ask for help, becoming the Master of two
worlds.

Now Harry has Freedom to live, he defeats the villain, knows more about his family and
goes back to Hogwarts to see his friends, he feels unrestricted but at the same time
challenged and grateful for finally going to Hogwarts.

Once a new interpretation of analysing film was presented it made me appreciate the
amazing film which still holds up in my opinion (the film was made in 2001). There was
great storytelling and creative scenes and it was really strong in the environment.

Bibliography

Miyamoto, K., 2021. How Screenwriters Can Use Dan Harmon's "Circle Theory of Story" - ScreenCraft.
[online] ScreenCraft. Available at:
<https://screencraft.org/2018/10/08/how-screenwriters-can-use-dan-harmons-circle-theory-of-story/>
[Accessed 21 October 2021].(cycle images)