Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the U.S. title of a novel by J. K. Rowling that is known elsewhere as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. First published in 1997, it is a seminal work in contemporary fiction, laying the foundation for the immensely popular series. The book not only introduces the protagonist, Harry Potter, but also establishes the magical world of witches and wizards in which Harry’s character develops. By introducing Harry, a reluctant hero and “nobody,” at the outset, Rowling is able to describe his journey of self-discovery, exploring how the notion of identity is shaped by one’s choices.

Summary

Read one-minute Sparklet summaries, the detailed chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, or the Full Book Summary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and in-depth analyses of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Draco Malfoy.

Literary Devices

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Quotes

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Quick Quizzes

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Essays

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Further Study

Go further in your study of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with background information about J. K. Rowling and the novel, as well as suggestions for further reading.