Professor Snape Character Analysis in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The potions master and the head of Slytherin House. It's a well-known fact among the student body that Snape desperately wants the Defense Against the Dark Arts job and that Dumbledore refuses to give it to him. Snape has never liked any Gryffindor students and hates Harry in particular, as he still holds a grudge against Harry's father, James, for a joke James played on him when they were at school together. This means that during Potions lessons, Snape openly favors Slytherin students while tormenting Gryffindor students. Neville Longbottom is a favorite target, as Neville is afraid of Snape more than anything else. Snape tries to poison Neville's toad in their first lesson and becomes even crueler after he learns that Neville's boggart, which took his form, was forced into the clothes that Neville's grandmother wears. Harry, Ron, and Hermione fear that Snape is trying to poison Professor Lupin, as Harry sees Snape bring Lupin a smoking potion one afternoon. Harry also notices that Snape looks at Lupin with the same kind of loathing he exhibits when he looks at Harry. In the Shrieking Shack, Snape's hatred for Harry, Lupin, and James comes to the forefront: Snape screams at Hermione and refuses to listen to Lupin and Sirius Black's story, as he's too intent on capturing Black and being able to take credit for his capture as well as get revenge for his schoolboy grudge. Harry also learns that Snape is aware that Lupin is a werewolf and has been making him the Wolfsbane Potion, a relatively new and extremely complicated potion. Snape is so enraged when he discovers Black's escape that he "accidentally" lets it slip that Lupin is a werewolf, thereby forcing Lupin to resign before parents begin to insist that Dumbledore fire him.

Professor Snape Quotes in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban quotes below are all either spoken by Professor Snape or refer to Professor Snape. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Scholastic edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban published in 2001.

"Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear."

Related Characters: (speaker), , ,

Page Number and Citation: 132

Explanation and Analysis:

"Anyone?" Snape said, ignoring Hermione. His twisted smile was back. "Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you the basic distinction between--"

"We told you," said Parvati suddenly, "we haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on--"

"Silence!" snarled Snape.

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker), , , ,

Page Number and Citation: 171

Explanation and Analysis:

"But if--if there was a mistake--"

"KEEP QUIET, YOU STUPID GIRL!" Snape shouted, looking suddenly quite deranged. "DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!"

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker), , , , ,

Page Number and Citation: 360

Explanation and Analysis:

Professor Snape Character Timeline in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The timeline below shows where the character Professor Snape appears in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Then, Dumbledore introduces Professor Lupin. Ron notices that as the school applauds for Lupin, Professor Snape looks at Lupin with loathing. Dumbledore also announces that Hagrid will take over for the... (full context)

...in the hospital wing until Thursday morning, when he comes to Potions halfway through class. Snape idly tells Malfoy to settle down and Harry scowls; he knows that Malfoy is playing... (full context)

At the next table, Neville struggles with his Shrinking Solution and his fear of Snape makes the subject even harder for him. His potion is supposed to be green, but... (full context)

...Harry's place, he'd be seeking revenge. Before Harry can make Malfoy explain what he means, Snape tells the class to clean up so they can test Neville's potion. Harry notices Hermione... (full context)

Snape calls the class to gather around Neville's cauldron. He gives Trevor a few drops of... (full context)

...that sends the gum Peeves was stuffing in a keyhole into Peeves's nose. They find Snape in the staffroom. As Snape starts to leave, he warns Lupin to not trust Neville... (full context)

..."riddikulus," and then asks Neville to join him. Neville nervously tells Lupin that he fears Snape more than anything, and then with prompting, tells Lupin about the clothes his grandmother wears.... (full context)

...dementors more. Lupin begins the exercise before Harry is ready. Neville successfully forces the boggart Snape into a ridiculous dress and hat. Several other classmates tackle the boggart but before Harry... (full context)

...becomes everyone's favorite class. Potions, however, gets even worse for Neville once the story of Snape's appearance as a boggart gets around. Harry hates Divination the most, as Trelawney starts to... (full context)

Snape knocks on the door and lets himself in. He gives Lupin a smoking goblet, tells... (full context)

...aghast when Harry tells them about the potion that Lupin drank, and they wonder if Snape is trying to poison him. During the Halloween feast, the trio watches Lupin and Snape... (full context)

...Dumbledore whispers to Percy that he's found a temporary guardian for the portrait hole, and Snape arrives to say that Sirius Black is nowhere to be found. Snape asks if Dumbledore... (full context)

Snape greets Harry instead of Lupin, docks points from Gryffindor for Harry's lateness, and explains that... (full context)

...match and, during Potions, he mimes dementors. Ron throws a crocodile heart at him and Snape takes 50 points from Gryffindor. Fortunately, Lupin is back to teach Defense Against the Dark... (full context)

...the few teachers and students still at school for Christmas. Dumbledore greets everyone warmly, makes Snape hold one end of his Christmas cracker, and puts on the ridiculous hat that comes... (full context)

...eye," but Dumbledore stops them by saying that Lupin is ill again. He confirms that Snape made Lupin his potion and then offers a first-year boy a plate of sausages. (full context)

...Neville invites Harry to play a game and work on their essays for Lupin, but Snape interrupts. His eyes flick to the witch statue as he sends both boys back to... (full context)

...to leave the cloak in the tunnel and just as he closes up the passage, Snape appears. Harry guiltily sticks his muddy hands in his pockets and follows Snape to his... (full context)

Snape says that even though everyone is trying to keep him safe, Harry doesn't care about... (full context)

Snape asks Harry to empty his pockets. Harry pulls out his shopping bag from Zonko's and... (full context)

...is a map and is aghast that Harry didn't turn it in. Harry asks why Snape thinks he got it from the manufacturers. Lupin hesitantly explains that they would've found it... (full context)

...Hagrid. Potions is a disaster. Harry's potion refuses to cooperate and he thinks he sees Snape mark a zero on his notes. For History of Magic, Harry writes everything he remembers... (full context)

...for Lupin to get away from him. Hermione says that she figured it out after Snape assigned the werewolf essay. Lupin tells Hermione she's clever and says that the entire staff... (full context)

...that would mean admitting that he betrayed Dumbledore's trust as a boy. This is why Snape has been so nasty to him. Black is surprised to learn that Snape is a... (full context)

Hermione screams as Snape thanks Harry for the Invisibility Cloak. He explains that he took a goblet of the... (full context)

Harry points out that Lupin could've killed him many times over the school year. When Snape refuses to listen, Harry yells that he's pathetic for holding onto a silly grudge. Snape... (full context)

...and Lupin splints Ron's leg. Ron and Lupin chain themselves to Pettigrew, while Black levitates Snape's body to take him back to the castle. (full context)

...out. As they make their way towards the castle in the dark, the clouds shift. Snape's body runs into Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron, who all stop suddenly. Lupin goes rigid and... (full context)

Harry comes to in the hospital wing and listens to Snape and Fudge in the hallway. Snape tells Fudge that Harry, Hermione, and Ron were Confunded,... (full context)

...so he stops speaking. Dumbledore arrives and calmly asks to speak with Harry and Hermione. Snape, incensed, asks if his testimony is worthless and screams at Hermione again when she reminds... (full context)

Responsibility, Morality, and Time Theme Icon

...but Hermione stops him just as Hagrid starts walking up to the castle. Minutes later, Snape bursts out of the castle, grabs the Cloak, and vanishes under the tree. (full context)

...but Harry explains that it's okay since he didn't realize he saw himself. They watch Snape put their past selves on stretchers and take them up to the castle. (full context)

...to the hospital wing, Harry and Hermione race through the castle. They hear Fudge and Snape walking towards the hospital wing but when they start in that direction themselves, they hear... (full context)

Harry hears a furious roar from somewhere above them and within a minute, they hear Snape's voice getting closer, shouting that Harry has something to do with Sirius's escape. Dumbledore looks... (full context)

...says he saw Harry coming on the Marauder's Map. He confirms that he resigned because Snape leaked that he's a werewolf and parents will be distraught. (full context)

...their exam results. Harry somehow makes it through Potions, but he suspects Dumbledore didn't allow Snape to fail him. In classes Snape seems to hate Harry even more. (full context)