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The Magical One-Question Hogwarts Sorting Quiz
Someone at my work put up a House Points display for a Harry Potter program, so of course we are all talking about what Hogwarts House we are. And I am getting increasingly annoyed at how badly designed so many of the online sorting quizzes are. So here is the simplest and most accurate sorting quiz of all:
Imagine you are eleven years old. You are sitting at the front of the Hogwarts Great Hall. All your new classmates are staring at you. Somebody puts a battered old hat on your head that will make a decision that will change the course of the rest of your life.
If you chose the first option, you are now Slytherin!
Slytherins tend to be very certain of their place in the world, a strong sense of their own rights and privileges, and to have a deep respect for authority and tradition (at least in the abstract.) Slytherin has by far the highest proportion of "legacy" students whose ancestors have always been Slytherin, and by far the lowest proportion of first-generation students (who are unlikely to have that much confidence in the sorting system.) Students are usually about evenly split between those who expected Slytherin and those who expected one of the other three houses.
If you chose the second option, you are now Gryffindor!
Gryffindors have strong opinions about things, are not easily swayed by the opinions of others, and are willing to speak up for what they believe. They do not give respect unless it has been earned. Gryffindor tends to have an even mix of students from families with long histories (who are conflicted about tradition and expectation) and first-generation students (who came in with a very basic knowledge of the Sorting system but still thinking they understood it.) Gryffindors are also about evenly split between students who expected Gryffindor and students who expected one of the other houses.
If you chose the third option, you are now Ravenclaw!
Ravenclaws approach the world with curiosity, skepticism, and an open mind, and are the most likely to change their opinions based on new information, or refuse to give an opinion with limited information. Their opinion of authority is "trust, but verify." Ravenclaw has the second-highest proportion of legacy students, and also ends up with a lot of younger siblings who have fewer family responsibilites. Ravenclaw also has the largest number of students whose parents went to other wizarding schools.
If you chose the fourth option, you are now Hufflepuff!
Hufflepuffs tend to have the least secure sense of their place in the world; they value community, friendship, and cultural influence, and have a keen sense of their social status. They are most likely to approach problems based on pragmatic concerns rather than ideals or principles. Hufflepuff is the house of strivers, who feel strong pressure to succeed and improve. Hufflepuff has the highest proportion of Muggleborns, but also the highest proportion of millionaires and Ministers.
Imagine you are eleven years old. You are sitting at the front of the Hogwarts Great Hall. All your new classmates are staring at you. Somebody puts a battered old hat on your head that will make a decision that will change the course of the rest of your life.
Poll #20657 The Magical One-Question Sorting Quiz
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 125
What is going through your head?
View Answers
I'm pretty sure I know what house I'll be in, and I'm looking forward to it!
55 (44.0%)
I'm afraid I know what house I'll be in, but I hope I'm wrong.
9 (7.2%)
I have no idea what house I'll be in, but I'm excited to find out!
33 (26.4%)
I have no idea what house I'll be in, but I just hope I fit in there.
28 (22.4%)
If you chose the first option, you are now Slytherin!
Slytherins tend to be very certain of their place in the world, a strong sense of their own rights and privileges, and to have a deep respect for authority and tradition (at least in the abstract.) Slytherin has by far the highest proportion of "legacy" students whose ancestors have always been Slytherin, and by far the lowest proportion of first-generation students (who are unlikely to have that much confidence in the sorting system.) Students are usually about evenly split between those who expected Slytherin and those who expected one of the other three houses.
If you chose the second option, you are now Gryffindor!
Gryffindors have strong opinions about things, are not easily swayed by the opinions of others, and are willing to speak up for what they believe. They do not give respect unless it has been earned. Gryffindor tends to have an even mix of students from families with long histories (who are conflicted about tradition and expectation) and first-generation students (who came in with a very basic knowledge of the Sorting system but still thinking they understood it.) Gryffindors are also about evenly split between students who expected Gryffindor and students who expected one of the other houses.
If you chose the third option, you are now Ravenclaw!
Ravenclaws approach the world with curiosity, skepticism, and an open mind, and are the most likely to change their opinions based on new information, or refuse to give an opinion with limited information. Their opinion of authority is "trust, but verify." Ravenclaw has the second-highest proportion of legacy students, and also ends up with a lot of younger siblings who have fewer family responsibilites. Ravenclaw also has the largest number of students whose parents went to other wizarding schools.
If you chose the fourth option, you are now Hufflepuff!
Hufflepuffs tend to have the least secure sense of their place in the world; they value community, friendship, and cultural influence, and have a keen sense of their social status. They are most likely to approach problems based on pragmatic concerns rather than ideals or principles. Hufflepuff is the house of strivers, who feel strong pressure to succeed and improve. Hufflepuff has the highest proportion of Muggleborns, but also the highest proportion of millionaires and Ministers.
no subject
I think recessional has gone over this ground already but nooooooooo that was absolutely not my experience as a Smart Kid (TM) in the US school system. I think you're confusing the Slytherin-like "People will recognize my inherent awesomeness and I will wind up in the place where I am rewarded for that" with the idea "If I get to a place where people value the same things I value maybe I won't be treated as a complete pariah and can be happy being myself." Those are two pretty diametrically opposed views of the self. I don't think the idea that "I will be Recognized and appreciated" is entirely privileged or fanon -- Harry himself is in the grand romantic tradition of the heroic orphaned child who isn't appreciated by anyone around him and is lifted up to greatness by how awesome he inherently is! It's a genre the book is actively participating in.
Muggleborns who ended up in other houses either because getting their Hogwarts letter knocked that sense of confidence in the world for a loop
But that's totally not the narrative. The narrative is "I get the letter and my world is changed and that's awesome."