Young Adult Book Club discussion

Here and some questions that you can discuss about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Questions taken from: http://hpread.scholastic.com/HP_Book4...

1. The previous volumes have all opened at the Dursley
home, but this book starts somewhere else. How did that change the tone of the story for you? Why do you think Rowling departed from the way she had started the other books?

2. Much of the humor, as well as the feeling of authenticity, in the Harry Potter series comes from the juxtaposition of our world and the wizarding world. What are some of the humorous comparisons in Goblet of Fire, both in and out of Hogwarts? Compare the Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament to sporting events in our world. What are some of the chilling connections between things in our world and the more sinister aspects of those events as illustrated in the books?

3. Why can’t younger wizards learn to “Apparate” and so get from one place to another quickly? Why do they have to use a “Portkey”? Is there any advantage to the Portkey? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Floo powder to get from one place to another?

4. How are the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang distinct from the students at Hogwarts? What difficulties might there be in developing friendships between the schools? Compare the relationships among teachers from the three schools to those among the students.

5. What is the effect on the students and staff when Harry’s name comes out of the Goblet of Fire? How does the relationship between Harry and Cedric develop through the three tasks of the tournament? Why does Harry take time to free others besides Ron during the second task?

6. Magical objects that have been used for good, or simple mischief, by Harry in earlier volumes are used for darker reasons in this book. How does this change the tone of the story? How does Barty Crouch, disguised as Moody, use the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder’s Map? What clues are there in the story that would lead you to suspect that Mad-Eye Moody was not the person he appeared to be? Why could Dumbledore not detect this deception? Why is Snape convinced that instead of the true culprit, it is the students who are stealing his ingredients for Polyjuice Potion?

7. What is the significance of Hermione’s campaign for the welfare of the house-elves? Why is she adamant about improving their conditions? Why do the house-elves resist her efforts? Discuss what Sirius Black means when he says: “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” (p. 525)

8. One of the most annoying characters in the series
is Rita Skeeter, the journalist. What does she do to
alienate Harry and Hermione? Why is it so important
to Hermione to get revenge on Rita? What skills does
Hermione possess that make it possible for her to do so?

9. Harry has his first experience with Dumbledore’s
Pensieve in this volume, a device through which he
learns many important facts from the past. The first time he (inadvertently) enters the Pensieve, Dumbledore tells him, “Curiosity is not a sin … but we should exercise caution with our curiosity … yes, indeed …” (p. 598) What does he mean by this? When does Harry not exercise caution?

10. When Harry faces Voldemort, his will takes over and he refuses to answer the questions Voldemort asks.
Harry determines not to die cringing, but to stand up
to Voldemort the way his father did. What events and
experiences have helped Harry develop this courage?

11. What do you believe causes the connection between
Harry’s wand and Voldemort’s? How do the shadow
figures that emerge from the connection between the
wands help Harry escape? Why does Voldemort need
Harry’s blood to regain his body?

12. Is Harry learning to become a great wizard or is he just lucky to escape the forces that arise against him? What skills has he gained in this volume? Do you believe that Harry is living out a destiny or acting of his own free will?

13. In the hospital wing after Harry returns from the
graveyard, Dumbledore says to Snape: “Severus, you
know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready...if you are prepared...” (p. 713) What do you think Dumbledore is asking him to do? Why does Dumbledore trust Snape without reservation?

14. Why does Cornelius Fudge refuse to believe that
Voldemort has returned? Why does he refuse to
believe Harry’s story? The final chapter is entitled “The Beginning.” What does that tell you about the events that happened in this volume and the events to come?

15. Consider some of the new characters in this volume. What do their names tell us about their personalities?
Rita Skeeter
Bartemius Crouch
Ludo Bagman
Viktor Krum
Fleur Delacour
Cedric Diggory
Madame Maxime
Igor Karkaroff

This book is my favorite in the series by far! I felt the plot was evenly paced with the three challenges versus in the previous books where there is a big windup over the first 50 pages a series of random/irrelevant exploits by Ron, Hermione, and Harry for the next 400 and then a big finish with the last 50. I've answered some of the questions that I think I know the best but am curious to see what others say.

1. The tone of this book changes as Harry gets older. It gets darker and is thus more intriguing.

4 I think it would be neat if Rowling had expanded on the other magical schools. Hogwarts feels very small but adding more complexity with the other schools would create a more expansive wizard universe.

12 I don't think Harry has free will with how the story is scripted, but this is not a problem for me. Harry is still experiencing his life as if it is free for him to decide. I think the ending of this book breaks the chains of Harry's predestination allowing him to finally fail or succeed on his own right. It greatly adds energy to the story bc with Cedric's death it leaves the reader wondering what could happen? Now, the danger Harry faces is 'real'

13 Dumbledore's quote is great foreshadowing for the careful reader of what is to come!

14 I think he refuses bc it would turn his world upside down. He would rather live in a bubble a little longer than admit the truth bc he knows he will lose anyways.

1. As Adam said, the tone of the series gradually darkens. Opening at the Riddles' old house emphasizes this point, I think. It tells the reader at the beginning that Harry Potter's world is changing, and not for the better!

4. @Adam: I would have much rather learned more about Beauxbatons and Durmstrang than read about the Quidditch World Cup :) Perhaps she'll visit them again one day, when she's done writing all her recent rubbish.

I was always curious how a former Death Eater could become headmaster to a school! If it's such a well known Dark Arts institute, why were they not closed down? (Which is disappointing since Durmstrang was apparently founded by a woman in the Middle Ages! That's quite an accomplishment.) Beauxbatons sounds like a beautiful school, if a bit classier than Hogwarts' and Durmstrang's castles. The different atmospheres of the schools effect the students' upbringing, and that could be a cultural barrier between students of the three schools. Also, the visiting students may feel overwhelmed surrounded by so many Hogwarts students; they may decide they would rather stick together where they're comfortable.

6. " Why could Dumbledore not detect this deception?" I always wondered about this. You would think since so many people knew Moody, they would be able to tell something was off. But they also didn't realize Voldemort was living on the back of Quirrell's head in Book 1 so....

7. I think S.P.E.W. was a great way to show that there's more to Hermione than her books. It shows her determination and passion was helping those less fortunate, even when practically everyone is against her. The conditions of the house-elves show how old fashioned the wizarding world is. Wizards are very condescending towards the house-elves (and muggles). I think Rowling was trying to show that people should always stand up for those beings in terrible situations, even if no one else supports you.

8. On Rita Skeeter and Hermione-- as much as I feel Skeeter deserved her comeuppance for all those horrible stories, I still can't believe Hermione was brave enough to blackmail AND kidnap the woman!

9. When does Harry not exercise caution? Practically every day of his life... I feel like he took one step forward, and two steps back when he approached the Pensieve. He had no idea what this thing was, and even reflects on how dangerous unfamiliar things are in the wizarding world. So he makes sure not to TOUCH the pensieve, but immediately sticks his WAND in the mysterious liquid/mist. He's lucky all that happened was a chance to eavesdrop on Dumbledore's memories :)

12. I think Harry has been generally lucky so far. He doesn't seem to study spells enough, he's reckless, and a procrastinator. The tournament gave him a reason to study and master several spells. I think it also taught him not to procrastinate, and to swallow his stubborn pride once in awhile (finally listening to Cedric's advice). I think he's a great wizard because he's generally kind and generous.

Rebecca wrote: "1. As Adam said, the tone of the series gradually darkens. Opening at the Riddles' old house emphasizes this point, I think. It tells the reader at the beginning that Harry Potter's world is chan..."

Per your answer to number 6 I've also wondered how Dumbledore is so brilliant but 'misses' certain things. I think Rowling waffles on making him a mastermind and sometimes clueless. Perhaps, she means him to only play gullible in certain moments or maybe she means him to have human fallacies like the rest of us? I think he is a really cool character and would love to know more about his past along with the other schools.
I think there is room to grow Dumbledore with a semi-dark past so that his character could be more dynamic i.e. made mistakes in youth but learned from them and Grinch style grew a heart triple in size to become Harry's champion.

1. I think Rowling opened this book differently from the ones before it to let the reader know that it wouldn't be just about the wizard boy happy to be away from his parents, things start to get serious and the events affect the entire wizarding world.

2. Some of the comparisons in Goblet of Fire include the use of attractive females at sporting events, and the embarrassed feelings at school dances. The Quidditch World Cup is to the wizarding world as the Super Bowl is to America. Everyone that can goes to it, everyone gets really excited and passionate and there are big shows. The Triwizard Tournament could be seen as similar to state competitions in high school sports, like wrestling, track and cross country. One of the chilling connections between things in our world and the more sinister aspects of those events as illustrated in the books is the power people have and use to ruin happy events, the dark mark cast in the sky is similar to the bomb at the Boston Marathon.

3. Younger wizards can’t learn to “Apparate” because it is difficult and they risk being splinched. Portkeys are easy to use, just touch them. An advantage is everyone is certain to go to the right place and get there on time. An advantage of Floo powder is being able to use it without needing to schedule a time, like with a Portkey. A disadvantage is that you need to prounouce the destination clearly.

4. Hogwarts has four house of very diverse students. Beauxbatons has very pretty girls and they wear fancy, expensive clothing. Durmstrang is a school full of big, strong people. It could be difficult to build friendships between the schools because they are competing against each other and they wouldn't be able to hang out easily when the schools go back to where they came from. There are some close, and even romantic, relationships that develop between schools, such as Hermione and Victor, Hagrid and Madame Maxime and some that don't like each other like Ron and Victor.

5. They are surprised and confused and want to know how he cheated. They learn that they don't have to be enemies just because they are competing, their are other competitors to work against too, they don't help each other at all for the first part, then Cedric helps Harry for the second part and Harry lets Cedric win with him at the end. He is worried and doesn't know where the other people that are supposed to rescue them are and he cares about both Ron and Hermione.

6. When the magical objects that were used for harmless things are used for worse actions, you realize why if the professors and other Hogwarts staff knew what things had they would confiscate them and that things can be used to do good or bad. Barty Crouch Jr. is hidden under an invisibility cloak when he escapes from Azkaban and he hides under it to go to the Quidditch World Cup, where he steals Harry's wand and casts the Dark Mark. He uses the Marauder's Map to find his dad and kill him. Clues that show Mad-Eye Moody isn't really mad-Eye is his constant drinking of his flask and use of illegal curses in class. Dumbledore didn't predict that Barty Crouch Jr was pretending to be Mad-Eye because he hadn't seen Mad-Eye in a while so he didn't know what he was like and Dumbledore was too busy with all of the other things to notice. Snape is convinced that Harry stole his ingredients for Polyjuice Potion because he doesn't like or trust Harry and he knows that Harry was out of bed on the night his office was broken into.

7. Hermione's S.P.E.W. campaign is significant because it shows that self-aware creatures that work not that differently from people shouldn't be taken advantage of just because it is easy to do so. She wants them to be treated as equals. The house-elves resisted her efforts because they are used to their work and enjoy doing it. They were insulted. Sirius' quote means that people naturally treat people equal to or above them with respect but there isn't a need to treat those below you nicely, it is your choice.

8. Rita Skeeter is bad because she says whatever she wants to to make people sound however she wants. Hermione is mad at Rita because she is a liar and Hermione insults her which makes Rita write a mean story about her. Hermione used her intelligence to realize Rita must be hiding something that helped her know things and trapped her. She also knew what she was doing was against the law and blackmailed her.

9. The quote means that it is okay to be curious but be careful with what you do. Harry is not cautious when he takes time to save all of the people in the lake when the gillyweed only gives him a little time to breathe and dangerous things are in the water.

10. Harry has developed the courage that helped him stand up to Voldemort when he stands up to him when he wants the Sorcerer's Stone and when he stands up to Tom Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets and when he stands up to Snape, Sirius and Peter when he doesn't trust any of them.

11. The wands' connections are caused by the twin cores. The shadows are of people Harry loves and they encourage him to get away. Voldemort needs Harry’s blood to regain his body because he believes it will make him greater and more terrible and he thought it would remove the protection of love on Harry. Also, part of the chant for the regeneration potion is "Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe."

12. Harry is learning to become a great wizard. In this book, Harry gains more courage, learns to deal with death, and strengthens relationships with others. i believe Harry is acting of his own free will.

13. In the quote, Dumbledore is asking Snape to go to Voldemort to convince him that he is still a good Death Eater. Dumbledore trusts Snape because Snape came to hate Voldemort when he killed Lily, who Snape was in love with, and Snape asked Dumbledore to accept him so Snape could get revenge.

14. Cornelius Fudge refuses to believe that Voldemort has returned because it would ruin the wizarding world that he had worked so hard to make right. He refuses to believe Harry’s story because he believed Rita's articles and said he was a hallucinatory unreliable witness. The final chapter's title and Voldemort coming back suggests that the remaining books will be about bringing the newly restored Voldemort back down, for good.

15. Rita Skeeter's name sounds like a mosquito which is an annoying bug that makes noises, like the gossip she spews writes into her stories. Bartemius Crouch's name is similar to the Biblical name, Bartimaeus, who was a blind man, like how Barty Crouch Jr. was blind to goodness and love and only looked to what Voldemort wanted from him. Ludo Bagman's last name is slang for a person that delivers money between criminals like how he secretly gambled. Viktor Krum's name is similar to the word victor, he is victorious in Quidditch. Fleur Delacour's name comes from the French phrase fleur de la cour, meaning "flower of the court." Her middle name, Isabelle, comes from the French word belle, meaning beautiful. Cedric Diggory's name is from the Ivanhoe character Cedric who was a proud and kind knight, like when Cedric is nice and helps Harry. Madame Maxime's name is French for principle and she is the principal of Beauxbaton's. It also means maximus or greatest or biggest. Her first name, Olympe, is similar to Olympus which is a mountain. Igor Karkaroff's name is a common name for the servants of villains and he is a Death Eater.