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DISCUSSION GUIDE

and the Goblet of FireDISCUSSION GUIDEABOUT THE HARRY POTTERBOOKS AND THIS GUIDEJ.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books are among the most popular and acclaimed of all time.Published in the UK between 1997 and 2007 and beginning with Harry Potter and thePhilosopher’s Stone, the seven books are epic stories of Harry Potter and his friends as theyattend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Crossing genres including fantasy,thriller and mystery, and at turns exhilarating, humorous and sad, the stories exploreuniversal human values, longings and choices.The Harry Potter books are compelling reading for children and adults alike; they havemet phenomenal success around the world and have been translated into 77 languages.A whole generation of children grew up awaiting the publication of each book in theseries with eager anticipation, and they still remain enormously popular.The Harry Potter books make excellent starting points for discussion. These guides outlinea host of ideas for discussions and other activities that can be used in the classroom, ina reading group or at home. They cover some of the main themes of the series, many ofwhich, while set in an imaginary world, deal with universal issues of growing up that arefamiliar to all children. You will also find references to key moments on pottermore.com,where you can discover more about the world of Harry Potter. These guides are aimed atstimulating lively discussion and encouraging close engagement with books and reading.We hope you will use the ideas in this guide as a basis for educational and enjoyable work –and we think your group will be glad you did!Visit harrypotterforteachers.com for more Harry Potter discussion guides and reward certificates2

and the Goblet of FireDISCUSSION GUIDEINTRODUCTION TOHARRY POTTER AND THEGOBLET OF FIREHarry becomes aware of a wider wizarding world in thisvolume, as he attends the Quidditch World Cup with theWeasleys, and becomes involved in the Triwizard Tournamentat Hogwarts, competing against students from other schools.Hermione becomes obsessed with the condition of thehouse-elves after witnessing the treatment of Winky byMinistry official Crouch, and starts an organisation to helpthem.The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Alastor‘Mad-Eye’ Moody, teaches his students about UnforgivableCurses, while Harry struggles to master skills for the three tasks that constitute theTriwizard Tournament, a competition he did not enter willingly. At the end of the thirdtask, he is transported by Dark Magic to a graveyard where the Death Eaters havegathered to witness the rejuvenation of Lord Voldemort.Escaping against all odds, Harry returnsto Hogwarts with the body of hisfellow competitor, Cedric Diggory,discovers the true identity of Moody,and delivers the ominous news thatVoldemort has regained his power.Visit harrypotterforteachers.com for more Harry Potter discussion guides and reward certificates3

and the Goblet of FireDISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION POINTS FORHARRY POTTER AND THEGOBLET OF FIREUNDERSTANDING THE TEXT1.The previous books have all opened at the Dursleys’ home, but this book startsinstead in the Riddle House (Chapter 1). The pain Harry feels in his scar inChapter 2 is an omen of what is to come. Soon after, the Quidditch World Cup isinterrupted by a sinister attack (Chapter 9, ‘The Dark Mark’). Why do you thinkJ.K. Rowling departed from the way she had started the other books?Pottermore Tie-In: Moment 1, Chapter 1. Go to www.pottermore.com2.Why can’t younger wizards learn to Apparate and so get from one place to anotherquickly? Why do they have to use a Portkey? Is there any advantage to using aPortkey? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Floo powder to getfrom one place to another?Pottermore Tie-In: Moment 1, Chapter 6. Go to www.pottermore.com3.What is the effect on thestudents and staff whenHarry’s name comes out of theGoblet of Fire in Chapter 17,‘The Four Champions’? For abrief period Harry and Ronfall out over Harry beingchosen to compete in theTournament as HogwartsVisit harrypotterforteachers.com for more Harry Potter discussion guides and reward certificates4

and the Goblet of FireDISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION POINTS FORHARRY POTTER AND THEGOBLET OF FIREChampion. Why is this? Who else is upset by Harry’s selection?Pottermore Tie-In: Moment 1, Chapter 16. Go to www.pottermore.com4.Talk about the many ways in which Harry is helped through the tasks of theTriwizard Tournament by adults and fellow pupils alike. How much of his successis down to him, and how much to others? How does Harry repay the support hereceives? Why does Harry take time to free others besides Ron during the secondtask? How does the relationship between Harry and Cedric develop through thethree tasks of the Triwizard Tournament?Pottermore Tie-In: Moment 1, Chapter 26. Go to www.pottermore.com5.6.Hagrid’s obvious infatuation with Madame Olympe Maxime provides manyamusing moments, including when he dresses in a dreadful hairy suit and tameshis hair into bunches to impress her. Hagrid is often a source of humour in theseries. What aspects of his character make him a good vehiclefor humour? What scenes did you findparticularly funny in this book?How does Barty Crouch Jr,disguised as Mad-Eye Moody,use the Invisibility Cloak andthe Marauder’s Map? What cluesare there in the story that wouldlead you to suspect that Mad-EyeVisit harrypotterforteachers.com for more Harry Potter discussion guides and reward certificates5

and the Goblet of FireDISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION POINTS FORHARRY POTTER AND THEGOBLET OF FIREMoody was not the person he appeared to be? Why could Dumbledore not detectthis deception? Why is Snape convinced that instead of the true culprit, it is thestudents who are stealing his ingredients for Polyjuice Potion?7.Harry has his first experience with Dumbledore’s Pensieve in Chapter 30, a magicaldevice through which he learns many important facts from the past. The firsttime he unintentionally enters the Pensieve, Dumbledore tells him, ‘Curiosity isnot a sin [ ] But we should exercise caution with our curiosity yes, indeed ’(Chapter 30, ‘The Pensieve’, p. 504) What does he mean by this? When does Harrynot exercise caution?Pottermore Tie-In: Moment 1, Chapter 30. Go to www.pottermore.com8.When Harry faces Voldemort in Chapter 34, ‘Priori Incantatem’, Harry’s will takesover and he refuses to answer the questions Voldemort asks. Harry is determinednot to die cringing, but to stand up to Voldemort in the way hisfather did. What events and experienceshave helped Harry develop thiscourage?Pottermore Tie-In: Moment 1, Chapter 34.Go to www.pottermore.com9.What do you believe causes theconnection between Harry’s wandand Voldemort’s? How do theshadow figures that emerge fromVisit harrypotterforteachers.com for more Harry Potter discussion guides and reward certificates6

and the Goblet of FireDISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION POINTS FORHARRY POTTER AND THEGOBLET OF FIREVoldemort’s wand during the connection help Harry escape? Why does Voldemortneed Harry’s blood to regain his body? Is Harry learning to become a great wizardor is he just lucky to escape the forces that arise against him? Do you believe thatHarry is living out a destiny or acting of his own free will?10.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 ‘TheBeginning’. What does that tell you about the events that happened in this volumeand the events to come?IN DEPTH1.2.GROWING UPIn what ways do we see the main characters starting to growup in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?What things are they experiencingthat they haven’t in the previousbooks? What is Harry’sunexpected task in Chapter 22?SATIRICAL ELEMENTSMuch of the humour in the HarryPotter series comes from thejuxtaposition of our world and theVisit harrypotterforteachers.com for more Harry Potter discussion guides and reward certificates7

and the Goblet of FireDISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION POINTS FORHARRY POTTER AND THEGOBLET OF FIREwizarding world, providing contrasts to the institutions that are familiar to us, suchas educational, governmental and medical. What are some of the other comparisonsin Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire? Compare the Quidditch World Cup and theTriwizard Tournament to sporting events in our world. What are some of thechilling connections between things in our world and the more sinister events inthis book?3.4.THE MEDIAWhat does the journalist Rita Skeeter do to alienate Harry and Hermione? Why isit so important to Hermione to get revenge on Rita? What other characters receiveRita’s attention in this book, and what effect does it have on them? How does RitaSkeeter’s journalism show the power of the press?S.P.E.W.What is the significance of Hermione’s campaign for the welfareof the house-elves? Why is she adamantabout improving their conditions?Why do the house-elves resist herefforts? Discuss what Sirius Blackmeans when he says: ‘If you wantto know what a man’s like, takea good look at how he treats hisinferiors, not his equals.’ (Chapter27, ‘Padfoot Returns’, p. 443)Visit harrypotterforteachers.com for more Harry Potter discussion guides and reward certificates8

and the Goblet of FireDISCUSSION GUIDEACTIVITY AND PROJECT IDEASDESIGN A COVEROBJECTIVETo design an alternative cover for Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireUK CURRICULUM AREASArt and DesignLEARNING OUTCOMESPractise and improve design and craft skills and think about ways of creativelyinterpreting booksSTART POINTDiscuss what makes a good book cover and how important the look of the cover is.Ask for examples of covers students like from the group’s wider reading of books.What elements can be included in book covers, for example action scenes, characters,symbolic objects and text. What things make a book cover exciting and attractive?MAIN ACTIVITYGet your group to brainstormtheir ideas for Harry Potter andthe Goblet of Fire. Ask them toselect a scene that conveysthe tone of the book as wellas the characters or storyline,based solely on reading HarryPotter and the Goblet of Fire.1.Visit harrypotterforteachers.com for more Harry Potter discussion guides and reward certificates9

and the Goblet of FireDISCUSSION GUIDEACTIVITY AND PROJECT IDEASTell them to think about: Distinguishing elements that quickly identify the storyline. What colour do they think it will be? Which character(s) might be on the cover and what might they be doing? Will there be any special features? Think too about fonts and styles for the author’s name and book title.Encourage them to think beyond covers that already exist and to imagine theirown.2.Get them to sketch the cover first and then supply ready-cut pieces of card (198mmby 130mm is the standard size of a paperback) so they can create their own coverfor Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Supply lots of different colour options so theycan bring the cover to life.WRAP-UPDisplay the covers and talk about how the children enjoyed designing the covers andhow satisfied they are with their work. Do the covers look likethey intended?Visit harrypotterforteachers.com for more Harry Potter discussion guides and reward certificates10