Chapter Discussion: Goblet of Fire Ch 3: The Invitation

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 191372



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> wrote:

> CHAPTER SUMMARY:

<snipped>

> QUESTIONS:
> 
> 1. Sugar-free treats seem an odd gift for someone complaining about diet food. What was Hermione thinking?

Geoff:
Canon hints at the answer. She is giving more thought to Harry's teeth
than anything else. Mark you, sugar-free items aren't used exclusively 
by dieting persons.

> 3. The Weasleys' attempts to show consideration for the Dursleys backfire, arguably causing more offense than if they hadn't bothered. Are there other instances in canon where naive attempts to show consideration aren't appreciated?

Geoff:
I doubt if anything they do would be appreciated by the Dursleys - 
especially Vernon. Look how abrupt and rude he was when Molly 
attempts to be affable at the end of PS.
 
> 4. Harry doesn't actually want Sirius to come out of hiding. What do you think Harry would have done if Vernon  had called his bluff?

Geoff:
As others have pointed out, I think he reads Vernon sufficiently well 
to know that he is safe in making the suggestion.


> 5. Harry is willing to admit he's troubled about the pain in his scar, but doesn't tell about the dream. Meanwhile the Dursleys are forced to admit Dudley's weight problem, but disregard the school's reports of poor grades and bullying. What do you think of these choices? What do they tell us about the characters?

Geoff:
I think a lot of this is the fact that he has had to be independent and not
rely on anyone for so long. He often doesn't unload his thoughts onto 
others but tries to sort out a plan of action by himself.

With reference to the Dursleys' reaction, speaking as a teacher, this is a 
typical response when a pupil's achievement or bad behaviour is highlighted. 
The school will be blamed; other pupils will be blamed for lying or ganging 
up; the teachers are not giving him enough attention....

Yep. Been there, seen it, got the T-shirt!
 
> 6. Do you think Petunia noticed that Harry wasn't losing any weight? Does she really have no idea that Harry is getting extra food?

Geoff:
Probably doesn't look closely enough. He's in oversize clothes and I seriously 
doubt she ever goes to the bathroom to wash his back for him.
:-)

> 7. JKR seems unaware that quarters are supposed to be four *equal* parts. Do you think the books would be different if she had more of a head for math?

No. If we have something like, say an apple pie, for Sunday lunch and I, as 
the retired Maths teacher, am given the serving knife, I don't get out a 
protractor and measure 90 degrees for each piece. I estimate by eye. Petunia 
cuts up the grapefruit, judges which is the smallest "quarter" to generously 
award to Harry.