Chapter Discussion: Goblet of Fire Ch 2: The Scar

[rtbthw_mom]

No: HPFGUIDX 191355



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "nikkalmati" <puduhepa98 at ...> wrote:
snip of excellent summary
> 
> 1. Most of this chapter is devoted to a quick review of the events of the first
> three books. Why do you think Jo decided to do a review? Do you think she
> thought she would have new readers who did not know the first three books?
> 
Pat:
I felt that the review this time around wasn't quite as detailed as we find in other books. But I continue to feel that anyone who tries to read these out of order (especially starting with later books) needs their head examined! Most books that are serialized have an inner and extended story arc. You lose that if you skip around.

Pat

> 2. Did you understand that Harry was able to see into LV's mind at this point
> in the story and did you wonder why?
Pat:

No, I'm one of those who just read through to find out what's happening and think about what it all means later.

Pat
> 
> 3. Do you think Harry correctly assessed Hermione's and Ron's reactions? Does
> this show he knows his friends well?
Pat:

Harry definitely knows his friends!

Pat
> 
> 4. Where did you think Sirius was hiding based on the colorful birds he sent?
Pat:

Whenever I read this part, I like to imagine Sirius sending those birds from a South Sea island. Maybe it's just that I have always felt so bad for him, spending all those years in Azkaban. But I wanted him to have a nice vacation, and time to recuperate, now that his ordeal was over. So, for me, he's somewhere exotic!

Pat
> 
> 5. Is it fair of Harry to use the implied threat of violence by Sirius to get
> better treatment from the Dursleys?
Pat:

I have no problem with this. By this book, I was getting a little tired of the Dursley's treatment of Harry. JKR is famous (at least on this list) for her karmic justice, and I was looking forward to some, at least in a minor way (enough for him to have some respite from their treatment).

Pat
> 
> Nikkalmati.
> 
> 
>Thanks, Nikkalmati! Enjoyed this!

Annemehr:

Harry did not mention the dream at all in his letter to Sirius, only the pain in
his scar. On the one hand, if he wanted good advice, it would have been best to
give complete information. On the other hand, he didn't want to worry Sirius
too much, which was a valid concern considering how upset Harry was when Sirius
did come back to Hogsmeade. Do you think Harry should have told about the dream
in his letter?

Annemehr
Pat:

In a perfect teen world, yes, Harry should have mentioned the dream. But teens being what they are - not fully developed in any sense of the word - I think that would have been more unrealistic. Most teens I have known (I have four grown kids and a teen at home now) would not have thought it out that much. I found the "I have a question" mentality that Harry shows here to be what I would expect from most teens; in other words, I have a question - but I forget to mention what brought that question up. I find I need to question my teens as to why they have a specific question so that I can give them a better answer. Sirius had no experience at all as a parent or even an adult in a teen's life, so I didn't expect it from him, either. This was totally believable to me.

Pat

Thanks, Annemehr, too!