Chapter Discussion: Chapter Sixteen, Goblet of Fire: The Goblet of Fire

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 192240

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Chapter Discussion: Chapter Sixteen, Goblet of Fire: The Goblet
of Fire.

After the surprise arrival of Victor Krum as a member of the
Durmstrang team, there is evidence of hero worship developing
among the Hogwarts students, Ron and Lee Jordan being amongst
the boys and several girls apparently wanting to get autographs;
on the other hand. Hermione is quite dismissive of Ron's obsession
with Quidditch.

The students from Beauxbatons opt to sit with the Ravenclaws but
they seem very unhappy because they have not brought clothing
suitable for the climate, whereas the Durmstrang boys, being from
a colder and seemingly more austere campus, are removing coats
and admiring their surroundings. Much to Ron's dismay, the latter
group have sat at the Slytherin table.

Dumbledore welcomes them and urges them to enjoy the meal
before the Tournament is opened officially. During the meal, an
encounter leads Ron to suggest that one of the visiting girls is a
Veela, an idea which Hermione scorns despite the former's effect
on many of the boys. During the meal, Bagman and Couch arrive.

At the end of the meal, Dumbledore introduces the visiting officials
who react in quite opposite ways to the applause. He then explains
in some detail the instructions for the Tri-wizard Tournament
stressing the danger. He reveals the Goblet of Fire and explains
that candidates wishing to enter have twenty four hours. He then
announces the age restriction – that no one under seventeen may
enter and an Age Line will be put in place to ensure this.

There is discussion, started by the twins, about the possibilities of
defeating the Age Line, which even leads Harry to daydream.
Overheard conversations reveal that the Durmstrang students will
be sleeping on their ship and that Krum is something of a favourite
with Karkaroff. At the doors, Harry meets with Karkaroff and there
is a short interchange between the latter and Moody in which he 
shows a mixture of fear and anger towards Moody.

The following morning sees people placing their names in the Goblet.
The twins and Lee come in, having apparently taken an ageing potion.
However, after attempting to enter, the twins are ejected violently from the
circle and receive long beards, to the amusement of Dumbledore.
The Gryffindors talk over breakfast about potential candidates from
Hogwarts and then decide to visit Hagrid, Hermione taking along her
SPEW badges for good measure. They discover * the Beauxbatons
carriage parked by Hagrid's cabin and are greatly surprised to see
Hagrid apparently wearing his best clothes and slicking his hair down.
After lunch, Hagrid flatly refuses to join SPEW and argues with Hermione.

They are about to walk up to the Hall for the Goblet's results and after
seeing that Hagrid is putting on eau-de-Cologne and his subsequent
behaviour they realise that he fancies Madame Maxine. Finally, after the
meal, Dumbledore sets the hall up for the results of the Goblet's choice.
The Goblet theatrically emits sparks and flames and ejects pieces of
charred parchment to reveal the chosen champions: for Durmstrang,
Viktor Krum; for Beauxbatons, Fleur Delacour and for Gryffindor, Cedric
Diggory. These three make their way behind the scenes to wait for the
five judges. Dumbledore is in the middle of a speech exhorting the
various school members to give full support to their champions when
he is interrupted by the Goblet starting again and then ejecting another
piece of parchment. He looks for a long time at it and then reads out
another name: Harry Potter.

Questions.

1. What do you think are the different reasons driving the boys and
girls to want to get autographs of Krum or to get him to sit at their table?

2. (a) Looking at the interactions between Karkaroff and the Durmstrang
students, give your impression of what you deduced about teacher-pupil
attitudes and also about the general ethos of the school.
(b) Do a similar analysis of the relations between Madame Maxine and
the Beauxbatons students. Would you consider some of these students
to be wimps?

3. (a) When you first read this chapter, how did you feel about
Dumbledore's outline of their testing: magical prowess; daring; deduction
and coping with danger?
(b) Again, when you first read this chapter, what were your feelings
about the entry being a binding, magical contract?

4. What do you make of Ludo Bagman and Bartemius Crouch as
personalities?

5. When you first read this, what did you make of the interchange
between Moody and Karkaroff at the Hall doors?

6. Hermione and Hagrid take up opposing stances on house elf welfare.
Is one of them right or do you believe that the answer lies somewhere
between? Do you agree with his dismissal of Dobby as a "weirdo"?

7. (a) Were you surprised by any of the Goblet's "official" choices of
candidate?
(b) And when Harry's name came out?

8. Any questions that you would like to contribute.

Geoff

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