Chapter Discussion: Twenty, Goblet of Fire: The First Task

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 192340

Alla:
> Chapter 20. The First Task.

Ceridwen:

Thanks, Alla, for a good chapter summary, and for the questions.

Alla: 
> Question:
> 1. Every Champion was warned about the Dragons by their Elders, and Harry took care of Cedric. Did you think that cheating make the task less interesting/exciting or not? Why?

Ceridwen:

I thought that showing the dragons to the champions was a part of the first challenge - not a test for the champions, but for their respective head-teachers.  I thought that Dumbledore fell down on the job here, knowing that the others would be told, but letting Cedric stay in the dark.  In other words, I thought that this was a challenge for the heads to decide whether they would follow the rules, or scrap them when they saw that the test involved such dangerous creatures.

Alla:
> 2. When I was rereading this chapter I was reminded about how Fleur looked so much less confident and prepared than other Champions. Granted I have not reread the other Tasks for a while, but I seem to remember that she was always the least competent and prepared competitor. Do you think it was because she was a young woman or not?

Ceridwen:

Yes, I do think that Fleur was shown as more vulnerable and less confident because she was female.  I was not sure if this was a comment about Fleur herself, or of different social expectations for females and for males.  After finishing the series, I think it was a comment about Fleur as a female, but not as a comment on social constructs.

Alla:
> 3. What did you think about Harry's reaction to Ron's apology?

Ceridwen:

I thought it was a reasonable reaction of a socially awkward teenager.  Avoid the emo stuff and move on.  ;)

I don't have any particular favorite lines.  Thanks for a good discussion!

Ceridwen.