Plot Summary The famed Tri-Wizard Tournament is slated to take place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, meaning the year will be livened up considerably by the presence of competitors from other schools and the crowds attending the games. Harry, Hermione, and Ron attend the picking of the name from the Goblet of Fire along with the rest of their classmates and are shocked to discover that two Hogwarts contenders are selected by the goblet – Cedric Diggory, upperclassman and outstanding student, and Harry Potter, who is too young to participate. The decision of the Goblet is final, however, casting Harry into yet another test of his character and knowledge. The school turns against him, including his best friend Ron, believing that he used magic to sneak his name past the rules and remain in the spotlight. As Harry prepares, he flounders and doubts himself and fights to clear his name of any wrongdoing. And as if this weren’t enough, all the while Voldemort continues to gain power and strength. He needs Harry’s blood in order to fully recover and he is bent on getting it however necessary. The climax of this book will shock readers with its brutality, nonstop action, and groundbreaking advances forward into the compelling story of Harry’s life and destiny.
Critical Analysis
While it is true that most of the action and excitement takes place at the end of this book, the account of the games themselves, the competitors, Harry’s preparation, and his evolving relationships with everyone around him are just as compelling to a devoted Harry Potter reader as the exciting conclusion. Harry is growing older, as are Ron and Hermione, and their loyalty to him is tested by the inexplicable appearance of his name in the Goblet of Fire. Hermione remains by his side but Ron is dubious and jealous. These are very real and understandable emotions, especially for a fourteen-year-old, and the fact that Rowling allowed Ron to experience these feelings lends believability to the characters and their interactions. Devout loyalty would not have been as realistic and would have made for a much flatter tale. Harry himself is fallible as ever, like many great literary heroes, and the reader cringes for him as he falters. Again, to have Harry sweep the games and master every task would have been unrealistic and much less interesting. His mounting fear and frustration throughout the book are palpable; he did not ask for this and he does not relish the attention nor the pressure. Hogwarts is a rich and wonderful setting in every book, but especially in this one. The games themselves and the obstacles they must overcome – brutal dragons, evil mermaids in the depths of the lake, a living maze – all of it is richly described and fully absorbing. Also prevalent in this book is the beginning of Ron and Hermione’s burgeoning romance, and Harry’s preoccupation with the very pretty and supportive Cho. The teen romance elements add yet another layer of believability to the story and the characters and allow the Harry Potter series to grow with its audience. Finally there is the conclusion involving Harry, Voldemort, and Cedric, who the reader comes to genuinely like and root for. The final scenes are jarring, extremely sad, and quite ruthless, and leave the reader thirsting for the next in the series.
Reader’s Annotation
Harry’s name should never have been in the Goblet of Fire, but once again the impossible happened and he finds himself thrust into the Tri Wizard Tournament whether he likes it or not. Meanwhile Voldemort continues to gather power and relentlessly seek Harry’s blood and he must resist this even as he fights for survival in the games, all with the school and his best friend Ron turned against him.
About the Author
J.K. Rowling grew up in the English countryside with her mother, father, and sister. Practically from birth, she was cast as the brainy one while her sister was cast as the pretty one, so they fought against these roles and against each other for most of their childhoods. When they weren’t fighting, Rowling was making up stories and casting herself and her sister in roles which they would act out extravagantly. Already she was creating worlds both through acting out and writing, although no one took this talent seriously. In school she studied everything but writing, against her better judgment, and worked as a teacher before she finally found a muse arresting enough to hold her attention: Harry Potter. The rest is history.
Harry Potter is a worldwide sensation that gained increasing popularity as each successive book came out. All of the books have been made into major motion pictures and have been translated into countless languages all over the world.
Genre
Fantasy - magic/wizards
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues in this book include witchcraft and magic. In the event of a challenge, I would consult the challenge defense file prepared for this book. The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.
Curriculum Ties
English and Writing: story arc, character development, and the fantasy genre.
Booktalk
The ongoing tension between Harry Potter and Voldemort as he gains power comes to a head in this book as they finally face off. But before this happens, Harry has to live through dangerous games of skill, life and death situations, and the whole of Hogwarts turning against him for his place in the spotlight. This may be his most difficult year yet.
Reading Level and Interest Age
Grades 7-12, although interest level goes as high as adult age.
Why I Included This Book
Of all the books in the Harry Potter series, this is my personal favorite. There is a maturing of the story here as Harry must deal with rejection, opposition, and death in ways he has not yet had to experience. The story gathers tension and momentum as it goes on and the ending is sad and jarring in a way that is not remotely dumbed down for a younger audience. Obviously no young adult collection would be complete without the Harry Potter books.
References
Rowling, J.K. (n.d.). Bio. Retrieved from http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/biography.cfm
No comments:
Post a Comment