Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Illustrator: Mary GrandPré

Reading Level: 9-12

Ascending up the ladder to add another floor to the complex tower of Harry Potter fiction is the story of the Goblet of Fire. Standing as the keystone in the arch, from beginning to end this is the middle of Harry Potter's journey from being a childen hidden from magic to becoming a true hero in the wizarding world.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Plot

Half way through another miserable summer holiday with the Dursley's, Harry receives word that his friend Ron's family are refusing to let him miss the Quiddich World Cup. Ecstatic, Harry tucks back into the magical world for the remainder of the summer andtrots off to the competition with most of the Weasley family as well as his friend Hermione. Twisted with rising excitement the events of the World Cup linger, but when the school year begins attentions are turned to what is in store.

In his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry learns that his school will be hosting the Triwizarding Tournament. Two other magic academies will be sending their best students, age seventeen and above, to enter their names into the Goblet of Fire as contestants. Shocked, though, is everyone when the enchanted object announces four names as champions instead of three, and the fourth is none other than fourteen year old Harry Potter.

Having had little interest in breaking the rules to compete, Harry is more surprised than anyone to be named a school champion. In one competition after another, Harry is racing to the finish line to find the person responsible for entering his name into the Goblet of Fire.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Overall Style & Tone

As with all of her novels thus far, J.K. Rowling maintains a light-hearted humor in her defined and well versed style. Still clearly British, her voice speaks out with even more ease as she settles into the middle of her series. The author's intent with they way she speaks is concrete, built upon word by word to enclose her readers into the story until the very last page.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire holds a crackling feeling of anxious energy between it's covers. Things are happening, the gears are starting to turn a little faster and Harry is right in the middle of it all. Apprehension runs rampant and all of the while, in the midst of all the dangerous obstacles, there is always potions class and attending his first Yule Ball for Harry to think of.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Characterization & Setting

Rowlings is master of ceremonies when it comes to characterization, dishing out scoops of real life crisis, whether they are light-hearted or not, in increasing portions, sized to perfection with each delivery. Many new faces are introduced and slipped back into the world of Harry Potter in his fourth year novel, more than the first three combined. Every new face has been outlined and the colorization of personalities pop into exisitence from the black and white background, blending in well with the other, more well-known characters.

Two major sporting events, the World Cup and the Triwizardingng Tournament, create an arc from the beginning to the end delivering the secrets of the story. Designed with brightly mixed decorations, the settings of the events place pots of gold at the ends of their rainbows. Emotions are high, locking the reader into the symbolism they provide for the whole story of Harry Potter. Nothing brings home the trophy, though, of how nestled into the settings the characters are, turning in a well mixed potion of elements to the story.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Illustration

Returning the pages of Harry Potter, artist Mary GrandPré provides another kind of service to the game, announcing the plays of the chapters as they begin. Without blowing all of the whistles, she keeps an eye on the scenes and draws out the moments of the game for readers to enjoy.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Final Thoughts

On a spinning incline from start to finish, Goblet of Fire is the buzzing excitement and anticipation, the static in the air before the players enter the field to play out the game. With some players visible from their place in line, and others still hidden in the shadows behind them, everyone in the crowd is on the edge of their seats to catch a glimpse.

With a flick of a wand, the pitch is illuminated showing multiple levels of opportunities and as the stars mount their brooms to engage the elements of the story, the crowd goes wild.