I'm finally close to being finished with this book.
I few things that I totally don't remember: 1. Dobby giving Harry the gillyweed 2. Barty Crouch jr killing his father - I do NOT remember this happening. 3. Barty as Mad Eye using the Imperious curse on students when he had just said that would give you a one way ticket to Azkaban. I definitely don't remember this either. A little unsure how he got away with doing this too - that no student told and that the Ministry wasn't alerted in some way - since they seem to know any time that Harry performs underage magic.
The fact that Barty/Mad Eye used the Imperious curse on students really disturbs me. Knowing that he would never get away with this outside of his role at Hogwarts (and really shouldn't have gotten away with it while teaching either) is really sick.
Regarding Harry giving the money to Fred and George - the money is tainted to him. He didn't want it, the Diggory family didn't want it. It would always be a reminder of death to both of them. So Harry gave it to someone who didn't have that baggage and who would find it useful.
I'll try and respond to the other questions when I get a chance.
ETA: And one more thing - I don't understand why the teachers all go along with allowing Harry in the tournament. Hogwarts already had a champion, Harry didn't want to do it and really was supposed to be restricted from competing (alright, from entering his name but that was suppose to prevent him from competing). So what's the deal? Why not just say no, you can't? It's a GAME.
ETA: And one more thing - I don't understand why the teachers all go along with allowing Harry in the tournament. Hogwarts already had a champion, Harry didn't want to do it and really was supposed to be restricted from competing (alright, from entering his name but that was suppose to prevent him from competing). So what's the deal? Why not just say no, you can't? It's a GAME.
Because it was a binding magical contract. I'm not sure what happens when you break that, but judging by the response it ain't good.
I'm finally close to being finished with this book.
I few things that I totally don't remember: 1. Dobby giving Harry the gillyweed 2. Barty Crouch jr killing his father - I do NOT remember this happening. 3. Barty as Mad Eye using the Imperious curse on students when he had just said that would give you a one way ticket to Azkaban. I definitely don't remember this either. A little unsure how he got away with doing this too - that no student told and that the Ministry wasn't alerted in some way - since they seem to know any time that Harry performs underage magic.
The fact that Barty/Mad Eye used the Imperious curse on students really disturbs me. Knowing that he would never get away with this outside of his role at Hogwarts (and really shouldn't have gotten away with it while teaching either) is really sick.
Regarding Harry giving the money to Fred and George - the money is tainted to him. He didn't want it, the Diggory family didn't want it. It would always be a reminder of death to both of them. So Harry gave it to someone who didn't have that baggage and who would find it useful.
I'll try and respond to the other questions when I get a chance.
ETA: And one more thing - I don't understand why the teachers all go along with allowing Harry in the tournament. Hogwarts already had a champion, Harry didn't want to do it and really was supposed to be restricted from competing (alright, from entering his name but that was suppose to prevent him from competing). So what's the deal? Why not just say no, you can't? It's a GAME.
The reason for the age line is that once the Goblet selects you there is no going back. It's a binding magical contract that can't be broken (think the unbreakable vow) so even if they wanted to withdraw Harry it wasn't an option once the Goblet spit out his name.
I guess my point is - why would you make a "binding magical contract" that cannot be unbroken...for a kid's tournament? Seems kind of intense, no?
Obviously there would be no story without it. Its just kind of a ridiculous premise.
There's a reason it had not been done for some time. It's old, probably before 'under age' was a thing and they thought they had it covered with the age line thing which is why they reinstated it.
I guess my point is - why would you make a "binding magical contract" that cannot be unbroken...for a kid's tournament? Seems kind of intense, no?
Obviously there would be no story without it. Its just kind of a ridiculous premise.
Yeah, I feel like on this re-read of the series, there's a LOT that really doesn't make sense and puts the kids in harm's way. Regardless of Dumbledore warning Harry not to be too headstrong... uh, well, there's very little supervision and a hell of a lot of temptation! The heads of house seem to be a bit hands off, too.
I'm finally close to being finished with this book.
I few things that I totally don't remember: 1. Dobby giving Harry the gillyweed 2. Barty Crouch jr killing his father - I do NOT remember this happening. 3. Barty as Mad Eye using the Imperious curse on students when he had just said that would give you a one way ticket to Azkaban. I definitely don't remember this either. A little unsure how he got away with doing this too - that no student told and that the Ministry wasn't alerted in some way - since they seem to know any time that Harry performs underage magic.
The fact that Barty/Mad Eye used the Imperious curse on students really disturbs me. Knowing that he would never get away with this outside of his role at Hogwarts (and really shouldn't have gotten away with it while teaching either) is really sick.
Regarding Harry giving the money to Fred and George - the money is tainted to him. He didn't want it, the Diggory family didn't want it. It would always be a reminder of death to both of them. So Harry gave it to someone who didn't have that baggage and who would find it useful.
I'll try and respond to the other questions when I get a chance.
ETA: And one more thing - I don't understand why the teachers all go along with allowing Harry in the tournament. Hogwarts already had a champion, Harry didn't want to do it and really was supposed to be restricted from competing (alright, from entering his name but that was suppose to prevent him from competing). So what's the deal? Why not just say no, you can't? It's a GAME.
People use unforgivable curses ALL THE TIME in HP. Also, in PoA, Hermione says there are only, what, 7 register animagi in Britain? The world? Registered with the ministry of magic? Something like that. And yet, we now know that James, Sirius, Peter and Rita Skeeter all are/were unregistered animagi. That seems like something the ministry really needs to get a handle on!
1.The previous volumes have all opened at the Dursley home, but this book starts somewhere else. How did that change the tone of the story for you? Why do you think Rowling departed from the way she had started the other books? I think this time it set up what was going to happen, rather than the readers have to figure it out along with Harry. While there was still a lot of the unknown, this time it wasn't really a secret that Voldemort was out there.
2. After the Quidditch Tournament, people started celebrating and then things turned ugly. Why do you think they started harassing the Muggle family? Why do you think the Death Eaters choose that moment to come out of hiding? I think it's the same reason Rowling had Arthur give: this was their idea of fun, and it was available
3. Do you like Mad-Eye Moody? What do you think of his teaching methods? Should he be doing the things he does, like turn Draco into a ferret and cursing students? Would you want him for a teacher, and do you think he’d treat you like Malfoy or like Harry? While reading through, I had to keep reminding myself that this character wasn't really the real Moody--like when he was teaching them to fight off the Imperius curse, he was actually teaching them how to defend themselves against his master. I think if this was how the real Moody would behave, obviously, cursing students wasn't acceptable, but I like him better than Snape, and his treatment of the three.
4. Magical objects that have been used for good, or simple mischief, by Harry in earlier volumes are used for darker reasons in this book. How does this change the tone of the story? There were a ton of questions in this one, but I'm going to answer just the first one. I think this changes the tone of the story by 1) demonstrating how their childhood innocence is fading away--like the treatment of the objects, the characters are being expected to become more mature.
5. Harry has his first experience with Dumbledore’s Pensieve in this volume, a device through which he learns many important facts from the past. The first time he (inadvertently) enters the Pensieve, Dumbledore tells him, “Curiosity is not a sin ... but we should exercise caution with our curiosity ... yes, indeed ...” (p. 598) What does he mean by this? When does Harry not exercise caution? Umm, all the time?
6. Is Harry learning to become a great wizard or is he just lucky to escape the forces that arise against him? What skills has he gained in this volume? Do you believe that Harry is living out a destiny or acting of his own free will? I think it's a bit of both. Harry has always had help, but he's had to work hard himself, such as in studying for the final task and in being able to fight off the Imperius curse on his own. I think that right there was the first true sign of Harry being a good wizard in his own right. And then, his will seems to be stronger when their wands connect.
7. Why did Voldemort want to duel Harry? Do you think it was a fair fight? What do you think would have happened if only Cedric had appeared with the Triwizard Cup? Do you think the other wizards would have eventually found out about Voldemort’s return? I'm guessing there would have been a Plan B in place if Harry hadn't shown up
One final thing that bugs me: Harry's father comes out of the Priori Incantatum first. His mother was killed last, so it should have been his mom.
Since I'm on a roll, what do you all think about Harry's decision to give the prize money to Fred and George? I mean, it's great for the plot, but is it realistic? Would they really have accepted it as a gift?
I love that Harry gave the money to them and his reason was fairly realistic. No one ever took them seriously, but they had demonstrated all that year that they were serious about that endeavor and were actually treating it like a business. Not only that, Harry had just endured a horrific tragedy and gotten firsthand experience of what was to come. He was right: the world would need a bright spot in the future.
I do think they realistically would have accepted it, if for no other reason than to appease Harry, but also because they weren't stupid. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Since I'm on a roll, what do you all think about Harry's decision to give the prize money to Fred and George? I mean, it's great for the plot, but is it realistic? Would they really have accepted it as a gift?
I love that Harry gave the money to them and his reason was fairly realistic. No one ever took them seriously, but they had demonstrated all that year that they were serious about that endeavor and were actually treating it like a business. Not only that, Harry had just endured a horrific tragedy and gotten firsthand experience of what was to come. He was right: the world would need a bright spot in the future.
I do think they realistically would have accepted it, if for no other reason than to appease Harry, but also because they weren't stupid. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Good point. They were (are? What do you say when discussing fiction?) always good at jumping on opportunities.
katfco, jk fixed the dad/mom mistake in later editions, apparently!
Yup, that drove me CRAZY in my first reading, but it's definitely fixed now.
Late to the party, but me too. My friends and I were actually trying to figure out if this meant something didn't happen the way we thought it happened the night they died. It was a bit of a let down to find out it was a mistake that was edited in later editions.
I'm happy to do whatever date the majority wants. I think my MIL will be staying with us over Memorial Day weekend, but she's pretty low maintenance as far as house guests go, so that wouldn't stop me from posting that Monday (or Tuesday if people prefer).
Since there hasn't been a consensus on when to post the questions, here's what I'll do. I'll post the questions on Monday (5/25), so if you are around to see it you can jump right in. Then on Tuesday (5/26) I'll tag everyone in everyjuan's list to bump the thread.