Reading the Books Harry Potter 4th Year

Reading Guide Questions

Delight be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

The BookWizards and Hogwarts! Muggles and mudbloods! Quidditch and broomsticks! None of those things hateful anything to Harry Potter, a pocket-size, skinny, bespectacled male child with an unusual lightning-commodities shaped scar on his forehead—until his eleventh altogether. That's when he starts receiving letters inviting him to Hogwarts Schoolhouse of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry learns that his parents did not die in a car crash but were killed by Voldemort, the Lord of Darkness, and that he's famous in the earth of wizardry. And so Harry leaves the home of his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and their hateful son Dudley, who are mere muggles (humans without ane drop of magic in them), and embarks on a new life. And the changes continue as Harry spends yr after year at Hogwarts, a place where he non only learns about existence a wizard, but as well almost friendship and loyalty and fear and courage, and about his ain past and time to come, his family, and his destiny.

Harry'south kickoff four years at Hogwarts are chronicled in the get-go four Harry Potter books. In each of those stories, amidst fun and laughter, pranks and pitfalls, mystery and suspense, Harry continues his battle confronting the evil Lord Voldemort. The books have become enormously popular for their captivating mixture of magical pranks and misadventures, eccentric characters (such as Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bath, and Nearly Headless Nick who was not quite completely beheaded, and the Veela who exorcise those around them), courageous heroes and sneering, scheming villains, brilliantly original ideas, and breathtaking excitement — rollicking proficient reads that appeal to readers of all ages.

ThemesWhile the fun of fantasy might be its otherworldliness, its ability lies is the truths it reveals about the real world. Then the magical globe of Harry Potter, a globe of flight cars and dragons, unicorns and magic potions, invisibility cloaks and evil powers, becomes real as readers discover truths nigh bravery, loyalty, choice, and the ability of love. Read the following quotations from the Harry Potter books and discuss the truth that each reveals.

"The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible affair, and should therefore be treated with great circumspection." (The Magician's Stone, page 298)

"...to have been loved then deeply, even though the person who loved u.s. is gone, will give us some protection forever." (The Sorcerer's Stone, folio 299)

"Information technology takes a great bargain of bravery to stand up upward to our enemies, only just every bit much to stand up to our friends." (The Wizard'south Stone, page 306)

"It is our choices, Harry, that bear witness what nosotros truly are, far more than our abilities." (The Chamber of Secrets, page 333)

"You can be without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and center are notwithstanding working. Simply y'all'll have no sense of self anymore, no retentiveness, no ... anything. There's no chance at all of recovery. Yous'll only—be. As an empty shell." (The Prisoner of Azkaban, page 247)

"You call back the dead we loved ever truly get out us? You think that nosotros don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of keen trouble?....You know, Harry, in a way, you did see your father concluding nighttime....Yous constitute him inside yourself." (The Prisoner of Azkaban, page 427-428)

"Understanding is the showtime step to credence, and merely with acceptance can there be recovery." (The Goblet of Fire, page 680)

"You place too much importance...on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!" (The Goblet of Fire, page 708)

SettingIn a manner, Rowling follows the archetype fantasy formula of beginning each book in the real world (the Dursleys' home), moving into the fantasy earth (Hogwarts School), then returning to the real world (the Dursleys once again). What other fantasies follow this same pattern? Consider classics such equally Peter Pan, The Indian in the Closet, and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Compare these with other works that accept place entirely in a fantasy globe, such every bit The Prydain Chronicles and The Hobbit. In another way, though, the Harry Potter books are a mixture of these two styles. The world of Hogwarts is not entirely separated from the everyday "muggle" world, but is more a magical world-within-a-world, a earth that exists in the real earth, although ordinary people are unaware of it. Hash out how this affects your appreciation of the books.

Book 4, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, opens in Tom Riddle, Sr.'s parents' home, unlike the previous iii books which opened in the Dursley'southward home. How does the change of setting for the beginning of this volume affect the tone of the book? Why practise you think Rowling departed from the expected setting for the start?

CharacterizationWe believe in Harry because of his man qualities, especially his human frailties. Discover instances where Harry is acting more like a bungling muggle than a great wizard. Why is it of import for readers that Harry not always be a peachy wizard?

Rounded characters are characters who alter and abound. Discover instances of change in Harry. For example, Harry becomes angriest when taunted about his parents' death; withal, past book three, when he faces Peter, the person who led Voldemort to his parents, he stops Lupin and Black from killing Peter, saying, "I don't reckon my dad would've wanted them to go killers—merely for you" (Prisoner of Azkaban, page 376). In book four, when Harry could have claimed the Triwizard cup, he instead offers to share it with Cedric. Discover other instances of increasing maturity in Harry.

Discover examples throughout all iv books where Rowling helps us understand characters by telling us what these characters believe. Consider statements such equally the one Dumbledore makes at the end of The Goblet of Fire when he says, "Differences of addiction and linguistic communication are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open." (p. 723) or Quirrell's comment to Harry in The Sorcerer's Stone when he explains "In that location is no proficient and evil, there is only ability, and those as well weak to seek it." (p. 291).

In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Aunt Marge explains why some folks are no proficient: "If in that location's something rotten on the inside, there'south nothing anyone can do about it (page 25)." She thinks she'south describing Harry. In fact, which characters is she more aptly describing?

Consider the professors and other staff that Harry and his friends meet at Hogwarts, especially Dumbledore, McGonagall, Lockhart, Quirrell, Lupin, Snape, Moody, and Hagrid. Mostly, each is much more than, or sometimes much less, than the person he or she claims to be. Is it significant that Rowling made each of these characters teachers? What lessons does each character really teach Harry?

If you were making a flow nautical chart of how the characters related to one another for both the Dark Lord and his forces, and Harry Potter and his forces, how would the characters line upward? Is Voldemort contrary Dumbledore or Potter? If Barty Crouch, Jr., is Voldemort's most loyal follower, who is Harry's? Which characters from The Goblet of Fire do you call back volition become increasingly important in the remaining books?

Conflict

Harry and Voldemort provide the major conflict (expert against evil) in each story. Compare their two characters and discuss how their differences provide the disharmonize for the novels. Consider each of the following instances:

1. In The Magician's Stone, when Mr. Ollivander sells Harry a wand that was the brother of a wand owned by Voldemort, Mr. Ollivander explains to Harry that "The wand chooses the wizard" and and so tells him, "I recollect nosotros must wait great things from yous, Mr. Potter....Subsequently all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things—terrible, yes, but smashing" (p. 85). How tin can Ollivander call Voldemort a bang-up sorcerer? What makes Harry a different kind of great from Voldemort?


2. In The Sleeping accommodation of Secrets, Dobby says he knew of Harry's "greatness merely not of his goodness" (page xv). What is the deviation between greatness and goodness? Could Harry exist the great sorcerer everyone thinks he is if he were not also filled with goodness? Later in the story, Tom Marvolo Riddle reveals himself to Harry every bit Voldemort. He tells Harry "There are strange likenesses betwixt the states, afterwards all. Even you must take noticed. Both half-bloods, orphans, raised by muggles. Probably the simply two Parselmouths to come to Hogwarts since the great Slytherin himself" (page 317). What does Harry call up of these likenesses?


3. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, when Harry has the opportunity to kill the graphic symbol responsible for his parents' death, he chooses not to exercise it. How does that divide him one time and for all from his archenemy, Voldemort?


4. In The Goblet of Fire, when Harry faces near-certain death from Voldemort, he refuses to cower before him and refuses to answer his questions. At one point, Voldemort tries to go Harry to bend to his volition by answering a question. Instead of succumbing to the Imperio demand, Harry's will takes over: "I volition not, said a stronger voice, in the back of his head, I won't respond...." (p. 661). Then when Voldemort moves to kill him, Harry decides that "he was not going to die kneeling at Voldemort's feet...he was going to die upright like his father, and he was going to die trying to defend himself even if no defense was possible..." (p. 662). Did Harry take this much will ability and courage in the first book? What significant events helped him develop the courage he at present has?
   

Discuss

1. In The Wizard's Stone, Dumbledore admonishes Harry to "always apply the proper proper noun for things. Fear of a name increases fright of the thing itself" (folio 298). Explain what he means. Why does naming something make it less intimidating?


2. In The Sorcerer's Stone, Harry disregards a direct gild from 1 of the teachers at Hogwarts School and takes off on a broom. This infraction is normally cause for expulsion from the school. However, in Harry'south case, it brings him the honor of beingness chosen as the "Seeker" for his Quidditch team. Can you find other instances throughout all the books where Harry'due south actions pb to quite opposite results from what is expected? Is Harry in a higher place the rules, or but lucky, or is there another caption?


3. In The Sorcerer's Rock, readers acquire that this stone is "a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The stone will transform any metal into pure gilded. Information technology also produces the Elixir of Life, which volition make the drinker immortal." (p. 220). Are we surprised to discover that this fountain of youth and source of great wealth causes problems? Talk over other stories that have addressed the quest for immortality, such as Tuck Everlasting. Ultimately, this stone feeds the greedy. What other fantasies explore the consequences of greed?


4. In The Bedroom of Secrets, nosotros discover that Slytherin had wanted Hogwarts to be a school simply for full bloods, with no mudbloods admitted. His prejudice against anyone different from himself creates all sorts of bug. How does this attitude compare with real prejudices people accept had throughout history, for example confronting people of "mixed blood" regarded as inferior?


5. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Lupin tells Harry that "James would have been highly disappointed if his son had never found any of the secret passages out of the castle" (pp. 424-425). Why would James desire Harry to practise anything other than follow all the rules?


6. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius Black is imprisoned for twelve years in Azkaban, and Pettigrew is imprisoned for the same amount of fourth dimension in the trunk of a rat. Which character was more than truly the prisoner?


7. How does the game of Quidditch represent Harry's life at Hogwarts? Consider the position he plays on the squad—"seeker." How is that office similar to the role he plays in the fight against evil?


8. Much of what makes The Harry Potter books delightful reads are the plays with language. Using a lexicon if necessary, find out what the following names hateful, and talk over why they're good names for the characters they stand for.
   • Filch
   • Lucius Malfoy
   • Voldemort
   • Fluffy
   • Madam Pince
   • Remus Lupin
   • Slytherin
   • Dobby
   • Sirius Black
   • Scabbers
   • Professor Binns (retrieve of the sound, not the spelling)
   • The books required for first year students (The Magician'southward Rock, pages 66-67)
   • Dumbledore
   • Hagrid
   • Aurors
   
   
9. In each Harry Potter book readers tin find comparisons to traditional fairy tales, myths, or legends. For instance, the dog Fluffy which guards the trapdoor at Hogwarts School resembles Cerberus, the 3-headed dog that guards the underworld of Greek mythology. Harry could be compared to King Arthur—both are orphaned boys who are raised by foster parents, and each is unaware of his true background but slowly begins to understand it. In The Goblet of Fire, Harry must complete three tasks. What other mythological characters confront difficult tasks? Consider other characters—for example Hermione, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Narcissa (Goblet of Fire, page 101), Mr. Malfoy, the Veela (Goblet of Fire, folio 103), Voldemort—and discuss their relationship to other mythical or legendary characters.


10. In The Goblet of Fire, Hogwarts students discover that 437 items have been banned from the school that yr (page 183). Those items include "Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Bommerangs." How is that list similar to objects that are from time to fourth dimension banned in schools? Consider items such equally yo-yos, Pok-eastward-mon cards, and skateboards. Speculate on why Rowling would include such a annotate about banned items in this book.


11. Would Harry have succeeded at the tasks he faced in The Goblet of Burn without exterior help? If not, what does this reveal virtually Harry's greatest strength?


12. In The Goblet of Fire, mask-wearing wizards torment the muggles: "A crowd of wizards, tightly packed and moving together with wands pointing direct upward, was marching slowly across the field. Harry squinted at them....They didn't seem to accept faces....Then he realized that their heads were hooded and their faces masked" (page 119). Compare this moment of torment to other times when groups of people take worn hoods and masks to cover their identities. What does the masking of a face tell us well-nigh the nature of evil?


13. An important bulletin throughout all the Potter books has to do with respect for differences and those who are dissimilar. By book four, nosotros see that, for some, a caste system is well-established: Wizards and witches are better than muggles and mudbloods; giants are outcasts; and house-elves are considered as sub-human. How practise you lot suppose this caste system volition play itself out in the remaining books? Next, consider Dumbledore's admonition that "Differences of habit and language are goose egg at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open up" (page 723). Which characters would hold with him?


14. In The Goblet of Fire, we larn that when Voldemort killed Harry'southward parents, Harry survived the attack due to his mother's loving cede. Voldemort explains that "His mother died in the effort to save him—and unwittingly provided him with a protection I admit I had not foreseen....I could not touch the boy" (p. 652). Equally a upshot of surviving that attack Harry is labeled a great wizard, just has Harry truly earned that title? To what extent would you say that Harry is non and so much "neat" every bit lucky? In all that Harry does, how much is he interim of his own gratis will, and how much is he just living out what from his birth has been his destiny?


15. Although it may seem that Harry is pre-ordained to be a great magician (see previous question), clearly he likewise acts of his ain free will and at times makes difficult choices. Locate the times when Harry made disquisitional choices and, in each example, discuss what would accept happened if Harry had made dissimilar choices.


16. Here's a partial dictionary of charms that Harry and his friends used. Explain why each is a good name for the amuse:
    1. Wingardium Leviosa: Amuse to make things bladder. Wizard'southward Stone, page 171.
    2. Locomotor Mortis: Leg-locking curse. Wizard'due south Stone, folio 222.
    3. Expelliarmus. Disarming charm. Bedroom of Secrets, page 190.
    4. Finite Incantatem. Stopping charm.. Sleeping room of Secrets, folio 192.
    5. Rictusempra. Tickling charm. Chamber of Secrets, folio 192.
    6. Tarantallegra. Leg jerking, quickstepping amuse. Chamber of Secrets, page 192.
    7. Serpensortia. Blocks unfriendly spells. Bedchamber of Secrets, folio 194.
    8. Riddikulus. Turns boggarts into humorous-looking creatures. Prisoner of Azkaban, pages 134-5.
    9. Fidelius Charm. Magical darkening of a clandestine inside a chosen person. Prisoner of Azkaban, page 205.
    10. Patronus Charm. Guardian against dementors. Prisoner of Azkaban, folio 237.
    11. Accio: Calls things to you. Goblet of Fire, folio 68.
    12. Obliviate: Retentiveness-modifying spell. Goblet of Fire, page 77.
    13. Ennervate: Awakening spell. Goblet of Fire, page 133.
    14. Prior Incantato: Conjurs up previous spells. Goblet of Fire, folio 136.
    15. Deletrius: Causes an paradigm to vanish. Goblet of Burn down, folio 136.
    16. Reparo: Repairs things. Goblet of Fire, page 169.
    17. Imperius Curse: Gives full control. Goblet of Fire, page 213.
    18. Cruciatus Curse: Causes intense pain. Goblet of Burn, page 214.
    19. Avada Kedavra: The killing curse. Goblet of Burn, page 215.
    20. Impediment curse: Slows something. Goblet of Fire, folio 574


17. Consider Harry and Voldemort and rate each on the following continuum. Which qualities most separate these two characters? Compare Harry to Dumbledore. If you lot rate them at similar points, discuss what makes Harry the hero instead of Dumbledore? Do the same with Harry and Hermione and Harry and Cedric.


18. Millions of readers of all ages enjoy the Harry Potter books. That means J. Chiliad. Rowling must be writing in a manner that appeals to lots of people—from children to adults. What exercise y'all enjoy most about her writing? Consider the following elements as you talk over your answer:
    • Gripping plots
    • Vivid characters
    • Cliff-hangers for affiliate endings
    • Descriptive linguistic communication such as similes and metaphors
    • Puns and funny names for people and spells
    • Important themes such every bit making friends, facing difficult problems, losing people you lot love, and surviving tough situations.
    
    
19. Past the fourth volume, Rowling has answered some important questions, including why Harry returns each summer to the Dursleys, every bit explained when Voldemort says "Dumbledore invoked an aboriginal magic, to ensure the boy'southward protection equally long every bit he is in his relations' intendance. Not even I can touch him at that place" (page 657). What other questions are answered in The Goblet of Fire? What questions practice yous notwithstanding wonder about?


20. The Goblet of Burn down, the halfway book in the series, leaves readers anticipating the conflict that will surely erupt between the Dark Lord and his forces and those who would oppose him. At the end of the book, Dumbledore begins to rally those who would fight against Voldemort, telling the students at Hogwarts to "Call back Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is correct and what is easy..." (page 724). With that statement, Dumbledore appears to be saying that what is right and what is easy are not the aforementioned. Do you lot agree with this? Think of examples from your own life where making the right selection was difficult.


21. The last affiliate of book 4 is titled "The Beginning." Why would the last affiliate deport this title? What is outset? What has concluded? The last line of this volume is "As Hagrid had said, what would come, would come up...and he would take to meet information technology when it did" (page 734). What practise yous conceptualize Harry and his friends will have to meet next?

Page numbers refer to the hardback edition

Unless otherwise stated, this give-and-take guide is reprinted with the permission of Scholastic. Any page references refer to a Us edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.

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