I continued to read and completed chapters 6 through 14 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I was amazed to see how the the context of the text in this book make up the novel itself to be entertaining and interesting.
From chapters 6 to 8, Rolling introduces new characters as the people from the Wizard world were traveling to the Quidditch World Cup. These people were on their way to watch the match between the Bulgarian and the Irish teams. Harry, and Hermione went with the Weasleys to watch the game but sadly, Mrs. Weasley didn’t go with them. They went and stayed at a campsite where the rest of the wizards and witches stayed at. Rolwing uses description in this section when describing the characters from the campsite. She said, “Here and there adult wizards and witches were emerging from their tents and starting to cook breakfast. Some, with furtive looks around them, conjured fires with their wands; others were striking matches with dubious looks on their faces, as though sure all this couldn’t work” (81-82).
Speaking of the Quidditch World Cup, the Irish won against the Bulgarians. In this section, Rowling was using humor in her writing when the announcer or commentator said “Let’s have really loud hand for the gallant losers – Bulgaria!” (115). It was really interesting to read and imagine how the Ireland’s were celebrating their victory while the Bulgarians had some silent, strong and angry emotions.
The remaining chapters from chapters 9-14 were fascinating. After the game, everyone went back to the campsite. While the others were sleeping, the Ireland’s were celebrating their victory. But then a group of marching wizards who had no face came to the campsite and destroyed everything. They scared the people/wizards. Hermione, Ron and Harry ran into the woods where it was silent and they heard someone cast a spell. Then suddenly, to their eyes, “something vast, green, and glittering erupted from the patch of darkness” (128). They realised that it was a colossal skull “comprised of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue” (128). As confusing as both Harry and Ron looked with terrified faces, Hermione finally figured out what it was and said “It’s the Dark Mark…You-Know-Who’s sign!” (129). Then the wizards made it disappear as they approach Ron, Hermione and Harry.
Then later on in this section, Rowling introduces the new first year students that were now attending Hogwarts. The students went through the sorting hat and were sent to their correct houses; Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Hogwarts then gained a new Professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Moody (Mad-Eye-Moody). In his first lesson with Harry, Hermione, Ron and the others, he thought them the Unforgivable Curses – Avada Kedavra, Imperius and Cruciatus. The students enjoy his class because he is really good with curses and spells. While teaching, he said, “using of any one of them on a fellow human being is enough to earn a life sentence in Azkaban….that’s what you’re up against. That’s what I’ve got to teach you to fight” (217). Then later in the end of chapter 14, Sirius finally writes back to Harry and tells him that he’s coming back to see him immediately after Harry wrote to him that he had a dream about Voldemort, which caused pain on his scar.
I cannot wait to find out more on the remaining chapters!
Romonah Kond 2016 