Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Key Facts

Full Title Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Author J.K. Rowling

Type of work Children's novel

Genre Fantasy; Coming-of-age; young detective fiction

Language English

Time and place written 2000, Edinburgh

Date of first publication 2000

Publisher Scholastic Inc.

Narrator Third person, following Harry

Point of view Although the narrative is written in third person, we see from Harry's point of view, and we witness his private thoughts.

Tone The tone is matter-of-fact, and the author's fondness for the heroes is clear.

Tense Past

Setting (time) Present-day

Setting (place) United Kingdom, primarily at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Protagonist Harry Potter is the hero and protagonist. The story follows his adventures and growing-up process.

Major conflict Harry attempts to remain alive through the Triwizard Tournament, and to discover who submitted his name to the Goblet of Fire.

Rising action Tension rises with each of the Triwizard tasks that Harry is expected to do.

Climax On the evening of the final task, Harry and Cedric wind through the maze, reach the trophy, and ultimately are transported to a graveyard where Voldemort awaits them.

Falling action Once Harry has escaped Voldemort he is transported back to Hogwarts, and various characters explain the mysteries present in the rising action of the story.

Themes Crusade against enslavement; Community connectedness; Entering adolescence

Motifs Fallen facades

Symbols Sexual tension; Varying levels of education;

Foreshadowing The chapter in which Sirius Black appears in his animagus form is the same one in which Harry suggests that Rita Skeeter could have them bugged, which leads to Hermione's realization that Rita is an animagus. The fact that a beetle is casually buzzing around during each of the important events that Rita documents provides further foreshadowing for her identity.

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