Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series. It is in the genre fantasy fiction and was originally published by J.K. Rowling in 2000. The series has been extremely popular since the release of the first book in 1997. Today, over 65 million copies of the Goblet of Fire have been sold around the world. The film made $897 million worldwide, making it the highest worldwide release of 2005.

I really like this book and the series because it brings you into another world full of magic. The story was very entertaining, amusing and adventurous. The Goblet of Fire was interesting because there were many mysteries and twists which captivated my interest. I have read this book many times and it is astonishing every time. 

The book starts off in the past, explaining where the Riddle family was murdered. Today the house remains empty and haunted.  In the present, a neighbor, Frank Bryce notices there are people in the empty house. He discovers mysterious, magical people inside and overhears their plot to murder a boy named Harry Potter. 

At the Dursleys house, Harry Potter had lived with his cousin for most of his life because his parents were killed by a dark wizard known as Lord Voldemort. He had been mistreated his whole life by the Dursleys because they favored their son, Dudly Dursley, who is Harry’s cousin. Shortly, Harry received a letter from his best friend Ron Weasley that he would be leaving the Dursleys for the rest of the summer to attend the Quidditch World Cup. Harry, Ron, and Hermione attend the World Cup together along with the Weasley and Diggory family. Mysterious events occur as the death eaters break free at the World Cup, which hints at Lord Voldemort rising again. In a few weeks, the students would carry on by going to Hogwarts, the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This would be Harry, Ron and Hermione’s 4th year returning. 

At Hogwarts the students learn that this year Hogwarts would be holding the Triwizard tournament. Two schools, the Durmstrang and the Beauxbatons, would come to Hogwarts and compete for the Triwizard cup. The headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, announced that three representatives would compete for the schools. One student from each school would compete for the Triwizard cup. He also announced the students’ new defense against the dark arts teacher would be Mad Eye Moody, a retired dark wizard catcher.

Harry was surprised to be selected as the 4th wizard for the tournament. Harry was below the age limit but was forced to compete. The Trwizard competitors would be Harry Potter, a 4th year Hogwarts student, Cedric Diggory, a 7th year Hogwarts student, Viktor Krum, a Durmstrang student, and Fleur Delacour, a Beauxbatons student. 

Harry goes to school and studies magic with Professor Moody and becomes close with him. Along the way Harry finds help from Professor Moody on the three tasks.  These tasks were designed to test the students at a 7th year level. Harry must fight to survive and learn more magic to be able to compete. 

On Christmas, Harry also attends the Yule Ball which is a tradition for the Triwizard tournament. He attends with Pavarti Patil. Harry has had a crush on Cho Chang, but she went with Cedric Diggory who is competing against Harry. Ron went to the ball with Padma Patil, and Hermione went with Viktor Krum. 

Harry successfully completes the first task and moves on to the second task months later. During the tasks, Harry struggles to survive the dragons, mermaids, and a dark wizard. At the same time Harry must balance his love life, friends, and classes. 

J.K. Rowling does an excellent job of adding humor into the characters. Fred and George are Ron’s older twin brothers and they are constantly making jokes, which makes the reader laugh. The author also does a good job of giving minor details throughout the book that foreshadow a twist in the end. This keeps the readers surprised and engaged in the book. 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire fits in with literature because the characters have character development.  J.K. Rowling shows character development throughout all 7 novels which allows the readers to understand each character’s personality. Throughout the series J.K. Rowling clearly shows that Harry is the protagonist and Voldemort is the antagonist. She helps us understand Voldemort’s character by telling his story as a child, which explains how he becomes the Dark Lord. You can also see character development within Severus Snape throughout the books. In the beginning of the series, Harry perceives Snape as evil and mysterious, but throughout the novels, J.K. Rowling explains Snape’s story. In the last book Snape’s story is fully understood and the reader knows his personality and how much he really cared for Harry.