Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is perhaps the most exciting of the early Harry Potter novels as it takes a look at the wizarding world beyond England, into other areas of Europe that open the reader’s mind to a new and exciting features of Harry’s world, like new wizarding schools and world class Quidditch teams.

J K Rowling Imagines a Magical World Beyond Hogwarts

Rowling takes Harry Potter to a whole new level in the Goblet of Fire by introducing a worldwide magic world. No longer simply confined to places in England, like Hogwarts and Diagon Alley that first appeared in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the reader sees glimpses into the wide world of magic all over Europe. While Harry Potter’s world is brilliant in and of itself, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire opens the door to so many possibilities. If Rowling writes another series based on the magic world she created, would she give an account of perhaps wizarding life in America or Asia?

The Plot of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire starts of brilliantly, with the Quidditch World Cup, which is somewhat reminiscent of the Fifa World Cup. It introduces Harry, and the readers, to the idea that magic exists around the world and not just within the walls of Hogwarts.
The novel then goes into the Triwizard Tournament, of which Harry inadvertently finds himself a part. Although the classes in Hogwarts are more exciting than real world school, it is a nice change from the regular Hogwarts schedule, with Harry facing many strange and exciting challenges throughout the school year. The Triwizard Tournament also propels Harry’s status into a household name among the wizard world. Of course he is known as the boy who lived, but now it is the fourth book that really lets the wizarding community see his exploits on a much larger scale, by way of Rita Skeeter, the malicious reporter. Harry’s final showdown with Voldemort at the end of the book is much darker than what he faced previously in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and more disturbing than facing his parents’ traitor in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The action in Harry Potter gets better and better with every book, with the finale of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire sparking the true beginning of the war against Voldemort.

New Characters in The Goblet of Fire Hail from All Over the World

Alastor “Mad Eye” Moody, named for his magical eye which follows people around the room no matter where Moody’s attention is; he gives new meaning to “eyes in the back of your head.” One of the original Order of the Pheonix members, Moody comes to Hogwarts in order to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. The ever annoying Rita Skeeter, who probably represents Rowling’s ideal of the paparazzi, is a vicious reporter who’ll stop at nothing to get a story – even if she has to bend (or break) a few rules (or laws). She has an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time and putting the wrong twist on any story. Viktor Krum of Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons and Cedric Diggory of Hogwarts are the three other contestants of the Triwizard Tournament. Krum is an accomplished Seeker for the Bulgarian Quidditch Team and has more than a passing crush on Hermione. Fleur, a French part-Veela, makes all the boys fawn over her by her very presence. Cedric was Hufflepuff Quidditch captain and a Prefect before entering into the Tournament.

Conclusion

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire really ups the ante in terms of storytelling. Going global was a spark of genius and Rowling really throws in the action throughout the book, with another twist ending that has had, and will continue to have for many more years, readers hanging on every word from start to finish.