Chapter 1: The Riddle House, Once Upon a Time... |
 Feb 7 2009, 05:13 PM
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Wielder of the Truth Stick (Obfuscators Beware!)  Posts: 1,219 Joined: 1:16pm June 7, 2005 Location: Getting bumped off Oceanic Flight 815 while trying to return to my job at Primatech Paper   |
Chapter One: The Riddle House Once upon a time…  An abandoned house. An old gardener who has taken care of the grounds forever—even after being suspected of killing the prior owners. A flickering fire on a dark night. Two travelers planning evil deeds. Sounds like makings of a great story. But what does it have to do with Harry Potter? The reaction fans have to the very different start of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is largely visceral—they either love it or they hate it. Proponents use it as an example of J.K. Rowling’s nimble and adaptive writing skills, as early complaints of the Harry Potter series called the books formulaic (and this start certainly breaks the formula). However, opponents say the chapter is distracting because it seemingly is not from Harry’s point of view—in direct contrast to the entire series--at least ever since Chapter 2 of PS/SS. It’s strange to be inside the mind of another character, especially a Muggle who has never heard of Quidditch, the Ministry of Magic, or Harry Potter. JKR not only throws a monkey wrench in the works when it comes to the narrative, this chapter includes a lot of shocking information. Voldemort is still alive and has achieved some kind of physical form, thanks to his servant, Wormtail. Frank Bryce overhears Voldemort’s plans—though he understands little of them—involving the murder of someone named Harry Potter. Aha! Now we’re getting somewhere! Someone named Bertha Jorkins was questioned extensively by Wormtail and Voldemort and another of the Dark Lord’s loyal servants will soon be free to join him and carry out his plans. The wayward Muggle wants to go to the police with this information, but instead, he ends up paying the ultimate price when Voldemort discovers him eavesdropping in the hallway. Several hundred miles away, Harry Potter wakes with a start. Just a few questions to get the conversation started, but feel free to add your own thoughts. --Did you love or hate this chapter the first time you read it? Why? What do you think about it now? --There are two aspects of this chapter that can be unsettling: the change in narrative and the prospect of the wizarding world through the eyes of a Muggle. Which aspect did you find the most interesting? --What did you think the overall tone of this chapter was? --The first time you read this chapter, did you realize immediately who the Riddles were, how they had died and who had killed them? -------------------- I may be blond with great cans, but I'm pretty smart when I've had my eight hours. ~ Francine, American Dad  Avi and siggy by fw00per Keep your friends close...and people who can make siggys even closer! - JaneMarple9 |
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Feb 8 2009, 08:54 AM
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Neville's Biggest supporter  Posts: 11,752 Joined: 8:51am January 28, 2006 Location: On V.S.D.G.  |
Just a few questions to get the conversation started, but feel free to add your own thoughts.
--Did you love or hate this chapter the first time you read it? Why? What do you think about it now? Although Goblet of Fire isn't my favourite of the series, I really enjoyed the change of perpective. It was obvious from this chapter that the series was turning darker. It was very dark the year before with Dementors and a "escaped murderer" but this sets the pace for a darker novel. It is good to see Voldemorts interaction with Wormtail. --There are two aspects of this chapter that can be unsettling: the change in narrative and the prospect of the wizarding world through the eyes of a Muggle. Which aspect did you find the most interesting? For starters, it didn't look as if Wormtail was entirely comfortable about spending so much time with Voldemort. He is still unsure how much Voldemort trusts him. Voldemort is weak, but still has the stength to plan ahead. It is fascinating to see Frank's thought processes. --What did you think the overall tone of this chapter was? Extremely dark. Voldemort was planning to attack Harry and one of his faitful servants was in a place where he could arrange this. The rundown Riddle mansion was also eerie. --The first time you read this chapter, did you realize immediately who the Riddles were, how they had died and who had killed them? Well I can't be sure but I must have remembered tat Voldemort's real name was Riddle. I didn't know how much significance the Riddle family had to do with the story until much later. Jo really started the book with a bang 
--------------------  (Avatar from Hagiographer13, Neville Siggy from Dreamteam and Reading Group siggy from fw00per) Strength is ... the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one piece |
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Feb 8 2009, 09:18 AM
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Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes' best customer Posts: 1,037 Joined: 8:23am January 25, 2007 Location: In Herbology class with Professor Longbottom |
What did you think the overall tone of this chapter was?
It was very dark, it definitely set the tone for the rest of the book and the rest of the series. There are two aspects of this chapter that can be unsettling: the change in narrative and the prospect of the wizarding world through the eyes of a Muggle. Which aspect did you find the most interesting? I thought both were fascinating. It was the first time for very long that we had another perspective in the narrative, and seeing it all through the eyes of a muggle made it all even more interesting. The first time you read this chapter, did you realize immediately who the Riddles were, how they had died and who had killed them? I'll admit, it was such a long time ago that I don't really remember what I was thinking. I think I must have relized it though, I knew Riddle was Voldemort's name. -------------------- "I'll join you when hell freezes over. Dumbledore's Army !" Neville Longbottom
"Are you a wizard, or what?" Hermione Granger |
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Feb 8 2009, 11:07 AM
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Rat Spleen Restocker at the Apothecary Posts: 474 Joined: 2:31pm May 19, 2007 Location: hanging out at hogwarts with moony and padfoot |
--Did you love or hate this chapter the first time you read it? Why? What do you think about it now?
I was actually more surprise with this chapter i was expecting to be in Harry's point of view not a muggle's. but i found it interesting to see the wizarding world from an outsiders point of view (even if it was the most evil side of it). --There are two aspects of this chapter that can be unsettling: the change in narrative and the prospect of the wizarding world through the eyes of a Muggle. Which aspect did you find the most interesting? i agree with Jane it did not look like wormtail was comfortable being in the same room as Voldermort. to me it kinda proved that peter went to the dark side because he was powerful at the time so i think that the muggle perspective was interesting because you got to see it from an outsiders point view. --What did you think the overall tone of this chapter was? I think that it kinda foreshadowed that this book was probably going to be darker than the other books --The first time you read this chapter, did you realize immediately who the Riddles were, how they had died and who had killed them? i had an idea that they where related to him but i was not sure -------------------- I solemnly swear I'm up to no good
 thanks to Tegalto for the lupin avatar |
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Feb 8 2009, 11:13 AM
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Being Eaten by the Pea Soup Posts: 26 Joined: 8:46pm February 3, 2009 |
--Did you love or hate this chapter the first time you read it? Why? What do you think about it now?
I loved it. I remember when I first starting reading this book, and I was a little confused, because I started it right after finishing the 3rd book and the ending of PoA and this chapter were so different. However, it was almost refresing, in a way. You can tell by this chapter that the book is going to be a lot darker. --There are two aspects of this chapter that can be unsettling: the change in narrative and the prospect of the wizarding world through the eyes of a Muggle. Which aspect did you find the most interesting? I found it most interesting to see the wizarding world through the eyes of a muggle, especially when the muggle is not seeing "regular" wizarding life, but the darkest form of it instead. I also liked the change in narrative, it reawoke the fear in me. I think we get used to reading from Harry's POV, so when he's happy, we forget that there is other things out there that aren't as happy. --What did you think the overall tone of this chapter was? Dark. The fact that the end of the first chapter already ends in a murder really sets the tone of the book. QUOTE(JaneMarple9 @ Feb 8 2009, 09:54 AM)  --The first time you read this chapter, did you realize immediately who the Riddles were, how they had died and who had killed them? Well I can't be sure but I must have remembered tat Voldemort's real name was Riddle. I didn't know how much significance the Riddle family had to do with the story until much later. Jo really started the book with a bang This was basically what was my reaction was. It's hard to remember, especially since I've reread it before, and known who they were then. |
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Feb 8 2009, 11:28 AM
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Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher Posts: 199 Joined: 11:30pm February 14, 2006 Location: with Lucius Malfoy, sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G |
--Did you love or hate this chapter the first time you read it? Why? What do you think about it now?
the first time i heard it (i have audiobooks) i loved it...it was good getting out of harry's head for a bit. love him to death, but he is a bit neurotic!  nowadays, though? i usually skip it. partly because i feel like it was there to be informative and i now have all the information and partly because i just LOVE that first chapter in the house with the grapefruit breakfast, molly's letter, the exploding fireplace, weasley's wizard wheezes! its just a whole lotta fun. i love a good fun opening chapter for harry and i believe this has been the only one! its funny, i dont even consider the riddle house to be chapter one...its like a prologue or something. like the book doesnt begin until we get to harry.--There are two aspects of this chapter that can be unsettling: the change in narrative and the prospect of the wizarding world through the eyes of a Muggle. Which aspect did you find the most interesting? i find viewing the wizarding world through the eyes of a muggle the most interesing! we dont get muchof that. i mean sure we have the dursleys, but they know it exists...the idea of seeing how a muggle reacts to it, who hasnt heard of it and really just thinks the speakers are nutsy or hiding something is interesting. its probably how i wouldve reacted! --What did you think the overall tone of this chapter was? i think the overall tone was ominous. it made me feel like voldemort had covered all bases and there was no way he wasnt going to succeed. kinda sad actually, who likes to see evil triumph over good. --The first time you read this chapter, did you realize immediately who the Riddles were, how they had died and who had killed them? i knew who the riddles had to be because i have one of those memories and i knew voldy's name was riddle. but had no idea how they had died or who had killed them. not until moody started talking about the unforgivable curses did i realize how they must've died. i guessed voldemort had killed them, but that was just conjecture on my part. This post has been edited by Potty_LUVS_Looney: Feb 8 2009, 11:33 AM --------------------  |
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Feb 8 2009, 11:48 AM
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Monster Book Stacker Posts: 358 Joined: 9:13am August 11, 2007 |
What I like about this chapter, is it it starts out like we're reading a different book. Book 4 doesn't drop us right into 4 Privet Drive. It's actually kind of a dark chapter for an opening
-------------------- Dumbledore has a posse.
"Listening to the news! Again?" "Well, it changes every day, you see." |
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Feb 8 2009, 12:05 PM
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Director of Kneazle Rescue Organization Posts: 76 Joined: 1:52pm December 27, 2008 Location: Chicago, IL |
--Did you love or hate this chapter the first time you read it? Why? What do you think about it now?
I thought it was great! I loved seeing a different perspective (something that happened more often in later books) and not having everything explained. Of course, later we find out that it is still Harry's perspective in a way (his dream), except for the backstory, but that doesn't ruin it. I still love this chapter and pick new stuff out of it every time I read it (or at least stuff I'd forgotten between readings). --There are two aspects of this chapter that can be unsettling: the change in narrative and the prospect of the wizarding world through the eyes of a Muggle. Which aspect did you find the most interesting? I liked the change in narrative better. Although it's been a while, we did see the wizarding world as a Muggle when Harry first got introduce to Hogwarts and wizards. --What did you think the overall tone of this chapter was? It was very mysterious, and I was curious to find out everything that was hinted at. It also set the tone for the rest of the book: why/how Harry was entered into the Triwizard Tournament (and a lot of people kept saying it was because someone was out to get him), why Moody was so sketchy, and the return of Voldemort and the death of Cedric. Of course, we don't know all that going into it for the first time, but the feeling stayed with you. --The first time you read this chapter, did you realize immediately who the Riddles were, how they had died and who had killed them? I remembered that Voldemort was Tom Riddle, but I hadn't made any of the other connections. Are we even told in this book that he murdered his parents? I can't remember. |
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Feb 8 2009, 12:31 PM
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Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher Posts: 199 Joined: 11:30pm February 14, 2006 Location: with Lucius Malfoy, sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G |
yeah, when voldemort is getting all nostalgic in the graveyard he tells harry that he revenged himself upon his father...
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Feb 8 2009, 01:20 PM
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Transfiguration Today's Star Reporter  Posts: 2,011 Joined: 3:59pm May 15, 2008 Location: Sunny Phoenix, Arizona("It's a Dry Heat!")  |
Great discussion thus far, everyone!
Did you love or hate this chapter the first time you read it? Why? What do you think about it now? My reaction seems to be a bit different than the ones that have been presented up to this point. I was so keen to find out more about Sirius and what he was up to, that frankly, I was a bit miffed when I started reading this chapter. What was going on??? No Dursleys, no Hogwarts! However, as I began to read more, and saw that Wormtail and this invisible version of Voldemort were in the Riddle House, I became more interested. The interplay between Wormtail and Voldemort was fascinating and chilling at the same time. I think this is the longest conversation that we the readers had had from Voldemort up to this point, and there's so much there about his character that's revealed in the way he was talking to Wormtail. As a side note, I find it interesting that Voldemort never troubled to call Peter by his human name, but always called him Wormtail. He seemed to have Peter/Wormtail figured out to a nicety. Peter may have been serving him, but as Voldemort told him, he wasn't exactly the ideal employee/servant. We also got some information about Bertha Jorkins, which was kind of neat, because as the book developed further, and some of the other wizards were getting concerned about what had happened to her, we already knew. As to what I think about the chapter now, I think it was a brilliant way to begin GOF. This, after all, is where the planning to get Harry to the graveyard via a portkey had its genesis. Who could have known at this time that the Goblet of Fire would begin the whole process of doing just that? This post has been edited by Fricka: Feb 8 2009, 01:28 PM -------------------- "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Phoenix avatar courtesy of ofenjen; thanks to atschpe for help |
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