Cedric Diggory: Character Analysis

Cedric Diggory (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/diggory.html#Cedric) is chosen as Hogwarts champion by the Goblet of Fire. Surprisingly, a Hufflepuff is considered superior to all the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Slytherins who put their names into the goblet.

Cedric Diggory was an extremely handsome boy with gray eyes. He is quite tall and the quiet type (PA). In 1993, when he was a Fifth Year, he took over as Captain and Seeker of the Hufflepuff House Quidditch team. He was a very good student and a prefect.

Cedric was born in 1977 and was killed by Peter Pettigrew on June 24, 1995 because his presence in the graveyard was inconvenient. During Priori Incantatem the figure of Cedric appears out of Voldemort's wand and asks Harry to take his body back to his parents. Cedric's death affects most Hogwarts students because he was not only a good student but generally well-liked. Especially Cho Chang suffers from his death.

Dumbledore gives a very emotional speech at the end of GoF:

"Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house. He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about. Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort. The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so - either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory." [...]

"Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."

Study questions:


Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?
How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?
Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?
How would you describe Cedric's relationship with Cho/Harry/Amos/his mother/Dumbledore/Viktor/Fleur/other characters?
Should Cedric have told Harry about the egg in more detail?
What is the importance of Dumbledore's eulogy? Did it have any effects?

Please remember that this is a discussion thread. All criticism should be constructive. Posts that are considered character bashing may be deleted by staff.

Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?
yes, as it meant that he had to do the tasks alone, whilst normally, all the Hufflepuffs work together to the very end in helping someone to do something

How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?
i think his death was very important in harry potter development, and it allows him to grow and mature more quickly, in that he now understands the concept of death (as shown when he sees the threstrals that next September). However, in terms of actual plot, no, it didn't affect it much.

Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?
whilst in my eye, it wasn't very shocking (certainly compared to Sirius Black's death a year later), if it had been one of those types (like Percy :lol:), yes, it would've been much less shocking.

How would you describe Cedric's relationship with Cho/Harry/Amos/his mother/Dumbledore/Viktor/Fleur/other characters?
i think his relationship with his mum and dad was normal and average for a kid his age. As for the other characters, he just 'knew' them, so i don't think he really cared for them that much (apart from harry, who was also a champion, but also much younger)

Should Cedric have told Harry about the egg in more detail?
No, as he was ultimatly a minor character who had a very small amount of screentime

What is the importance of Dumbledore's eulogy? Did it have any effects?
it brought home the fact that a) Voldy is back, b) that he'll kill, and c) that it's not just adults who die in wars

Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?
I find his death rather ironic actually.
I think Jo chose a Hufflepuff to try and dispell some of the stigma of that House. They are often seen as the 'leftovers', those that no other house wanted--those not clever, or brave, or ambitious enough to be place in a 'better house. I think Cedric throws a wrench in these perceptions.
He was clever (an excellent student), he was brave (in the tasks and in not joining in with his classmates taunts of Harry), and he was ambitious (he clearly wanted to win the tournament and worked hard to build a competetive Quidditch team). However, ironically, in the end he was called 'the spare' and murdered apathetically.

How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?I think Cedric's death made Harry's fight more global. Now Harry is not only fighting because of what Voldemort did to his parents, but now he has personally experienced Tom's disrespect for life in general. Cedric's death made Harry's mission more of an ethical quest than a plot for revenge.

What is the importance of Dumbledore's eulogy? Did it have any effects?
I think Dumbledore's speech about Cedric is very forward looking and lends us an interesting perspective on the headmaster. "The truth is generally preferable to lies" and sugarcoating or ignoring the truth does no one any favors. And yet the next year Dumbledore makes this very mistake in his dealings with Harry.

Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?
Not sure if it's important at all. He could be in any house, the purpose of his character wouldn't change. Maybe they chose Hufflepuff because there were so less important one mentioned before?


How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?It influenced the plot in a big way. Without his death, Dumbledore didn't need to hold his speech in the end. What meant that alot of people wouldn't believe in the Voldy is back story. Without that no DA and Umbridge would be still there etc . I could carry on ...


Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?Ummm, it think it was rather important to choose a person people cared for, otherwise it wouldn't have the same effect for me.


How would you describe Cedric's relationship with Cho/Harry/Amos/his mother/Dumbledore/Viktor/Fleur/other characters?I'm sure that he got along with many people and they with him. With Cho he seemed to have a good relationship, otherwise why would Cho cry for him that much. Also with his father, he were both happy together during the World Cup and in the end as he died, we see that Amos was shocked to the bones seeing his son Death. About the other characters I don't know, as we don't see them much together.


Should Cedric have told Harry about the egg in more detail?No, it was a risk for him to tell him about it and Harry should rack his brain anyway. It's not that Cedric told him about the bath thing around zillion corners.


What is the importance of Dumbledore's eulogy? Did it have any effects?I think I answered that before.

1. Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?

Not sure if it is important or not, but I think Jo needed to bring about an important character from the Hufflepuff house, so as to justify the fact that all houses are equal, and that none is inferior and the other superior. ;)

2. How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?

He died an unnecessary death, he didn't deserve to die, the way he did, he was a smart and tough guy, who should have deserved a duel for his life, not a sudden attack that gave him no time to retaliate back or protect himself, he should have been given a chance like Harry, but then not all get the better bite of the cake. :sigh:

As for his death affecting the plot, I think it was his death that got Dumbledore saying what he said at the end of the year, had Harry returned with Cedric and none were harmed, I don't think Dumbledore would have said all that, but the loss of one of the students made him do it. ;)

3. Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?

Same as Tenshi. It was important that a prominent character died.

5. Should Cedric have told Harry about the egg in more detail?

He should have, but he couldn't seeing that he wasn't a person who did wrong things regularly, so his conscience would have prevented him from doing it, I know he accepted Harry's help, but then he was told before he could stop...not that it matters, he would have asked anyway...but then it is hard for a person like him to do something that is not correct and therefore he chose a better way to curtail from the guilt. ;)

6. What is the importance of Dumbledore's eulogy? Did it have any effects?

The moot point of the eulogy was that Cedric Diggory died because Lord Voldemort wanted him to die, and the only way by which one could protect themselves from it was by uniting, so Dumbledore used Cedric's eulogy to deliver the important message of- in unity lies strength- this was the importance of the eulogy, it served as the basis for the message. I don't think it worked instantly because we have the trio debating about it and the only instant conclusion was that they were fine with Rawenclaw and Hufflepuff, but some work was to be done to unite with Slytherin as well....we haven't seen that happen yet, but I guess that it will happen sometime in DH. ;)

Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?

Well it could also have been a Ravenclaw perhaps. But I do think that Cedric as Hufflepuf was a good choice. The books do focus a lot on the interaction between Gryffindor and Slytherin House, it's good that another was brought in. Besides he was such a likable person and precisely what Hufflepuf House stands for.

How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?

It did give Harry that extra drive to survive and fight Voldemort. Harry was so much shocked that it might have given him some extra power. Not saying he loved Cedric, but the unnecessary death fueled his anger. You can say that he didn't deserve to die, but that just happens and in my eyes it was necessary.

How would you describe Cedric's relationship with Cho/Harry/Amos/his mother/Dumbledore/Viktor/Fleur/other characters?

I don't know anything about his mother, but I can imagine he was her darling. His father adored him, I wonder if Cedric didn't get tired of that.

Dumbledore and Cedric probably didn't meet that often, I can't imagine that Cedric every did anything against the rules, so probably no visits to the headmasters office.

Fleur and Cedric were probably friendly towards each other, but Madame Maxime would have tried to keep them apart for the sake of the Tournament.

With Harry it was Cho who was standing between them. For Harry that made it difficult to really like Cedric. If Cho wasn't there I am sure they could have had some kind of friendship, even though they were in different houses and apart in age.

Should Cedric have told Harry about the egg in more detail?

No, it was good for Harry to figure it out for himself. Harry had not told Cedric about his methods to beat the dragon had he?

Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?


I think it is important because they are the least favored house, but this time they go to stand tall in everyones eyes.


How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?

It shows just how cruel Voldermort is, there was no reason to kill Cedric.


Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?

No, but losing a innocent person is always shoking.


Should Cedric have told Harry about the egg in more detail?

He gave Harry a clue, he couldn't hand the information to him, Harry needed to discover it for himself, or he would never be able to colplete the task.

What is the importance of Dumbledore's eulogy? Did it have any effects?
He didn't want The students to overlook the sacrifice that Cedric made.

The pathos of Cedric's father was what really broke me up.

Cedric himself was not that developed as a character. He showed that in spite of the prevailing attitude, "Hufflepuff" definitely does not mean "inferior," and he was an exemplary, honorable person. But we didn't get to know him well. Not even well enough to see a flaw.

His death was shocking in that it came so casually. But it would have affected me more in itself, had it been a character, even a flawed character, where we had more intimate insights -- even Percy.

But then his father...what it did to his father, that killed me.

Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?
Well, yes. It breaks the stereotype that Hufflepuffs are the outcast leftovers, and shows us a strong, clever, brave character, who is also loyal, hard working, and fair, which are the basic Hufflepuff qualities, not oddball leftovers.
How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?
I think his murder was what jolted us into realizing, hey, Voldemorts back, and he's a threat. At least, it was what made Voldemorts return really sink in, for me.
Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?
I dunno, I think it would have been shocking anyway, even if it was a less loveable character who died instead of Cedric.

Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?
Yes, Cedric being a Hufflepuff is important. He definitely broke the stereotype that all Hufflepuffs are losers.

How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?
I think that his death was used as a way to show that things will definitely be different now that Voldemort has his body back.

Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?
I think that it would have been shocking, but I don't think that it would have the same impact as Cedric's death did.

Oh man...I remember reading GoF at the age of 10, and being completely :wow: at the ending. I did NOT see that death coming at all.

Surprisingly, they made his death even more shocking and sad in the movie...about the only thing they got right in that movie...but that's besides the point.


Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?

Yes, because Hufflepuff is considered the "average" house if you ask me. Think about it: Gryffindor = brave, Slytherin = sneaky/cunning, Ravenclaw = smart (:cool: ), Hufflepuff = everything else. I think JKR deliberately made him a Hufflepuff because he was the first innocent victim of the war. When tied in with Dumbledore's eulogy, it really reinforces how Cedric was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the poignant message JKR is trying to send with the death: the innocent are always the first to go.


How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?

See above.

Cedric's death:


Sent a poignant, but terrible moral home
Helped develop Harry's character immensely. It's very poignant when you consider Cedric died just when Harry was beginning to sort of count him as a friend, perhaps.
Cedric was written into a corner. There's no way Harry would have let Cedric not take the Cup.
Most importantly, it makes us hate the Ministry even more in OOTP when they dismiss his death as "accidental". Plotwise, anyway.
It also plays a key role in killing the Harry/Cho subplot.



Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?

Excellent question. I'm going to say no, because in the movie, Cedric was written much less likable, yet his death was even more heartwrenching. Amos wailing in agony as he holds his son's body chokes me up every time...


How would you describe Cedric's relationship with Cho/Harry/Amos/his mother/Dumbledore/Viktor/Fleur/other characters?

I think Cho genuinely loved Cedric, and vice versa.

Cedric's relationship with Harry was always a mutual respect, and even maybe friendship near the end. It's important to note that Cedric never said anything after Harry was chosen as Champion. In fact, I don't think he said anything in the chamber scene right after Harry's name comes out.

Cedric's relationship with his parents should be self-explanatory if you look at the end of GoF.

Dumbledore treated him like any other student.

Viktor and Fleur also shared a mutual respect with Cedric, I think.

Other characters were jealous of him, and this led to spite, lead to lies, etc (sound familiar?), but as you can see by the end of GoF...


Should Cedric have told Harry about the egg in more detail?

No.

It's part of the mutual respect I talked about earlier. He thought Harry would be able to figure it out himself. And remember, Cedric told him about the egg because Harry told him about the dragons. All Harry told Cedric was that the first task was dragons. He didn't tell him what he should do to get past them. Therefore, all Cedric told Harry was what the second task was, not how to get past it.


What is the importance of Dumbledore's eulogy? Did it have any effects?

The students aside from Harry and friends, sadly, ignored it completely (except for Cho). But the eulogy was more intended for the reader than the characters, to drive home the "choose between what is right and what is easy" theme.

Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?

The death of Cedric Diggory was a shock for everyone because it was the first death in the series. Cedric Diggory was not character closely related to Harry. The only reason for his death was his proximatey to Harry at that moment. If Cedric was any less likeable or perfect, his death would still be shocking. Readers didnt have much time to get to know Cedric. In many ways he wasn't a very attached character. His death a big shock because there was really no apparent reason for his death. He was indeed innocent. He comminted no crimes, even in Voldemort's eyes.

Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?

Yes, I agree with everyone else who says that it's good we get to see Hufflepuff take on a more active and heroic role in the story.

How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?

It reinforced how evil Voldemort is. It let Harry and the reader see firsthand. Of course it set in motion the trouble Harry would have with the ministry.

Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?

No, I don't think that the amount of shock everyone felt would change. The degree of remorse might have been greater though because Cedric was such a nice guy with a bright future swept out from under him.

How would you describe Cedric's relationship with Cho/Harry/Amos/his mother/Dumbledore/Viktor/Fleur/other characters?

To his competitors he was friendly and competitive. He played fair and wanted to win. He and Harry definitely developed a mutual respect and even trust despite both being in love with Cho. Harry wanted to dislike him but couldn't.

I think he and Cho were a good couple. She was very broken up about his death which showed how much she cared for him.

I think his relationship with his father added a lot of depth to his character. Amos was so proud of him and even embarrassed him with his praises at times. I think Cedric would feel an obligation to keep Amos proud of him and do a good job in the competition and just in general.

I didn't see him interact with Dumbledore much. We just can go by how Dumbledore treats all students in general. He must have known that Cedric had a stable family life and didn't need as much attention as other students like Harry for example.

Should Cedric have told Harry about the egg in more detail?

Well it certainly would have been helpful. He gave him the same type of hint to repay Harry for hinting him into what the first task was.
It shows how loyal and genuine Cedric is if anything.

What is the importance of Dumbledore's eulogy? Did it have any effects?

The eulogy was very touching. It showed that Dumbledore didn't want to lie to the students or tarnish Cedric's memory by saying he died in an accident when he was in fact murdered by Voldemort. It allowed the students to hear the other side and make up their minds for themselves who they would believe.

The eulogy was very touching. It showed that Dumbledore didn't want to lie to the students or tarnish Cedric's memory by saying he died in an accident when he was in fact murdered by Voldemort. It allowed the students to hear the other side and make up their minds for themselves who they would believe.

I agree. It was important that Dumbledore tell the school what really happened to Cedric. Lying was something Dumbledore definitely did not want to do.

I still cry everytime I read about Cedric dying! The first time I read it...I put the book down and had to come back in about an hour!


* Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?
For some reason, it always bugs me that people consider Hufflepuffs the "leftovers." Being loyal and honest and fair are NOT poor qualities. When Cedric and Harry reach the Cup after fighting the spider together, Cedric tells Harry to take it. He was completely willing to give up the glory of winning the Tournament. How many of us would do that? I think it is among the most noble acts we see in the series. Cedric is not looking out for himself, he's trying to remain an honest person and be fair to Harry. Maybe he was just trying to clear his conscience and pay his debt to Harry for help on the First Task and fighting the spider, but I don't think so. I think Cedric's character shows us just how important the Hufflepuff house is.

* How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?
It underlines Voldemort's disregard for those whom he doesn't need. He didn't even try to find out WHY Cedric was there...perhaps he used his Legilimency, but I doubt it. His death gave Harry resolve to fight Voldemort to avenge Cedric's death. Cedric dying next to Harry made Harry realize how close the war was coming, and how close, both physically and mentally, Voldemort would get to him. And with Cedric coming out of Voldemort's wand and asking Harry to bring his body back, Harry had more of a purpose to go back to Hogwarts to warn people. He could have been mentally overcome with shock at Voldemort being back and willing to lay down and die (it's a stretch, but when I think of seeing Voldemort being reborn in a cauldron in front of me...I'd probably lose my wits), but he can focus and complete the last request of Cedric's.

* Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?
No, I don't think so. Perhaps it would have been more shocking if it'd been a Slytherin...one of Voldemort's own Housemates of a sort...
* How would you describe Cedric's relationship with Cho/Harry/Amos/his mother/Dumbledore/Viktor/Fleur/other characters?
I think he and Cho had a good connection...after the Yule Ball, we see them walking around the castle holding hands, and didn't Cho say in OoTP that Cedric had brought her to Madam Puddifoot's? They probably had a future there.

With Harry, they were rivals, plain and simple. With Quidditch, Cho, and the Triwizard...they were rivals. Maybe if it had just been Quidditch, they'd have been just friendly rivals, but with the Tournament and Cho, Harry had more personal reasons to have a grudge against Cedric.

With Dumbledore, strictly Headmaster-Student...perhaps as a Prefect he sat in on meetings with the other Prefects and Dumbledore gave them specific instructions, but I don't know.

With his parents, Cedric seems to have had a pretty good relationship with them, probably better than most 17-year-olds do with their parents, but I don't think we see enough of his home life to determine that. His father is definitely very proud of him, and I wonder if he was saving a special spot in the Ministry for Cedric?

With Viktor and Fleur, I think they were just the other competors in the Tournament, nothing more.

* Should Cedric have told Harry about the egg in more detail?
No, I think Harry just needed a little nudge in the right direction, like Cedric did with the dragons.

* What is the importance of Dumbledore's eulogy? Did it have any effects?
Dumbledore tells the whole school that Voldemort's back. He refused to lie to his students, and it underscores Dumbledore's role as educator and mentor. He cares about his students enough to not lie to them, and that they must be vigilant against Voldemort's return to power, even given how young some of these students were. This was the first ripple in the "With Dumbledore/Against Dumbledore" fight, as this was right before the students returned home. Those going to wizarding families would tell of what Dumbledore had said, and then the family would decide to be with or against Dumbledore, and whom they would believe...Dumbledore or the Ministry (or if they were Death Eaters...).

Is it important that Cedric was a Hufflepuff?

I think it was a sort of metaphor for Voldemort's way of doing things. The Goblet of Fire did not care which house Cedric came from, only that he was capable of competing well for the Tri-Wizard Cup. In the same respect, Voldemort would not care whether Cedric was Pureblood or Half-blood or Muggleborn--so long as he got in the way, he was good enough to be killed for it--nor would he care if Cedric was Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, or Slytherin.

There's also the fact that the person who filled the role of the original Hogwarts champion would have to be exemplary of the Hufflepuff traits in order to push the story along as it should go. A Slytherin champion would have been unlikely to either accept help from Harry or return it later, nor would a Slytherin champion have been willing to accept a draw at the end of the competition. I rather feel the Sorting Hat knows what it's doing and places students in the houses where they go because they belong there, because they exemplify certain characteristics. Cedric was truly a Hufflepuff at heart and would have been the only real choice for the Hogwarts champion to push the story in the right direction.

How do you evaluate his death? How did his murder influence the plot?

For the first time, Harry has to accept that his struggle against Voldemort affects more than just himself. Until his fourth year, he didn't know about Neville's parents, he didn't know about the Crouch family, and he didn't know how many other families would suffer because of Voldemort. Until his fourth year, Harry perceived the battle as being about what Voldemort did to his parents, and thus, about him, but finally, when he witnesses Cedric's death, he understands that the war is quite personal for a number of people and families, which will be increased motivation for him to fulfill the prophecy when he learns of it.

Would it have been less shocking if a less likable and perfect student had died instead of Cedric?

I don't think so. Cedric's death was a very rude awakening for Harry and his classmates. I scarcely think any of them dreamed someone would actually die during the tournament, and even it it had been Malfoy, for whatever reason, I think Harry would still have been just as shocked and horrified and so would we, as readers. The shock factor aside, I think I, as reader, would have been somewhat less upset if the death had been someone else, but if it had been Krum or Fleur, it would still have been upsetting, since Harry developed minor personal relationships with all three of his fellow champions.

How would you describe Cedric's relationship with Cho/Harry/Amos/his mother/Dumbledore/Viktor/Fleur/other characters?

It's difficult to comment on his relationships with much of anyone except Harry and Amos. I think he wanted to make his father proud but was a bit mortified that his father thought so much of him. Cedric was not the big-headed, proud boy his father seemed to think he ought to be, but Amos's reaction to Cedric's death is a testament to how much the family must have cared about one another.

As far his Cedric's relationship with Harry, it seems Cedric really was all about fair play. He wanted to be sure that Harry was on even footing with him after Harry helped him out with the dragons. It was important to him later, in the maze, that the ending of the task was fair. He also refused to wear the stupid badges and did not talk about Harry as Fleur talked about him, calling him a little boy. These things reveal a lot about his character and about how much respect he had for Harry.

Should Cedric have told Harry about the egg in more detail?

I don't think he should have told him more about it. After all, Harry could reveal no more to Cedric than that he was going to have to go up against a dragon. The rest was for Cedric to figure out. Harry did not necessarily deserve more information than Cedric gave him, and he was still able to work out what it meant on his own.

What is the importance of Dumbledore's eulogy? Did it have any effects?

Dumbledore's eulogy was important in that it should have told the school and the students what to expect in the coming years. I think he implied that Cedric did not know what he was getting himself into, but that he died at the hands of Voldemort anyway. Dumbledore was trying to express that in choosing a path, they needed to be prepared to stand for what they believed in, and that they needed to really, really believe in it.

The effects of the eulogy were not clearly seen until the following school year, when so many students and their parents were confused about what to say and what to do. It seemed surreal to them, that a student died and that suddenly, they were being told that Voldemort was back.

Cedric was an average wizard in the House for average wizards. He was chosen to represent Hogwarts because the students had to understand that even an average student can be exceptional. His death showed everyone that they were all in danger, not just a few, or the ones who actively opposed Voldermort, but everyone was at risk and that they all needed to work together to defeat Voldermort.