The Goblet of Fire (Symbol)
The Goblet is referred to throughout the first chapters of the book as an "impartial judge" or "impartial selector" (75, 76, 77, 103). The impartiality of the Goblet suggests that the students who are selected as champions possess some kind of "natural" or "inherent" supremacy over their classmates, unnamable qualities that somehow make them the best suited to compete. The Goblet reinforces an ongoing emphasis the series places on individual exceptionalism.
Triwizard Tournament (Symbol)
The Triwizard Tournament is a symbol of international magical cooperation and it, along with the Quidditch World Cup, demonstrates that the magical world Rowling introduces to her readers in books one through three is not contained by just one country, England, but rather stretches across the world. The Tournament symbolizes a spirit of competition and cooperation, trust in strangers, and diplomacy. At some point in the book, Harry finds himself either having to trust or having to ask for the trust of all of his opponents. These new alliances are challenged by cultural differences, but ultimately they prove to be stronger than the forces working against them.
Dark Mark (symbol)
The Dark Mark is the symbol Voldemort uses to summon his followers. It was known also as a calling card during his reign of terror fifteen years prior to the current book. When the Dark Mark, a green skull with a snake slithering out of its mouth, appeared above a place of residence, it was understood that Voldemort or his followers had been there and likely murdered someone inside.
Winky's Freedom/Hermione's Activism (Allegory)
Hermione's sudden surge of activist spirit after witnessing Bartemius Crouch Sr. mistreat his house-elf, Winky, seems to be an allegory for civil rights. Hermione takes on the role of an abolitionist and extends her criticism to other magical creatures who participate in magical society but lack the same rights and privileges as human witches and wizards. This effort to relate elf rights to the civil rights movement is, in itself, problematic, and Rowling's universe contains a lot of unresolved, unexamined forms of oppression that fail to be addressed in Hermione's side-plot.
Harry's Lightening Bolt Scar (Symbol/Motif)
Harry's scar symbolizes the way he is bound for life to Voldemort, his sworn enemy. The fact that Harry's scar hurts as a result of Voldemort's emotions or proximity to him further emphasizes this connection between them. Harry's scar is also a motif in the sense that Rowling refers to it when she needs to indicate that Voldemort is feeling a certain way or is encroaching on the trio. The scar thus modulates Voldemort's movements through the world without necessarily having to leave Harry's perspective.
