Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Poliakoff

Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter - Character
Poliakoff
Gender Male
Hair color Unknown
Eye color Unknown
Related Family Unknown
Loyalty Durmstrang Institute

Overview edit

Poliakoff is one of the Durmstrang students who hopes to become a Champion in the Triwizard Tournament, occurring in Harry's fourth year.

Role in the Books edit

Beginner warning: Details follow which you may not wish to read at your current level.

Goblet of Fire edit

As the Durmstrang contingent return to their ship in the Lake after their first dinner at Hogwarts, headmaster Karkaroff inquires solicitously if Krum has gotten enough to eat, or wants some mulled wine. Poliakoff suggests he would like some wine, and Karkaroff snaps at him, saying he did not offer any to him, and accuses him of having "dribbled food all down the front of his robes".

Strengths edit

Poliakoff has been chosen to be part of the Durmstrang contingent and a potential Triwizard champion (although realistically he never has much of a chance); presumably, therefore, he is strong enough to take part, were he chosen.

He is also a little bit of an opportunist, asking for some wine.

Weaknesses edit

Karkaroff's accusation about Poliakoff dribbling food may suggest something about him - such as clumsiness - but we must take into account Karkaroff's priorities here, and not read too much into it.

Relationships with Other Characters edit

Karkaroff appears to dislike him, but then Karkaroff doesn't much like anyone.

Analysis edit

Poliakoff is such a minor character that one wonders why he was introduced at all. His function seems to be more one of showing Karkaroff's character. Karkaroff has decided that Viktor Krum is to be the Durmstrang Champion in the Triwizard Tournament; while the remaining students are present to provide a semblance of choice, Karkaroff does not expect anything of them and so treats them as useless. It is quite possible that this is also intended to show the basic difference between Durmstrang and Hogwarts as school environments.

Questions edit

Study questions are meant to be left for each student to answer; please don't answer them here.

  1. Why do you think Poliakoff brazenly asks for some mulled wine, when it was only offered to Krum?
  2. Do you think he, along with the other Durmstrang students, were merely brought along for show, as the choice for champion had seemingly been made already?

Greater Picture edit

Intermediate warning: Details follow which you may not wish to read at your current level.