literary analysis essay on the hunger games

The Hunger Games

Suzanne collins, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Hunger Games: Introduction

The hunger games: plot summary, the hunger games: detailed summary & analysis, the hunger games: themes, the hunger games: quotes, the hunger games: characters, the hunger games: symbols, the hunger games: theme wheel, brief biography of suzanne collins.

Historical Context of The Hunger Games

Other books related to the hunger games.

• Full Title: The Hunger Games
• When Written: mid-to-late 2000s
• Where Written: Connecticut, United States
• When Published: September 2008
• Literary Period: Contemporary
• Genre: Dystopian fiction; Young Adult fiction
• Setting: Fictional dystopia known as Panem, created after the governments of North America collapsed
• Climax: When Peeta and Katniss threaten to eat the poisoned berries rather than kill one another to win the Hunger Games
• Antagonist: President Snow, the Peacekeepers, those who watch the Hunger Games in the Capitol
• Point of View: First person, Katniss’s perspective

Extra Credit for The Hunger Games

Breaking Records. Shortly after publication, The Hunger Games appeared on both The New York Times Best Seller list and USA Today ’s best-sellers list, where it remained for over a hundred weeks. In 2012, Amazon also announced that Suzanne Collins had become the best-selling Kindle author of all time.

Parental Guidance Suggested. The American Library Association listed The Hunger Games as the third most challenged book of 2010, citing excessive violence and sexual content unsuited to the age group.

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins Literature Analysis Essay

The modern world claims to be very sophisticated, empowered by the wisdom and experience of generations and multiple ways to address all possible conflicts and issues. Even though our society is filled with scientists and scholars, who study every aspect of our life daily, make achievements, create discoveries and inventions, draw conclusions and work out new strategies, out world is still undergoing dozens of unwanted problems that seem to be unpredictable for the scientists and researchers.

There is an opinion that some of these conflicts are being artificially created and enforced by various parties in order to achieve more influence or to pursue some personal interests. There also is a version that the unwanted problems tend to occur in our society due to the lack of knowledge or some systematical mistakes, which the scientists still do not know how to identify. One of the most important issues of the contemporary society is the growing gap between the social classes. This tendency has already been called a serious problem that may bring multiple negative results in the near future.

The movie called “The Hunger Games” is based on the three novels written by Suzanne Collins. It is a well known fact that the movie presents a story about a violent and cruel game young people from poor districts are forced to play in order to entertain the upper classes. In the beginning it seems that the main focus of the movie and the books is the game and surviving of the players, but actually, the basis and the causes of this brutal game lay in the confrontation between the classes of the society.

There are twelve of poor districts, where people are being neglected, where they starve and live in poverty, and there is another part of the society, the rich people living in luxury, the people, who are so bored that they ran out of entertainments and came up with the idea of Hunger Games. Social conflict in the story of “The Hunger Games” represents the issue that every country of our world has to face these days. This is the problem of the gap between the rich and the poor. In “The Hunger Games” this issue was taken to the extreme and the rich class is dominant in a cruel way, it oppresses the poor people, owns them and decides whose lives to take and when.

Gwartney, Patricia, A., Lynne Fessenden and Gayle Landt. “Measuring the Long- Term Impact of a Community Conflict Resolution Process: a Case Study Using Content Analysis of Public Documents”. Negotiation Journal , 18 (1) (2002): 51-74. Print.

This article was designed to explore the ways of conflict resolution through the application of social exchange theory and the ways of evaluation of the progress or success of the conflict resolution. The scientists noticed that short-term success is much easier to evaluate than the long-term success. There are criteria that offer the ground for making a definite conclusion about the results of conflict resolution, but even if the result was evaluated as positive – that does not guarantee that long-term effects of the conflict resolution will also be successful (Gwartney, Fessenden & Landt, 53).

The theory of social exchange is based on collaboration between the sides of the conflict. This kind of co-operation is very hard to achieve because in most situations the conflicting parties have multiple contradicting points of view and it is impossible to find aspects of agreement between them. The authors of the article state that in order to overcome a community or regional confrontation the relationships between the leaders of both sides need to be improved. The representatives of the leading forces need to find common ground and learn how to work together.

According to this point of view, in order to resolve the conflict in the society of “The Hunger Games”, the leaders of the Districts and the Capitol need to meet and find a compromise. The only thing necessary for the progress to happen in this situation is mutual desire of all sides to resolve the conflict. Yet, as it always happens, in the particular case of “The Hunger Games” there is a side that has a significant advantage and would like to keep it that way. In this case, there is no mutual desire to agree because one of the sides enjoys its position and is not willing to co-operate.

Christian, Diana, Leafe. “24 Common Sources of Community Conflict”. Communities, 128 (2005): 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35. Print.

This article presents twenty four causes of the conflicts in the society. All of the sources of disagreement identified by Diana Christian are very common and are the constant reasons of multiple problems in smaller communities, such as families, couples and roommates, and bigger communities such as regions of a country or members of a union between several states.

The author describes in detail several cases of conflicts between individuals caused by different reasons. According to the article, one of the best and most effective ways to resolve a conflict is communication, honest and open sharing of insights and complaints about various uncomfortable situations. Christian describes the lessons various members of the community learnt through participating in confrontations and heated arguments, observing other members having a disagreement and managing the conflict.

The author of this article points out how important it is to be flexible and ready to participate in the process of resolution, solve the problems by means of an honest conversation and making conclusions together (Christian, 35). This method is very helpful for smaller communities and the confrontations that have not been lasting for too long. Yet, when we take a look at the conflict of “The Hunger Games” – we notice that what people experience there is called the class war. It is not a minor misunderstanding between two spouses; it is a long lasting heated confrontation between crowds of people.

It has been going on for generations and many people have been involved. The confrontation caused sufferings and pain that cannot be forgiven with the help of one honest discussion. The conflict in “the Hunger Games” happened over money and power. Finding a compromise would mean that the abusing dominant party would, all of a sudden, realize that they were hurting thousands of people and change their policy. Unfortunately, even if this miraculous outcome happened, this would not guarantee the forgiveness from the side of the poor people, who lost their friends and relatives during this oppression and discrimination.

Both of the articles suggest similar ways of conflict resolution. The authors logically suppose that if the representatives of both conflicting parties find an agreement and common ground, the conflict will be over. To my mind, we should not forget that the leaders of dominant Capitol have been keeping the situation this way for a long time for a reason. The reason is – they like the way things are. In order to solve such enormous and complicated conflict, completely new leaders need to be involved and these leaders need to be supported at least by the majority of their sides.

Works Cited

Gwartney, Patricia, A., Lynne Fessenden and Gayle Landt. “Measuring the Long-Term Impact of a Community Conflict Resolution Process: a Case Study Using Content Analysis of Public Documents”. Negotiation Journal , 18 (1) (2002): 51-74. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2020, May 1). “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins Literature Analysis. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins-literature-analysis/

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Bibliography

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Themes and Analysis

The hunger games, by suzanne collins.

As a post-apocalyptic dystopian novel, 'The Hunger Games' captures several intriguing themes including oppression and societal inequality.

About the Book

Article written by Neesha Thunga K

B.A. in English Literature, and M.A. in English Language and Literature.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has risen in popularity ever since its release in 2008. Part of the reason for its fame is the riveting themes that it captures, all of which are central to the post-apocalyptic and dystopian nature of the novel. Some of the themes that can be gleaned from the novel include the theme of oppression, inequality, appearances, celebrity culture, as well as violence.

The Hunger Games Themes

Oppression and inequality.

The authorities in the Capitol maintain their positions of power through wealth, fear, and rivalry. All districts in the totalitarian nation of Panem are kept under varying degrees of poverty and are routinely pitted against each other in the form of the Hunger Games. The wealthier districts have a distinct advantage over the poorer ones in the Games. For instance, the tributes from Districts 1, 2, and 4 make it their mission to train specifically for the Games – and are even known as “ Career tributes .”

The status quo is maintained by “Peacemakers,” who, hypocritically, ensure that the control remains in the hands of the capital by any means necessary, including violence. Those who rebel are either obliterated or silenced to become Avox , i.e., people who have had their tongues cut off and are now acting as servants at the Capitol .

The censorship of the media is another way to maintain control. The districts are not allowed to contact one another, and they have no access to information other than what is provided to them by the authorities. 

Appearances and Celebrity Culture

Appearances are extremely important in Panem. Those who live at the Capitol show off their wealth and power through their appearances. They wear gaudy clothes, ostentatious accessories, and bright colors to demonstrate their money, power, and influence at the Capitol.

Appearances are vital in the Hunger Games. To gain sponsors for life-saving gifts during the Games, each tribute must make himself/herself appealing to the public. Thus, the tributes are all provided with a bevy of stylists and advisors who dress them up in fashionable costumes and teach them the ways of the wealthy. The better the appearances of the tribute, the larger the chances of sponsors. This is similar to celebrity culture in real life – who need to keep up appearances for the sake of lucrative deals and sponsors. 

Katniss understands the importance of appearances and decides to play the part of a star-crossed lover for the cameras. Peeta complies, having always been perceptive about the significance of appearances and making lasting impressions. Although Peeta genuinely harbored feelings for Katniss, he decides to reveal his feelings at a strategic moment – only to gain sympathy and affection from the public.

Violence 

Violence is a recurring theme in The Hunger Games . The authorities of the Capitol are not averse to using violence to maintain the illusion of “peace” in the nation. The Peacemakers routinely punish those who rebel and do not hesitate to exert their power over the people from the 12 districts.

Moreover, the very notion of the Hunger Games is violent. Children are dehumanized from an extremely young age – and are taught to maim and kill other children to survive.

Analysis of Key Moments in The Hunger Games

• Katniss’s sister, Primrose Everdeen is picked as the female tribute from District 12 for the Hunger Games. 
• Katniss volunteers herself instead and is joined by the male tribute, Peeta Mellark as they head to the Capitol.
• Katniss and Peeta convince their drunk mentor , Haymitch Abernathy , to take his duties seriously.
• The duo wins the affections of the public during the opening ceremony, with the help of the flaming costumes designed by Cinna .
• Peeta reveals that he is in love with Katniss during the pre-Games interview.
• The Games begin, and Katniss flees the Cornucopia . She finds out that Peeta has teamed up with the “Career” tributes.
• An artificial fire is created to push Katniss towards the Careers. She hides from them in a tree.
• Katniss and Rue drop a nest of tracker jackers to escape from the Careers. Peeta comes back to help Katniss escape.
• Katniss and Rue blow up the supplies of the Career tributes. Rue is killed by another tribute.
• A rule change is announced, allowing two tributes from the same district to emerge as victors . Katniss and Peeta team up.
• The duo becomes romantically attached, and emerge as the two remaining survivors.
• Another rule change is announced, stating that there can only be one victor for the Games.
• Katniss and Peeta decide to kill themselves together when the Games are hurriedly ended and they both emerge victorious.
• Katniss recuperates for days at the Training Centre, after which she is informed by Haymitch that she’s in danger for her acts of rebellion.

Writing Style and Tone

The writing style employed by the author is simple and precise – easy for young adults to comprehend. The tone is blunt, dark, and often horrifying, reflecting the seriousness of the novel. The novel is written from the point of view of the heroine, Katniss Everdeen , who acts as an unreliable narrator.

I can’t win. Prim must know that in her heart. The competition will be far beyond my abilities. Kids from wealthier districts, where winning is a huge honor, who’ve been trained their whole lives for this.

Symbols, Motifs, and Allegory

Families are given tesserae (food rations) each year by the Capitol. This is one of the most important ways in which the Capitol maintains control over the districts. Families are also given extra tesserae for entering the names of their children more than once in the annual reaping for the Hunger Games – an act that increases their chances of being picked for the Hunger Games.

The Mockingjay Pin

The Mockingjay Pin symbolizes Katniss’s individuality and free spirit. The pin captures the Mockingjay bird, i.e., a hybrid between a Jabberjay (a bird that was genetically modified to act as spies for the government) and a Mockingbird. The symbol of the Mockingjay is used to represent rebellion and assertion of identity by several people, including Katniss, Madge, and Rue.

Entertainment and Reality Television

The novel showcases an extremely twisted form of mass entertainment – which comes in the form of suffering. Parallels can be drawn to the reality television of this world, where people are pitted against each other for the entertainment of viewers. Just like the people in reality television are required to appeal to the public to gain votes, the tributes in the Hunger Games are also required to appeal to gain sponsors. 

This kind of entertainment is voyeuristic, and the people from the Capitol revel in the violent nature of the Games. It is highly sadistic, and it does not matter whether the suffering is physical or psychological. For instance, there is a huge fascination behind the romance between Katniss and Peeta. The main appeal for this romance is the fact that it is doomed no matter what, because of the tragic ending that awaits the lovers.

The Hunger Games also resembles reality television in the fact that it is widely televised and constantly talked about in the media at Panem. It objectifies the tributes much like reality television objectifies contestants. 

Is rebellion a theme in The Hunger Games ?

Yes, rebellion is a theme in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. There are several instances in the novel when Katniss, and sometimes even Peeta, rebel against the oppressive Capitol. However, this theme is not as prevalent in the first novel as it is in the next two novels in the trilogy, Catching Fire and Mockingjay .

What skill is Gale better at than Katniss?

Gale and Katniss are both highly skilled at survival. While Katniss is exceptionally skilled with a bow and arrow (routinely using it for hunting and killing animals), Gale is better at setting snares for prey.

How is Katniss a rebel?

Katniss’s rebellion starts from the very beginning when she volunteers herself as a tribute in the Hunger Games. Instead of willingly going through every oppressive act that the capital makes her do, she defies the authorities and rebels whenever she can. Her ultimate act of rebellion, however, is seen at the end of the novel when she decides to poison herself along with Peeta – to leave the Games without a victor.

What is Katniss’s sister’s full name?

Katniss’s sister’s full name in The Hunger Games is Primrose Everdeen. Her name is often shortened to Prim. She is a 12-year-old girl whose name is drawn at the reaping of the 74th edition of the Hunger Games. However, she is saved from participating in the game by her sister Katniss, who volunteers herself instead.

About Neesha Thunga K

Neesha, born to a family of avid readers, has devoted several years to teaching English and writing for various organizations, making an impact on the literary community.

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The Hunger Games: A Literary Analysis Essay

The first novel written for a young adult audience on record is the Swiss Family Robinson, written in 1812 by Jonathan David Wyss. This charming novel documents the adventures of a family stranded on an island, fight pirates, and exploration of the island. This genre had been slowing climbing its way up the genre ladder for popularity among readers with some major hits being the recent Harry Potter series and the Hunger Games trilogy. This genre covers several topics, in several different subgenres, but they all have one element in common, a main character is growing up.

This concept of the “bildungsroman” or coming of age story has graced the pens of famous writers such as William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Mark Twain, and yet, young adult books still get flack for being too “mainstream” or shallow. As a writer of young adult, I find that I may have some bias, however, as a scholar of creative writing, I find that even a short story filled with relationships, fairies, and murder to have a spark of depth that truly brings the idea of “growing up” to the next level.

Within my short story, I have two characters, Cora and Bryce, whose story is told during two nightmarish nights. Cora and Bryce begin as scared little kids who grow into adults in a harsh world. “His expression changes into something darker. He would kill me, without hesitation. Kindness was a thing for children. I was never allowed to be weak; showing feelings in front of the Court was deadly”(Like 6). As a coming of age story, the evolution of Cora’s relationship towards Bryce is a vital part of the story.

The element of relationship is a major deal in the young adult genre. From friendship to romance, the concept of relationships is heavily drawn upon in young adult stories. It is in this discussion of relationships that we see the possibility of growth and change among the characters as children, and now as young adults. The purpose of young adult fiction is to create an entertaining story, filled with young characters that the audience can connect with, and for many young adults, there is nothing as entertaining and provides an emotional connection that with relationships.

Two series I mentioned earlier, Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, are driven by the connection of relationships. “But know this; the ones that love us never really leave us. And you can always find them in here”(Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). Potter’s entire purpose for fight the Dark Lord is to save his friends. Every time Potter looses a comrade, readers ache with him. The series gives room for Potter to grow with those around him, and very much like Cora and Bryce, those relationships change.

In the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen’s rise to revolution begins with an act of sacrifice for her sister. This moves the entire story from an arena of children killing children, to a journey of love and sacrifice. Following this blueprint, young adult stories are not made to simply us emotion as a cheap trick to draw in readers, but to give another level of depth within the story altogether. The young adult story had certain expectations attached from the types of elements of the stories to the characters.

Genres are formed by conventions that change over time as new genres are invented and the use of old ones are discontinued. Often, works fit into multiple genres by way of borrowing and recombining these conventions” (Cram101). One of these genres, fantasy has expectations and conventions, such as fairies, and magic. Without these elements, the needs of the genre are not met, but that doesn’t mean every in the story is the same. While both the J. M.

Barrie’s famous Peter Pan stories and William Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night Dream by William Shakespeare both contain fairies, however, these fairies are vastly different, and have significantly varying roles. Understandably so, it is not that genres are ground in these elements, but in order to reach their audience, they must take these genre elements into serious consideration, and be purposeful in changes to genre norms. In this short story, Cora is a nymph, which according to Merriam Webster “is a spirit in the shape of a young woman who lives in mountains, forests, meadows, and water”.

Bryce is forcibly turned into a version of a “changeling”, which according to Merriam Webster “a child secretly exchanged for another, usually in infancy”, however, in this case, a changeling can also be created if a child eats fruit of the fey(fairy) world. The magical world of the story (or glamour in this case) is mysterious, in which these characters live, can be seen in a few glimpses of the story. “I wouldn’t open the suitcase for all the world, not wishing to see the body without the layers of glamour he used to cover himself from the magic he gained for himself, and the Court to remain immortal”(Like 2).

This mixture of modern world and the magical world is a common motif in fantasy stories today, and allows themes of fantasy and reality to collide into a mixture of emotions, complications, and possibly a murder. In short stories, conflict comes early within this story. In the case of the short story, “Find Me”, the conflict comes into the story in the very beginning as the two characters bury a body in secret. The continual flashbacks within the story continue to give background information, developing the plot as well as the characters.

This allows for the audience to receive context for the events and characters in the short story. Within “Find Me”, and other young adult stories, there is the need to not only give background, but also introduce the conflict in the way there is both compelling and allows for the story to move towards an appealing conclusion. The idea of gradual conflict rising to a sudden conclusion is a classic motif of short stories, and so it is with the story, “Find Me”. Not unlike the longer works of Harry Potter and Hunger Games, short stories use motifs to build conflict. In the Hunger

Games, Suzanne Collins uses incidents a poisonous bug sting to create the setting for a flash back about her father’s death, and her mother’s depression that almost makes the family starve to death. This gives the story a chance to give background information about the main character, while also creating the tension that builds into the next scene. Just like in the Hunger Games, the story “Find Me” uses flash backs in order to build background and conflict. In conclusion, the idea of growing up is scary and complicated without adding fairies, magic, and murder to the mix.

Through these events, it is not solely the idea of breaking down the elements that make a story good, but the right combination of these elements in order to tell the compelling story that connects to the audience in an emotional level. In young adult fiction, it is the story about a young adult character growing up in all kinds of circumstances. As the writer Ben Okri once said, “Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger. ” Through a story, one can reflect upon ones own life, whether it is about the choices one makes, or just to escape into a really good story.

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The Hunger Games

Welcome to our literary analysis blog series focused on "The Hunger Games," the beloved dystopian novel series written by Suzanne Collins. This series has captivated readers worldwide with its intricate plot, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes. Our team of expert writers and literary analysts have delved deep into the series to bring you a comprehensive and insightful analysis of this modern classic.

In this blog series, we explore the complex themes of power, inequality, and oppression that underlie the narrative of "The Hunger Games." We examine the characters and their relationships, the symbolism and imagery used throughout the series, and the impact of the story on modern culture. From the Capitol's extravagant excesses to the Districts' struggles for survival, we leave no stone unturned in our examination of this epic tale.

Whether you're a die-hard fan of the series or a newcomer to the world of "The Hunger Games," our blog series offers a fresh and engaging perspective on the books. Our analysis is perfect for students and educators, literary enthusiasts, or anyone interested in exploring the themes and ideas that make this series such a timeless classic.

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• Bradfield Senior College Library
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Text and analysis

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:Text and analysis

Books and downloadable chapters, bloom's literature online, journal articles, journal articles - dystopian novels, online videos, related texts.

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Education links

• NESA HSC English Syllabus This site includes past HSC exam papers, the subject syllabus and notes from the marking centre.

• Bloom's literature : Suzanne Collins The biographic entry for Suzanne Collins from the Encyclopedia of Fantasy and Horror Fiction. more... less... TAFE NSW username and password required
• Love Among the Ruins : How our awful future became the next big thing. By Lev Grossman. Time, 3/12/2012
• Dystopian novels : have you read one lately? Library Media Connection, Aug/Sep 2012
• Wikipedia : The Hunger Games A short summary of the books in The Hunger Games trilogy.
• The Hunger Games : Wikia A fan created community wiki site devoted to books and film adaptions of The Hunger Games trilogy. It includes sections on characters and plot.
• Cliff notes : The Hunger Games With sections on characters, chapter summaries and analysis, this site provides a useful overview of the novel.
• Time : PANEM's rebel : The star of the 74th annual Hunger Games A mock propaganda issue of Time Magazine promoting the 74th Hunger Games. It usefully demonstrates the manipulation of image and information in the world of Panem.
• The New York Times : Scary new world (book review). By John Green. 7/11/2008 A review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The dead and the gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer.
• The Artifice: The political message of The Hunger Games This article examines the political, social, cultural, and environmental messages contained in The Hunger Games.
• Revisiting Dystopia: the Reality Show Biopolitics of "The Hunger Games" (Academic article) This paper explores the dystopian imaginaries of the trilogy The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and its film adaptations. It places the narrative into a genealogy of dystopian fiction concerned with the historical nation-state totalitarianism.
• The Hunger Games: An ecocritical reading (Academic article) This academic paper argues The Hunger Games "Recognises that the degradation of non-human nature through human action" as a major theme. It suggests a deep reading of this multilayered text "can broaden as well as change perspectives and trigger engaged debate". The paper also covers the critical issues of "consumer manipulation, media and celebrity culture".
• “In hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge”: Belly, bellum and rebellion in Coriolanus and The Hunger Games trilogy (Academic article). By Sara Soncini. Essays No. 15 05/2015 This article examines the link between Shakespeare’s Coriolanus and the shortage of food as ferment for rebellion in the districts of Panem.

• Science Fiction Films in the library Click here for a full list of Sci-Fi films on DVD available for loan to TAFENSW students.

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The Hunger Games

By suzanne collins, the hunger games essay questions, in what ways is all of panem complicit in the horrors of the hunger games.

Though the Capitol most actively runs the Games, it could be argued that the entire society grants its support by refusing to boycott or challenge the ubiquitous Games. Katniss does note that law requires citizens to follow the Games, but throughout the book are indications of the population's wild support. When Katniss volunteers to take Prim's place, her district shows its dissent against the Games by refusing to applaud, which suggests that refusal to honor the Games is an option, even if it might carry punishment. Though capable of rebellion (they did revolt once before), the population of Panem lacks the strength to question and challenge their system, instead allowing themselves to be led through spectacle.

Discuss the ways in which Katniss's poverty has shaped her.

Katniss's poverty proves both useful and debilitating to her. Because of her lack of privilege, she has been forced to learn several skills that prove useful in the arena. In addition to her hunting and gathering aptitude, she comments several times on how she knows how to scrounge and her body is able to manage hunger better than those accustomed to luxury. However, her class resentments blind her a bit to certain other assets. Most tellingly, this happens with Peeta, who she considers "soft" and inferior to Gale even after Peeta begins to show his fortitude.

Contrast what Gale and Peeta signify for Katniss, and how each helps her succeed in the Games.

For Katniss, Gale is a symbol of the toughness engendered by poverty, where Peeta is a symbol of selfless kindness. Much of the novel is her learning to accept that both elements are a part of her character. Gale's influence proves extremely useful in the arena, as Katniss uses her stoic demeanor and hunting aptitude to stay alive. However, her ultimate victory comes for being able to trust others, a virtue she first learned when Peeta gave her bread years before. Even in the arena, Peeta's kindness continues to affect Katniss, until she ultimately refuses to win the contest unless they win together.

Trace Katniss's growth from determined stoic to a fuller human being, using examples to illustrate each phrase of her character growth.

At the beginning of the novel, Katniss is a committed stoic, who keeps her features in an "indifferent mask" to aid her survival through tough conditions. After being named tribute but before going to the arena, she is confronted both with her guilt at not helping the Avox, and with Peeta's "purity" of wanting to stay himself until death despite the barbaric pressures of the arena. Peeta's seeming betrayal convinces her a stoic philosophy is best, but she nevertheless allies with Rue and comes to accept her emotional side when she plans Rue's funeral. This happens in larger scale when she decides to help nurse Peeta back to health, and falls for him despite herself. Finally, she refuses to win the Games unless they win together, even if the cost is suicide. By the end of the novel, Katniss is far more confused than at the beginning, but this confusion indicates that she is becoming a much fuller person.

Discuss the influences of ancient civilizations on The Hunger Games.

The influence of both Greek and Roman civilizations is significant in the novel. The Greek influence starts with the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, which is a similar tale of children forced to fight to their deaths, a strategy used by the ruler to keep the population in line. The idea of the Roman games, brutal events that gave the lower classes a spectacle to discourage rebellion, is also central to the conception of the Hunger Games. Several of the names in the novel help further this connection, as does the idea of tesserae.

Explain the various methods used by the Capitol to keep its population in line. How does the Capitol keep citizens from connecting with one another, and why are these strategies successful?

The most obvious strategy is the spectacle of the Hunger Games. By distracting its population from the true injustices of Panem, the Capitol keeps them from considering rebellion. This strategy is successful in no small part because it makes the population somewhat complicit in the brutality. Class divisions are another way the Capitol discourages dissent. By separating the Districts from one another along strict lines of wealth, and then encouraging class resentment through tesserae, the Capitol keeps citizens distrustful of one another so that they will not turn their eyes collectively towards their true oppressor. Lastly, the Capitol keeps the Districts from knowing much about one another. Katniss learns this when she talks with Rue about District 11, and notes to the reader that the Capitol is probably not airing their conversation in order to discourage education.

What do you think is the reasoning behind Haymitch's unified front stategy for Peeta and Katniss? What are the effects of the strategy, and why does it work?

The most direct aim of Haymitch's strategy is to create a narrative in the Games that will attract sponsors and hence help Katniss and Peeta in the arena. Haymitch likely gets the idea when he realizes Peeta is in love with Katniss, and knows that their "love story" will make them popular. But the effects of the strategy are more wide-reaching. Katniss, so conflicted by her commitment to stoicism and her class resentments, might have had more trouble trusting Peeta if she hadn't had the excuse that it was all part of the show. By using this defense, she is able to delude herself that she isn't actually falling for Peeta, even though it's clear to the reader that she has feelings for him. Finally, the strategy has a touch of rebellion to it. The whole concept of the Hunger Games is to keep people separate from one another, to discourage rebellion. But this plan actually suggests community, and that manifests in Katniss's suicide ploy at the end of the Games. She uses the love narrative to protect herself once they return to the world, but the rebellious sense of community has already been suggested.

How does the first-person narration help establish the themes of the novel?

Most of the story's themes involve Katniss's growth as a person. The theme of identity and the contradictions Katniss feels are aided by the irony that exists between what she observes in herself and what the reader observes. It is clear to the reader that Katniss is slowly learning to accept her emotional side as a strength, but because she is narrating the story in present tense, she isn't always able to recognize that in herself. This is most clear in her relationship with Peeta, where she insists that her affection is mostly for the show, even as her feelings are clearly genuine. The theme of rebellion also manifests even as the narrator does not recognize it. She learns to accept community as a source of strength throughout the novel, though her primary stated goal remains survival. Because Katniss is our only lens to the story, it explores how our identity is shaped even when we don't recognize it.

Suzanne Collins has stated that reality television, which offers usually the appearance of reality rather than reality itself, is one of her influences in the novel. How is that influence manifested in Panem?

The Hunger Games is meant to offer Panem a brutally realistic glimpse into human nature and adventure. However, the entire event is in truth about superficial image rather than reality. This is clear from the first stages, in which the tributes are introduced to the audiences through high-profile events. The amount of work that goes into shaping their images suggests that what the audience sees are not the tributes themselves, but rather a shaped image of them. Katniss goes through much preparation with her prep team and Cinna, and she and Peeta stay near each other not from any true feeling, but because Haymitch has told them to. And then in the Games themselves, the Gamemakers frequently change the rules and the environment in order to up the entertainment value. Overall, the appearance of reality is all that matters in the Hunger Games.

Discuss the use of fire in the novel, and what it tells us about the protagonist.

Katniss's story is one of adolescent growth, as she learns to accept her passionate side as a strength, and additionally to translate that into a revolutionary zeal. Fire is traditionally an image of strong passion. But the irony is that when Cinna establishes her as "the girl who was on fire," she doesn’t yet realize what he sees in her. Through the novel, she learns to rely on this part of herself, which is reflecting in her desire to keep her fingernails painted. By the end, she no longer needs the spectacle of fire to accept her firey personality. Fire is also the key to survival and strategy throughout – lighting fires is how she tries to distract the Careers in several cases, and the Gamemakers use fire at one point to attack her. All of this suggests that strength for Katniss will come first from accepting her passionate side, and then afterwards learning to control her passions to become a powerful figure.

The Hunger Games Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Hunger Games is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What role do mentorship and manipulation play in the relationships between characters, particularly Coriolanus and Lucy Gray?

Coriolanus, as Lucy Gray's mentor in the Hunger Games, is tasked with guiding her to victory. However, his motivations are complex, and he uses manipulation to achieve his own goals. He tries to influence Lucy Gray's actions and decisions, often...

In the 4th HG book versus the 3rd or 2nd HG book, what did both Snow and Everdeen think The Hanging Tree was about?

Pages 485-487 in The Ballad of Songbirds And Snakes:

The Hanging Tree. Her old meeting spot with Billy Taupe. That's where she wanted him to meet her. Who did she mean? Billy Taupe telling her to come there so they'd be free? Her telling him ...

2. Describe Katniss's relationships with Gale, with Prim,and with het mothef. How do those relationships define her personality? Wny does she say about Peeta,"I feellike I owe him something, and I hate owing people"? How does her ew encounter with Peetaa

Katniss and Gale are best friends. They are not romantically involved, but they do share a deep connection because of the way they've each taken over as provider for their families. They trust each other implicitly.

Since her father's death,...

Study Guide for The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games study guide contains a biography of Suzanne Collins, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Hunger Games
• The Hunger Games Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

• The Danger of Ritual and Tradition in "The Hunger Games" and “The Lottery”
• Feminist Studies of Experience in The Hunger Games
• Defining and Defying Female Stereotypes: A Comparison of Charlotte Temple and Katniss Everdeen
• New Social Order
• Trust in the Hunger Games

Lesson Plan for The Hunger Games

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Hunger Games
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Hunger Games Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Hunger Games

• Introduction

The Hunger Games

89 pages • 2 hours read

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Introduction

Before Reading

Reading Context

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

After Reading

Discussion/Analysis Prompt

Essay Questions

Exam Questions

Exam Answer Key

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

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Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

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1. In Panem, power operates in different ways.

• Who has the most power in the novel? ( topic sentence )
• Define and explain what makes that person or group the most powerful. Use evidence from the novel to support your analysis.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how this example of power fits or does not fit with what you believe to be right.

2. Katniss does a lot of pretending to survive the games.

• Is Katniss’s deception justified? ( topic sentence )
• Explain how justified Katniss’s pretending is, using evidence and reasoning to prove your argument.
• In your concluding sentences, explain if and when lying is defensible in the Hunger Games and in Panem generally.

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