The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins
Introduction
Copyright © 2010
Tracee Orman
The Hunger Games
trilogy is written by
Suzanne Collins. She
began writing for
children’s television
shows before writing
her first novel.
She was inspired to
write The Hunger
Games after she had
been channel surfing
between watching live
coverage of the Iraq
war and a reality TV
show .
Contemporary Inspiration
She was also influenced by mythology,
especially the story of Theseus and the
Minotaur.
Gladiator battles contributed as well.
Gladiator Clip
Analysis: The Setting
The story is set many, many years in the future.
The country (in which Katniss lives) is located in
the former North America after natural disasters
and the oceans “swallowed up” much of the land.
This new country is called Panem.
The Setting: Panem consists of
12 districts
surrounding the Capitol City.
Note: The location of each district and outline of
Panem is purely speculation.
Capitol
City
The Districts
(smaller red dots)
The districts are
a dystopian
society and
government.
The Capitol is a
utopian city.
The Setting: The Capitol
The Capitol City
is located in the
Capitol
City
District
13
ruins
The mountain range provided
natural protection for the Capitol
from the district
Rocky
Mountains.
Each district has its own industry
that it provides for the people who live in the Capitol.
Note: The location of each district and
outline of Panem is purely speculation.
Capitol
City
District 13
ruins
The 13th district was “obliterated” 74 years ago
when the district citizens tried to rebel
against the Capitol.
As punishment for
the rebellion
against the
Capitol, the district
citizens are forced
into a life of
poverty,
starvation, and
hard labor…
…while the Capitol citizens enjoy a
life of luxury and ease.
The Setting: District 12
Katniss, the narrator,
lives in District 12,
which is located in the
Capitol
City
District 12
Appalachian
Mountains.
Analysis:
Dystopia is a fictional society
characterized by human misery,
oppression, disease, and overcrowding.
The government is usually totalitarian:
one that exercises control over the
freedom, will, or thought of others.
Utopia is an imaginary place that is ideally
perfect: free from poverty and suffering.
Characteristics of a
Dystopian Society
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PROPAGANDA
RESTRICTED THOUGHT
FIGUREHEAD or CONCEPT
CONSTANT SURVEILANCE
OUTSIDE WORLD IS FEARED
DEHUMANIZED STATE
NATURAL WORLD IS BANISHED and DISTRUSTED
CONFORMITY: INDIVIDUALITY IS BAD
ILLUSION OF A PERFECT UTOPIAN WORLD
Characteristics of a
Dystopian Protagonist
• Often FEELS TRAPPED and struggles to escape
• QUESTIONS existing social and political systems
• Believes or feels that something is TERRIBLY
WRONG with the society in which he/she lives
• Helps the audience recognize the NEGATIVE
ASPECTS of the dystopian world through his/her
perspective
Types of Dystopian Control
• Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society
through products, advertising, and/or the media. Examples include
Minority Report
• Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a relentless
regulations, and incompetent government officials.
• Technological control: Society is controlled by technology through
computers, robots, and/or scientific means. Examples include The
Matrix, The Terminator, and I, Robot.
• Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled by
philosophical or religious ideology often enforced through a
dictatorship or theocratic government.
• Totalitarian control: one that exercises control over the freedom,
will, or thought of others
Big Ideas in “The Hunger Games”
Power
Reality
Identity
Society and Class
Strength and Skill
Love
Appearances
Politics
Sacrifice
Before reading The Hunger Games, take the next 15 minutes and REFLECT on the
following topics… You must discuss at least 4 of the topics AND write the FULL 15
MINUTES to get credit.
1. Older siblings need to take care of and responsibility for their younger
siblings.
2. Most couples choose to have at least one child. Discuss whether this is
always a good decision.
3.
People watch reality TV as an exciting form of entertainment. However,
reality TV are also showing someone’s real life situation
4.
Are there ever any situations where it's okay to break the law.
5. Discuss: It is never okay to kill humans.
6. Some people believe that if a government is wrong, the citizens of that
country need to do something about it. What do you believe?
7. Plastic surgery is a personal choice. Some believe it could be viewed as a
fashion statement or an art form. What are your personal opinions about
plastic surgery?