THE HUNGER GAMES
Suzanne Collins
Author
AIMS OF NOVEL STUDY
Why study a novel?
To develop detailed understanding of the distinctive
features of the novel, e.g vocabulary, imagery, narrative
technique etc.
To understand how the above contribute to meaning,
implications and effects.
To discuss, interpret and evaluate the context, themes and
author’s purpose.
To present well researched, supported information in essay
form.
To analyse and appreciate written language features and the
author’s style.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
George Orwell’s 1984
Dystopia
Lord of the Flies
Inspired by ???? What country?
Panem? Once was ???
How many districts?
What is District 13?
What are the Hunger Games?
Mockingjays?
Avox?
How far into the future?
A NOVEL
A novel is an extended piece of prose
fiction. It is created or fashioned by a writer
from experience or imagination.
The novel arose from the demand of
those to be entertained by reading. They
provide emotional attachment to characters,
experiences we can or cannot relate to,
interesting personalities, pose us with the
problems and perversities of life, and insight
into our own society.
THE ELEMENTS OF FICTION
Plot
Setting
Style
Novel
Author’s
background
and attitude
Character
Themes
allusions
Narrative point
of view
PLOT
should build up to a climax which is the highest point of tension in
the film and usually occurs at or near the end.
Situation
conflict
crisis point
resolution
SUBPLOT
Sometimes there is a subplot which
runs side by side to the main plot.
Sub plots add depth and complexity
to a story as well as emphasising
some of the main ideas.
SETTING
The setting involves the time (period, background to that
period) and place (physical location, often one major and one minor)
and the social climate (social, political, religious, economic conditions,
attitudes, beliefs) inhabited by the characters.
SHAPES THE
ACTION
SUGGESTS
IDEAS
FORESHADOWS
THE ACTION
SETTING
REFLECTS THE
ACTION
CREATES THE
ATMOSPHERE
CHARACTERS
The world of the novel must be peopled with characters – to
take the main stage and dominate the action, characters to provide
background or fulfil one or more roles. Every character has a specific
role to play.
CHARACTERISATION
One way of describing characterisation is indirect or direct. If it
is direct, the author or the narrator or another character will tell us
about the characters. If it is indirect, we are left to find out for ourselves
from their behaviour.
AS IN LIFE
Through their speech and action.
Through their dress and background.
Through their associations.
Through what others say about them.
How others react to them.
By externals (physical appearance, tastes, education)
What they fail to do and do
Their feelings, thoughts, opinions, social level
Revelation of thought, mental analysis, interior monologue,
stream of consciousness.
ROUNDED OR FLAT
The characters in a text are often described as being
Round
Curved or slighty curved
Flat
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
A rounded character
grows, develops and is capable of surprising the
reader. This character is detailed and complex. E.g
Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice.
Most novels have only one or two fully rounded
characters capable of development. The rest of the
characters are there for a purpose.
State 2 rounded characters from ‘A thousand
splendid suns’
Curved Characters
Develop and grow a bit, enough to fufil their role in the text.
They are not as complicated as rounded characters and we
don’t know as much about them.
Who are curved or slightly curved characters from the novel?
Flat Characters
They arrive complete in every detail and never change. They
are predictable and the reader does not get to know them very well. E.g
Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice.
Name two flat characters from the novel.
Most novels have only one or two fully rounded characters
capable of development. The rest of the characters are there for a
purpose.
to play a role
To expose a foible
To act as a foil
To act as a hinderer
To exemplify a quality
IN GROUPS OF 3-4
You will be given a character to discuss.
Using the character notes (next), brainstorm
notes on each topic and quotations from the text to
support your points.
You have one lesson to have this task done. All
of your notes will be put together in a booklet for
study.
NOTES ON CHARACTER
Physical description
Personality
Role in the novel
Themes they highlight
8 important quotes, one for each of the above at least.
NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW
To find the point of view, ask through whose eyes is the story
being told? This is called the angle of narration.
This is where the narrator stands in relation to the world of the
novel.
The angle of narration is
important because it shapes
our view of the world of the
novel and the characters who
inhabit this world.
First person
Fallible
The narrator is either
too young
Or lacks understanding,
leaving the reader
To make judgements
for themselves.
Third person
Limited
The narrator stands outside
the world of the novel
First person
By a minor
Character
Styles
Not a principal character
in the story
but still involved
Third person
Omniscient
Like Third Person limited but
the narrator knows the thoughts
and feelings of all the principal
Characters.
SYMBOLS
Something which is representative of something else, other than the
literal meaning.
A motif is a recurring symbol in a text.
What symbols and allusions can you think of from the text?
FORESHADOWING
Foreshadowing is a technique used by authors to provide clues for the
reader to be able to predict what might occur later in the story. In other
words, it is a literary device in which an author drops subtle hints about
plot developments to come later in the story.
THEMES
This is what the novel is really about. It is not the
subject but the significance of the subject. There
can be more than one theme in a novel.
A theme may be explicit or implicit.
The key to finding a theme is the word significance.
Theme is the working together of symbols and
motifs, characters, conflicts and resolutions and
setting.
A theme is a message that the author wants us to
receive.
We must ask ourselves;
What is the author telling us?
What view or perception about people,
relationships or the world does he/she represent?
We need to look at the author’s background
and their attitude towards the subjects to
understand this.
Make sure you read a biography of Khalid and
watch some of his interviews on Youtube so you
understand his purpose and attitude.
AN AUTHOR’S STYLE?
When commenting on an author’s style, this
means looking closely at their choice of;
plot
structure
characters
setting
narrative style
MOST IMPORTANT IS..
sentence types
vocabulary used
distinctive language use
symbolism
figurative language
tone
language register (.eg slang, collaquial, formal
etc)
Allusions, images
QUIZ
What do we know about the Capitol?
They speak in funny accents, value surface appearances, plastic surgery
and entertainment. Very shallow people.
What do we know of District 12?
Poor coal mining district located in the region formerly known as
Appalachia. Katniss and her family live in the poor section of District 12,
the Seam.
What is the hob?
The black market
What surrounds District 12?
Electrified fences
The uprising of the districts is known as the
Dark days
After the destruction of District 13, the conflict was ended by the
signing of
The treaty of treason.
Panem is supposed to be like
Ancient Rome
Panem et Circenses means
Bread and circuses.
What does this mean?
The Roman empire tried to keep the masses happy and docile by
keeping their bellies full and their minds entertained.
What is the style of narration?
First person limited
Shmoop quizzes
GROUP DISCUSSION
How do Peeta and Katniss feel about Panem?
How does the fact that the tributes are filmed affect their behaviour?
Does this make it easier for them to accept their fate?
Why are the tributes given stylists?
What other ceremonies can you relate the tribute ceremony to?
Did Haymitch create the ‘star crossed lovers’ story?
Why do they need to impress sponsors?
How does Katniss’s relationship with her Mum, Primrose and Gale affect
who she is?
What does Peeta fear more than death? Is he able to stay true to himself?
What qualities keep Katniss going? Her capacity for love, intelligence, self
control?
SHORT ANSWERS
WHY DO YOU THINK THE HUNGER GAMES IS A BEST SELLER?
WHAT CHARACTER CAN YOU RELATE TO THE MOST?
DOES A TRIBUTE EVER REALLY WIN THE HUNGER GAMES?
WAS IT WRONG OF KATNISS TO ACT LIKE SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH
PEETA IF SHE WAS NOT SURE?
WHEN IS VIOLENCE ENTERTAINMENT?
WHEN IS VIOLENCE JUST VIOLENCE?
HOW DOES OUR FAMILY BACKGROUND, OUR CLASS, OR OUR
OCCUPATION CHANGE THE WAY WE SEE THE WORLD?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE REALITY TV SHOW? WHY?
HOW MUCH IS ACTUALLY REALITY OR ARE THEY JUST ACTING FOR
THE AUDIENCE?
What do you think is the cruellest part of the Hunger Games?
Can you see parallels between the games and the society who condone
them?
When does Katniss first realise her feelings for Peeta?
What makes Katniss and Peeta trust each other to become partners?
Why do groups form in the beginning when they know only one of them
will be able to survive?
“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class
struggles.”: Karl Marx Discuss?
What class struggles do we have in NZ? World? Do you think we will
ever eradicate class struggles in the future?
What other aspects of our popular culture do you see reflected in the
Hunger Games? (apart from reality tv)
THE HUNGER GAMES FIGURATIVELY
To think above or beyond the word surface meaning.
What is the other Hunger Games going on in the book?
Katniss’s life in District 12 is pretty much a competition to survive
against poverty and starvation and hunger.
There are no tv’s, camera’s or winners or losers so it’s not literally a
game.
How is District 12 alike the arena?
The cruel government controls Katniss and the people of District 12 the
same way that the game makers control her in the arena.
HISTORICAL PARALLEL
During the colonial period, a huge chunk of North America was also
split into thirteen colonies.
These regions reported to the fancy pants British as that region of the
North America was then considered part of the domain of the British
Empire.
Just as in the Hunger Games, colonists in North America supplied folks
back in England with goods such as cotton and tobacco; and much like
the capitol, the British government often imposed rules, laws, and
restrictions on the colonies that the people living there felt to be unfair.
The colonists eventually decided it was time for liberty or death so this
is how the Revolutionary war began. Figures like George Washington
came on the scene to fight the red coats (British).
SO!
What does this all mean?
IN SHORT
The 13 districts of Panem are in a very similar position as the original
North American colonies.
Both have fallen under the rule of a tyrannical system of government.
Unlike the original colonies, whose story we can read about in American
history books, we don’t yet know the fate of the 13 colonies of Panem.
For homework, find other examples of tyrannical countries/regimes
that were defeated.