The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games is a 2008 science fiction novel by the American writer Suzanne Collins.
It is written in the voice of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in the post-apocalyptic
nation of Panem in North America. The Capitol, a highly advanced metropolis, exercises
political control over the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games are an annual event in which
one boy and one girl aged 12–18 from each of the twelve districts surrounding the Capitol are
selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle to the death.
(www.wikipedia.org)
During this theme you are to start with watching the movie The Hunger Games based on the
book by Suzanne Collins, the book that you after watching the movie will read. Whilst you
are reading the book you shall keep a book-log where you reflect upon the questions that you
will find in this hand-out, sometimes after one chapter sometimes more. These reflections are
to be brought to class and discussed in your little “book-circle group” as well as e-mail to me
prior to each class. By the end of the theme you should also write a short book review.
Remember that you are to discuss the questions not answer them one by one.
Remember that you have to email me your reflections before every time we have a
“discussion class”!
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Tips whilst reading:
When you are reading look for “clues” in the text that can help you to understand better when
you are reading. To help you, there are a few questions that you can “ask” yourself whilst
you are reading:

What do you think is going to happen?

Why do you think he/she/it did the way he/she/it did?

What do you think about the character? Can you describe he/she/it?
If you have any thoughts or questions about the book (or the text), write them down in your
notebook, don’t forget to write down the page number and/or make a mark in the text. This
so you can take it up in your group to discuss at the book discussion.
If you find words that you don’t understand whilst you are reading, look them up in a
dictionary.
Book discussion
You are going to discuss the book in smaller groups, by the end of each discussion you are
going to email me a paper with notes on what you discussed.
Discussion 1
Sum up the first chapter

Why is the Hunger Games celebrated?

Why does Katniss volunteer instead of her sister Prim?

Describe the characters, not only by the way they look you also need to describe their
characteristics, how they are and act.
Discussion 2
Make short stops whilst you are reading:

When reading try to create an inner image. What does it look like? Is the sun
shining, or is it cloudy, foggy or maybe it is raining? Is the weather warm and
sunny or is it cold and rainy? Does the text remind you of something you have
read, seen or heard before?
After or during your reading, reflect upon what you have read and write down your thoughts
in your notebook.
Bring your notebook with notes to class. Discuss in your group:

Do you recognise the text; have you read any similar books or texts?

What did you know about The Hunger Games before you started to read the book?
Discussion 3
Make short stops whilst you are reading, consider and write down your thoughts in your
notebook. At the lesson we are to discuss “text-to-yourself-connections”, which means that
you are supposed to make connections between different texts and yourself. Whilst reading
the book, consider (think about):
Text-to-yourself-connections

If you ever been in similar place as where the book takes place? Where was this?

Have you ever had similar feelings or experiences that are like the characters in the
book?

In what way are you similar to or not similar to one, or more, of the characters in
the book? (You have to choose one at least) Who would you want to be the most
alike?

Does anyone of the characters remind you of anyone you know? Who and why?

Choose a situation in the book, would you have acted in the same way or would
you have done it differently?
Discussion 4
Make short stops whilst you are reading, consider and write down your thoughts in your
notebook. At the lesson we are to discuss “text-to-text-connections”, which means that you
are supposed to make connections between different texts and the way they are composed.
Whilst reading the book, consider (think about):
Text-to-text-connections, consider:

What similarities are there regarding content and storyline/intrigue in
the book, comparing to other books and/or movies that you have seen?

What similarities are there regarding the characters and their way to
act, comparing to other books and/or movies that you have seen?

What similarities are there regarding the scene and surroundings,
comparing to other books and/or movies that you have seen?

What similarities are there regarding theme and message in the book,
comparing to other books and/or movies that you have seen?

What similarities are there regarding the author’s writing style,
comparing to other books you have read?
Discussion 5
Make short stops whilst you are reading, consider and write down your thoughts in your
notebook. At the lesson we are to discuss “text-to-world-connections”, which means that you
are supposed to make connections between different texts and what happens in the world.
Whilst reading the book, consider (think about):
Text-to-world-connections

What do you know about the subject/subjects in the book?

What subject/subjects does the book emphasise?

Have you ever experienced anything similar?

In what way does the knowledge that you have gained whilst reading
the book helped you to understand the book better?
Discussion 6
During the last book discussion discuss the following questions:

What incident in the movie upset you the most? Felt most important to you?

Did the story end the way you had expected?

How do you think Katniss and Peeta feels after they come back to the civilization?

Discuss how Katniss is portrayed as a hero. Is she a hero? What portrays a hero? What
defines a hero?

In other fiction the hero is usually a man even though there are exceptions like
Katniss. Why is it that so few women are portrayed as heroines, because of
commercial interests?
Book review
You are to write a book review. Remember when you write and refer to the book’s title you
always use italics and when referring to the author you do it either by stating both first and
surname or only with surname. (William Shakespeare or Shakespeare)
In your review you should discuss, all or most of the following, depending on what grade you
are aiming at.
What happens in the first chapter—and what was its effect on you as a reader? What kept
your attention? (This is the part most people neglect, but it lays the foundation for the rest of
the book review)
Pay attention to your reading experience. This is the first real challenge for most people.
What caught your attention, and when were you bored? When was the book exciting and/or
thrilling? Which characters did you like, and why?
o Explain how the book as a whole affected you. Explain how the author
achieved the effects he or she did.
Sum up the book. This is the easy part, and half of what most people think a book review is.
Put the book in a nutshell. Keep summarizing it until you've got everything covered clearly.
Use that to start your review.
Pass judgment. This is the other half of a book review for most people. Is this book good or
bad? This is the time for you to say so. Explain why and make your judgment convincing.
Give specific examples, and move from passing judgment to explaining the book.
Put the book in context. You might have been able to get this information from looking at
the book's cover and introduction, or you might need to do a little research. What categories
does this book fall into? Is it science fiction or fantasy? Is it the first of its kind or an
imitation? The author's first book or fifteenth? Spend some time relating this book to others in
its category to further explain the book and your judgment of it.
Check your aim. You have written your review. Don’t forget who is your target audience?
Did you write this for a class with specific criteria - or for a fan magazine whose audience
already knows this type of book well? If so, you might have to edit your review to add or
remove details. If you don't...you're done!