Essay
Why is Katniss to be ”the girl who was on fire”?
Chapter 5 of the book “The Hunger Games” is about the opening ceremony. Therefore Katniss meets her
stylist Cinna (for the first time?). He explains TO her how he and his partner Portia got the idea of her outfit
that Katniss is supposed to present as “the girl who was on fire” (p. 66, l.7).
First Katniss thinks about the costumes other tributes from District 12 wore before. She remembers very
well a pair of tributes walking “stark naked and covered in black powder” (p. 65, l.10) into the arena. After
Cinna said they want “to make the District Twelve tributes unforgettable” (p. 65, ll. 17-18) Katniss thinks she
has to walk into the arena the same way. But then Cinna tells her about Portia’s and his idea of this fire
costume she will wear.
This is how Katniss comes to know about her costume. But why did Cinna want Katniss to wear such a
costume?
First, Cinna “think[s] that coal miner thing’s very overdone” (p. 65, ll.15-16). He needs something new,
something the Capitol has not seen before. In other words something to set the spectators’ eyes on. Cinna
does not want such old stuff, e.g. this coal miner outfit or the headlamps. This is because everything new is
interesting. The same goes for your own life. Every time a company presents their new mobile you want to
have it (get this), for example. It has a new design, new features and new software. As a result it is
interesting, maybe because it will raise your status in your peer group.
This is how we get to the second point. It is Cinna’s first time at the Hunger Games. On the one hand he
wants to present Katniss and impress the spectators with Katniss and her dazzling costumes. On the other
hand he wants to present himself with this impression Katniss gives to the audience. Cinna can present his
talent and his skills, because he is competing with the other stylists. Students compete, too, , e.g.
comparing their marks or the length of written texts.
In short, Cinna does it also for his own standing. “[She] want[s] the audience to recognize [Katniss] when
[she’s] in the arena” (p. 66, ll. 5-6). “Katniss, the girl who was on fire” (p. 66, l. 7), that’s her way praising
herself or her good work.
There’s one big point left. Before Katniss gets her new costume she remembers that there has not ever
been any tribute from District 12 whose costume made a good impression (?). It has never been a costume
to motivate / interest / fascinate / attract sponsors. What this means is that getting such a costume is like a
big present to Katniss. If you have not done too well in a (really important) test and you know, you have not
been good but you have still passed it, you might imagine Katniss’ feelings. At this moment Cinna feels like
the nicest person in the world to Katniss because she does not have to go naked or “end up in skimpy
outfits” (p.65, l.9).
So the last point is that Cinna is just be a friendly and nice person. Furthermore, he wants to give Katniss a
great entry, a great evening and one great day in the last few days of her life. Think of your own friends or
your family. They also do things just to help you without any pain. So it might be just Cinna’s good nature to
put Katniss in this costume and image of “the girl on fire”.
One doesn’t really know whether it is Cinna’s sympathy for Katniss or her own selfish ambitions. But one
thing is certain. Katniss will not make a fool of herself in the arena. She will attract sponsors and maybe
even win if she goes on doing well (?). For Katniss it does not matter why Cinna did this. It is just important
for her to have a chance.
Sir, thank you for your essay. You are trying to get to bottom of a question or problem. On Friday there will
be two tasks, one making a point and the other one comparing pros and cons. All right?
As for your text itself, it is quite good for a student in year 10. What I like about it is that you keep things
relatively simple. In English this is good style. You have given it a clear structure. Excellent.
“Sollen”: She is supposed to, she is to, she is expected to, she ought to DO SOMETHING. (NOT “should”,
get it?) Do NOT use short forms like “don’t” in an essay.
Kind regards, Klotter-Bucher