SUZANNE COLLINS
Author of the Hunger Games
• As a child, Suzanne Collins loved myths – in
particular, she loved the myth of Theseus.
• In this myth, as a punishment for past
wrongdoing, the citizens of Athens are forced
to send their children as tributes to Crete.
• There they will fight the Minotaur – a monster
they had no hope of defeating.
• Collins was fascinated by the idea of a
society so powerful and cruel that it could
force another society to give up its children,
sacrificing them as retribution for past crimes.
• Her fascination with the myth helped shape
her idea for the novel The Hunger Games.
• The idea came about one evening as Collins
was “channel surfing.”
• She switched between two programs: one
was about a group of teenagers competing
for prizes, and the other program was about
teenagers fighting in a war.
• As Collins flipped from one channel to the other, she
asked a question many great writers ask: what if?
• What if children competed in games to the death
like Roman gladiators did?
• What if a government controlled citizens by
randomly selecting their children to participate in a
brutal game that could only have one winner?
• What if a girl took her little sister’s place in this fight to
the death; could she survive?
• By combining her channel surfing experience and
her childhood fascination with the Theseus myth,
Suzanne Collins created a story idea that has
captured the interest of many, many readers.
• Collins’s writing career began in 1991 when she
started writing for children’s television shows. She
had been working on TV scripts for several years
when a fellow writer encouraged her to try writing a
novel.
• Her first book was Gregor the Overlander. It’s the
first book in a series of five novels that tell the story of
a boy who discovers a world underneath the streets
of New York City.
Themes
• Both The Underland Series and The Hunger Games
deal with themes of war.
• Perhaps that is because Collins’s father was in the
Air Force, and he fought in the Vietnam War.
• As a child, Collins was aware of the war; she
sometimes saw scenes of it on the evening news.
• Although she was a young child at the time, those
images and thoughts stayed with her and
influenced her ideas while she was writing The
Hunger Games.
• In the novel, the citizens of the fictional North
American country of the future called Panem are
forced to watch the scenes of the Hunger Games
on TV as the contestants battle to the death.
• The theme of TV as entertainment, regardless of
what is on the TV is something Collins finds
troublesome.
• She is concerned that TV viewers may be becoming
“desensitized” to the horrors of war that they see on
television.
• In The Hunger Games, death becomes entertainment.
• Today, it is easy to think that all TV is entertainment and
forget that some things, like wars and starvation, are
real events that happen to real people.
• The problems those people face don’t go away once
the television is turned off.
AS YOU READ THE HUNGER GAMES, NOTICE HOW TELEVISION IS
USED IN THE GAMES AND BY THE GOVERNMENT.
• Answer the following questions (to be handed in for marks)
• 1. How did Suzanne Collins’s reading interests as a child influence her writing as an
adult?
• 2. Explain how an experience watching TV influenced her idea for writing The Hunger
Games.
• 3. What do you think Collins means when she states she’s worried that people have
become “desensitized” by what they see on TV?
• 4. Do you agree that TV desensitizes people? Why or why not?
• 5. How might her father’s experiences with the Vietnam War influence how Suzanne
Collins writes about war?
• 6. What inferences can you make about what type of person Suzanne Collins is? Give
examples to support your answer.
• 7. What do you think might be some differences between writing a novel and writing for
television?
• 8. What questions would you ask if you were granted an interview with Suzanne Collins?
THE MYTH OF THESEUS
• Myths are stories that are passed down from generation to generation.
Often they answer questions about the world. For instance, the myth of
Pandora explains why there is evil in the world.
• Myths also often contain heroes who overcome obstacles by using
superhuman strength or skill. Some, like the Greek and Roman myths, are
thousands of years old. The popularity of books like The Lightening Thief is
proof that even today people are captivated by the drama and adventure
of myths.
• The characters and events of the myth of Theseus are easy to imagine and
difficult to forget. As you read the story, ask yourself what makes Theseus’s
adventures memorable.
THE MYTH OF THESEUS: HERO AND
ADVENTURER
• Aethra had a darling little boy named Theseus. He was
growing into a strong, smart young man, and Aethra knew
that she would soon need to tell him about his father,
Aegeus the king of Athens. Theseus had never met his
father and didn’t even know who he was. But Aegeus had
planned for his son. Before he left Aethra and returned to
Athens, Aegeus placed a sword and a pair of sandals under
a boulder. Aegeus told Aethra that if their son could lift the
boulder and retrieve the items, he should come to Athens
and claim his inheritance as the heir to the throne of Athens.
THE MYTH OF THESEUS: HERO AND
ADVENTURER
• The day arrived for Aethra to tell Theseus about his father
and the boulder. Would he be strong enough to lift it? He
was. He retrieved the sword and sandals and was ready to
go to Athens to meet his father. Theseus could travel by
land or sea. The journey to Athens over land was
dangerous; the countryside was full of murderers, robbers,
and villains. It would be much safer for Theseus to travel by
sea. But in spite of advice to do otherwise, Theseus decided
to take the more dangerous route and travel by land, to test
his heroism and rid the countryside of evildoers.
THE MYTH OF THESEUS: HERO AND
ADVENTURER
• Theseus didn’t have far to travel before he came across his
first challenge, Periphetes. Peripetes was a vicious man
who used a club to kill anyone he met along the road.
Theseus turned Periphetes’s own club against him. As a
trophy for his first victory, Theseus took the club. Next,
Theseus met Sinis who was extremely strong. His nickname
was “pine bender” because he liked to bend two pine trees
down to the ground and tie his victim to the two trees.
When he let go of the trees, the victim was ripped in two.
Theseus defeated Sinis by using his own pine tree trick
against him.
THE MYTH OF THESEUS: HERO AND
ADVENTURER
• Theseus traveled on and encountered a giant sow that was terrorizing
the countryside. He killed it and then traveled along a narrow coastal
road where he met Sciron. Sciron like to stop travelers and force them
to wash his feet. While they were on their knees at his feet, Sciron
shoved the travelers over the cliff where they fell into the sea and
were eaten by a giant turtle. Theseus, as you may have already
guessed, tricked Sciron. It was Sciron who ended up falling over the
cliff into the sea. Theseus’s next encounter was with Cercyon, the
king of Eleusis. Cercyon challenged travelers to a wrestling match. If
they lost, Cercyon killed them. Theseus defeated and killed Cercyon
and became king of Eleusis.
THE MYTH OF THESEUS: HERO AND
ADVENTURER
• Finally, Theseus was nearing Athens, but there was still one
more obstacle for him to overcome: Procrustes. Procrustes
offered travelers a bed for the night, which seemed nice,
but there was a catch. Procrustes wanted to make sure his
guests fit in the bed, so if guests were too short, he stretched
them to make them longer. If guests were too tall, he’d cut
off their limbs so they’d fit. Theseus used the bed against
Procrustes and defeated the last villain on the way to
Athens.
THE MYTH OF THESEUS: HERO AND
ADVENTURER
• When Theseus arrived in Athens, he was a hero. People
were happy he’d rid the countryside of its terrible
inhabitants. Theseus went to see Aegeus and his wife
Medea. Medea was a sorceress and she controlled Aegeus
through magic. She realized that Theseus was Aegus’s son,
and knew that if Aegeus accepted him and took him in,
Medea would lose her power over the king. To turn Aegeus
against Theseus, Medea convinced Aegeus that Theseus
could not be trusted, and that Theseus was only there to
overthrow the King.
THE MYTH OF THESEUS: HERO AND
ADVENTURER
• Medea and Aegeus planned to give Theseus poisoned wine at a
banquet. However, as Theseus was about to drink the poison, Aegeus
recognized the sword Theseus was carrying as the one Aegeus had
placed under the boulder. Aegeus knocked the poisoned wine away
from Theseus and accepted him as his son. Medea, seeing her plans
were foiled, left the kingdom. Now that Theseus is accepted as
Aegeus’s son and wicked Medea is gone, the story should have a
happy ending, right? Not so fast. Theseus then learns that the
Athenian people have been forced to pay Minos, the king of Crete,
an annual tribute. They must send seven boys and seven girls to Crete
where they will be sent into the labyrinth. The labyrinth is a maze that
is impossible to escape, but the worst part is the Minotaur that inhabits
the labyrinth.
THE MYTH OF THESEUS: HERO AND
ADVENTURER
•
The Minotaur is a creature that is half man and half bull. It
feasts on the fourteen tributes. When Theseus hears this, he
is determined to go into the labyrinth and defeat the
Minotaur. He volunteers to be one of the tributes to Crete.
Aegeus begs him not to go, but Theseus is determined.
Before setting sail, he promises his father that on his way
back to Athens, he’ll change the ship’s sails from black to
white as a sign that he’s defeated the Minotaur. And so
Theseus begins his next challenge.
THE MYTH OF THESEUS: HERO AND
ADVENTURER
• Once they arrive in Crete, the tributes are paraded before King Minos.
Minos’ daughter Ariadne sees Theseus and falls in love with him. Before the
tributes are sent into the labyrinth, Ariadne goes to Theseus and gives him a
spool of thread. She tells him to tie the spool of thread to the gate of the
labyrinth and unroll it as he walks through the maze so that he will be able to
find his way back out again. Theseus enters the labyrinth and follows
Ariadne’s advice. He slays the Minotaur and escapes from Crete with
Ariadne and the other tributes. On their way back to Crete, they stop at
the island of Naxos. There are different versions of the story of what
happened next and why, but Theseus left Ariadne on the island and then
traveled on to Athens. He forgot to change the sail from black to white, and
when Aegeus saw the ship traveling back with a black sail, he thought his
son was dead. In his grief, Aegeus hurled himself off a cliff and into the sea –
which from then on was called the Aegean Sea.
Theseus returned to Athens and became king.
You might think that this is the end of the story,
but it isn’t either.
Theseus went on to have more adventures. But
then, that’s to be expected when you’re the
hero of a myth.
• The Myth of Theseus (to be taken in for marks)
• Directions: After reading the article on The Myth of Theseus, answer the following
questions in complete sentences on a separate piece of paper.
• 1. What is a myth?
• 2. What did Theseus’s father do to ensure Theseus could one day claim his
inheritance?
• 3. Recall the adversaries (enemies) Theseus must face on the journey to Athens.
• 4. Summarize the types of challenges Theseus faces on the road to Athens.
• 5. Infer the type of skills Theseus needs in order to defeat his adversaries.
• 6. What evidence do you find in the story that shows Theseus is a hero?
• 7. What conclusions can you draw about King Minos?
• 8. Why do you think Minos demanded that the tributes were children?
• 9. Why do you think Theseus didn’t relax and enjoy being a king after he returned
from Crete?
• 10. What part of the Theseus myth do you like best? Explain your answer
EXPLORING EXPOSITORY WRITING:
GENRE—FANTASY, SCI-FI, AND
DYSTOPIA
• Part One: Create a World If you could design a perfect world, what would it be like? jot down
some ideas of your ideal society.
• My world is governed by…
• School is… Some of the best jobs are…
• When I look outside, I see…
• Daily life for kids includes…
• For fun, we…
• For dinner we eat…
• The most important law is…
• On vacation, I …
• My favorite part of the day is…
• People of this society most value …
• My hobby is…
• What kind of world did you create? Compare your
ideas with your fellow students. What ideas did you
have in common? How was your world different
from your classmates’? Was your world fictional or
nonfiction? If it wasn’t the real world we’re living in
today, your world was fictional
Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Dystopia
Answer the following questions using complete sentences on a separate piece of
paper. (to be handed in)
1. What is meant by a “sub genre” of fiction?
2. What is the difference between fantasy and science fiction?
3. What is “dystopia”?
4. Identify some additional elements of fantasy that aren’t mentioned in the article.
(Think about some fantasy books you are familiar with.)
5. Identify some additional elements of science fiction that aren’t mentioned in the
article. (Think about some science fiction books you are familiar with.)
6. Analyze the word “utopia.” Look at the definition of the two Greek words Sir Thomas
More used to create the word. What do the definitions tell you about what he
thought of the possibility of a utopian society?
7. Look at the world you created in Part One of this activity. What changes would you
make to solve any problems you might have in your society?
8. Do you think your perfect world would work? Explain your answer.
9. Do you think it’s possible for a perfect society to exist? Explain your answer.
• There are several sub genres that are used to further
classify fiction books.
• Look at your ideal world again.
• Does it contain magical animals like unicorns or flying
dragons? Is the world governed by a magic elf?
• For fun, do you play a game on a broomstick?
• If your world includes magical elements like talking
animals, mythical creatures, witches, or dragons, your
world is a fantasy.
• The fantasy genre contains “fantastic” elements that
could not happen in the natural world. One of the joys
of reading fantasies includes imagining a world where
these kinds of events can occur.
• Perhaps your world is based on events that could
possibly happen at some time in the future like flying
cars, synthetic foods, purple trees, or computers that
finish homework. In this case, the world you created
is science fiction.
• Books written in the science fiction genre include
things that really could happen in the future.
• In the future, computers could take over the world,
cars could fly, and you could live on a colony on the
moon. People enjoy reading science fiction
because the events of the story could actually
happen – perhaps in a future time.
• Think about some of the books you’ve read. Have you read
some fantasy and science fiction? Write the titles in the
graphic organizer below. Next to each title, give a piece of
evidence as to why it is fantasy or science fiction. You may
want to work with a partner or a group. Some examples
have been given.
• Fantasy Example: Harry Potter – there are wizards and
magic wands Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs – food
falls down from the sky
• Science Fiction Example: A Wrinkle in Time – the characters
have the ability to travel through time Among the Hidden –
the government has made rules about how many children
a family can have
PART TWO: THE PERFECT AND
IMPERFECT WORLDS OF FICTION
• Whatever kind of fiction story a writer is working on,
he or she must create the fictional world in which the
characters live. In a realistic fiction story, the world
might be like your life. In a historical fiction story, a
writer wants to create a historically accurate world.
Realistic and historical fiction novels are based in our
imperfect world. However, the genres of science
fiction and fantasy don’t have to follow the rules of
our real world.
• In fact, a writer could create a perfect world. That is what
Sir Thomas More did when he wrote a book in 1516 that he
entitled Utopia. He made up the title by combining the
Greek words outopia which means “no place” and eutopia
which means “a place where all is well.” Today we use the
word utopia to mean a perfect place.
• Sir Thomas More wasn’t the first person to write about a
perfect society. In 380 B.C., Plato wrote Republic, which
discusses the meaning of justice, and whether man is
happier under his own rule or the rule of others. Since Sir
Thomas More’s time, many other writers have tackled the
question of what makes a perfect society.
• But what about a fictional world that isn’t perfect?
• The term dystopia is used to describe a sub genre of science
fiction in which a futuristic world is far from perfect. The
prefix dys means “bad” (think dysfunctional).
• Most dystopian fiction includes a repressive government
that restricts individual rights. Like other science fiction
books, readers can see the “seeds” of the development of
a dystopian society in real life.
• For example, readers know how important computers are,
so a sci-fi novel about computers replacing bus drivers or
pilots might not seem so far-fetched.
• The term anachronism refers to something or
someone that is not in the correct historical time
period. If you read a historical fiction book that
takes place during the Revolutionary War and a
character looks at her wristwatch, that’s an
anachronism.
As you read The Hunger Games, you will quickly
see what kind of society Suzanne Collins has
created – utopian or dystopian. Look for
evidence to support your belief.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT: WHO’S IN
CONTROL? A LOOK AT PROPAGANDA
• What is persuasion and how do you persuade someone?
• Think about the last time you were able to persuade someone.
• What did you persuade them to do or think?
• How did you do it?
• Did your efforts work? Why or why not?
• Nearly everyone has tried to convince someone to
think or act in a different way.
• An effective persuasive argument is based on
evidence in the form of facts, logic, and examples.
• However, not all persuasive arguments are
constructed the same.
• Skilled writers can persuade readers by using
emotions, incomplete facts, generalizations, and
faulty reasoning.
• A particular form of persuasion that uses faulty
arguments is called propaganda.
PROPAGANDA
• is the intentional spread of true or false information to the public with
the goal of influencing public opinion and behavior.
• It is intentional, widespread, purposeful, powerful, and biased.
• Biased means it presents only part of an argument; it is one-sided.
• Propaganda simplifies complex issues, uses symbols, and is emotional.
• Often propaganda will have a slogan or saying that is easy to
remember.
• Propaganda can be used for good or bad.
• A public service announcement can be an example
of good propaganda.
• The goal of a public service announcement is to
influence the public to act in a certain way.
• It might be to get a flu shot, buckle seat belts, or
recycle.
• Propaganda can also be used to promote bad government policies.
• In history class, you may have learned about the Nazi party that came to
power in Germany in 1933.
• Hitler wrote, “Propaganda is a truly terrible weapon in the hands of an
expert.” Indeed, the Nazis used propaganda skillfully as they tried to
influence how citizens felt about and treated Jews.
• Propaganda based on rumors, fears, and prejudices encouraged the
discrimination and persecution of the Jews.
• By persuading citizens that eliminating Jews from Germany was a good
thing, the Nazi party and its allies were responsible for the deaths of six
million Jews.
• Of course, propaganda wasn’t the only way the Nazi’s influenced the
public, but it certainly had an important place in shaping attitudes and
encouraging discrimination
• As a reader, you must be thoughtful about what someone is
trying to persuade you to do or think; a good reader asks
questions and makes sure arguments are presented in a
logical, balanced manner so that an informed decision can
be made.
• Today, we have many ways to check on the accuracy of
information we receive.
• We can watch several different news shows, we can check
online for facts about an event.
• We can read different newspapers. It is always important to
question sources and consider where your information
comes from.
• When you read The Hunger Games, you’ll notice that the government has its
own “spin doctors” who analyze the Games and players.
• They decide what the public will and won’t see in an effort to create a
message that will control the audience.
• You’ll also notice how the government uses propaganda to instill fear into
the citizens in an effort to control their behavior.
• By controlling the accuracy and type of information the citizens receive, the
government can maintain its power and control over the public.
• Have you ever heard the term “spin doctor”? Today, we use this term
about the people who create a story around high-profile events such
as a political scandal or a company that has done something wrong.
The “spin” around an event is the bias someone creates to influence
how the public views the scandal or wrongdoing. This is a form of
propaganda
Comprehension Check: Who’s In Control?
A Look at Propaganda
answer the following questions using complete sentences on a separate piece of paper.
1. What is propaganda?
2. Explain how the Nazi party used propaganda in World War II.
3. Compare propaganda with other forms of persuasion. How is propaganda different?
4. Evaluate why propaganda can be such a powerful way to persuade people.
5. Analyze the “Buckle Up America” poster. What elements of the poster categorize it as
propaganda?
• 6. Infer why a government might want to use propaganda to promote something good
like wearing seat belts.
• 7. Propose some other positive issues that could be promoted through propaganda.
• 8. How can you determine if something is propaganda?
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HISTORICAL CONTEXT: ROMAN
INFLUENCES “FRIENDS, ROMANS,
COUNTRYMEN”
• As you are reading The Hunger Games, you’ll
begin to notice Roman names. Why might an
author include names and references to
another culture – especially an ancient one?
• There is no doubt that our lives today are greatly influenced by Roman
culture.
• Greek and Roman civilizations are often referred to as “classic,” meaning
something that holds its value throughout time.
• Indeed, much of our architecture, art, calendar, language, and even our
numbers echo ancient Rome.
• Many civilizations have looked to ancient Greece and Rome as cultures to
be emulated.
• A modern civilization that incorporates some Greek and Roman words,
practices, and culture into its own gives the ancient culture special
importance and makes the modern culture appear to be part of a classic
world.
• As you read the novel, decide if this is true of Panem, the “imaginary”
location where The Hunger Games take place. Did Panem copy only the
best of the Roman civilization?
• Suzanne Collins isn’t the first author to want to use Roman names and
influences.
• One famous playwright, William Shakespeare, used many Roman names in
his plays.
• Look at the character names from The Hunger Games listed below and their
Shakespearean counterpart.
Caesar Flickerman – The name Caesar refers to Julius Caesar, emperor of
Rome. Shakespeare wrote the play Julius Caesar about his assassination.
While Caesar Flickerman isn’t an emperor in The Hunger Games, he is a
powerful public personality.
Cato – This is the name of a soldier in Julius Caesar. It
makes sense that Cato in The Hunger Games has a very
soldier-like temperament. He is focused, determined, and
has a mission – to win.
Cinna – In the play Julius Caesar, there are two
characters named Cinna. One is a poet, and the other has
plotted against Caesar. The crowd captures and murders
Cinna the poet – not caring that they’ve caught the wrong
person. In The Hunger Games is Cinna a “poet” of sorts? He
certainly is an artist and his costumes are symbolic.
Claudius Templesmith – In the play Hamlet, Claudius is the
name of Hamlet’s uncle and stepfather. Hamlet believes
that Claudius has murdered his father. In the play Julius
Caesar, Claudius is a guard. In The Hunger Games Claudius
Templesmith is the announcer of the Games.
Flauvius – This name appears in both Julius Caesar and Timon
of Athens. In Julius Caesar, Flauvius is disappointed about the
support Caesar is receiving. In Timon of Athens, Flauvius is a
servant. As a stylist in The Hunger Games, Flauvius is similar to
a servant. The name actually means “golden haired.”
• Octavia – In the play, Mark Antony and
Cleopatra, Octavia marries Mark Antony.
• Portia – This name appears in two plays. In
Julius Caesar, Portia is Brutus’s wife who
commits suicide by eating hot coals. In The
Merchant of Venice, Portia disguises herself as
a lawyer. Portia and Cinna are responsible for
the fiery costumes Peeta and Katniss wear.
OTHER ROMAN “INFLUENCES”
YOU’LL FIND IN THE NOVEL:
• The Arena – The area in which the Games will be held is called the
arena. An arena is similar to the Colosseum used to host gladiator
games during the Roman times.
• A battle to the death – In ancient Rome, gladiators fought to the
death for the public’s entertainment. Gladiators were usually slaves
that were given special housing, food, medical care, and training.
Sponsors invested in the gladiator as a way to gain public status and
prestige.
• Capitol excesses – The residents of the Capitol all appear to lead
extravagant lives of wealth. Their excesses in fashion and food are
similar to the wealthy ancient Romans.
Chariot – The tributes ride to City Center on a chariot – a two-wheel, horse-drawn
wagon. Ancient Romans used chariots as well.
Cornucopia – This word comes from the goat horn that was used to feed the
Greek god Zeus as a baby.
Slaves/Avox – The Romans had slaves who were often captured in wars and
brought back to Rome. In The Hunger Games the Avox is a slave of sorts.
Certainly, the Avox is not given any rights and is physically mutilated for a crime.
Tribute – The idea of a tribute comes from the story of Theseus and the Minotaur.
Weapons – Isn’t it interesting that in the technologically advanced world of Panem
the tributes are given primitive weapons? Bows, arrows, spears, and knives were
the weapons of choice in ancient Roman times.
*RESEARCH PANEM
•
Find out the meaning of Panem and see if you
can figure out why Suzanne Collins chose that
name for the location of the novel. Once you
finish reading the novel, decide if your answer
was correct.