Summary
The Hunger Games is about a post- war society in which the people live in 12 separate districts that are ruled separately from a capitol. Every year the civilization has a ceremony called the Hunger Games, in which 1 male and 1 female tribute between the ages of 12 and 18 are randomly selected from each district to fight to the death in a outdoor arena that is controlled by the Capitol. This display of violence is televised and broadcasted to all citizens of the Capitol and the districts. The Hunger Games is forced upon the districts as a punishment for the rebellion of district 13 many years ago.
The main character is a girl named Katniss from District 12. She is the provider in her household because she provides food for her sister and mom. During the Reaping, the selection process for the Hunger Games, Katniss's sister is chosen as a tribute. Katniss, who cannot bear to see her sister suffer, volunteers to go. The book tells about Katniss's struggle to survive in the wicked and cruel games along with Peeta, the other tribute from District 12. Together, they face the stronger opponents from the more successful districts.
In the end of the book, Katniss and Peeta are crowned the dual-winners of the Hunger Games.
The main character is a girl named Katniss from District 12. She is the provider in her household because she provides food for her sister and mom. During the Reaping, the selection process for the Hunger Games, Katniss's sister is chosen as a tribute. Katniss, who cannot bear to see her sister suffer, volunteers to go. The book tells about Katniss's struggle to survive in the wicked and cruel games along with Peeta, the other tribute from District 12. Together, they face the stronger opponents from the more successful districts.
In the end of the book, Katniss and Peeta are crowned the dual-winners of the Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games: The Movie
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The movie itself was well produced and very enjoyable to watch.You could really feel the fear of Katniss as she was about to go into the games and the savagery of the tributes killing one another. You saw the blood spill, heard the blood curdling cries, and felt the pain and despair the victims experienced. It really brought the whole theme to life, making you never want the world to come to something like that. It did a great job also of portraying the poverty in district 12 compared to the modern high fashion people and architecture of the Capitol. I think that the movie, was a fairly accurate representation of the book, unlike many movies made from books. However, there were a few differences. In the book, Gale and Katniss's relationship is not talked about very much during the actual games. Whereas it is much more prominent in the movie. In the movie, you could easily see the mounting tension and frustration that Gale faced when he saw Katniss kissing Peeta in the Hunger Games.The largest difference was that in the movie, a revolution started to take place in District 11 because of Rue's death; however, in the book this reaction in does not occur. Another one of the major things I was disappointed about was the exclusion of Madge. I think Madge is an important character in the book because she is the person who gives Katniss the mocking jay pin.. In the movie they left Madge out and said the Katniss got the mockingjay from the Hob. The mocking jay pin is important because it becomes the symbol for rebellion against the Capitol in all of the books. Also, there are many smaller differences like how Thresh is killed by the pack of mutations in the movie, but is killed by Cato in the book. Overall, I think that the movie clearly and concisely represented the views and ideas in the book. The only modification I would make would be to make the movie longer in order to provide the viewers with a more detailed description of the relationships and the characters.
Characters
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Katniss Everdeen- Katniss is the main protagonist and narrator in the novel. She is from district 12 and is 16 years old. After her father's death she has had to take care of her family. This leads her to go against the law and use her superior archery skills to find food. She becomes like a mother to Prim and would do anything for her. Her best friend, Gale, hunts with her to provide for his family too in the hard times. She is sometimes at odds with her feelings towards Gale. It becomes even worse when she volunteers to be tribute for the hunger games. Katniss is at war with her moral instincs when she has to fight to survive. Her animal instincts quickly take over however she never quite loses her true humanity. During preparations she must pretend to be "Star-crossed lovers" with Peeta. This suddenly starts to become no longer pretend. She has to make a decision between Gale and Peeta while hiding her true feelings towards the capitol. She is completely against the capitol and tries to rebel during the games. When she returns from the hunger games she becomes at odds with her feelings towards peeta and gale. She must adjust to life no longer being a fight to survive and becomes a hero in district 12.
Peeta Mellark- Peeta is the son of a baker in district 12. When he was younger he saved Katniss's life and claims to have been in love with her ever since. When he is chosen as tribute he has little confidence in himself for winning but he does everything he can so that Katniss does. He tries to remain true to himself during the games and doesn't want the games to change him. Him and Katniss become closer in the games and he feels utterly betrayed when he finds out Katniss's love for him was not genuine. Peeta is a very humane person and truly loves Katniss.
Gale Hawthorne- Gale is Katniss's best friend and hunting buddy. Him and Katniss have much in common because they both have poor families they care for, and had a father that died. This makes them instantly close and he is often vocal about his hatred for the Capitol. He secretly loves Katniss and has a very at ease relationship with her.
Haymitch Abernathy- Haymitch is a past victor of the hunger games from district 12. He is an unhappy drunk. He is forcced to be Katniss and Peeta's mentor for the games. at first he blows it off and figures they are both going to die, but ends up seeing a spark in both of them that gives him hope, especially in Katniss. He starts to take their training seriously and really starts to care for them. He has a hard personality just like Katniss which puts them at odds often but they have more in common than thought. Haymitch in the end truly loves Katniss and Peeta as his own and comes to protect them and take things more seriously.
Effie Trinket- Effie is district 12's name drawer, and she takes Peeta and Katniss to the Capitol. She is very much like the capitol people and nothing like the district 12 people. She often doesn't get along with Katniss and Haymitch, but they learn to take some of her advice and she turns out to become fond of Katniss and Peeta.
Cinna- Cinna is Katniss's stylist. He is not as vivacious as the other capitol people and Katniss can relate to him because of this. He has a keen eye of how to dress Katniss and kets the audience to love her and give her the title "the girl on fire". He can always stay calm and keep Katniss calm with him. He is also one of the few people in the Capitol that see the games as they really are. He is the only person to say "he feels sorry this happened to you" to Katniss rather than congratulations. He starts to really care for Katniss and becomes one of the few people she can truly call a friend.
Rue- Rue is the tribute from district 11. She reminds Katniss a lot of her sister Prim and Katniss starts to protect her and act as though she were Prim. When Rue is killed in the games is plays as a turning point in the novel. Katniss sings to her and buries her showing to the capitol that she is still human. This is when Katniss starts to try hard to win for Rue, and for Prim. Rue represents humanity in people and how even if you try to kill it, it will always remain.
Peeta Mellark- Peeta is the son of a baker in district 12. When he was younger he saved Katniss's life and claims to have been in love with her ever since. When he is chosen as tribute he has little confidence in himself for winning but he does everything he can so that Katniss does. He tries to remain true to himself during the games and doesn't want the games to change him. Him and Katniss become closer in the games and he feels utterly betrayed when he finds out Katniss's love for him was not genuine. Peeta is a very humane person and truly loves Katniss.
Gale Hawthorne- Gale is Katniss's best friend and hunting buddy. Him and Katniss have much in common because they both have poor families they care for, and had a father that died. This makes them instantly close and he is often vocal about his hatred for the Capitol. He secretly loves Katniss and has a very at ease relationship with her.
Haymitch Abernathy- Haymitch is a past victor of the hunger games from district 12. He is an unhappy drunk. He is forcced to be Katniss and Peeta's mentor for the games. at first he blows it off and figures they are both going to die, but ends up seeing a spark in both of them that gives him hope, especially in Katniss. He starts to take their training seriously and really starts to care for them. He has a hard personality just like Katniss which puts them at odds often but they have more in common than thought. Haymitch in the end truly loves Katniss and Peeta as his own and comes to protect them and take things more seriously.
Effie Trinket- Effie is district 12's name drawer, and she takes Peeta and Katniss to the Capitol. She is very much like the capitol people and nothing like the district 12 people. She often doesn't get along with Katniss and Haymitch, but they learn to take some of her advice and she turns out to become fond of Katniss and Peeta.
Cinna- Cinna is Katniss's stylist. He is not as vivacious as the other capitol people and Katniss can relate to him because of this. He has a keen eye of how to dress Katniss and kets the audience to love her and give her the title "the girl on fire". He can always stay calm and keep Katniss calm with him. He is also one of the few people in the Capitol that see the games as they really are. He is the only person to say "he feels sorry this happened to you" to Katniss rather than congratulations. He starts to really care for Katniss and becomes one of the few people she can truly call a friend.
Rue- Rue is the tribute from district 11. She reminds Katniss a lot of her sister Prim and Katniss starts to protect her and act as though she were Prim. When Rue is killed in the games is plays as a turning point in the novel. Katniss sings to her and buries her showing to the capitol that she is still human. This is when Katniss starts to try hard to win for Rue, and for Prim. Rue represents humanity in people and how even if you try to kill it, it will always remain.
The Hunger Games vs. Lord of the Flies
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The novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has many similarities to the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Both have similar themes and ideas between them; survival of the fittest, civilization v. savagery, and power in the wrong hands can be corrupted. The whole idea of the Hunger Games is that the most capable and strongest child will kill everyone and win. In Lord of the Flies it is all about whoever can hunt the most, run the fastest, build the most, etc. on the island. The boys attack the ones (Piggy and Simon) that cannot defend themselves and the ones that can, gain power and are victorious. In the hunger games it is all about being the fiercest most clever hunter to win. They both go hand in hand with survival of the fittest and with civilization v. savagery. Peeta from the hunger games even says that he doesn't want the capitol to change him into a savage that goes around killing everyone while the other tributes have a hay day. Most of the other tributes let their true savagery escape them and go on a killing spree not even thinking about what they're doing. Jack from Lord of the Flies wants to just hunt and lets himself go wild while Ralph, like Peeta, wants to maintain civilization and have a government and rules and be rescued. Both novels have conflicting characters that go towards opposite sides of the spectrum. They are often at war with each other but in the end the civilized side prevails.
Power is another main idea that can be seen in both novels and power in the wrong hands can be corrupted is a theme. The capitol in the Hunger Games is power hungry and that's why they do the games every year, to reassert their power and keep a strong reminder hanging. In Lord of the Flies Jack is power hungry and will do anything for power. When Jack has power there is chaos, people being killed, and fear; not an ideal version of society. This is the same with the Capitol, although they keep things under control very easily, they continually use their power for fear and violence and cooperation not the good of mankind. Both of these novels can show how Power in the wrong hands can become corrupted and used for evil.
So, The Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies both have the same circumstances; kids isolated with no adults, forced to fend for themselves and fight to be named victorious or all powerful. Although there are a few added components like the adults controlling everything going on in the the games, there is still the same premise. Both novels show the inner evil in people when they are forced into survival mode and the humane part of people that can still keep their morals and remain civilized.
Power is another main idea that can be seen in both novels and power in the wrong hands can be corrupted is a theme. The capitol in the Hunger Games is power hungry and that's why they do the games every year, to reassert their power and keep a strong reminder hanging. In Lord of the Flies Jack is power hungry and will do anything for power. When Jack has power there is chaos, people being killed, and fear; not an ideal version of society. This is the same with the Capitol, although they keep things under control very easily, they continually use their power for fear and violence and cooperation not the good of mankind. Both of these novels can show how Power in the wrong hands can become corrupted and used for evil.
So, The Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies both have the same circumstances; kids isolated with no adults, forced to fend for themselves and fight to be named victorious or all powerful. Although there are a few added components like the adults controlling everything going on in the the games, there is still the same premise. Both novels show the inner evil in people when they are forced into survival mode and the humane part of people that can still keep their morals and remain civilized.
Rue as a Christ Figure
Before her death, Rue was one of the "good guys". She looked out for Katniss, and actually saved her from the rest of the evil tributes. Rue's help played a large role in improving Katniss's mental and physical stability. While Katniss was dreaming, after Rue's death, she was with Rue and they were singing songs. I believe that is a sign of a resurrection. Another Christ figure quality that Rue possessed was being good with animals. Rue had connections in the book with the Mockingjays and Tracker Jackers.
I think that Rue's death was the most important because it inspired Katniss to win the Games. Also, it gave her another reason to push on and opened her eyes to the real consequences of the game. Rue's death was regarded as a sorrowful and horrifying tragedy by the people of District 11. Katniss recieved supplies because she took care of and gave Rue a proper burial. When Katniss killed Rue's assassin, it was the first person that Katniss had eliminated, showing the intensity and importance of Rue's death to her. I think that without Rue, Katniss and Peeta would not have survived. Rue's kindness, unspoken connection with animals and martyr show that she is a true Christ Figure.
I think that Rue's death was the most important because it inspired Katniss to win the Games. Also, it gave her another reason to push on and opened her eyes to the real consequences of the game. Rue's death was regarded as a sorrowful and horrifying tragedy by the people of District 11. Katniss recieved supplies because she took care of and gave Rue a proper burial. When Katniss killed Rue's assassin, it was the first person that Katniss had eliminated, showing the intensity and importance of Rue's death to her. I think that without Rue, Katniss and Peeta would not have survived. Rue's kindness, unspoken connection with animals and martyr show that she is a true Christ Figure.