The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins Introduction Copyright

The Hunger Games trilogy is written by Suzanne Collins. She began writing for children’s television shows before writing her first novel.

She was inspired to write The Hunger Games after she had been channel surfing between watching live coverage of the Iraq war and a reality TV show. Contemporary Inspiration

She was also influenced by mythology, mythology especially the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. Gladiator battles contributed as well. Gladiator Clip

Analysis: The Setting The story is set many, many years in the future. The country (in which Katniss lives) is located in the former North America after natural disasters and the oceans “swallowed up” much of the land. This new country is called Panem.

The Setting: Panem consists of 12 districts surrounding the Capitol City. Note: The location of each district and outline of Panem is purely speculation. Capitol City The Districts (smaller red dots) The districts are a dystopian society and government. The Capitol is a utopian city.

The Setting: The Capitol City is located in the Capitol City District 13 ruins The mountain range provided natural protection for the Capitol from the district Rocky Mountains.

Each district has its own industry that it provides for the people who live in the Capitol. Note: The location of each district and outline of Panem is purely speculation. Capitol City District 13 ruins The 13 th district was “obliterated” 74 years ago when the district citizens tried to rebel against the Capitol.

As punishment for the rebellion against the Capitol, the district citizens are forced into a life of poverty, starvation, and hard labor… labor

…while the Capitol citizens enjoy a life of luxury and ease.

The Setting: District 12 Katniss, the narrator, lives in District 12, which is located in the Capitol City District 12 Appalachian Mountains

Analysis: Dystopia is a fictional society characterized by human misery, oppression, disease, and overcrowding. The government is usually totalitarian: totalitarian one that exercises control over the freedom, will, or thought of others. Utopia is an imaginary place that is ideally perfect: free from poverty and suffering.

Characteristics of a Dystopian Society • • • PROPAGANDA RESTRICTED THOUGHT FIGUREHEAD or CONCEPT CONSTANT SURVEILANCE OUTSIDE WORLD IS FEARED DEHUMANIZED STATE NATURAL WORLD IS BANISHED and DISTRUSTED CONFORMITY: INDIVIDUALITY IS BAD ILLUSION OF A PERFECT UTOPIAN WORLD

Characteristics of a Dystopian Protagonist • Often FEELS TRAPPED and struggles to escape • QUESTIONS existing social and political systems • Believes or feels that something is TERRIBLY WRONG with the society in which he/she lives • Helps the audience recognize the NEGATIVE ASPECTS of the dystopian world through his/her perspective

Types of Dystopian Control • Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through products, advertising, and/or the media. Examples include Minority Report • Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a relentless regulations, and incompetent government officials. • Technological control: Society is controlled by technology through computers, robots, and/or scientific means. Examples include The Matrix, The Terminator, and I, Robot. • Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled by philosophical or religious ideology often enforced through a dictatorship or theocratic government. • Totalitarian control: one that exercises control over the freedom, will, or thought of others

Big Ideas in “The Hunger Games” Power Reality Identity Society and Class Strength and Skill Love Appearances Politics Sacrifice

Before reading The Hunger Games, take the next 15 minutes and REFLECT on the following topics… You must discuss at least 4 of the topics AND write the FULL 15 MINUTES to get credit. 1. Older siblings need to take care of and responsibility for their younger siblings. 2. Most couples choose to have at least one child. Discuss whether this is always a good decision. 3. People watch reality TV as an exciting form of entertainment. However, reality TV are also showing someone’s real life situation 4. Are there ever any situations where it's okay to break the law. 5. Discuss: It is never okay to kill humans. 6. Some people believe that if a government is wrong, the citizens of that country need to do something about it. What do you believe? 7. Plastic surgery is a personal choice. Some believe it could be viewed as a fashion statement or an art form. What are your personal opinions about plastic surgery?