Literature Analysis #3

The Hunger Games

 

1. The story begins with the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, going through her typical day: hunting with her partner Gale, so they earn money for their impoverished families. This day however is cut short because it is the day of the reaping, where young children are randomly selected yearly so they may participate in a battle to the death against the other 11 districts. The hunger games was created because of rebellion 74 years prior and is a sign of the Capitol showing their power to the twelve districts. Katniss goes home to prepare for the reaping and finds her younger sister, Primrose, petrified because this is her reaping, as opposed to Katniss who has been in the reaping four years after turning twelve. She comforts Prim and they head off to the reaping. At the reaping the choose Prim to be the Tribute for the girls, however Katniss volunteers in her place to save her sister's life. They then finds out who the male tribute is, it turns out to be Peeta Mellark, a boy from Katniss' school who helped her out in hard times after her father died. They say their good-byes to family and friends. Katniss receives a mockingjay pin from the governor of district twelve's daughter. On the train to the Panem they meet their mentor for the games, Haymitch Abernathy. he is a drunk who does not respect any of his tributes, but after Katniss and Peeta show some fire, he decides to train them properly. Once at the Capitol, they get cleaned up for the opening ceremonies. To get started on the right foot Katniss and Peeta make an impact with a flaming carriage. After all is said and done, Katniss becomes a favorite of the games and is dubbed "the girl on fire". The games get started and Katniss is left with very little resources. As the games go on Katniss is alone while Peeta is with the crowd favorite group "the careers". She is able to make an alliance however with a girl from District Eleven, Rue. This comes about because Katniss drops a nest of Tracker Jackets, a wasp like poisonous bug, and she becomes poisoned by the stings and is out for two days. They plot to take the Careers' supplies so they would have to fend for themselves. They are successful, but Rue dies, leaving Katniss alone once again. After a few days Katniss finds out that for the first time, a pair from the same district is able to win the games. She goes on to find Peeta so they could go home together. Upon finding him. Katniss finds that Peeta is hurt when he fought off a career so she can escape. They spend days in a cave until they learn that there is a medicine that will help his severe wound. Katniss goes to retrieve it and almost dies but is saved by Rue's fellow tribute, Thresh. Once back Katniss receives a letter from Haymitch to say that she needs to act in love with Peeta. She obliges and the two romanticize until they move out of the cave. They face off against Cato, the male tribute from District One. After an immense battle, they defeat him and believe that they are done with the Hunger Games. They find out that the new rule has been revoked, but Katniss decides to commit suicide with Peeta so they won't have a victor. They are able to survive and the games end, Katniss not knowing the Capitol is furious with her. Before the victors interview, Haymitch reveals to Katniss that the Capitol is not pleased with her actions and tells her to put on an act of being madly in love with Peeta so the will not get the impression of rebellion. The story ends with Peeta finding out that this is an act but goes along with it, for the sake of District Twelve.

 

2. An increasing theme of this novel is fighting against the injustice of higher powers. This is evident when Katniss convinces Peeta to eat nightlock so they don't give the Capitol a victor of the hunger games. Unannounced to her, she sparks some sentiment of rebellion and even though she is not fully aware, she knows she has started something that will change the course of history.

 

3. The tone varies throughout the novel. At the beginning the tone is more of depressed and dim tone because Katniss lives in poverty and barley gets her family by. Ex: "Then take it. And take care of her!" This shows that Katniss sees her mother's capabilities of taking care of Prim are not on par to her liking. Once Katniss starts getting ready for the games, her tone becomes more aware and untrustworthy. Ex:“For there to be betrayal, there would have to have been trust first.” This was after Katniss found out that her district mate, Peeta, was working with the favorites to win the hunger games, showing that she was always aware that she might be betrayed by who she thought was her ally. Another tone shift occurs towards the end to a more ominous and foreshadowing tone when Katniss and Peeta survive the games. Katniss is informed by her mentor Haymitch that the Capitol is not pleased with how she dealt with the situation with the nightlock. Ex: "listen up you're in trouble. Word is that the Capitol is furious about you showing them up in the arena." said Haymitch.

4. Ten Literary Elements

1. Allusion- When Haymitch warns Katniss about the Capitol being angry at her for her stunt in the games. Ex "listen up you're in trouble. Word is that the Capitol is furious about you showing them up in the arena."
2. Apologia- At the reaping where Katniss talks about the dark days and how they lead to the games. Ex "The Treaty of Treason gave us the new laws to guarantee peace, as our yearly reminder that the Dark Days must never be repeated, it gave us the Hunger Games
3. Characterization- Mostly direct characterization shown with describing Peeta. Ex "Medium height, stocky
4. Symbolism- Katniss describes a time in her life when she was learning from father and reveal she was named after a plant. Ex "As long as you can find yourself, you'll never starve."
5. Flashback- After Katniss finds out that her sister has been picked for the reaping she goes back to a time when she became a bit unaware and refers to it at the moment. Ex "It was as if the impact had knocked every wisp of air from my lungs... That's how I feel now..."
6. Foreshadowing- When Katniss reacted badly when she learned that Peeta was her fellow tribute in the games, implying a deeper relationship. Ex "...Because I recognize this name, although I never spoken directly to its owner."
7. Imagery- Susan Collins does a great job of describing the poverty of Katniss and her family. Ex "District 12. Where you can starve to death safely."
8.    Simile- Collins is able to explain Katniss in a more painful manner. Ex "My legs, arms, torso, underarms, and parts of my eyebrows have been stripped of the stuff, leaving me like a plucked bird, ready for roasting."
9. Point-of-view- This book uses First -Person and is effective because we get a better sense of Katiss' thoughts.
10. Satire- Katniss and Gale Ridicule the government with accents that make fun of the Capitol people. Ex "Suddenly he falls into a Capitol accent as he mimics Effie Trinket, the maniacally upbeat woman..."

Characterization

1. Two examples of direct characterization were when Collins described Peeta and Katniss' cat. An example of indirect characterization would be Katniss describing Effie Trinket, the escort throughout the Hunger Games. Another example would be Speaking about President Snow although he has very few appearances showing the fear people have for him

2.Susan Collins does not change syntax when it comes to character because she uses first person point of view and the only character development that is prominent in the novel is Katniss.

3. Katniss would be considered a dynamic character because she goes from a shy reserved girl to a warrior who unknowingly causes a shift in view of the Capitol. She goes from not caring about the government and worrying about them threatening her family to being very cautious of them and doing anything in her power to keep her family safe.

4. I do feel as if I met Katniss because the struggle that she goes through is very appealing to me and caught my attention the minute she narrated about her life. What also was very helpful was the fact that it was in first person point-of-view made me feel like I was on the journey with her throughout the novel.