the hunger games background information

The Hunger GamesBy Suzanne Collins

The Hunger GamesBy Suzanne Collins

IntroductionIntroduction

Today’s Objectives

• Essential Question: When is adversity an advantage? What weapons work against ultimate control?

• Students will know: how people who are oppressed overcome their obstacles

• Students will understand: how governments control the oppressed

• Students will be able to do: – analyze and understand the functions of a repressive government

– Define key vocabulary from the Hunger Games– Understand symbolism from the novel, the Hunger Games

Do Now

• Imagine you are standing, in a circle, looking at your fellow tributes and the Hunger Games are about to begin; knowing that only one of you can survive: How are you feeling?

• What special set of skills do you have that would help you survive these games? How does that separate you from everyone else.

Do Now

• Would you be willing to compete in a live televised reality show in which the winnerwinner is showered with gifts such as a new homehome, moneymoney for life, and a careercareer mentoring mentoring new opponents each year? But if you LOSE, You pay with your LIFELIFE?

Summary: Sixteen-year old

Katniss EverdeenKatniss Everdeen finds herself in a no-win

situation:Save her loved ones and

lose her own life…Or save herself, at

their expense.

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The Hunger The Hunger GamesGames trilogy is written by

Suzanne Collins. She began writing for children’s

television shows before writing

her first novel. She is also the author of The The

Underland Underland ChroniclesChronicles.

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

She was also influenced by

mythologymythology, especially the story of Theseus and the Minotaur.

Roman gladiator Roman gladiator battlesbattles as entertainment for the masses contributed, as well.

Analysis: The SettingAnalysis: The SettingThe story is set many, many years in the futurefuture. 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 PanemPanem.

The Setting: PanemThe Setting: Panem

The districts

are a dystopian dystopian society and government.

The Capitol is a

utopianutopian city.

Capitol City

Note: The location of each district and outline of Panem is purely speculation.

PanemPanem consists of 12 12 districtsdistricts

surrounding the Capitol City.

The DistrictsThe Districts (smaller red dots)

Analysis:Analysis: Dystopia Dystopia is a

fictional society characterized by human misery, oppression,

disease, and overcrowding. The

government is usually totalitariantotalitarian: one that exercises control over the freedom, will, or thought of others.

UtopiaUtopia is an imaginary place that is ideally perfect: free from

poverty and suffering.

As punishment for the

rebellion against the Capitol, the

district citizens are forced into a

life of poverty, poverty,

starvationstarvation,, and hard hard laborlabor…

…while the Capitol citizens enjoy a life of luxuryluxury and easeease.

The Setting: The Capitol

The Setting: The Capitol

Capitol City

District 13

ruins

The mountain range provided natural

protection for the Capitol from the

district rebels (who could only fight on foot), making it

impossible to overthrow the repressive government.

The Capitol City is

located in

the Rocky Rocky MountainsMountains

.

Each district has its own industryindustry that it provides for the people who

live in the Capitol.

The 13th district13th district was “obliterated” 74 years ago when the district citizens tried to rebel

against the Capitol.

Capitol City

District 13 ruins

Note: The location of each district and outline of Panem is purely speculation.

The Setting: District 12

The Setting: District 12

Capitol City

Katniss, the narrator, lives

in District District 1212, which is located in the

Appalachian Appalachian MountainsMountains.

District 12District 12

The Appalachian Mountain Appalachian Mountain RangeRange is perhaps the world’s oldest mountain range, with its creation dating back approximately 480 million480 million

years ago.

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are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

District 12’s

industry is coal coal

productioproductionn -

for the Capitol, of course.

Katniss’s father died in

a mine explosion when she was 11 and

her younger sister, PrimPrim,

just eight years old. Her mother

became depressed, leaving Katniss to fend for her family.

She turned to the woodswoods--the forbidden

area outside the district 12 fence--and

began huntinghunting and gatheringgathering in order to

feed her sister, mother, and herself.

To further repress the district citizens, the Capitol required all children aged 12-all children aged 12-1818 to enter their names into a lottery or reapingreaping to see who

will compete in the annual Hunger GamesHunger Games competition.

Each year in the Hunger Games,Hunger Games,twenty-fourtwenty-four

district children enter the arena to fight to the deathdeath.

Only oneone will survive

and be crowned the victorvictor.

The Capitol forces all citizens to watch The The Hunger GamesHunger Games

competition on live TV. It was created by the Capitol

to remind the district citizens of their past

wrongs.

Watching their children diedie is the district citizens’ repentancerepentance for the

rebellion.

Every district

child aged 12 to 18 MUSTMUST

enter their name into

the reaping.

If, however, they wanted food for themselves and

their families, they could sign up for tesseraetesserae

(which provided grain and oil for one person for a

year).

The catch?The catch?

Their names would be entered into the reaping multiple timesmultiple times for each family member who needs

food.

Therefore, the poorest and hungriest children are

most likely to have their names called.

But not always…But not always…

And that is where the story begins…

Activity time!Activity time!

Activity: Symbolism

In Groups (before reading the book), discuss what each symbol could mean.

13 districts/ 12 districtsBirds (later:

Mockingjays)

WaspsMutants

FoodDandelionsFlower WreathsRed RoseWoods/Wooded areas

Themes in “The Hunger Games”PowerPowerRealityRealityIdentityIdentitySociety and ClassSociety and ClassStrength and SkillStrength and SkillLoveLoveAppearancesAppearancesPoliticsPoliticsSacrificeSacrificeMake a list of other films/books that share these themes

Activity:

What does Katniss’s house look like?

Draw it, or write a description of it.Why is it important to think about her dwelling?

Quiz time!Quiz time!

Quiz time!Quiz time!

See Handout. May use a partner, the book, and your notes.

Submit to “Turn In here” when complete