Name ____________________________________ Period _______

Characterization in The Hunger Games: Building a Tribute

A character is a person1 in a piece of literature. Characters help us to feel connected to a story – we can identify with them (see ourselves in them), admire them, learn from their choices, and connect them to people we know in our daily lives. Characterization is the process of making the character feel “real” to the reader.

There are two major methods for developing a character. Direct characterization is when the author tells the reader about the character by using abstract labels. For example, if Suzanne Collins wrote, “Katniss is brave,” that would be direct characterization because she makes the judgment about what kind of person Katniss is.

Indirect characterization, on the other hand, is when the author shows the reader what the character is like by using concrete examples – these can include 1) what the character says, 2) what the character thinks, 3) what the character does, 4) how the character effects other characters in the story, and 5) what the character looks like.

Consider the following chart of Katniss’s character:

1 Although not necessarily a human person! Aliens, elves, and bunnies can all be characters too.

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Katniss

brave scared talented alluring hairy

Katniss says, “I volunteer as

tribute!”

what she says

Katniss thinks about running

away with Gale.

what she thinks

Katniss hunts in the forest using a bow and arrow.

what she does

Katniss makes Peeta love her.

effect on other characters

Katniss has to be waxed by Cinna.

what she looks like

direct characterization

indirect characterization

For this assignment, you will create a tribute character of your own! Your tribute will be the protagonist (the main character, oftentimes the hero of the story, and the person that the reader feels closest to).

Step 1: Create your tribute card. Completion Date ________Before characterizing your tribute, you need to decide on some basic biographical details.

Go to http://imgur.com/gallery/OBlXn to look at some District propaganda posters to get inspired.

Choose a District for your tribute based on the list below:

Fill out the following tribute card.

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District 1: luxury itemsDistrict 2: masonryDistrict 3: technologyDistrict 4: fishingDistrict 5: energyDistrict 6: transportationDistrict 7: lumberDistrict 8: textilesDistrict 9: grainDistrict 10: livestockDistrict 11: agricultureDistrict 12: coal

Government of Panem

Name District

Age Gender

Step 2: Draft the plot of the scene where your tribute is chosen at the reaping in his or her District.Step 2: Plot Completion Date ________

On the diagram below, plot the events of your character becoming a tribute. Use the guiding questions to help direct the development of your story.

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Training Score (1-12)

1.

2.

3.

Special Skills

Rising Action: At the reaping, what is going on with or around your character before tribute names are drawn? What

happens before your character becomes a

tribute?

Climax: How does your character become a tribute? Is he/she

selected or is he/she a volunteer?

Falling Action: What does your character do

at the ceremony directly after he/she becomes

tribute? What happens to him/ her directly after he/she becomes tribute?

Denouement/ Resolution: Who does your character speak to

after the ceremony concludes? Briefly

describe your character getting on the train to

Step 3: Characterize your tribute! Completion Date ________Considering your plot diagram on page 3 and the descriptive adjectives on page 5, choose one adjective for each element of STEAL to directly characterize your tribute. Then, after all adjectives are chosen, write a detail to include in your story that indirectly describes your character for each element of STEAL. (See example chart on page 1.)

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S T E A L

direct characterization

Name

Exposition: Briefly describe the

district/setting. What does your character do

the morning of the reaping?

Denouement/ Resolution: Who does your character speak to

after the ceremony concludes? Briefly

describe your character getting on the train to

Character Trait Words

accepting adventurous aggressive ambitious anxious bold bossy brightbrave calm caring cautious

clever cheerful committed competitiveconceited considerate cooperative courageouscourteous creative curious daringdeceitful demanding dependable determined dignified disagreeable dramatic dreamereager efficient eloquent energetic

enthusiastic faithful friendly funny generous glum gentle graciousgrouchy gullible handsome hard-working helpful honorable honest hopefulhumble humorous industrious imaginativeimpolite impulsive independent impulsive

innocent intelligent intolerant inventivejoyful lazy leader logical

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S T E A L

indirect characterization

loving loyal malicious maturemean messy miser mischievousmoody naive naughty neatnervous obedient obnoxious observant

optimistic patriotic pessimistic proudquiet rebellious reckless resoluteresourceful respectful responsible rudescary secretive selfish serious shy silly stubborn studioussympathetic supportive thoughtful timid

valiant warrior wise witty worrier

Step 4: Draft your reaping narrative. Completion Date ________

Using your plot diagram on page 3 and all five indirect characterization details from your chart on page 4, draft your character’s reaping story. Use the guiding questions to direct the development of your story. Opportunities for fulfilling your STEAL requirements are noted below.

A. Setting/ Exposition: What kind of environment does your character live in (think about his/her home life)? What does he/she do the morning of the reaping? How does he/she feel about the reaping (T)? What does your character wear to the reaping (L)?

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B. Rising Action: How does your character feel as he/she travels to the reaping ceremony (T)? What is going on at the reaping before the names are called? What is your character thinking about before the names of the tributes are selected (T)?

C. Climax: How does your character end up becoming a tribute? Is your character’s name chosen out of the bowl? Does he/she volunteer (S/A)? Describe your character’s physical reaction after he/she is chosen (A).

D. Falling Action: How does your character’s family react to him/her being chosen (E)? How does your character feel as he/she walks to the stage as a tribute (T)?

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E. Denouement/ Resolution: Who does your tribute meet with before he/she departs to the Capitol? How does your tribute interact with his/her visitors (S/E)? How does your tribute feel as he/she boards the train (T)? How does your tribute appear as the train leaves the station (L/E)?

Step 5: Create an illustration of your tribute. Completion Date ________Illustrate the five pieces of indirect characterization you mentioned in your Reaping scene. You can include elements such as facial expression, clothes, weapons, personal items, etc. Label each illustration of indirect characterization with the correlating direct characterization adjective. (See chart on page 4.)

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The Hunger Games Tribute Project Rubric—Due Date _____________________

Objective Points Element Teacher’s Comments 

10 Tribute Card The tribute’s card reflects his or her origin and reflects important skills the tribute possesses.

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Students will create an original and dynamic character from The Hunger Games through the effective use of direct and indirect characterization.

20Characteriza

tion ChartThe characterization chart thoughtfully outlines the character’s principal traits and clearly links each trait to an indirect characterization example included in the character’s reaping story.

 

10 Illustration

The illustration of the character clearly exhibits definite links between the character’s appearance, thoughts, effect on others, actions and speech identified in the characterization chart. Each illustrated element of STEAL is labeled with a coordinating adjective from the characterization chart.

Objective Points

Element Teacher’s Comments

Students will compose a story about the reaping of their tribute that includes all elements of the plot diagram.

20Plot Diagram The plot diagram thoughtfully outlines the

character’s experience of being appointed tribute for his or her district. All elements of the plot diagram are present.

40 Reaping Scene

Narrative(Final Draft)

The final draft of the narrative is— typed and submitted via turnitin.com. devoid of severe spelling, grammar, and

punctuation errors that interrupt the fluency of the narrative.

contains all five indirect details presented in the characterization chart.

labeled to indicate all five elements of STEAL.

Name _________________________________________ Period__________ Total Score __________

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