Estruturas Pedaggicas

rea Disciplinar de Ingls

THE HUNGER GAMES 10 ano Ano letivo 2014-2015

INTRODUCTORY LECTURE
The Hunger Games, a young adult book published in 2008, focuses on the experiences of 16-year-old
heroine Katniss Everdeen as she faces death in a gladiatorial arena in the futuristic country of Panem. Many
of the dystopian 1) novels central themes revolve around the conflict between survival and humanity and
reveal how freedom of choice offers the possibility of defiance within a cruel and totalitarian regime. Of
particular note is the way the author, Suzanne Collins, gives razor-sharp focus to the invasive and corrupting
qualities of reality television and technology. Although it is a work of fiction, the novel mirrors our own
society in a way that is fascinating and disturbing.
The Hunger Games is the first book in Collinss trilogy that follows Everdeen in her struggles to fight for
freedom in a country ruled by a tyrannical government. (2009s Catching Fire and 2010s Mockingjay
complete the triology.) Panem has arisen from the ashes of a post-apocalyptic North America destroyed by
floods and other natural disasters. The country is divided into poor districts that serve and are tightly
controlled by a totalitarian government seated in the wealthy, technology-centered Capitol. The Hunger
Games, deadly gladiatorial contests, are mandated by the government as a means of oppressing the residents
of the districts: Each year, two children from each district are selected as tributes to enter an arena and fight
to the death, reminding the districts of the Capitols power and control over their lives.
Collins has said that the book was partly inspired by channel surfing on television. While flipping
between a program with footage from the invasion of Iraq and a program depicting contestants in a TV
reality show, she found the two concepts begin to blur in this very unsettling way. Other touchstones
Collins relied upon in creating the book include the Greek myth of Theseus, a story that informs Katnisss
character, and the Roman gladiatorial games, which clearly provided a foundation for the novels Hunger
Games.
Written in a simple style that employs strong, visceral language and nearly constant suspense, The
Hunger Games has become immensely popular. The film version of the novel, which you are going to watch
in our next classes, released in 2011, directed by Gary Ross, was also a huge success and only increased the
books visibility and notoriety. Many critics point out that the novels popularity results in part from the
themes Collins develops, themes that resonate with modern teenagers, including the idea of the pack
mentality with the strong preying upon the weak and the notion that style and appearance can trump
substance. Also, despite the futuristic setting, the struggles of the teenage characters are depicted
realistically. Many of the decisions they must make are morally complex, requiring the ability to perceive
how forces beyond themselves attempt to manipulate them.
Although this dystopian novel is filled with dark passages and scenes of terrible violence, ultimately it
offers a message of hope through its strong themes of friendship, compassion, and unity. The Hunger Games
is a compelling and thought-provoking introduction to the genre of dystopian novels for young adult readers.
The story of the film, based on the novel by Collins, takes place in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future in
the nation of Panem, where boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 18 must take part in the Hunger
Games, a televised annual event in which the "tributes" are required to fight to the death until there is one
remaining who will be crowned the victor. Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) volunteers to take her younger
sister's place in the games. Joined by her district's male tribute Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson), Katniss travels
to the Capitol to train for the Hunger Games under the guidance of former victor Haymitch Abernathy
(Harrelson).
1) An imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The opposite of utopia.

OBJECTIVES

By the end of the viewing of the film, the student will be able to:
1. Reference themes, plot points, and characters in the novel in discussing how The Hunger Games
explores freedom of choice as a means of resistance in a society that dehumanizes individuals.
2. Explain how and why the totalitarian regime in the Capitol evolved in this society and identify the
means by which it creates and maintains control of the districts.
3. Identify the dystopian elements throughout the novel; in particular, discuss how the Capitols
totalitarian government works to control language, law, and even nature.
4. Explore the Capitols relationship with District 12 and discuss the effects of the social inequality it
creates.
5. Compare the way media control and manipulation function in our society with how they function in
the novel and investigate how media affects the quality of life in each society.
6. Discuss how the novel explores themes of love, friendship, and unity, offering specific examples from
the novel.
7. Investigate the actions of those who are oppressed by a culture of fear and live in a society with cruel,
inhumane laws. Which of their actions does the novel appear to condone?
8. Discuss the connection in the novel between deprivation and survival and explain how learning
survival skills can build qualities such as strength and dignity.
9. Describe the setting in the arena and the ways in which the Gamemakers use both physical and
psychological tools to control the tributes and orchestrate the Games.
10. Explore the ways the author inverts the ideas of civilization and savagery and for what purpose.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What are the similarities and differences between the way televised entertainment is presented in the
book and the way it exists in our society?
2. Analyze the relationships the Capitol has with Districts 11 and 12 and Districts 1 and 2. What are the
effects of the social inequality created by the relationships?
3. Discuss The Hunger Games as a dystopian novel, one that critiques the notion of what makes an
ideal society by depicting instead a society characterized by a sense of isolation, powerlessness,
and fear. Given the bleakness associated with this type of novel, discuss the overall feeling generated
by The Hunger Games. Do you feel its themes are bleak or hopeful? Why or why not?

Have a nice movieand reflection,