Safe and sound
Safe and Sound is a song by Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars made for the Hunger Games movie. There are a few elements in this video that connect with the book. 51 seconds into the video you see what is presumably nightlock. Then 2 minutes and 34 seconds into the video, you are able to see Katniss's mockingjay pin.
Also many people deliberate what the song is about. Some people feel like it is about Katniss and Peeta when they are in the cave and others feel like it is about Rue and Katniss. Personally I think it is the later. Lyrics such as,
"I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, 'I'll never let you go'
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, 'Don't leave me here alone'
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight"
and
"Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone"
These quotes leave me to believe the song was about Rue. When Rue was dying in Katniss's arms, Katniss told Rue that she would stay right there with Rue and wouldn't leave and Rue started to cry. Katniss then goes on to sing a lullaby to Rue. However, this is just my opinion .
"I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, 'I'll never let you go'
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, 'Don't leave me here alone'
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight"
and
"Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone"
These quotes leave me to believe the song was about Rue. When Rue was dying in Katniss's arms, Katniss told Rue that she would stay right there with Rue and wouldn't leave and Rue started to cry. Katniss then goes on to sing a lullaby to Rue. However, this is just my opinion .
The hunger games vs. lord of the flies vs. the lottery
The Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies share some things in common. They both relate to savagery and the evil of man. In Lord of the Flies, Jack's tribe turns into savage beasts. The murder Simon and Piggy. Jack talks about how he gets pleasure out of killing things. In the Hunger Games, the tributes are made to kill each other when they are put in the arena. Some kill just to survive (like Katniss) but others, like the careers, kill to win. They volunteer during the reaping. They spend their young lives training for the hunger games to win. They are savage because they play for the fame the victor gets, not the will to survive.
The Lottery, a short story by Shirley Jackson, is another story that compares to the Hunger Games. In the Lottery, the story starts out with children gathering in the square with their hands full of stones. Everyone gathers in the square and a black box is brought out. Then the head of each family goes up and takes a slip. No one is allowed to open them until everyone has one. The family with the black dot on their slip of paper then have to go up and each take another slip of paper. The family member with the black dot on their piece of paper is then stoned to death. The similarities in the Lottery and the Hunger Games are undeniable. The Lottery and the reaping in the Hunger Games are almost identical. In the Hunger Games 1 boy and 1 girl between the ages of 13-18 from each district is chosen (their names are drawn from a bowl) to fight in the Hunger Games. In the Games, 23 boys and girls will die and 1 winner will remain (the victor).
The Lottery, a short story by Shirley Jackson, is another story that compares to the Hunger Games. In the Lottery, the story starts out with children gathering in the square with their hands full of stones. Everyone gathers in the square and a black box is brought out. Then the head of each family goes up and takes a slip. No one is allowed to open them until everyone has one. The family with the black dot on their slip of paper then have to go up and each take another slip of paper. The family member with the black dot on their piece of paper is then stoned to death. The similarities in the Lottery and the Hunger Games are undeniable. The Lottery and the reaping in the Hunger Games are almost identical. In the Hunger Games 1 boy and 1 girl between the ages of 13-18 from each district is chosen (their names are drawn from a bowl) to fight in the Hunger Games. In the Games, 23 boys and girls will die and 1 winner will remain (the victor).
the hunger games book vs. the hunger games movie
I was pleasantly surprised of how well the movie turned out. Yes, there were small differences compared to the movie and the book but other than that they were very similar. One of the major things I was disappointed about was the exclusion of Madge. I think Madge is an important character in the book. She is the person who gave Katniss the mockingjay pin in the first place. In the movie they left Madge out and said the Katniss got the mockingjay from the Hob. The mockingjay pin is important because it goes on to be a symbol for the rebellion in all of the books. Also, their are smaller details like how Thresh is killed by the pack of mutations in the movie but in the book he is killed by Cato. Also in the movie, Peeta merely falls asleep before the feast but in the book, Katniss has to give Peeta sleeping medicine to escape.
character analysis
- Katniss Everdeen - Katniss is the story's narrator or the main protagonist. She is 16 years old, she dark hair, gray eyes, and an olive complexion (the usual Seam look) and lives in District 12. She helps her family survive by going into to woods and hunting, which her father taught her before he died in a mining accident. Her hunting partner and friend is Gale. She takes place of her sister, Prim, in the Games. In the Hunger Games she becomes known as the "girl on fire" and becomes pretends to be star-crossed lovers with Peeta Mellark to survive. During the novel, her hate for the Capital becomes apparent in her thoughts. During the novel, she maintains her strength, her will to fight, her skills, and compassion ( ex: Prim, Rue, Thresh, and Peeta).
- Peeta Mellark - Peeta is 16 years old, he has blonde wavy hair, and blue eyes and lives in District 12. He is the son of the town baker and has loved Katniss since he was 5 years old. During his interview for the Hunger Games, Peeta proclaims his love for Katniss (which she thinks is a facade). During the Games he continues to help Katniss (teaming up with the Careers to lead them away from her) and risks his own life doing it. When Katniss is nursing him back to health in the cave, he believes that Katniss is in love with him, but in the end of the book he finds it was all a lie.
- Gale Hawthorne - Gale Hawthorne is Katniss's best friend and hunting partner. He is 18 and like Katniss, he has dark hair, gray eyes, and olive skin and lives in the Seam in District 12. His father died in the same mine accident as Katniss's father. He has a hatred for the capital and expresses often in the woods. Katniss think of him often during the Games but she tries not to think there is anything romantic between them.
- Primrose (Prim) Everdeen - Prim is Katniss's 12 year old sister. She has light blonde hair and blue eyes. Her named is pulled during the reaping (her first one), but Katniss takes her place. She makes Katniss promise she will win, which is one of the things that keeps Katniss going during the games.
- Haymitch Abernathy - Haymitch is the only male victor from District 12 (he won the 2nd quarter quell). He is always drunk, but Peeta and Katniss confront him and he makes a promise to them that he will help them as long as they don't interfere with his drinking. Haymitch often angers Katniss by calling her "sweetheart". During the Games, Katniss believes Haymitch is trying to kill her by not giving gifts. She soon realizes that Haymitch is communicating with her by withholding gifts. He does his best to keep her alive in the novel during and after the Games.
- Effie Trinket - Effie is from the capital. She is the escort assigned to District 12. She has a silly Capital accent (which Gale and Katniss make fun of often) and always seems excited for the Hunger Games. She dresses in the usual crazy Capital clothing and wears colorful wigs. She does not like the fact that she is the escort of District 12 and always hopes that she will be bumped up to a better district.
- Cinna - Cinna is Katniss's stylist. He is young and seems to lack the Capital's annoying affectations. He helps Katniss by making sure she is recognizable during the chariot ride. Also, he helps her by putting her in a fascinating costume the helps her get recognized by sponsors and she becomes known as the girl on fire. To calm Katniss before the interviews, he tells her to answer the questions as she is talking to him and to consider him a friend (which he becomes a true friend of Katniss).
- Rue - Rue is a 12 year old, dark skinned, dark haired girl with brown eyes from District 11. Rue is able to go from tree to tree almost like she is flying (Katniss compares her to a bird). Rue and Katniss become allies in the arena. Rue reminds Katniss of her younger sister Prim. Prim is murdered by a boy from District 1, who Katniss kills. Katniss sings Prim to death and then covers and decorates her body with flowers. Before Rue dies, she tells Katniss that she needs to win. This strengthens Katniss even more, for not only has she promised Prim now, but also Rue.
The hunger games: Plot summary
The Hunger Games takes place in a country called Panem, established in North America after the destruction of the continent's civilization by an unknown apocalyptic event. The nation consists of the wealthy Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts united under the Capitol's control. District 12, where the book begins, is located in the coal-rich region that was formerly known as Appalachia.
As punishment for a past rebellion against the Capitol, in which a 13th district was destroyed, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected by an annual reaping to participate in the Hunger Games, an event in which the participants (or "tributes") must fight to the death in an outdoor arena controlled by the Capitol, until only one individual remains. The story is narrated by 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th annual Hunger Games in place of her younger sister, Prim. The male tribute chosen from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, a former schoolmate of Katniss who once gave her bread from his family's bakery when her family was starving.
Katniss and Peeta are taken to the Capitol, where their drunken mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, victor of the 50th Hunger Games, instructs them to watch and determine the strengths and weaknesses of the other tributes. "Stylists" are employed to make each tribute look his or her best; Katniss's stylist, Cinna (who lacks the capitols annoying affectation), is the only person at the Capitol with whom she feels somewhat of an understanding. The tributes are shown to the Capitol audience in an interview with television host Caesar Flickerman, and have to attempt to appeal to the television audience in order to get "sponsors". During this time, Peeta reveals on-air his longtime love for Katniss. Katniss is angry at first thinking Peeta made her look weak, but Haymitch tells her that they did it to gain sponsors.
While nearly half the tributes are killed in the first day of the Games, Katniss relies on her hunting and survival skills to remain unharmed and concealed from the other tributes. About a day into the Games, Katniss finds out Peeta has teamed up with the kids from the richer districts called the "careers". However, when he has the opportunity to kill Katniss, he instead saves her from the others. Katniss then becomes allies with Rue, a 12 year old ger from District 11. Together Katniss and Rue manage to blow up the "careers" supplies and food. However, Katniss's alliance with Rue is brought to an abrupt end when Rue is killed by another tribute, whom Katniss then kills with an arrow. Katniss sings to Rue until she dies, and spreads flowers over her body as a sign of respect for Rue and disgust towards the Capitol.
Because Katniss and Peeta are "star crossed lovers", a rule change is announced midway through the Games, allowing two tributes from the same district to win the Hunger Games as a couple. Upon hearing this, Katniss begins searching for Peeta. She eventually finds him, wounded and in hiding. As she nurses him back to health, she acts the part of a young girl falling in love to gain more favor with the audience and gifts from sponsors. Along the way, Katniss is helped out by Thresh, the boy from District 11, who is soon killed by Cato. Katniss and Peeta then battle Cato while being ambushed by giant wolf mutations, who end up killing Cato. When they end up as as the last two living tributes, the Gamemakers reverse the rule change in an attempt to force them into a dramatic finale, where one must kill the other to win. Katniss knows that the Gamemakers would rather have two victors than none, so retrieves highly poisonous berries known as "nightlock" from her pouch and offers some to Peeta. Realizing that Katniss and Peeta intend to commit suicide, the Gamemakers announce that both will be the victors of the 74th Hunger Games.
Although she survives the ordeal in the arena and is treated to a hero's welcome in the Capitol, Katniss is warned by Haymitch that she has now become a political target after defying her society's authoritarian leaders so publicly. Afterwards, Peeta is deeply saddened when he learns that Katniss's actions in the arena were part of a calculated ploy to earn sympathy from the audience. However, Katniss is unsure of her own feelings and realizes that she is dreading the moment when she and Peeta will go their separate ways.
As punishment for a past rebellion against the Capitol, in which a 13th district was destroyed, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected by an annual reaping to participate in the Hunger Games, an event in which the participants (or "tributes") must fight to the death in an outdoor arena controlled by the Capitol, until only one individual remains. The story is narrated by 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th annual Hunger Games in place of her younger sister, Prim. The male tribute chosen from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, a former schoolmate of Katniss who once gave her bread from his family's bakery when her family was starving.
Katniss and Peeta are taken to the Capitol, where their drunken mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, victor of the 50th Hunger Games, instructs them to watch and determine the strengths and weaknesses of the other tributes. "Stylists" are employed to make each tribute look his or her best; Katniss's stylist, Cinna (who lacks the capitols annoying affectation), is the only person at the Capitol with whom she feels somewhat of an understanding. The tributes are shown to the Capitol audience in an interview with television host Caesar Flickerman, and have to attempt to appeal to the television audience in order to get "sponsors". During this time, Peeta reveals on-air his longtime love for Katniss. Katniss is angry at first thinking Peeta made her look weak, but Haymitch tells her that they did it to gain sponsors.
While nearly half the tributes are killed in the first day of the Games, Katniss relies on her hunting and survival skills to remain unharmed and concealed from the other tributes. About a day into the Games, Katniss finds out Peeta has teamed up with the kids from the richer districts called the "careers". However, when he has the opportunity to kill Katniss, he instead saves her from the others. Katniss then becomes allies with Rue, a 12 year old ger from District 11. Together Katniss and Rue manage to blow up the "careers" supplies and food. However, Katniss's alliance with Rue is brought to an abrupt end when Rue is killed by another tribute, whom Katniss then kills with an arrow. Katniss sings to Rue until she dies, and spreads flowers over her body as a sign of respect for Rue and disgust towards the Capitol.
Because Katniss and Peeta are "star crossed lovers", a rule change is announced midway through the Games, allowing two tributes from the same district to win the Hunger Games as a couple. Upon hearing this, Katniss begins searching for Peeta. She eventually finds him, wounded and in hiding. As she nurses him back to health, she acts the part of a young girl falling in love to gain more favor with the audience and gifts from sponsors. Along the way, Katniss is helped out by Thresh, the boy from District 11, who is soon killed by Cato. Katniss and Peeta then battle Cato while being ambushed by giant wolf mutations, who end up killing Cato. When they end up as as the last two living tributes, the Gamemakers reverse the rule change in an attempt to force them into a dramatic finale, where one must kill the other to win. Katniss knows that the Gamemakers would rather have two victors than none, so retrieves highly poisonous berries known as "nightlock" from her pouch and offers some to Peeta. Realizing that Katniss and Peeta intend to commit suicide, the Gamemakers announce that both will be the victors of the 74th Hunger Games.
Although she survives the ordeal in the arena and is treated to a hero's welcome in the Capitol, Katniss is warned by Haymitch that she has now become a political target after defying her society's authoritarian leaders so publicly. Afterwards, Peeta is deeply saddened when he learns that Katniss's actions in the arena were part of a calculated ploy to earn sympathy from the audience. However, Katniss is unsure of her own feelings and realizes that she is dreading the moment when she and Peeta will go their separate ways.