...Laura Webster English 101 Literacy Narrative 9/5/2013 Real Life vs. Fantasy..... Looking back, I remember when I was in fourth or fifth grade and my teacher told us we were reading a book and doing a book report on it. I was always up for anything, but when she started reading the book each day I found myself not even listening to what she was saying. I would be thinking about all of the other things I’d rather be doing. Then, we were to write a book report on it. “What?” “...a book report?” No way was I going to write a paper on something that couldn’t keep my attention. I believe at that time I had probably read the first and last chapter and vaguely put together bits and pieces I heard the teacher read throughout the entire book. From that point on I knew I was going to have trouble reading books. Every time I heard a teacher say, “book report” I’d cringe! Needless to say, I probably didn’t get a very good grade on my book report. In middle school, one of the books we were assigned to read was Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I was unable to connect with the book just from reading the title and to make matters worse it takes place during the Great Depression. I’ve always visualized that being a very depressing, difficult time and because of that I don’t particularly like that time period. Day after day, we’d read this book and I specifically remember not looking forward going to class because it was ‘reading day’ and I hated it. We finally finished...
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...CONTEXT Growing up, Suzanne Collins was a military brat. Her father was a career airman in the United States Air Force, as a result, Collins and her siblings—two older sisters and an older brother—moved around frequently, spending time in numerous locations in the eastern United States as well as in Europe. The military, in fact, played a leading role in the family’s history. Collins’s grandfather had served in World War I, her uncle served in World War II, and the year Collins turned six, her father left to serve his own tour in the Vietnam War. War, consequently, was a part of life for Collins, something very real and not just an abstract idea. While her father was gone, she would sometimes see video footage of the war zone on the news, and she recognized that her father was there fighting. Though her father returned after a year, Collins’s connection to war didn’t end. In addition to being a soldier, Collins’s father was also a military historian and a doctor of political science. That knowledge and experiences serving in the Air Force and fighting in Vietnam had a profound effect on his relationships with his children, and he made sure they learned what they could about war. While other girls’ fathers were telling them fairytales, Collins’s father educated her about military history. When the family was moved to Brussels, Belgium, for instance, her father educated her about the region’s violent history and took her on tours of the country’s historic battlefields. Eventually...
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...“The Hunger Games” is a book written by Suzanne Collins that was also turned into a movie. The story follows the main character Katniss Everdeen as she participates in the deathly and horrible contest called the Hunger Games. The story is about a fictional county that is broken up and segregated into twelve districts and a capital. The people in the twelve districts are nothing less than mules for the capital and its people. Years prior there was a civil war that caused devastation to the districts and caused the Capital to create the Hunger Games as a reminder to all that the Capital rules with absolute power. The Hunger Games are an annual event that causes one boy and one girl from each district to be selected to fight in an area to the death until one lone tribute remains. It is barbaric and nothing less than a way to promote fear and regulation over the people of the districts. The game and the events involved throughout the movie are consumed with social psychology, kin selection, reciprocity and flight and fight are just a few social psychology concepts that are present in the movie. Katniss does in fact go on to win the games and it was made possible by her use of several social psychology concepts. In the early scenes of the movie they show that Katniss is very much the head of her family and that she is the one that makes sure her family has food. In addition to that, she has been the force keeping her mother and sister alive and well since the untimely death of...
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...exercises political control over the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games are an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12–18 from each of the twelve districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle to the death. In writing the novel, Collins drew upon Greek mythology, Roman gladiatorial games, and contemporary reality television for thematic content. The novel won many awards, including the California Young Reader Medal, and was named one of Publishers Weekly's "Best Books of the Year" in 2008. Since its release, The Hunger Games has been translated into 26 languages, and publishing rights have been sold in 38 territories. The novel is the first in The Hunger Games trilogy, followed by Catching Fire (2009) and Mockingjay (2010). A film adaptation, directed by Gary Ross and co-written and co-produced by Collins herself, was released in 2012. (Full...
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...Theme Competition: The theme of competition has been shown in various ways throughout the chapters of "the Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. It is specified in several chapters; starting in chapter 2 Katniss starts to describe her feeling which leads to the events that she believes that will take place in the arena. "I feel like I owe him something and I hate owing people. Maybe if I had thanked him at some point I'd be feeling less conflicted now. I thought about it a couple of times, but the opportunity never seemed to present itself and now it never will, because we’re going to be thrown into an arena to fight to death. Exactly how I’m I supposed to work in a thank you in there? Somehow it just won’t seem sincere if I’m trying to slit his throat. This quote is described as to Katniss does not want to catch any feelings for Peeta because eventually they will be at a stage where they must compete to kill one another. Another example that is shows the theme competition is exhibited in chapter 3; “I can’t win prim must know that in her heart. The competition will be far beyond abilities kids from wealthier districts where winning is a huge honor, who’ve been trained their whole lives for this. Boys who are two to three times my size. Girls who know twenty different ways to kill you with a knife. Oh there’ll be people like me too people to weed out before the real fun begins”. This quote is described that here are children that are going to be thrown in the competition who...
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...Pwint Professor Prescott English 3 03 05 2013 The Capitalist Capitol versus Desolate District 12 Suzanne Collins’ 2008 book The Hunger Games is about a fictional country that has a reality entertainment show in which boys and girls, two from each of twelve districts, are forced to murder each other until only one is left. In 2012, director Gary Ross adapted Collins’ book into a film. On the surface, both the book and the film version of The Hunger Games seem to be just a form of entertainment. However, if one interprets the two analytically, they are criticizing the inequalities and power abuse in our own capitalist society. Capitalism creates wealth and power inequalities, often leading to the rich abusing the poor. In The Hunger Games, the rich entertain themselves with the blood battle of the poor. Though Ross conveys the inequalities and power abuse mentioned in the book, he also adapts some scenes to make this message easier for the audience to understand. While Collins heavily relies on detailed descriptions and Katniss’ narration to give the message that capitalism forms inequalities and power abuse, Ross uses more visual contrasts to make the film more appealing while portraying the same message. Inequalities in Panem can be vividly seen in the differences in food, clothing and housing between the rich Capitol and the desolate District 12 in both the book and the film. Collins use clear descriptions to portray these discrepancies in capitalism while Ross exposes...
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...In society today, one barely has any time to take care of one’s children. They are left alone and uncared for which often causes them to either react badly in every day life or to become accustomed to their solitude and learn to fend for themselves. Such realities can also be portrayed in works of fiction such as The Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies, two stories that may seem very different in content, but are based on very similar ideas. In these two stories, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Lord of the Flies by William Golding, there are two main characters by the names of Katniss and Ralph who both go through their life journeys isolated from society and in each story, their situations becomes a disadvantage for them. Lord of the Flies and The Hunger Games are novels that portray an abuse of power as a result of leadership roles in society, an absence of identity used as camouflage, and finally, a loss of innocence among the characters as a result of living in a corrupted and chaotic environment. In both stories, there is an abuse of power, which destroys the main characters’ lives. In Golding’s Lord of the Flies, once Jack had decided to run the island the way he sees fit, things started to go downhill for Ralph. When Ralph was chief of the island, the children tried to stay as civilized as they could, and even started establishing rules and tasks for each person to accomplish. When Jack started to take control of the island, however, everything was completely ruined...
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...Suzanne Collin’s blockbuster Mockingjay brought a closure to the much hyped Hunger Games series. It takes place in a futuristic dystopian setting, where the Capitol has taken control over the country called Panem. They make people take part in a game event called Hunger Games, where the contestants are put against each other in a survival of the fittest esque scene and a fight to the death with only one victor to share the tales of bravery. Katniss Everdeen, a brave and talented girl is put into the Hunger Games and somehow survives the games, along with her partner Peeta Melark. This causes an uproar in Panem and suddenly things are thrown off scale. As people are preparing for war, Katniss is wondering where she fits, who she should trust and what is better for all of the people in Panem. Throughout the book, Katniss ponders over whether it’s even worth fighting a war and losing more loved ones. One lesson that the story suggests is that when you lose someone you love, it makes you stronger and weaker at the same time. The book is divided into three large parts, with smaller chapters in those parts. The names of the parts reveal some sort of information. The first part, “The Ashes” and the events of the previous book can be interpreted even before reading, that the Ashes are going to be of District 12’s. From the very beginning, she sees her home burnt and destroyed by bombings. The description is clear enough and it shows that a part of Katniss was burnt in the inferno...
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...The Hunger Game Have you ever seen The Hunger Games movie and read The Hunger Games book? Well, if you did you will see that both the book and the movie are based on the same plot, but with small differences. The Hunger Games is a science fiction novel written by Suzanne Collins. It is narrated by the voice of Katniss Everdeen, who lives in nation of Panem which used to have 13 district but now only 12 districts. The Capitol is the advanced city that takes control of the whole nation. The Hunger Games are a series of yearly events in which one boy and one girl aged 12–18 from each of the twelve districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle to the death. The Hunger Game book contains the original ideas; however, The Hunger Games movie has some different contents that don’t resemble the same contents of the book. In other words, there are some characters and scene that are different. The book mentions characters that were omitted in the movie such as Madge Undersee, the Avox girl, and Peeta’s father. In the other hand, some characters are presented in both similarly such as Cinna and Rue. The book and the movie are narrated in two different styles; the book as a first person narration whereas the movie as a third. As a result, some scenes are added to the movie and are not in the book. Madge Undersee is the daughter of the mayor of District 12 and Katniss’ best female friend. She is one of the first characters that are introduced...
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...own individual role based upon sex, but we as mankind work together as one. “The Village Blacksmith” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow This poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow describes the life of a blacksmith. Longfellow created his character to be a “man’s man”: he had crisp, long, black hair, his face was tan, his brows “wet with honest sweat,” and “looks the whole world in the face,/ For he owes not any man.” The man being described has a family who he works hard for, instills moral standards in his children by bringing them to Sunday church, and misses his deceased wife dearly. Though he has gone through many a hardship, the man still chooses to not give up and to provide for his family without hesitation. "The Hunger Games", “Catching Fire”, and “Mockingjay (Trilogy) by Suzanne Collins The Hunger games is a dystopian novel written by Suzanne Collins about Katniss Everdeen. Katniss, the protagonist, is a participant and the winner of the Hunger Games, a yearly even that takes a boy and a girl from each of the...
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...life and death situations. Moreover, she also realizes that she must be strong and determined as she chooses a difficult path instead of giving up, which demonstrates her will to survive. The Hunger Games is a 2008 Young Adult novel by Suzanne Collins. The story revolves around 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in the nation of Panem in North America. The Capitol exercises political control over the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games is an annual event in which tributes aged 12-18 from each of the twelve districts surrounding the capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a live TV Show to death. The Hunger Games is the first book in the ground-breaking Hunger Games Trilogy (New York Times Best Selling Series) followed by Catching Fire (2009) and Mockingjay (2010). Suzanne Collins is an American writer and novelist. Collins was named one of ‘Time Magazine’s Most Influential People of 2010’. The Hunger Games was first published on September 14, 2008. The book had sold 800,000 copies by February 2010. The initial price of the book is $10.99. The aim of this book review is to focus more on the characteristics, conflicts and the attitude of the main character in, Katniss. This pertains to her physical appearance, skills and personality. Another one is the external and internal conflicts she encountered during the Games. And lastly, are the optimistic and pessimistic attitudes she possessed all throughout the story. II. Body A. Characterization Katniss, as...
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...Readers who have been waiting for a worthy successor to Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games will find it here. Dystopian sci-fi at its best, Starters is a terrific series kickoff with a didn't-see-that-coming conclusion that will leave readers on the edges of their seats . . .” raves the Los Angeles Times. In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party--her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it. Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first--the very young and very old. With no grandparents to claim Callie and her little brother, they go on the run, living as squatters, and fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, run by a mysterious figure known only as The Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as Enders, who get to be young again. Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her rich renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, even dating Blake, the grandson of a senator. It's a fairy-tale new life . . . until she uncovers the Body Bank's horrible plan. . . .It’s a fairy-tale new life, until she discovers her renter’s deadly plan. STARTERS was one of my favorite reads last year, and even though it is a very different book than LEVEL 2, the main characters Callie and Felicia do have some things in...
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...M O C K I N G J A Y The third installment in the Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins Mockingjay is the third and final novel in the Hunger Games series taking place in a time of revolution to the people with power. MANIPULATION In Mockingjay, Katniss is forced to make difficult and dangerous decisions which often could result in death. There are two forces fighting each other, the Capitol and the rebels in District 13. District 13 wants to use Katniss as their icon of their upcoming rebellion while the Capitol is manipulating her lover Peeta to turn her against the rebellion leaving Katniss in a state of confusion. The people she cares about are taking their sides and she loses trust in who has to talk to. She has her best friend as a sort of right hand man and loyal follower of the Rebel leader, but her friend being manipulated by President Snow. Katniss has a been part of Snows plan since her first Hunger Games but she has always resisted. After escaping from the Quarter Quell to District 13, we thought Katniss would finally be free. But not so. It turns out that District 13 has a lot in common with the manipulative Capitol it's rebelling against. Both governments are using the same manipulative tricks, using Katniss and the other victors to their own ends. Both governments heavily rely on staged media and propaganda to gain support and control. In District 13, there is still the acting, the scripts, the costumes, the make-up, and the cameras that were so common...
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...M O C K I N G J A Y The third installment in the Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins Mockingjay is the third and final novel in the Hunger Games series taking place in a time of revolution to the people with power. MANIPULATION In Mockingjay, Katniss is forced to make difficult and dangerous decisions which often could result in death. There are two forces fighting each other, the Capitol and the rebels in District 13. District 13 wants to use Katniss as their icon of their upcoming rebellion while the Capitol is manipulating her lover Peeta to turn her against the rebellion leaving Katniss in a state of confusion. The people she cares about are taking their sides and she loses trust in who has to talk to. She has her best friend as a sort of right hand man and loyal follower of the Rebel leader, but her friend being manipulated by President Snow. Katniss has a been part of Snows plan since her first Hunger Games but she has always resisted. After escaping from the Quarter Quell to District 13, we thought Katniss would finally be free. But not so. It turns out that District 13 has a lot in common with the manipulative Capitol it's rebelling against. Both governments are using the same manipulative tricks, using Katniss and the other victors to their own ends. Both governments heavily rely on staged media and propaganda to gain support and control. In District 13, there is still the acting, the scripts, the costumes, the make-up, and the cameras that were so common...
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...Mockingjay - Reflection The 2010 science fiction novel Mockingjay, written by Suzanne Collins, comments on the role that faith has in the world and on human endeavour. This specific book of a three part series focuses on the main character Katniss Everdeen as she recovers from her second Hunger Games, her home District, 12, which was burnt down by the government and from losing close friends who were taken prisoner. The novel starts with reluctantly adapting to a very structured and set life in District 13 and being manipulated into becoming the Mockingjay, poster child, for the rebellion. Convincing her to do this was made easy when Katniss finds out that Peeta is being kept prisoner in the Capitol and is being tortured, she felt she had no other choice but to do anything she could to have him rescued. The reader follows her through her journey of uprising against the Capitol and changing the fate of Panem. The novel, Mockingjay, explores themes including loyalty, death, family and hope as well as tackling issues such as poverty, starvation, oppression and the effects of war. Katniss Everdeen must deal with being betrayed and violence against her and those who she wants desperately to protect. She has to realise that she cannot trust those around her and that she must make decisions that will benefit her. I believe that this novel makes a comment on human endeavour as the effects of war settle into Katniss’ mind. She had to push through horrible nightmares that she experienced...
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