IN CINEMAS 22 MARCH 2012 © ATOM 2012 A STUDY GUIDE BY KATY MARRINER http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN: 978-1-74295-147-8 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au IN THE RUINS OF A COUNTRY ONCE KNOWN AS NORTH AMERICA LIES THE NATION OF PANEM. PANEM CONSISTS OF A CAPITOL AND TWELVE DISTRICTS. AS A PUNISHMENT FOR THE REBELLION OF THE NOW DEFUNCT DISTRICT 13, THE CAPITOL MAINTAINS CONTROL BY FORCING EACH DISTRICT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL HUNGER GAMES. THE COMPETITION IS A BRUTAL AND TERRIFYING FIGHT TO THE DEATH, TELEVISED FOR ALL OF ABOVE: KATNISS COMPETING IN THE HUNGER GAMES PANEM TO SEE. EACH DISTRICT The Hunger Games (2008), a novel by MUST SEND TWO TRIBUTES, ONE Suzanne Collins, GIRL AND ONE BOY BETWEEN THE Katniss has supported her family by hunting and is recommended gathering beyond the fences of District 12 with her reading for secondary AGES OF TWELVE AND EIGHTEEN, friend Gale, whose father also died in the same students in Years 8, explosion. Her family will struggle in her absence 9 and 10. The novel TO COMPETE. THE LAST TRIBUTE but Katniss knows that she stands a better chance is appropriate for use STANDING IS DECLARED THE of winning than Prim. in English classrooms at these levels. Teachers may select VICTOR. THEIR REWARD IS A Katniss and Peeta travel to the Capitol, where their from the following mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, a resident of District PROSPEROUS EXISTENCE. information and 12 and former Hunger Games victor, instructs activities to support them. They are introduced to the Capitol audi- students’ reading and Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives with ence and become crowd favourites thanks to the close analysis of The her mother and younger sister Primrose, volunteers efforts of their stylists and Peeta’s admission of his Hunger Games. to represent District 12 when her sister’s name is unrequited love for Katniss. A confused Katniss be- drawn during the Reaping. Peeta Mellark, the son lieves Peeta’s behaviour is a ploy to gain audience The Hunger Games of a local baker, is also chosen to represent District support. Sponsorship is crucial for survival and is the first book of SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION 12. Katniss knows Peeta from school and feels as audience members are encouraged to send gifts to the Hunger Games trilogy. if she is in his debt because of a gift of a loaf of favored tributes during the Games. bread. The Games begin. The stark brutality of life in Katniss Everdeen knows how to survive. In the the arena is evident from Day One. Eleven of the stratified society of Panem, District 12 is the poor- twenty-four tributes do not make it to Day Two. est region and the Everdeens live in the Seam with Katniss is resolved to outwit the Gamemakers. It other families who struggle to make ends meet. will take all her strength and cunning but unlike Since her father’s tragic death in a mine explosion, others she can rely on her hunting and outdoor 2 winners than none. Their strategy works. Both Katniss and Peeta are declared winners. It is during the victory celebrations that Katniss is warned by Haymitch that she has now become a po- litical target. She has defied the authorities and her rebellion will be punished. It is an uncertain Katniss that chooses to tell Peeta the truth about her behav- iour in the Arena. He is heartbroken that she does not really love him. Home again but far from safe, the star-crossed lovers take each other’s hand, step onto the District 12 station platform and smile. Curriculum objectives In English, the Literature strand aims to engage students in the study of literary texts gaining con- 1 2 3 4 skills to survive. Peeta chooses to form an alliance 1: KATNISS EVERDEEN with the Career Tributes, a decision that Katniss AND PEETA MELLARK temporary attention. The popularity of The Hunger does not initially understand. It is only later that TRAINING IN THE CaPITOL Games with adolescent readers positions the novel 2: KATNISS AND PEETA Peeta’s motives become clear. PREPARING FOR THE for use as a class text. OPENING CEREMONY 3: Katniss goes it alone, until she meets Rue. Rue, PEETA AT HIS FAMILIY The Hunger Games provides opportunities for a twelve year-old girl from District 11, reminds BAKERY 4: KATNISS AS students to: THE ‘girl ON FIRE’ Katniss of her sister Prim. When Rue is killed by another tribute, Katniss avenges her death and . learn to identify personal ideas, experiences then sings to the dying Rue. Katniss decision to and opinions about literary texts and discuss spread flowers all over Rue’s body signals her dis- Desperate for them with others; approval of the Capitol’s lack of humanity and that a dramatic . learn how to explain and analyse the ways in she is determined not to lose hers. which stories, characters, settings and experi- finale, the ences are reflected in particular literary genres, When a rule change is announced midway through and how to discuss the appeal of these genres; the games, Katniss calls Peeta’s name out loud. Gamemakers . learn how ideas and viewpoints about events, Two tributes from the same district can now win issues and characters that are expressed by the Hunger Games. Katniss searches for Peeta. reverse the authors in texts are drawn from and shaped by When she finds him, he is safe but wounded. To different historical, social and cultural contexts; save Peeta’s life and gain favour with the audience, rule change. learn about aspects of human experience and Katniss plays the part of a young girl falling in love. Katniss and expand the scope of their experience; Gifts from her sponsors prove timely and soon . learn how to appraise the ways authors use SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION Peeta takes his place by Katniss’ side. Peeta must language and literary techniques and devices to influence readers; Days pass, tributes lose their lives and Katniss and kill or be . learn to examine, evaluate and discuss texts in Peeta wait for the announcement that they have increasingly sophisticated and informed ‘liter- won the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games. Desperate killed. ary’ ways; for a dramatic finale, the Gamemakers reverse . develop their ideas in written and oral, multi- the rule change. Katniss and Peeta must kill or be modal ways individually and in groups; killed. Instead, they both threaten suicide, know- . present an argument about a literary text based ing that the Gamemakers would rather have two on analysis of the whole text. 3 CHARACTER GUIDE KATNISS EVERDEEN (Jennifer forgiven her for abandoning the exciting rather than grim event throwing knives and comes close Lawrence): Sixteen-year-old family after Mr Everdeen was and does not even consider that to killing Katniss. Katniss lives in an area of District killed in the mine explosion. Mrs the teenagers in her care are in 12 known as the Seam. Her father Everdeen overwhelmed by grief danger of losing their lives. Effie Cinna (Lenny Kravitz): Cinna died in a mine explosion when found life intolerable after her would prefer to act as an escort for is a Hunger Games stylist. While she was eleven. Since the tragic husband’s death. tributes from another district until Katniss thinks that Cinna has acident, Katniss has supported Katniss and Peeta show that they been assigned District 12 because her mother and younger sister Mr Everdeen (Philip Troy have the potential to win. he is inexperienced, Cinna in fact Primrose by hunting and Linger): Katniss’ father died requested District 12. His talents gathering food in the woods when she was eleven. He taught Rue (Amandla Stenberg): Rue transform Katniss into the ‘girl beyond the District 12 fence. She Katniss how to hunt and to sing is the twelve-year-old girl tribute on fire’. Katniss trusts Cinna. His is resourceful and resilient. Katniss as beautifully as the birds. Her from District 11. She reminds efforts ensure that Katniss gains loathes the Capitol but is well prowess with a bow and arrow is Katniss of her sister Prim. Rue is the audience’s favour. aware that to be openly defiant is her father’s doing. slight and nimble. She can outrun to risk not only her life but also her competition in the games Portia (Latarsha Rose): Portia the lives of those she loves. Mr Mellark: Peeta’s father is a arena. Rue becomes Katniss’ ally is Peeta’s stylist. She works with baker. When he was a younger and friend. Rue makes Katniss Cinna to ensure that the District PEETA MELLARK (Josh man he fell in love with Katniss’ promise that she will do all that 12 tributes steal the audience’s Hutcherson): Sixteen-year-old mother. He promises Katniss that she can to win. When Rue is killed attention. Peeta is the son of a District 12 he will make sure that Prim and by the male tribute from District baker. Handsome and strong, Peeta her mother will not go hungry 1, Katniss mourns the loss of her President Snow (Donald is chosen to represent District 12 during her absence from District friend. The residents of District Sutherland): President Snow in the Seventy-fourth Hunger 12. 11 appreciate the way that Katniss may crown Katniss and Peeta as Games. He declares his love for cares for Rue in life and in death. the winners of the Seventy-fourth Katniss just before they enter the Mrs Mellark (Raiko Bowman): Hunger Games but he is far from arena.