Independent+Novel+Study

media type="custom" key="12108513"The Hunger Games Journal Entry 1 Pages 1-33

__Why did you select this novel?__ The book I selected was “Hunger Games”. I chose it because a few days prior to the assignment being revealed my friend had been telling me how great this book was. When the novel study came up and I was looking through the possible choices I noticed “Hunger Games” and thought that this was a wonderful opportunity. I was excited as I thought that I would actually enjoy a novel study book for once, and I have to say, I was right.

__What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why?__ The story takes place in the future, in a country named Panem. This land is located where the former USA was. However it destroyed itself, and Panem was created. It has a capital city, Capitol and twelve districts which work for the Capitol by providing it with supplies and goods ranging from coal, to fruits, to precious gemstones. There once were thirteen districts, but when the districts rebelled against the Capitol, one of them was destroyed. The rest now live in fear of destruction. The atmosphere is very depressing as the people of the districts are hungry, and in complete poverty. They give almost everything they make to the Capitol and they themselves are left to starve. The setting is very important as the events that take place afterwards are very specific to the situation Panem is in. They could not possibly happen anywhere else.

__What is the initial or first problem faced by the main character?__ The protagonist of this novel is Katniss Everdeen who is sixteen years old. She carries the burden of taking care of her mother and younger sister on her shoulders alone as her father died in a mine accident a few years ago. She hunts and forages for food and also for money as she sells some of her harvest. The money is then used to buy other necessities such as string, clothing and medicine. But taking care of her family is not all that worries her. Every year the Capitol holds a grotesque event named the Hunger Games as a reminder that it is all-powerful and can do anything it wishes with the twelve remaining districts. The Hunger Games are a sick twist on a reality show where two tributes, a girl and a boy, from each district fight to the death in a controlled environment. There is only one winner, the last man standing.The tributes are chosen by pulling out names of girls and boys between the ages of twelve and eighteen. The older you are, the more times it is mandatory for you to enter your name. Although Katniss’s name is in the draw six times, she is not worried about herself. Katniss is very scared that her twelve year old sister Prim who now has to be entered into the horrible lottery might be chosen. Her worries are confirmed when Prim’s name is selected in front of the whole district on the market square. Katniss knows that if Prim goes into the Hunger Games she will die, and so she volunteers to go in Prim’s place. Prim is safe for another year, but what will happen to Katniss? The Hunger Games Journal Entry Two Pages 34-148

__Who is telling the story? How does this person’s perspective effect the way the story is told?__ The story is being told from first person, Katniss is speaking of the events from her point of view. She is the protagonist, and because she’s the one telling the story, it makes the reader sympathise with her even more. Her perspective changes the way the story is told because she is explaining everything the way she thinks of it. So, if her enemy is for example Glimmer, then she will not be very nice as she talks of her. However if the story was being told from Glimmer’s point of view, then Katniss would be portrayed as the bad guy.

__How does the author get you to read on or hold your interest?__ The author gets you to read on by making every chapter end in a cliffhanger.This makes the book extremely hard to put down. “Hunger Games” is filled with suspense. The more your read, the more you want. Everything that happens is extremely exciting and full of action. Clearly, Suzanne Collins knows how to make a book irresistible.

__What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses?__ As the book goes on, Katniss has to face another problem. At this point she realizes just how hard it will be to kill innocent people that didn’t do anything to her. And this becomes even more difficult as her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark, and her become friends. And absolutely insanely difficult when he announces on live TV that he is in love with her. What will Katniss do in order to survive? Well, it may be a little easier for her as her stylist and friend Cinna made her unforgettable. There is no doubt that she will have sponsors. However, the arena will still be unbearably hard. But, there s no tie to think as Cladius Templesmith announces,” Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin!”. The Hunger Games Journal Entry 3 Pages 149-247 __Describe any new characters that are introduced? What is their purpose?__ Once Katniss and Peeta arrive at the Capitol, many new characters are introduced. Many of them are contestants in the Hunger Games. Some are only mentioned, others well described. These are some of the ones that seem important. Rue, who is twelve, is from district eleven. As the Games go on, she and Katniss become allies. There’s also another pack of allies named The Careers. Peeta, at first joins them only to be attacked to save Katniss’ life. Glimmer from district one, a pretty and determined girl is also a member of the Careers. She is killed by Katniss when Katniss is stuck in a tree as The Careers are waiting below. Katniss throws down a tracker jacker nest to scatter the Careers so that she will be able to leave. Cato is also a part of the careers. He is a very muscular and strong boy from District twelve. There are several more Careers and a few other characters including a girl who has been nicknamed Foxface and a boy anemd Thresh.

__To what age group is the novel aimed? Support your answer with evidence.__ The novel is aimed at the teens/ young adults age group because it is still exciting but it’s rather depressing and violent at times so it can not be a children’s book. However, because the main characters are between the ages of 12 and 18, I do not think people much older than that would be interested in reading it.

__Comment on the style of the novel. Is it easy or hard to follow the events?__ This novel is very descriptive and easy to follow. The events are very clear and explained very well. While there is a fair bit of suspense and foreshadowing, you always understand what is going on. I think Suzanne Collins hit a home run with this book. It has incredible detail and many people would enjoy a novel that is as easy to follow as The Hunger Games. ** Focus Assignment ** Plot Outline The Hunger Games is a wonderful book that is full of suspense and action. The story takes place in the future, in the place where USA once stood. When our nation almost completely destroyed itself, a new country named Panem rose from ashes. It’s made up of twelve districts and the Capitol. The twelve districts are made to provide for the citizens of the Capitol. The Capitol people live a life of luxury surrounded by beautiful things and spending unnecessary amounts of money on useless things while the people of the districts never have enough to eat and live in shabby little homes with no comforts. On top of that, every year a dreadfu event known as the Hunger Games is put on by the Capitol. A boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are randomly selected to participate. From the twenty four young tributes going into the feared arena, only one will return. Needless to say, being chosen to be in the Games is basically a death sentence. Of course the bigger the district, the lesser chance you have of being selected. Among the inhabitants of unimportant, little District Twelve lives a sixteen year old girl named Katniss who is much tougher than she might seem at first glance. When her father died in a mining accident two years ago and her mother fell into a deep state of depression she had to take control and learn to provide for herself, her mother and her younger sister Prim. So Katniss learned how to hunt. On one of her first attempts she met her best-friend-to-be, Gale. Together they would hunt, helping each other out, always having each other’s backs. That all came to an end when Prim’s name was drawn out of the crystal sphere and Katniss, desperate to save her volunteered herself as tribute. The second name selected was a boy named Peeta Mellark. Together they make the journey to the Capitol where they are pampered, fed, dressed and, in Katniss’ case plucked half to death. When the horn sounds and the Games begin Katniss knows she’s got to get that bow from the pile of supplies scattered on the ground to fight for. But when she is nearly killed she grabs the first thing she sees and runs for her life. During the course of the games, Katniss gains an ally,a twelve year old girl named Rue, loses her, gets revenge on Rue’s murderer, falls in love wiith Peeta while saving his life and almost loses herself. When there are only two of them left, Katniss is sure the Capitol will keep their word and allow them both to live but the sudden rule change says differently. Desperate, she holds out a handful of poisonous berries to Peeta. Just as they both prepare to swallow a loud booming voice of the head gamemaker comes on urging them to stop, they will both live.
 * Hunger Games **
 * Journal Entry 5 **
 * Pages 247- 374 **


 * __Why did (or didn't) the novel meet your expectations?__ **
 * This novel was recommended to me by a friend and she described it as one of the best books she has ever read. So, going into reading it my expectations and hopes for this book were very high. And the book completely met and exceeded my expectations. It was filled with drama, action, excitement, suspense, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole reading process which, I should add, was not very long as I basically consumed the book in two days. The characters were complex and realistic, the setting was so well described I could almost see it, this book is phenomenal! **


 * __Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend?__ **


 * I would definitely recommend this book to everyone I know. I was absolutely in awe when I read The Hunger Games and I’m sure anyone else wold be too. This book is genius. The author did an amazing job at creating the world of Panem and all it’s inhabitants. I can’t wait for the movie to come out so I can see Suzanne Collins’ fantasy come alive even further. **


 * __Is the novel believable?__ **


 * Even though this novel is a fictional book, I did find it very believable. I thought that it seemed real because of the amazing descriptive language used by the author. The characters were very dimensional and if the setting was not so “out of this world”, perhaps they would seem even more normal. If this were to actually happen in the future, I’m not saying I want it to happen, but if, then I could see the events in the book being a reality. **