Welcome to THE HUNGER GAMES~!

About Us:

We are students of a Modern Novels class in Southridge High School. And we will be commenting about the book, THE HUNGER GAMES. THE HUNGER GAMES is the 1st book to the trilogy by Suzanne Collins.


Friday, February 18, 2011

#4 - Book Review

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/149136157

#1. Reflection – The Hunger Games

My first impression on the book was that it was going to be a drag. I found it to be a very slow beginning, with the reaping and Hunger Games an unknown event, and the world had yet to be painted for me. Since the story has such a deep, complex setting, it takes a while to get introduced.

By the time I'd finished the novel, I wanted more. It left me with an incredible adventure, and stopped right at a place where the story is in a breaking point, but that makes you want to go out and buy the next book right away. Very smart of the author to do. This method lead me through not only the second book but the third as well.

I liked the part of the book when Peeta confessed to Katniss in her beautiful flaming dress, when Katniss shot the arrow at the Gamemakers, when Katniss blew up the Career's supplies, when she sung to Rue and decorated her with flowers, and the part where she and Peeta stay alive through threats of double suicide. I didn't like the part where Katniss had to take care of Peeta. There was just too much down time, and it all felt fake. Completely fake, especially coming from Katniss. It made me think a lot less of her than I had before. Because she doesn't really love Peeta, and she's leading him on, which isn't fair to him.

I think a lot of Katniss' ramblings should have been left out. She literally spends pages telling of the past, even made up stories, or fretting that her family might be destroyed. It doesn't make anyone like her. Katniss is the hero of the story, she should have the strength and courage.. Especially the brains to figure out they wouldn't kill a tribute's family. That would cause uproars.

Independent Written Reflection (Grace Kim)

When I first read The Hunger Games (the first 20 pages) I was entranced into how the tributes are chosen in the game. When Katniss came into the beginning of the book, she seemed like a typical heroine to me, but when she went to the tribute ceremony, I thought, "well obviously, she's going to be chosen for the games, she's the main character!" but when her sister was chosen for the games in the raffle, I didn't expect that all. And when Katniss volunteered in her sister's place it kept me to continue reading the book. I do have to admit that the beginning of the book was quite slow and boring, but the final pages of the 1st chapter gave me a big shock. The romance in the book wasn't that interesting to me overall especially in the end. Overall I wanted more action and less romance.My favorite parts in this book was when the bees and the wolves attacked the players, I didn't enjoy the torture they were suffering from, but the action and suspense that was shown. I could vividly imagine them being attacked and the injuries they suffered from. The ending with Cato versus Peeta and Katniss was really intense and the double suicide attempt was totally  unexpected for me which got me motivated to read the 2nd book. However the final ending was quite boring and didn't really make any sense to me, I expected some sort of sacrifice to happen between Peeta and Katniss. I think more of the romance could have been left out, and I actually wanted Gale to be in the Hunger Games too, he would've been really vicious and could have possibly won The Hunger Games if the rule that same district people can team up wasn't made. But overall I enjoyed the book and I look forward to what happens next int he sequels. :)

Book Review on Good Reads (Independent Read)

Book Reviewed: The Hunger Games
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/148824225

review URL

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/149035949

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Independent Written Reflection

When I first picked up the hunger games I knew it was going to be amazing from all the great reviews people had given it. It seemed almost instantaneously that I got buried in the book, and at every moment I took time to read as much as I could. The story of life in the districts was interesting and made me appreciate the freedom that I have in America. I finished the book in 4 days while wrapped in my comforter with the book propped up on my knees till the sun rose. Every page was full of action with a clear image for you to form in your imagination. My favorite part is when Katniss drops the beehive on the careers because I was so amazed she figured ut a way to escape when it seemed hopeless. The only part I disliked about the book was how Katniss led Peeta on so much to the point where you just felt sorry for him. But I think that was part of trying to form the I have to say, some of the lit roles I actually enjoyed doing. Especially the illustrator and connector because I got to make my own personal connections to the novel. In a way I felt like the book held a lot of life lessons for me because I connected it to my life and my surroundings. Every moment was action packed and I don't think anything needed to be left out because everything had a deeper meaning. I'm already reading the next book because it leaves at such a big cliffhanger.

Book Review

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4995847-hector

Monday, February 14, 2011

Illustrator meeting #2 Ch.6-9



Do you guys relate to this image? Do you think it fits with the passage well?

Friday, February 11, 2011

Discussion 6. Chapters 22-27

Q1. Did you like the ending of the book?
A1. No. I think the ending was kind of dumb.

Q2. Would you have rather wanted a ending where only one player would have won? If yes who?
A2. Yes, that would have made the book better. Having two winners takes the value of the games and the prize. Katniss should have been the only winner.

Q3. What did you like about this book?
A3. What i liked about this book was that it was very easy to get into. it was easy to read and to understand what was going on. you could easily paint a good picture on what you were reading.

Q4. Do you think Katniss and Peeta will continue their romance?
A4. Maybe. katniss and Gale had a some what like a relationship back home. But katniss and Peeta won the games together so they might still keep their relationship.

Q5. Who was your favorite and least favorite character?
A5. My favorite character was Katniss she was brave and had a lot of courage. My least favorite character were the career people.

Meeting #1 Literary Luminary Chapter 1-5

"I've been right not to cry. The station is swarming with reporters with their insectlike cameras trained directly on my face. But I've had a lot of practice at wiping my face clean of emotions and I do this now." (Collins 40)
~Significance to overall plot/theme, emotional/intellectual impact
This passage expresses the importance of the games, it gives suspense and pressure to Katniss because she knows everybody will have their eyes on her competitors and especially her. She knows that she will have to keep a strong front to leave a good 1st impression for her district and proportional sponsors.
~Interested in figurative language?
The passage mentions the reporters that they are swarming like insects which is a simile. The author describes the reporters like pests who go for their main "meal" or in a literal sense their story for the news. Katniss's voluntary action to enter the Hunger Games is the main story or meal for the news.
~Shift in character's fate?
This scene is where Katniss leaves her home district. She feels scared inside that she won't be able to see her family and friends anymore. This is the beginning of Katniss's journey into the Capitol with a significant amount of pressure and freight.
~Shocking/surprising?
I thought Katniss would show some grief and sadness, but I didn't expect her to look bored, it's probably because she's still getting adjusted to the fact she's  in the Hunger Games now, she either lives or die.
"When my stomach feels like it's about to split open, I lean back and take in my breakfast companions. Peeta is still eating, breaking off bits of roll and dipping them in hot chocolate." (Collins 56)
~Significance to overall plot/theme emotional/intellectual impact
Katniss and Peeta are devouring a lot of food in this passage. I thought the Capitol was teasing or mocking the players in the future. Because the book is called, "The Hunger Games", there will be starvation involved in the games. So when the time comes when the players are starving, they will feel tortured that they ate such good food in the train. The feast represents the player's indulgence and the games is like their punishment for indulging such delicacies.
~How does Collins use figurative language?
Katniss describes that she is incredibly full to the extent that her stomach is going to "split open", this is a simile that Collins uses.
~Shift in character's fate?
This scene shows that Katniss and Peeta are buffing up to become stronger for the games by eating a lot of luxurious food.
~Shocking/ interesting?
When I first read this, I never expected that the competitors would be given delicacies before a life/death game.
What do you guys think about these passages? Why?

Discussion 5. Chapters 18-21

Q1. What were your reactions when they change the rules of the game?
A1. I think changing the rules of the game was a bad idea. They should have not changed the rules in the middle of the game. It was lame cause now there was going to be two winners and not just one.

Q2. Why did you think the author choose to turn the book into a romance?
A2. I think he did this to switch the book more into like a romance. Personally i didn't like it.

Q3. Do you think Peeta and katniss have a romance?
A3. Yes. Once Katniss fines out the rules have been change in the ending of chapter 17, she yells out his name to fine him. Once she find him she takes care of his wounds and then later they start kissing.

Q4. Gale, Katniss friend back home is watching. What do you think he thinks of the romance?
A4. Gale is probably some what jealous. Gale and Katniss were very good friends and in chapter 1 they even talk about running away together. Katniss also thinks about what he might be thinking of the "romance" so he probably jealous.

Q5. Do you think this book would make a good movie?
A5. Yes. This book has what it takes to be a good movie. It has violence, action, good plot and romance.

summarizer 22-27

Chapter 22

Katniss wakes up, weak and dizzy to find Peeta. She tells Peeta about everything that happened at the Cornucopia, including Thresh letting her go because he owed her a debt. Peeta doesn't seem to understand, but Katniss says it's like the bread he gave her as a child. Katniss feels tears in her eyes thinking about Thresh dying. She tells Peeta she wants to go home. Katniss said that the first kiss she's had with him that makes her want another. The next day, the rains continue. Katniss asks Peeta when he got a crush on her. He tells her the first day of school. He also mentions that his own father wanted to marry her mother. Peeta said he knew he was a goner for her when in music class she stood up and sang the valley song. Katniss is happy but also confused. When Katniss leans in to kiss him she hears a clunk outside: a tureen of lamb stew and rice.

Chapter 23

Katniss and Peeta eat a small portion of the stew. Katniss teases Peeta for liking a girl from the Seam, but he reminds her that if she wins, she'll be living in Victor's Village in a fancy new house. Their neighbor, would be Haymitch. Katniss realizes that she might not get along with Haymitch very well in person. Katniss asks Peeta how Haymitch won the Hunger Games. Peeta says by outsmarting the others. Maybe Katniss has been underestimated Haymitch. Katniss finds out Thresh is dead. They realize Cato will be hunting them. The two take turns sleeping and watch`ing and eating. Katniss considers that they might actually win. She thinks of Gale. In the morning the two eat the rest of the food and set out to hunt. As the two move through the forest, Peeta is, SUPER-loud. He stomps and clumps and scares off the game. Katniss asks him to take his boots off and the two of them are a little quieter, but not much. The two decide to split up. She teaches him a whistle to use to say he's OK. She whistles, no response. Back at their meeting point, she sees a bunch of berries that have been gathered, but no Peeta. Suddenly, he appears and Katniss is relieved but still angry at him for not whistling. She also notices that some of their food is gone. That's when the cannon fires. They see Foxface lifted out of the arena. Foxface ate some of the berries Peeta collected. Apparently, they were poisonous.

Chapter 24

Katniss explains to Peeta that Foxface must have been watching him and eaten his berries. They save a handful of the berries, just in case they can fool Cato in the same way. Katniss suggests they make a fire, roast their meat, and wait to see if he shows up. He doesn't. Time to make camp for the night, but Peeta can't climb, so Katniss agrees to head back to the cave. The next day the Gamemakers must be driving them to the lake for a "bloody fight to the death". At the lake, there's no sign of Cato. Katniss makes Rue's mockingjay call and the trees come alive with the song. The song is cut off, when someone smashes through the trees: Cato wearing body armor. He's not running for them. He's running FROM something! He's being pursued by creatures. Katniss stumbles after Cato. And runs.

Chapter 25

The creatures chasing them are big old wolves engineered by the Capitol. Cato reaches the top first, and then Katniss. Just as she's about to draw an arrow to shoot him, she hears Peeta cry. She helps him climb to the top. That's when Katniss realizes that the Capitol has somehow engineered the dead tributes into KILLER WOLVES. Katniss recognizes Foxface from district 5, the boy from District 9, and RUE. Peeta recognizes them too. Peeta and Katniss fight, but then Cato comes up behind Peeta. Katniss doesn't know what to do. If she shoots Cato, he'll take Peeta down with him. Peeta tells Katniss to shoot Cato's hand, and Cato releases. Cato is being torn to bits by the wolves. They can hear Cato slowly dying. What's worse is that Peeta is losing blood from his leg. Listening to Cato die is a nightmare and Katniss just wants his suffering to end. Katniss makes Peeta stay awake through the night so he won't lose consciousness. They move down to the lake where the announcer's voice booms out that there has been YET ANOTHER change in the rules. Now there can only be ONE winner. Katniss draws her arrow but can't kill Peeta. She won't let him kill himself. Katniss grabs the poisonous berries that killed old Foxface they both take some in their hand. Peeta kisses her and then they start to pop them in their mouth. Suddenly, the voice of the announcer: "Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am leased to present the victors of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark"

Chapter 26

Katniss and Peeta spit the berries out and flush their mouths with water. The hovercraft lands at the Training Center, and Katniss starts throwing herself against the glass. Then she's jabbed with a needle and all goes black. When Katniss wakes, her body is totally clean, and all her scars are nearly gone. An Avox comes in and Katniss asks if Peeta made it. The Avox said yes. The waking, sleeping, and eating cycle continues for a bit. All her scars are gone. Katniss dresses and immediately finds Effie, Haymitch, and Cinna. They hugs all around. Katniss tries her best not to be annoyed by the prep team. Cinna brings out a simple yellow dress that is padded with curves since Katniss has lost weight. Haymitch says that Peeta is "already there" . Katniss knows she's in danger. So is Peeta, and possibly her family.

Chapter 27

The reunion show begins. The support team comes out and then Katniss and Peeta are transported to the stage. She runs to his arms and they kiss. The two sit in a love seat. President Snow appears on stage with a crown which he breaks in half and puts one on Peeta's head and the other's on Katniss's. Afterwards, Peeta and Katniss are separated and sent to separate rooms to sleep and prepare for the final interview. The next morning when the interview is over Katniss gets the mockingjay pin from her room and then is whisked away to a train to be taken back to District 12. The train stops for fuel, and she and Peeta walk outside for air. She can only think of Gale. Peeta thought that love stuff back in the arena was real, but Katniss didn't. She doesn't know what she feels. The closer she gets to home, the more confused she is. When the train pulls into the station, there are cameras everywhere. Peeta extends his hand to Katniss and says, "One more time? For the audience?" Katniss takes it as they step onto the platform.

Meeting #6 Literary Luminary Chapter 22-27

PASSAGE #1--> "The sun eventually rises, its light slipping through the cracks and illuminating Peeta's fact. Who will he transform into if we make it home? The perplexing, good-natured boy who can spin out lies so convincingly the whole of Panem believes him to be hopelessly in love with me, and I'll admit it, there are moments when he makes me believe it myself? At least, we'll be friends, I think. Nothing will change the fact that we've saved each other's lives in here. And beyond that, he will always be the boy with the bread. Good friends. Anything beyond that, though... and I feel Gale's gray eyes watching me watching Peeta, all the way from District 12." (Collins 311)
~Significance to overall plot/theme/ emotionally and intellectual impact
I found this passage to be where Katniss questions Peeta's trust or not. It seems like Gale holds her back somehow of trusting Peeta. Although they both saved each other's lives, Katniss begins to think that Peeta did it in order to pay back the debt (for Katniss saving his life). The passage shows a lot of uncertainty with Katniss and it will take time for her to gain Peeta's trust fully enough.
~How does the author use figurative language?
The quote uses some hyperboles like when it describes the sun's light coming into the cave representing a new day and a fresh start. Another one is where it describes Peeta "spinning" out lies, which means he can not say the truth, but lies freely. When it figuratively speaks of Gale's eyes watching down it shows another hyperbole to dramatize the event of the story.
~Shift in character's fate?
Yes, because Katniss soon comes to trust in Peeta to the point of where they're both willing to commit suicide. Katniss seems to think better know that see has somebody to rely on now. This passage seems like the rising action, where the main character, Katniss is still working on the trusting bond.
~Shocking or surprising?
What was shocking/surprising in this passage was that how Katniss imagines Gale watching her from back home, which may suggest that she romantically likes Gale and thus feels pressured next to Peeta.
PASSAGE #2--> "A silver parachute attached to a basket. I rip it open at once and inside there's a feast--fresh rolls, goat cheese, apples, and best of all, a tureen of that incredible lamb stew on wild rice. The very dish I  told Caesar Flickerman was the most impressive thing the Capitol had to offer ."(Collins 382 )
~Significance to overall plot/theme/ emotionally and intellectual impact
This passages kind of foreshadows Katniss and Peeta rebelling against the Capitol of not "starving" in the Hunger Games, they're given a luxurious meal that didn't seem quite likely that their district could afford it, but with all that romantic scenes going on, they must have gotten a lot of sponsors. This passage shows that Katniss and Peeta went against the Capitol indirectly.
~How does the author use figurative language?
There actually wasn't any specific figurative languages, but I thought that District 12's poor condition and the Capitol's richness contrasted each other. Collins doesn't compare these two unlike regions, but showed how the richness came to the poor district competitors.
~Shift in character's fate?
This passage shows how Katniss and Peeta (& the district 12) is helping to go against the Caption and their wrongdoings. Because of this delicious food, it allows Peeta and Katniss to continue to survive the games until they win the game.
~Shocking or surprising?
I found it shocking  that the District 12 was able to send this to Katniss and Peeta. It was incredibly good timing, because Katniss and Peeta were almost on the verge of being famished. I found it surprising that the Capitol didn't say anything about the meal, they may have realized that it was a certain type of mockery against the Capitol.
What do you guys think about these two passages?
Why do you think the passages are important?

Meeting #5 Connector Chapter 18-21

Near the end of chapter 21, Katniss encounters Thresh and throughout the novel, Thresh has always reminded me of Lenny from Of Mice and Men (if you haven't read it, it might not make any sense). It's not just because of their physicality (abnormal strength), but because they just loved something in particular. Thresh seemed to really care about Rue and even went berserk (killing Clove) which connected it to Lenny's love of puppies. So Rue kind of resembled a puppy; sweet, innocent, and small. Another thing I noticed was that both Lenny and Thresh killed a woman. Both of the victimized woman pressured Lenny and Thresh to confuse them so much that they didn't know what to do but attack. Although Lenny and Thresh are both slow mentally, I think they both have this type of pure soul that a lot people do not have.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Meeting #5 - Summarizer ch 18-21

Chapter 18
The chapter opens with the Katniss' lovely first direct kill, an arrow through the boy from District 1's neck (I found out later his name was Marvel).Rue had just taken a spear through the stomach, and Katniss stays with her until she dies, and at Rue's request, she sings her a song. After Rue dies, Katniss feels she hadn't done enough. She walks to a field of flowers, gathers them and then decorates Rue's body with them. As she walks away, she hears a mockingjay sing Rue's melody.
Katniss spends the rest of the day moping, depressed. She receives bread from District 11. Eventually, she gets herself together and does some hunting, until she hears the announcer's voice. The rules have been changed, Peeta and Katniss have become a team.

Chapter 19
Katniss searches for Peeta, eventually finding him half dead under some awesome camoflauge he's put together. Peeta jokes around and flirts with her, even though he's half dead. She cleans him up and they head to some cave for shelter. She pretends to be in love with him and Haymitch sends them some soup. (Can you tell I didn't particularly enjoy this part of the book?)
Chapter 20
While feeding and kissing Peeta, she hopes no one will come hunt them. Peeta tells her stuff about the Careers. Peeta's leg, they discover is pretty much beyond Katniss' ability to repair. Katniss BS's some story about Prim's goat. They get invited to a feast. Peeta throws a tantrum and is stubborn about not letting Katniss go. With a gift from Haymitch, some sleep syrup, Katniss is able to knock Peeta safely out.
Chapter 21
Katniss runs off to the cornucopia for the feast. Foxface runs off with hers first. Katniss runs out, gets brutally attacked by Clove in the forehead, causing to bleed, and then Clove gets torn off her by Thresh and gets her neck bent in half along with a nice big dent in her skull. Katniss talks to Thresh and he lets her go with her bag. Clove dies, Cato's pissed. Katniss goes into panic mode, gets back to their cave, injects the thing in the bag into Peeta's arm and passes out from blood loss.

Meeting #3 - Illustrator Ch. 10-13


"I allow my eyes to flicker up to the screen long enough to see the blush on my cheeks is unmistakable." ch10 pg. 133

I just had to visualize that dress, it's not my favorite of hers to come but It's definitely one of them. I also thought this moment in the book was kind of shocking, and adorable. It's one of those moments you just can't seem to put the book down. :)

Discussion Question #5

What different ending could you imagine for this book?

Discussion Question #4

What did you like about this book?

Discussion Question #3

Would this story make a good movie?

Discussion question #2

What does this book have to say about forgiveness?

Discussion Question #1

Who was the most interesting character in the book?

Connector Ch.14-17 meeting #4

Rue reminds me of Pocahontas because she puts of the appearance of being small and gentle, but she can put up a good fight and evade danger well. This reminds me of real life when you always have a plan that you think is going to go pefectly, but then it gets destroyed so easily. I think Katniss was confident that her plan was going to work, and after setting off the fireworks she thought it did work, but the plan backfired and her companion suffered the consequences. Also in some parts of the book the action resides and you feel like she's just taking a hiking trip with her orange backpack, but then the tension rises again. This reminds me of the times in movies when a person's hiking, the birds are singing, and then all the sudden they stop. The calmness of silence swirls over the hiker, but then a bear appears and attacks. Did you guys feel any connections like this when she was walking over to destroy the careers' food supply?

Discussion Director meeting #6 Ch.22-27

The capital took the dead tributes DNA and planted it into wolves to attack the competitors still in the game, do you think the wolves will play into the sequel to this book?
I think the wolves represent very well once again how much power the capital has over everybody. I think they won't keep the wolves for the sequel because they can trade them out for something new and better just as easily. Manipulating people is their strategy and they wouldn't let the wolves roam around under their watch. Also i think the meaning of the wolves was to turn the tributes against each other, like how the capital can make the tributes attack each other by the click of a button. Even though the tributes were all in it to kill, I know they wouldn't want to have turn against the still living competitors because they don't have a chance of winning it. In this way I think it's sort of ironic that the wolf tributes are know attacking Katniss, Peeta, and Cato.

Discussion Director Meeting #5 Ch.18-21 SPLIT

When Rue dies, the mockingjays continue to sing her song. What meaning do you think this holds?
The mockingjays represent hope, and to show Katniss that she's not alone. I think they kind of foreshadow her alliance with Peeta. Also, they bring a sad tone along with the hope because it's like the song for the Rue's funeral. The mockingjays usually stay quiet after danger, so Katniss knows she's safe now since the birds are singing.
the other questions follow, since we split up the questions within our group

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Meeting #6 - Illustrator ch. 22-27


"I spread out my fingers, and the dark berries glisten in the sun. I give Peeta's hand one last squeeze as a signal, as a good-bye, and we begin counting. "One." Maybe I'm wrong. "Two." Maybe they don't care if we both die. "Three!" It's too late to change my mind. I lift my hand to my mouth, taking one last look at the world. The berries have just passed my lips when the trumpets begin to blare." pg. 345 ch 25
I chose this passage because I consider it to be one of the most meaningful moments in the book. It packs a punch, and completely changed the character's fate all in one moment.
What do you guys get from this image?
Do you feel like it's connected to the book?
Is this how you imagined this scene to look?
Do you think it was a good idea for Katniss to suggest the berries?
Sorry, I got lazy on the hands. xD Honestly, though, I don't think I could have picked a more challenging drawing. It took at least an hour longer than i'd originally intended it to. Dx I am really proud, though. :)

Connector Ch.22-27 Meeting 6 02/09

The hunger games remind me of medieval times when everything was about survival and how strong your fortress is. The cave is Peeta and Katniss' fortress which Katniss disguises with leaves, like camouflaging an entrance to a castle. Most of all the fake romance between the two competitors reminds me of a movie I watched recently, the Godfather. Michael, the protagonist, convinces his ex-girlfriend that he still loves her so that he can gain political standings. Although I don't know if the relationship between Peeta and Katniss is truly all fake. The cave also reminds me a lot of the new movie Tangled, in which they get stuck in a cave that overfilling with water. Just like how Peeta and Katniss can't stay in that cave forever as their time is running out. Relating this to real life, foxgirl reminds me of those people that get out of their classes early to stand in the cafeteria line, I feel like that's cheating.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Summary chapters 6-9

In chapters 6-9 Katniss and Peeta are beinging to train for the Hunger Games. They are told about the Avox. Whole are peolpe who rebel against the Capitol. Those who rebel are punished by getting their tongues cut of. Katniss and Peeta are still sorta like friends, but still not fully trusting one in other. In their training they meet the other players of the game from the other districts. katniss meets Rue who is from district 11. Peeta asked Haymitch if he can train alone with him, so he wont grow feelings for Katniss.

Lit Role Illustrator Ch.18-21 02/07


"I sit back on my heels and look at him with a mixture of sadness and satisfaction. A stray berry stains his chin and I wipe it away. "Who can't lie, Peeta?" I say, even though he can't hear me." (277)


I wanted to show that Katniss is preoccupied with getting to the dinner party while Peeta can only think about the pain shooting up his leg. This for me is the most desperate part of the book where they both are on the brink of death.

Meeting #5 - Literary Luminary ch. 18-21

Amazingly similar in execution. A bow pulled, an arrow shot. Entirely different in the aftermath. I killed a boy whose name I don't even know. Somewhere his family is weeping for him. His friends call for my blood. Maybe he had a girlfriend who really believed he would come back. . . . pg243 ch 18 Are you interested in how the author uses figurative language?
It reads so smoothly that figurative language actually just passes me by. It'd not really interesting, but then again I hardly even notice it.
Does the passage signal a significant shift in a character's fate?
It definitely signals that Katniss took a mental blow. It appears as yet another obstacle to survival that she doesn't feel right killing people.
Is there something shocking or surprising here? The fact that she's been hunting all her life and now she's hunted a human, it's shocking how similarly they were killed, and shocking how different what that kill means is.
Cato kneels beside Clove, spear in hand, begging her to stay with him. In a moment, he will realize it's futile, she can't be saved. I crash into the trees, repeatedly swiping away the blood that's pouring into my eye, fleeing like the wild, wounded creature I am. After a few minutes, I hear the cannon and I know that Clove has died, and Cato will be on one of our trails. Either Thresh's or mine. I'm seized with terror, weak from my wound, shaking. I load an arrow, but Cato can throw that spear almost as far as I can shoot. pg 289 ch21

Are you interested in how the author uses figurative language?
I love the way the author shows how Katniss feels through her thoughts, you can obviousely tell she's gone into a panic and all she cares about at this point is survival.
Does the passage signal a significant shift in a character's fate?
Katniss is struggling for survival, I think the shift in her fate is apparent when she puts survival above all else.
Is there something shocking or surprising here?

Not particularly shocking or surprising, but the suspense is held high through this passage, and I find myself reading it as fast as i possibly can every time to get to the next event after the action.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Meeting #4 Illustrator Ch.14-17



"You can see the glint of excitement in her eyes. In this way, she's exactly the opposite of Prim, for whom adventures are an ordeal." (Collins 210)
The visual depicting Rue and Prim shows their "resemblance" in Katniss's perspective. The glint in Rue's eyes have a type of similarity between her and Prim Everdeen. Even though they are from two different districts they share this type of "purity" as a young child. Even if Rue did not remind Katniss of Prim, I think Katniss would still form an alliance with her because of Rue's kind heart and pureness. I selected this quote because first of all my favorite character is Rue and I like how her aura is actually different than from what people perceive; she knows more than what other people expect. Rue sees Katniss like an older sister, and because Rue is the eldest of six siblings she treats Katniss like an older sister she's never had before. The second reason why I chose this passage is because this quote shows how Katniss and Rue are becoming more trusting of each other.
QUESTIONS:
1. What does this illustration mean to you?
2. How do you think this illustration connects to the reading?

Meeting #4 Discussion Director (#2) Ch.14-17

If Katniss never existed and Prim ended up going to The Hunger Games, do you think Prim and Rue would form an alliance like Katniss and Rue did? If yes, what do you think the reasons are that they would form an alliance?
I think they would form an alliance because Prim and Rue are pretty similar to each other (pointed out by Katniss). But if they were to kill each other, it would highly possible that either of them could because they may befriend each other like two sisters. Even though Prim and Rue are the same age, I think that Prim would see Rue like an older sister, not because Rue knows more about the wild, but because Rue knows the responsibilities like an elder sibling would know. And Rue would probably see Prim Everdeen like a younger sister that needs a watchful eye over. I think they would "use" each other to feel less "homesick" and lonely and to survive in the games.

Chapter 4 summary

Peeta offers to clean Haymitch up, which Katniss wonders about that Peeta is being kind. Kind?! Katniss and Prim go to the Meadow where she could scavenge for even more food with her mother's book. Katniss also begins going under the fence surrounding District 12 and goes into the woods to hunt. She uses the small bow and arrow that her father had made for her, Katniss kills a rabbit on her first day and the family has meat for the first time in months.

Later that summer, she finds the water plant, she remembers that they're called "Katniss." And that her father told her: "As long you can find yourself, you'll never starve". With the food and the hope, Katniss's mother begins to come out of her depression..

The next day during breakfast Katniss asks Haymitch for advice, and he says "stay alive". The train pulls into the Capitol and people are on hand Katniss backs away from the window, but Peeta smiles and waves and says. "One of them may be rich". Katniss realizes that maybe she has underestimated Peeta. Maybe he does have a plan and that plan probably involves killing her.

02/03 Discussion Director Ch.14-17

Do you think Rue represents Prim, and do you think Katniss is unconsciously thinking of Rue as Prim?

From the moment Rue stepped on to the podium, I think Katniss has thought of Rue sort of like a sibling. If they were to ever fight each other in the hunger games, I think Katniss would just let Rue kill her because it would be like killing her own sister. Since Prim was the only person besides Gale that she cherished a lot I think she misses her a lot, and is using Rue to visualize that her sister is still with her.

We split up the questions so the rest are below in the comments

Lit Role 02/03 Literary Luminary Ch.14-17

Quote 1:
"One year, a girl dropped her token, a small wooden ball, while she was at her plate and they literally had to scrape bits of her off the ground"(219)
This really stuck with me because it was so corrupt and unfair. All the capital wants is a good show, and they immediately take advantage of people's mistakes. I kept thinking before I read this passage that somehow Katniss would get out of the hunger games without having to die or kill someone else, but this passage made me think the chance of that was slim. Also this passage takes a gruesome event and makes it seem like a common thing, which I guess it is in the world of the hunger games.
Also I like how Collins describes the token as a small wooden ball because it makes the explosion that much of an overreaction to the girls accident.

Quote 2:
"Another blast knocks me flat on my face. A stray mine, set off by some collapsing crate. This happens twice more. I'm reminded of those last few kernels that burst when Prim and I pop popcorn over the fire at home"(223)
This represents Katniss' longing for home as well as how used to the games she has already gotten. In a moment of danger, when you're completely hopeless to the thing happening in that moment, all you think about is how much you wish you could see your loved ones one last time. That's why I think Katniss relates the bomb to home.
You could also interpret this passage as Katniss has gotten so used to the everyday occurence of life-threatening conditions that it's like making popcorn at home.
In all, this passage has a sad tone that I think Collins sets you up to think Katniss might be at her breaking point.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Meeting #3 Literary Luminary Chapter 10-13

PASSAGE #1 (Page 143-144)
-->"Still? I'm a statue. But that doesn't prevent me from feeling the sharp stab of pain as the needle inserts the metal tracking device deep under the skin on the inside of my forearm. Now the Gamemakers will always be able to trace my whereabouts in the arena. Wouldn't want to lose a tribute."
~Significance to plot/Emotional/intellectual impact
Although this quote uses a literal sense, Katniss feels the Gamemakers "in her" (like a sort of branded curse). Katniss has been hunting the majority of her life and now she begins to understand what it's like to be hunted not by the other contestants, but by the Gamemakers.
~Author usage on figurative language
Collins uses a brief phrase describing when Katniss felt like a statue. This one simple sentence is a metaphor. She's not really a statue, but she doesn't just feel immobile from the puncture of the needle, but the keen and watchful eyes of the Gamemakers. I think this foreshadows when Katniss is out in the woods, she has to be calm so she won't be killed. I find it interesting when the Gamemakers placed the tracking device "in" the contestants, it shows a sense of "branding".
~Significant shift in character's fate
This quote is not exactly a huge shift in the character's fate, but Katniss's beginning into the cursed games. I thought it was interesting how the Gamemakers have to track down the players. Using these devices it reminds me of when cows are branded by the company's trademark.
PASSAGE #2 (Page 159)
--> "The sky is still dark, but I can feel the first signs of dawn approaching. I'm beginning to think we-meaning the person whose death I'm now devising and I-we might actually have gone unnoticed. Then I hear it. Several pairs of feet breaking into a run. The fire starter might have dozed off. They're on her before she can escape. I know it's a girl now, I can tell by the pleading, the agonized scream that follows."
~Significance to plot/Emotional/intellectual impact
Although this passage is not the climax of the book, this shows what may have happened to Katniss if she is not careful like this unfortunate girl. In my opinion, this moment in the book is supposed to frighten the audience. I think the dark sky represents or foreshadows a certain event in the novel. This gruesome scene probably shows that the players have lost their sense of humanity and their consciences.
~Author usage on figurative language
This passage doesn't actually have a direct figurative language element, but I thought that it showed a good piece of symbolism. I thought the dawn represented the night that the blood has been spilt. It also foreshadows that it will soon be time when Katniss will have to mercilessly murder like the other contestants to survive on this barbaric show. This is part of the rising action where Katniss will have to step up in the games.
~Significant shift in character's fate
Katniss has to change her own character soon to adjust to The Hunger Games. Although she hasn't barbarically killed anyone yet, she knows that if she doesn't act up now, she will fall like the other unfortunate contestants. This scene is significant because I think this is the "start" for her murderous and cold-blooded adventure.
QUESTIONS
*What do you guys think about these two events in this book?
* In passage 2, do you guys think that Katniss will have to adjust her own character to survive?
*In passage 1, do you think the Gamemakers have other intentions of inserting the device "in" them?

Chapter 3

Katniss and the other candidates are taken into custody. They are divided and taken into fancy rooms with plush carpets and velvet chairs where each are allowed to say their farewells. Prim and Mother visit Katniss. Prim makes Katniss promise to try to win; despite Katniss's doubts about her ability in the competition, she agrees. Katniss tells her mom to not leave Prim alone.

The next visitor is, to Katniss's surprise, Peeta Mellark's father, the baker. He offers Katniss a white paper package of cookies and promises to keep an eye of Prim. After the baker leaves, Madge, the mayor's daughter enters the room. She offers Katniss a circular gold pin to wear as a token of District 12. On the pin is a small bird.

The last visitor is Gale, who hugs Katniss. He advises Katniss to get her hands most immediately on a bow during the Games, even if she has to make one. The peacekeepers arrive and force Gale to leave, but before he does, he says "Katniss, remember I –," but isn't allowed to finish that thought. Suspense! =0

Katniss showers in her own private car and dresses in a dark green shirt for dinner. She puts on Madge's gold pin with the mockingjay. Katniss's father, a great singer, would always sing to the birds. She finds the pin of the bird comforting, like having a piece of her father with her. The party watches on television. A few tributes stand out: a "monstrous boy" from District 2, a "fox-faced girl" form District 5, a crippled boy from District 10, and a small girl with "dark brown skin and eyes" from District 12. She reminds Katniss of Prim. Peeta and Katniss make a few jokes at Haymitch's expense when he staggers through the door. And vomits!

Meeting #4 Summarizer ch. 14-17

Chapter 14
The chapter begins with Rue pointing to the Tracker Jacker nest above Katniss. Katniss decides to devise a plan to drop the nest on the Careers to escape the tree she's been trapped in. Just after Katniss decides to drop the nest on the Careers at dawn, the sponsors give her her first gift- Burn medicine, which she uses on her hands and ankle. She drops the nest on the Careers, and Peeta and a few others make it away with a few stings, but Glimmer and another girl go mad and are killed. Katniss runs away from the scene at first, then returns to retrieve the bow and arrows from Glimmer's body. Peeta returns before the other Careers and tells Katniss to run, saving her life; she'd been stung was beginning to hallucinate, and Cato was making his way back to the scene.
Chapter 15
When Katniss comes to after the Tracker Jacker incident, she wakes up in a hole she'd fallen in and several days had passed. Katniss begins to think about Gale back home, and how he suggested they run away earlier in the book. She wonders why Peeta helped her, or if he even did, because she'd been starting to hallucinate. Katniss, now with her bow and arrows is now able to really participate in the Hunger Games rather than just run and stay alive. She manages to hunt some game and sets up a small fire to cook them. She notices Rue watching her, and suggests they form an alliance. Rue accepts and shares her knowledge of the groosling (the bird Katniss was now cooking) and also treats her Tracker Jacker stings with herbs she'd picked up. Rue and Katniss spend time talking about the differences between their districts, and they learn that they aren't so different. Rue tells Katniss about the sunglasses she'd picked up in her orange backpack- they help in darkness rather than helping you see in the sun. Rue and Katniss realize the Careers probably don't know how to hunt or gather food, and that they would probably starve to death if they didn't have the food from the Cornucopia, so they plan a way to get rid of their stash.
Chapter 16
Katniss and Rue have decided to trust each other, and fall asleep in a tree side by side. They're woken up by a cannon going off, and sit down and have breakfast. They devise a plan to take out the Career's food. Rue tells Katniss all about the Career's camp, since she'd been watching them. Rue explains she loves music, and tells Katniss the mockingbird pin on her clothes is the reason she decided to trust her. Katniss decides to have Rue run around and set up campfires as distractions. Katniss and Rue seperate, and Katniss gives Rue her sleeping bag. Katniss heads to the Career's camp. She discovers the food is out in the open, with only a net to guard it against wildlife. While she observes the camp, she overhears the Career's conversation and finds out Peeta is out in the woods, badly wounded. Before the Careers run off to go 'hunt', though not using names, Cato exclaims he wants to kill Katniss. After the Careers leave, Katniss waits a while, and the foxfaced girl comes out of the bushes. She does a wierd little dance, careful with her footing and approaches the food, steals just enough that wouldn't be noticed, does her wierd little dance out and dissappears. Katniss thinks over the possibilities, and realises the ground around the food is mined. Apparentally the boy from District 3 was able to re-enable the mines from the start of the Games. Katniss struggles for a plan for a while, and then sees a bag of apples in the pile of food and gives herself three arrows to do the job. The apples spill out of the bag and Katniss is thrown back by the explosion.
Chapter 17
The blow knocks the wind out of Katniss, making her escape less than speedy. She realises she can no longer hear out of her left ear. She decides to remain hidden in the bushes next to the camp, since she's unable to move anyway. Just after she's safely hidden, Cato storms back into the camp furiousely. He quickly kills the boy from district 3 purely out of rage. At first, the Careers believe whoever destroyed their supplies to be dead, until the sky proves them wrong when only the two faces the Careers had killed appear. Katniss waits. She counts the remaining 8 tributes on her fingers, and then falls asleep among the leaves and pine needles.
When she wakes up, she can hear out of her right ear again, just not her left. She hears a laugh, and looks through the bushes to find Foxface, laughing at the destroyed supplies. She heads away from the camp, and waits for Rue at their meeting place, eating some of the food she'd hunted and gathered. She waits a few hours, and then goes to the third campfire site Rue was supposed to light. The wood is ready for a fire, but it seems it had never gotten lit. Katniss begins to get worried, and goes looking for her. Mockingbirds sing Rue's notes, telling her she's safe, but when she finds Rue she'd been caught in someone's net, she screams Katniss' name, and then a spear hits her.

Lit Role: Summarizer, 02/01, Ch.10-13

Ch.10 starts out with PEEta confessing to Katniss infront of live TV as part of a plan to make her and Peeta more popular at the interview. Katniss is completely shocked/angry by his supposedly fake affection towards her, but eventually agrees that it works in their favor. Just before the two are sent off into the games, Cinna gives Katniss the mockingjay brooch that she lost on the train, and the hunger games begin.

Katniss, feeling she's competent to reach the conch that holds all the supplies before anyone else, aims for it. But before she can start she gets distracted by Peeta's unnaccepting gaze and has to resort to grabbing the orange bag in front of her. She grabs the pack at the same time another boy does, but he has no chance of receiving the pack because he gets stabbed in the back by another tribute. She then runs away from the girl pursuer with the knives and sets up camp in a tree for the night. In the night a girl tribute lights a fire, calling on the carreers to come hunt her down. Unable to move from her tree, Katniss stays there and finds that not only did the careers come and kill the girl, but Peeta formed an alliance with them. Katniss feels a hint of betrayal by Peeta and is confused as to why he would join them.

Later, the careers are in pursuit of Katniss when she climbs a tree and leaves the others on the ground to form a plan to capture her. In the middle of the night she finds that Rue, the 12 year-old tribute, is in the tree next to her pointing to something above Katniss' head. It's a venomous bees nest that she then uses to drop onto the careers campsite so she can escape.
end of Ch.13

Meeting #3 - Discussion Director ch. 10-13

1. Why do you think Peeta chose to confess to Katniss during the interview?

I think it wasn't a wise choice on Peeta's part, just because it drove Katniss into not believing he was telling the truth. He probably thought it'd be a good way to get the crowd's attention, and to get more sponsers. He was right about it being popular with the crowds, but he ended up being even further from gaining Katniss' attention than he was before.

2. Why do you think Katniss is so oblivious of Peeta's affection?

I don't think Katniss wants Peeta's affection. She hardly even seems to want his friendship. She has to kill him off, anyway, so why should she let him in? It's all for the crowds with her. She doesn't even want to admit the possibility of Peeta's love being real, even for a moment. Besides, she has such a wonderful boy at home that she'd much rather have. If it were me I would probably do the same thing. I wouldn't want to kill someone I like.

3. What do you think the Avox girl did to be called a traitor?

It doesn't really say in the book, but I think she probably ran off with the boy she was with. They were probably lovers from either the same or different districts, who decided to try and run far, far away from Panem but in the end got caught by trying to escape. Or, they stole something from the capitol and were running from a crime. There's a lot of possibilities of things they could have done.

4. Why do you think the author named a lot of the characters after the roles they play in Panem? ex. Rue is a type of flower, Peeta is a kind of bread, Glimmer is from the diamond district, Katniss is a plant you can eat.

I think the author's idea of naming characters after things is kind of cool. I like how each name says something about the character, too. It's very clever to connect the characters like this, and it would make sense for their parents to actually name them after what they did. Katniss' parents named her after a Katniss plant because they wanted her to survive. And she's become rather good at survival. Peeta's parents are bakers, so they probably named their son Peeta in hopes of him taking over the bakery. Rue is a fragile, small girl just like a flower. I love how each of the characters kind of are what they are called.

5. Why do you think Peeta teamed up with the Careers?

I think Peeta teamed up with the Careers because he had no other choice. He probably was found by them, and he definately didn't stand a chance to fight them, so he probably joined them to survive. Still, I don't understand why they allowed him to survive when everyone had to die anyway, and it's not like a baker's son is going to be of much use to such strong people in the middle of the woods.