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WHAT’S BEYOND WORDS?
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THE HUNGER GAMES
by Suzanne Collins
Genre: Science Fiction Novel
Level: B1
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The Apiphobic Artist (n.d.). Mockinjay. Retrieved from
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/008/1/f/mockingjay_by_the_apiphobic_artist-d35e4xd.jpg
WHAT’S BEYOND WORDS?
STUDENT’S WORKSHEET
1.
Have you heard about The Hunger Games (Collins, S., 2008)? What do you know about this
story?
2.
The first scenes of the film The Hunger Games (Ross,G, Jakobson, N & Kilik, J, 2012,) , explain what
these games are about. Watch the scenes and complete the following summary using
these words:
one boy and one girl - a public arena - only one – rebels – name
To punish the _____________________, each district will offer _____________________ at a
public “Reaping”. These “Tributes” will be taken to _____________________ where they will
fight to death until ____________________ is alive. The _____________________of this show will
be The Hunger Games.
COMPREHENDING THE STORY
3.
Your teacher will show you a graphic novel created by a blogger and based on the first
pages of the novel. In these images, the main characters, Katniss and Peeta, are
presented. Watch the images carefully and complete with your ideas:
Katniss lives with …………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
Her house is ……........………………………………………………………………………………………………………
She probably feels …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
In the past, Peeta …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4.
Watch the scene of the “public reaping” and answer the questions.
Primrose Everdeen
a. What is your opinion about the relationship between
Katniss and Peeta?
Peeta Mellark
b. Why do people raise their hands towards Katniss?
c. Was the woman from the Capitol expecting this?
d. She says “May the odds be ever in your favour” (Ross,G, Jakobson, N & Kilik, J, 2012). What’s the
meaning of this? How honest is she when saying it?
5.
How would you feel if you were a tribute for the games? Write one or two ideas.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6.
In the following dialogue Katniss and Peeta, the two tributes from district 12, talk about
their expectations about the games (adapted from Collins, 2008, pp 139-140). There are translations
for the expressions underlined. Read and complete the sentences below with K (for
Katniss) or P (for Peeta).
________ thinks about the place where the games will be.
________ feels he/she can’t win.
________ feels he/she can win.
________ is worried about the effect of the games on him/her.
“I’m not going to win these Games,” says Peeta.
“Don’t say that” I say.
“Why not? It’s true. I don’t plan to win them and…” he stops.
“And what?” I say
“I don’t know how to say it exactly. Only . . . I want to die as myself1. Do you understand?” he
asks.
“No.”
“I don’t want them to change me in a monster. I’m not a monster,” he says.
While I was thinking about the characteristics of the arena -will there be trees? will it be a
desert?-, Peeta was thinking about how to maintain his identity, his purity of self2.
“So, you won’t kill anyone?” I ask.
“No, when the time comes, I’m sure I’ll kill just like everybody else. Only I want to show the
Capitol they don’t own me3. That I’m more than a piece in their Games,” says Peeta.
“Look, if you want to spend the last hours of your life planning a noble death in the arena,
that’s your choice. I want to spend my life in District Twelve,” I say.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” says Peeta. “Give my mother a kiss when you make it back, ok?”
“Count on it,” I say.
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Morir siendo yo mismo.
La pureza de su ser.
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Ellos no son mis dueños.
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RachelMellark (n.d.) Rachel’s Hunger GAMES Drawings:: Katniss and Peeta. Retrieved from
http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/077/5/1/rachel__s_hunger_games_drawings__katniss_and_peeta_by_rachelmellark-d4luoc3.jpg
Now, re-read the text and do the tasks below.
a. Explain the following expressions in your own words:
- “I’m more than a piece in their Games “.
- “a noble death in the arena”
- “I want to spend my life in District Twelve”.
b. Who do you agree with? Katniss or Peeta? Why?
7.
In the following dialogue, Katniss is talking to her mentor, Haymitch (adapted from Collins, 2008,
pp 115-117). Read and answer: What is Haymitch preparing Katniss for? What does he
recommend her to do?
After lunch, Haymitch takes me into the sitting room and directs me to the couch. He looks worried.
“What?” I finally ask.
“I’m trying to decide what to do with you,” he says. “How we’re going to present you, charming?
Unfriendly? Fierce? So far, you’re shining like a star. You volunteered to save your sister. The stylist
made you look incredible. You’ve got the highest training score. People are intrigued, but no one
knows who you are. The impression you make tomorrow in the interview will decide if we can get
sponsors”.
I watched the tribute interviews all my life and I know he’s right. If the crowd likes you, because
you’re humorous or brutal or eccentric, you have better opportunities.
“You open your mouth and sound angry and hostile”
“I do not!” I say.
“But you don’t have to please me. I’m not going to sponsor you” says Haymitch.
All I can think is how unjust everything is, the Hunger Games. Why do I have to please people I hate?
“We need a strategy,” Haymitch says. “You are hostile and I don’t know anything about you, your life,
your family, what you care about. They want to know about you, Katniss.”
“But I don’t want them to! They’re already taking my future! They can’t have my past too!” I say.
“Then lie! Invent something!” says Haymitch.
“I’m not good at lying,” I say.
“Well, you’ll have to learn fast. You’re not at all charming,” says Haymitch.
Ouch. That hurts.
“Here’s an idea. Pretend you’re humble. That you can’t believe a little girl from District Twelve has
done so well. Everything is incredible, the clothes, the city, the people. How the city amazes you. If
you don’t talk about yourself, at least compliment the audience.”
The next hours are terrible. We tried me pretending to be cocky, but I just don’t have the arrogance.
Apparently, I’m too “vulnerable” for ferocity. I’m not witty, funny, sexy or mysterious.
By the end of the session, I am no one at all. “I give up, sweetheart. Just answer the questions and try
not to let the audience see how openly you hate them.”
a. Read again and say if the following sentences are true (T) or false (F).
1) Katniss has had a bad performance till now.
2) The audience’s opinion isn’t important in the games.
3) Haymitch doesn’t like Katniss.
4) Haymitch tells Katniss not to tell the truth.
5) They finally find a strategy.
b. What is Katniss like? What’s her opinion of the games?
GOING BEYOND THE STORY
8.
Words in literature can have an extra meaning different from the literal one. What extra
meaning do you think the following words have?
bread – tribute – arena - reaping
9.
What is the story really about? Below are some of the ideas the novel develops. In
groups, discuss the following statements and together find arguments to support these
ideas.
- Cruelty and pain are part of entertainment.
- Appearances can be deceitful.
What other ideas are developed in this story? Write one more statement.
PROJECT
You will now watch scenes from the film Gladiator (Scott, R. 2000). What similarities and
differences can you find between these scenes and The Hunger Games?
The author of The Hunger Games intended to make many references to both the Greek
Myths and the Roman Empire in her story. Find out about them:
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At home, watch the film The Hunger Games.
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Find out about the Greeks and the Romans and find as many parallels with the
film as possible. Here are some webpages you can explore:
http://greece.mrdonn.org/theseus.html
http://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/myth-of-theseus-and-minotaur/
http://thehungergames.wikia.com/wiki
http://www.roman-empire.net/
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Prepare a poster with the information you find out.
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Present your poster to the class.
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Kajatica (n.d.). Mockinjay Pin. Retrieved from http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/113/9/c/mockingjay_pin_by_kajatica2000d4xat8z.jpg