Archetype In The Hunger Games

Watching a film, one can easily recognize plot, theme, characterization, etc., but not many realize what basic principle lies behind nearly every story conceived: the hero’s journey. This concept allows for a comprehensive, logical flow throughout a movie. Once the hero’s journey is thoroughly understood, anyone can pick out the elements in nearly every piece. The hero’s journey follows a simple outline. First the hero in question must have a disadvantaged childhood. Next the hero will find a mentor who wisely lays out his/her prophecy. Third the hero will go on a journey, either literal or figurative, to find him/herself. On this journey the hero will be discouraged and nearly quit his/her quest. Finally, the

She volunteered as a tribute to the Hunger Games, a national “game” in which contestants from all twelve districts fight to the death, in place of Prim, who had been selected at random for the games. Katniss volunteered knowing that death was nearly inevitable, and she did not hesitate to put her life on the line if it meant Prim’s safety. Along with the similarity of sacrifice, she had disciples in both Gale and Peeta, like Jesus had disciples of the twelve. She brought hope and gave up all she had for the love of others, exactly as Jesus had laid himself down for all those he loved

In the novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the main character and protagonist is 16 year old Katniss Everdeen, a strong and selfless young woman who is far more mature than her age suggests. As the main provider for her family after her father died, Katniss had to become responsible and resourceful at a young age, which forced her to participate in rebellious behavior in order to keep her family alive. She is an unselfish and protective character, putting herself in danger in order to keep the ones she loves safe, especially for her little sister Primrose. Even after the pain and hardships she has had to go through not only in the games, but in her life, Katniss maintains her

When one loves a person or thing dearly, then they have the tendency to do almost anything they can to protect and save them from whatever harm they come across. Katniss volunteered for the games knowing she was saving her sister from a terrible fate. She made a promise that she would try her best to win the Hunger Games, but her confidence in her own ability to kill another person was minimal. She did not want to get any blood on her hands but knew that in order to win she would be forced to. The author of Genocidal Killer, Crispin Sartwell recognized situations like these when he said, “your goodness, like mine, has little to do with who you are and everything to do with the social conditions you find yourself in” (Sartwell). The circumstance Katniss found herself in was full of violence, pain, and ruthlessness which further contributed to the tainting of her

Like in any typical hero movie, there is a call that the protagonist has to answer. In The Hunger Games, Katniss hears her calling when her sister, Prim is drawn to participate in the Hunger games. Knowing that Prim is definitely not a violent person, Katniss 's instincts kick in and she volunteers for her sister without

In the late 1940’s a man named Joseph Campbell shared his Mythic principal with the world. He explains that there is a three-stage formula that he calls a Hero Journey which is the structure of every story. Though most stories are completely different on the outside, the stories are almost structured around these three stages. Stage 1 is the hero leaves the everyday world and enters another world. While Stage 2 the hero is challenged by opposing forces and must pass a series a test throughout the movie. That will then determine who will be victorious, either the hero or the opposing forces. Stage 3 is tied into Stage 2 because if the hero is victorious, they will return to the ordinary world with a gift for the world.

The Hero’s Journey is a situational archetype of every story made, whether it’s a poem, narrative or film they all tell this Journey.

The archetype of the journey is seen in Charles Frazier’s novel Cold Mountain, most clearly through experience Inman has wandering back to Cold Mountain. The journey archetype sends the hero in search of some truth to restore order and harmony to the land. The journey often includes the series of trials and tribulations the hero faces along the way. Usually the hero descends into a real or psychological hell and is forced to discover the blackest truths. Once the hero is at his lowest level, he must accept personal responsibility to return to the world of the living. Inman’s trip fits this description very well in some ways and not in others. It could be said that Inman’s search for truth is his desire to be back home. He has been

The definition of a journey is: “A traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time.” (dictionary.com). However, most modern novels have characters that go through emotional or mental journeys that serve as the main plot for their story, thus contradicting the meaning of the word “journey”. In older works of literature such as The Odyssey by Homer and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, it is more common for the protagonists to step into physical journeys that are often made to signify an important lesson or meaning by the end of the novel. Factors such as symbols, themes, and character change plays a role in helping the characters along on their adventures and adds to the connotation of the whole story.

Small or big, everything we do in life is part of our journey. Reg Harris’ “The Hero’s Journey” describes the voyage one takes throughout life to grow and change as a person. He breaks the journey down into eight steps leading to the return. It starts out as a goal that isn’t always easy to reach, one goes through hardship and personal doubts only to succeed and become a better person. An example of this journey can be found in the movie, Troy through the character Achilles. Achilles is a strong fearless warrior in the movie, Troy who goes through “The Hero’s Journey” and ends up with a change of heart.

Katniss Everdeen, the main character is seen in an incessant state of anguish, worrying about her beloved younger sister Prim, without the slightest concern for her own welfare, an idiosyncrasy that robustly contradicts with the typical perfect and flawless main character portrayed in almost all action/adventure films. The controversial scene then ends with the fearless Katniss Everdeen taking her sister’s place and volunteering for her in the Hunger Games after she had been conscripted. There are even ceaseless ties made between District 12 and World War II concentration camps ranging from the rag like clothing to the groups of hopeless children with guns aimed at their face, further deliberating Katniss’s initial mother like and selfish instincts when preferring to worry about her sister in an environment that can be related to a significant historical atrocity. As a set-up for the rest of the film, this sequence plays an important role in constructing the underlying theme of the film as a whole. The fact that Katniss finds her own empathy, sense of caring and compassion and her journey of going from a un-trusting and instinctive girl to a strong moraled, selfless woman that would rather die than take an innocent human life. An

The “Hero’s Journey” is a common template in stories that involve a hero who goes on an adventure, wins a victory in a decisive crisis, and then comes home changed or transformed. This template has been used in tales throughout history to convey the journey that a protagonist goes on. The universality of the struggles and conflicts these heroes overcome allows this template to become as popular as it is today. Many of the stages that exist within the “Hero’s Journey” can be applied to my journey as well as yours. The stage of my grandfather’s death in my journey is comparable to “The Ordeal” in the “Hero’s Journey.”

When speaking of the journey one is speaking of an act in which the mind or the body are going through a vigor of change and an instance of importance. The journey, whether literal or figurative, is a thing that could impact life, reason, and even passion for what one holds dear. Such as a woman realizing that medicine is their calling or a man having a roller coaster of emotions during their daily viewing of their favorite television show, a journey can be anything and at any level of life, but always an instance of importance.

The Hunger Games is a film about survival, and when survival seems impossible there is only one thing left to count on: hope. When Katniss takes her sister’s place in the murderous free-for-all known as the Hunger Games, her life changes, and not for the better. Suddenly, Katniss finds herself in a world where killing is the only way to survive. Luckily, she has help along the way. A casual observer of the film is likely to notice the presence of many mentors in Katniss’ story, but that observation becomes more important when it is combined with the importance and relevance of hope.

The concept of journeys can vary from person to person; literally a journey is a progression, either physically, mentally or spiritually. Journeys come under five main titles, inner, spiritual, imaginative, emotional and physical. Practically all texts contain one or a combination of these journeys. Les Murray, an Australian poet, has a very strong concept of journeys throughout his poems. Through the use of such techniques as figurative language and film a composer can express their individual concept of journeys.