Greek And Roman Influences In The Hunger Games, By Suzanne Collins

In her novel The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins clearly takes key elements of her story from the ancient greek myth of theseus. This story is very similar to The Hunger Games in several ways. In both stories each capital asks for tributes who will then have to fight for survival. Katniss like Theseus are very brave and strong and both volunteer to be put into these fights for survival. Both Katniss and Theseus have noticed the amount of injustice in their area. Katniss like Theseus succeed not only in winning the games but through love, in katniss case with Peeta, and in Theseus's case with Minos's daughter. In the hunger games, Katniss couldn't of won without peeta’s help, and same goes for theseus which in some way used Ariadne in his advantage

In the history of cinema, most movies involving a hero 's journey involve mostly the same plot; man gets a call, goes on a journey, gets in a battle or two, and saves the helpless woman from some evil source. The Hunger Games has the same plot as other hero films, but takes a complete turn on the actor encompassing the hero. The hero in this film is a Katniss Everdeen, a poor girl from a dystopian society. In this film Katniss volunteers for her sister to be in the Hunger Games, which is an event where individuals are thrown into an arena where people from twelve districts fight each other to the death for entertainment. Katniss must win the hunger games and make it back to her family. Katniss eventually befriends Peta and they defeat all obstacles and win the Hunger Games together. The Hunger Games is a perfect example of a hero 's journey plot. It follows the steps that any hero journey movie would, including the call, crossing the threshold, a supreme ordeal, companions and mentors, a transformation and the end gift. This film encompasses the classic hero journey plot, with an exception of having a strong female lead instead of male.

I chose to the modern mythology known as The Hunger Games a novel written by Suzanne Collins and later adapted into a feature film. The novel was actually part of a trilogy The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. The story begins by introducing you to our main character Katniss Everdeen who lives in a world run by the Capitol where President Snow resides and has enforced a form of martial law on all 13 districts. Every year the Capitol hosts their annual Hunger Games which is a form of entertainment for the Capitol. Out of every district two tributes, one boy and one girl will be picked to participate in the Hunger Games which is a battle to the death. Whichever tribute manages to survive till the end will be rewarded by getting to stay in the capitol and their district will be given more food and supplies. The reason Katniss becomes a part of the games is because her little sister prim is chosen during the reaping to be the tribute so Katniss hearing her sisters name volunteers as tribute to save her sisters life but she tries to win the games for her district and to provide for them. The only problem is she finds it hard to murder the other tributes because they are all so young and she doesn’t see why she must kill them for the Capitols entertainment.

In the novel “The Hunger Games” Suzanne Collins conveys the qualities of a hero through the main character Katniss Everdeen. The novel is based around a dystopian nation, in which is placed in Panem. Through which a boy and a girl from each district must take part in ‘The Hunger Games’ where they have to fight to the death, until there is one survivor. Katniss subsequently evolves as a significant hero portraying the heroic qualities such as selflessness, identity change and intelligence. Selflessness is shown as she puts others before herself, her identity changes as she has to put up a brave face, and intelligence is displayed as her strategies progress in the games.

The definition of a hero has been moulded and changed over time, but all heroes have shared some qualities, constructing our archetypal hero. Katniss, the 'hero' from Suzanne Collins, 'The Hunger Games' challenges and confirms our views of a typical hero. She has events like a heroes journey and a tough upbringing, but she also has conflicting attributes like simply not being a male. Suzanne Collins has created a complex character, who doesn't strictly fit into the mould of a hero.

What does “The Hunger Games” have in common with every other book or movie? Katniss Everdeen, the hero of the story, is forced to fight to the death in an arena. She meets people along the way that follow certain archetypes that help her complete her journey. Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch all follow the archetypes hero, shapeshifter, and mentor. Katniss Everdeen is the hero of the story.

The Hunger Games makes relates many of the characters to historical figures. Many of the male figures seem to be named after Roman politicians, philosophers, and poets. Take Cinna, for instance. Cinna, in the novel, is Katniss’ and Peeta’s stylists for the Games. He does their makeup and creates their outfits to wear for the opening ceremony, for the interview with Caesar Flickerman, and for in the arena. His artistic skills relate to that of Gaius Helvius Cinna, a Roman poet. He also resembles to Lucius Cornelius Cinna, although more so later in the sequel, Catching Fire, because they are both defiant. Cinna, for turning the wedding dress President Snow wanted Katniss to dress in for her interview with Caesar Flickerman into a mockingjay, which turned into a symbol of rebellion, and Lucius Cornelius Cinna for staging a rebellion. What really ties it all together is that Cinna, Lucius Cornelius Cinna, and Gaius Helvius Cinna all met their demise by murder.

In the film, The Hunger Games directed by Gary Ross shows the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen as a strong well-skilled District 12’s female tribute who carries hope along to survive in the arena among other tributes to rebel against an oppressive government control. Throughout the film we can see how Katniss gets motivated by her loved ones back at home as well as her District 12’s members. For instance, Katniss’s younger sister, Prim gives strength when she gives the mocking jay pin

Most people have heard of the Hunger Games, but don’t know the true meaning. People say it’s a book (or movie) about innocent people getting slaughtered. It may look like that but there is so much more depth. When authors write books, they add their perspective and beliefs. It could be about government, religion and many more controversial topics. In the Hunger Games, the author Suzanne Collins shows what she thinks about government. She does this by relating the Hunger Games to the gladiators and Ancient Roman times. Even the names of characters relate. Hunger Games may not be a sweet and innocent book, but there is a good lesson behind all the violence.

Katniss Everdeen is one of the best heroes in modern mythology. “Katniss Everdeen. She is the hero we need.” (Kim, Daniel J). Katniss isn’t like other heroes in modern mythology. Heroes today are characterized by their aggression and dominance but not Katniss. Katniss is strong when she has to be, but deep inside she is truly scared. Joseph Cambell’s 17 stages monomyth is able to map out a hero’s journey and express the steps taken to become a hero. Katniss is a highly qualified hero and accomplishes several stages in becoming the true hero she is. She is loyal, but unsure of whether it is egocentric or selflessness. All heroes have self doubts during their journeys. Katniss is a hero because of her ability to love. She incorporates love

Theseus “offered to be one of the victims”, (Hamilton 244) to be sacrificed by the Minotaur, Katniss volunteered to fight in the Hunger Games until death. Katniss also is strikingly similar to the Atalanta, the Greek heroine. The film, The Hunger Games,

These two stories are both alike in some ways and opposite in others. Although the settings and circumstances are different, they are both fighting for a common cause. In the Hunger Games Katniss is fighting so that her sister doesn’t have too and in Legend of Theseus, Theseus is fishing the monster so that no more children would have to be sacrificed. They are both protecting others. In both stories the citations of Katniss and Theseus are parallel in the following way: they both fight for a good cause, they both have a special friend that helps them through out the book and in both books the victims are chosen very similarly.

The Odyssey by Homer can be a similar story to The Hunger Games directed by Gary Ross. It is similar in a way that Odysseus is a great warrior who uses his brain to be able to overthrow his enemies that blocks his way to Ithaca. While, Katniss Everdeen, the modern heroine demonstrate the same characteristic of Odysseus in the Games of the Capitol.

Ancient Roman History, Current through the Hunger Games The Hunger Games a thrilling, adventurous story isn’t it? But how did the story come to be? Did the story just come to Suzanne Collins like that? The captivating trilogy was actually inspired by the ancient Rome and its concept of “bread and circuses.”

The Hunger Games are literally a fight to the death in which each of the 12 districts sends too tributes, one male and one female. Being entered into the Games means either fortune and fame or unavoidable death. Katniss Everdeen volunteered for her little sister Prim when she got chosen. And the male tribute was Peeta Mellark, for district 12. Katniss knew Petta when he trew a piece of bread to her when it was raining.