UNDERSTANDING DEEPER MEANINGS (continued) THE HUNGER GAMES
Irony, sarcasm, satire What instances of irony (verbal, situational, dramatic) are there in the novel? Does the author resort to sarcasm? To what effect? Does the novel contain satire?
Natural vs artificial Colours. Clothes. Food. Natural and imitation feelings. Real people fighting mutts. High-tech arena vs a handful of berries.
Situational rhymes Structurally similar scenes or episodes placed in different parts of the narrative that enhance each other and create a new meaning based on their correlation. Examples: bread saving Katniss’s life twice (p.30 and p.238); berries on p.9 and p.344.
Secondary characters Who are the most memorable secondary characters? What are their functions (villains, foils, stock figures, etc.)? How do they participate in advancing the plot?
FINAL THOUGHTS Is the ending “happy”? If you saw the film: What are the major differences between the novel and its screen version?