Direct Hits Blog

Image Credit: Murray Close

We’re only a week away from the release of the highly-anticipated film adaptation of the YA cult book The Hunger Games, and already the movie is promising to be a box office JUGGERNAUT (irresistible force that crushes everything in its path). LEGIONS (great multitude) of fans eagerly await the opportunity to see Katniss, Peeta, and Gale come alive on the screen.

The Hunger Games takes place in Panem, a futuristic DYSTOPIA (a place where everything is bad) nation that contains 12 districts ruled by the AUTHORITATIVE (commanding) and DESPOTIC (oppressive, tyrannical) President Snow, who controls Panem from the Capitol. In Panem there is great DISPARITY (inequality) between the OPULENT (rich), SUPERFICIAL (shallow), and spoiled Capitol and the outlying and PROVINCIAL (limited in perspective) districts, which are enslaved by the Capitol’s DRACONIAN (characterized by very strict laws and punishments) control, lacking AUTONOMY (independence, self-government) and suffering from PENURY (poverty) and PERVASIVE (widespread) starvation. Each year, the Capitol PRESCRIBES (requires) that each district send two teenagers, called “tributes,” to compete in the Hunger Games, an annual GLADIATORIAL (pertaining to gladiators and their combat) battle to the death.

When her younger sister is selected to participate in the 74^th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen AUDACIOUSLY (boldly) volunteers to take her place as the tribute for District 12. This ALTRUISTIC (unselfish concern for the welfare of others) action demonstrates her TENACITY (great determination in holding on to something that is valued) and courage: Katniss is determined to protect her family and friends at all costs, a RESOLVE (determination) that will affect her success in the Games. As a child in the most DESTITUTE (very poor) district in Panem, she learned VITAL (essential) survival skills. To ensure that her family wouldn’t starve, she learned to identify edible INDIGENOUS (native to an area) plants, and her CLANDESTINE (covert) hunting trips helped her become ADEPT (very skilled) at WIELDING (effectively using) a bow and arrow. These lessons were INDISPENSABLE (absolutely necessary) in her becoming a FORMIDABLE (strong) Hunger Games competitor.

During the Hunger Games, the INTREPID (courageous) Katniss must NEGOTIATE (travel successfully through a terrain) her way through the dangerous arena, a dense forest full of traps and the other BELLICOSE (eager to fight) and bloodthirsty tributes. She must also CONTEND (struggle) with her AMBIVALENT (mixed) feelings toward Peeta, the other competitor from District 12. Katniss’s desire to win in order to care for her family INDUCES (causes) her to face the Games with FORTITUDE (strength of mind that allows her to endure pain). We don’t want to spoil the plot, but just know that the UNPRECEDENTED (without previous example) events of the 74^th Hunger Games ultimately constitute a WATERSHED (critical point that marks a change of course) for the nation of Panem.

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