Novels

  

Suzanne Collins

Collins, Suzanne, Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press. 2008. Print

“What an exciting day!” she warbles as she attempts to straighten her wig, which has listed severely to the right. “But more excitement to come! It’s time tochoose our boy tribute!” Clearly hoping to contain her tenuous hair situation, she plants one hand on her head as she crosses to the ball that contains the boys’ names and grabs the first slip she encounters. She zips back to the podium, and I don’t even have time to wish for Gale’s safety when she’s reading the name. “Peeta Mellark.” Peeta Mellark! Oh, no, I think. Not him. Because I recognize this name, although I have never spoken directly to its owner. Peeta Mellark. No, the odds are not in my favor today. I watch him as he makes his way toward the stage. Medium height, stocky build, ashy blond hair that falls in waves over his forehead. The shock of the moment is registering on his face, you can see his struggle to remain emotionless, but his blue eyes show the alarm I've seen so often in prey. Yet he climbs steadily onto the stage and takes his place."  (Collins, 17) 

R E F L E C T I O N

... The Hunger Games is about a young 16-year-old girl named Katniss who is living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, which was once upon a time known as the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The excerpt above was able to interpret perception because it shows how Katniss first viewed Peeta based on her own life experiences. When Katniss first sees Peeta at the day of the reaping, she recognizes him instantly, knowing that he is the boy who, five years prior, purposely burned bread and gave it to her in order for her to save herself  and family  from starvation.  At first Katniss was unsure of Peeta's kind act of generosity because she did not know what his intentions really were, but later on we discover what Peeta really perceived of Katniss. On the day of Peeta's interview with Caesar Flickerman, he reveals his long hidden love for Katniss taking her by surprise. This confession begins the idea that the two are the "star-crossed lovers from District 12." (104) Throughout the book we are able to see how Katniss's perceptions alter towards Peeta. At first she views him as being weak, "stocky build", and not useful; as the story goes on, Katniss discovers a new connection for Peeta that puts both of them at risk of dying at the end because her perceptions and experiences in the games changed her outlook on him, making their "love" a reality. This is similar to the story "A Strong Conscience" because just like Katniss, the black woman's perception changed on the white man towards the end...