Themes

In Mr. Ogle's class you learned about "themes" during your reading of A Day No Pigs Would Die and There's a Girl in My Hammerlock, as well as multiple other short stories.  He taught you that a theme is what the author is trying to teach you through the events of the story.

Sometimes a story has one central theme, other times a story has multiple themes.  Some of the themes that come out in The Hunger Games are trust/reality; importance of family, sacrifice, effects of censorship, entertainment and the love of entertainment, the effects of unlimited power...

Now, we haven't really talked about this stuff in class - other than when I interrupt the reading to point it out.  But I want you to discuss it right now with a parent or adult you live with.  Choose one of those themes and discuss what it is you think the author, Suzanne Collins, is trying to say.  Whichever theme you choose, you need to talk about examples from the book - so if you choose the effects of censorship, you might mention the fences around the districts, and how they aren't allowed to interact with one another.  You might mention that Katniss said she and Thresh probably would have been friends, had he lived in District 12.  You might mention her living in fear of saying something that would offend the Capitol, or even worse - having a young Prim overhear her and repeat it at school.

Of course, you can't use those anymore... but I've left you plenty to choose from.  You could even add your own to the list.

When you're done discussing the theme, on a scrap of paper write down the theme you discussed.  (You don't have to write down what all you said about it...)  Then, have the adult you discussed it with sign the paper.  Make sure your name is on it as well.