Surname

Similarities and differences between the book and film (Hunger Games)
Introduction
The Hunger Games represents the initial book of the same name trilogy written by
American author Suzanne Collins published in the year 2008. This is a novel of adventure and
science fiction narrated in the first person from the perspective of Katniss Everdeen, a teenager
of sixteen years who lives in Panem, a post-apocalyptic nation located in what was previously
North America. The book demonstrates most Katnisss experiences in The Hunger Games, an
annual event in Panem that involves one boy and one girl from each district aged between 12 and
18 years must face each other in combat on national television (Collins 78). The Hunger Games
reveals as a science fiction movie, drama and action by Directors Gary Ross and Francis
Lawrence. The film was based on Suzanne Collins best-seller novel, The Hunger Games.
Despite the fact that the film is based on the novel, there are a variety of similarities and
differences that arise from these two works of art. In both the book and the film, there exists a
number of similarities and differences as it presents a strong criticism of the system of
government, the media and society in general. We live in a world where inequality is present in
all areas of our lives, giving rise to the problem: the naturalization of these inequalities.
To begin with, the novel and the film contain a variety of indisputable similarities. For
instance, the phrase May the odds be ever in your favor which appears in the novel by is heard
all through the film. This expression was initially words that people make use of to joke about
the whole idea of the games; nevertheless, this phrase turned out to be so serious when they
eventually realized that the odds were in a real sense not in their favor. This particular phrase was

Surname

depicted in the novel as words that the people would simply joke about (McCarthy). The concept
of how this particular phrase was portrayed in the novel was precisely depicted in the film when
the character Gale mentioned to Katniss that his name was in the reading 42 times. Whats more,
in the film, the reaping day environment resembles what the novel portrays about the reaping
days seam. The scenes in the film which demonstrate the environment throughout the beginning
of the reaping day bear a great resemblance to Collins description from the novel. It was very
necessary for the film to demonstrate the spirit of the reaping day and what implications it had on
the people. In the novel, the reaping day does not capture a positive mood or rather, a joyous
mood (McCarthy). However, it is quite devastating and depressing. The film captured such a
tone and mood that the reaping day was extremely gloomy and discouraging which is similar to
the novels portrayal.
To begin with, there are many differences between the two stories. For example, in the
book, Katniss begins her quest in District 12 when it is destroyed by the bombing. However,
when it comes to the film, it begins with Katniss recovering in a ventilation shaft after having a
nightmare. In the book itself, Peeta and Katniss prepare prior to the Games very carefully. They
use old records to analyze their future opponents (Collins, Ray & Ross 81). They look at inter
alia, the recording of the year, won by Haymitch, who makes an attempt to save the girl from
District 12, but he fails. In the last fight, he returns with the girl from District 12 and dies by a
kind of boomerang-axe. While this scene appears in the novel by Suzanne Collins, it is not
present in the film.
Perhaps one of the most important omissions in Hunger Games the film is during the
dinner at the Capitol where Plutarch Heavensbee tries to gain the sympathy of Katniss Everdeen
by showing his watch, which reveals the image of a Mockingjay if viewed from the correct

Surname

position. Although Katniss does not understand the actions of the Head Girl Watcher in the
burning thinks the clock is part of a new trend in the Capitol eventually revealed that the
character was intended to give several clues to the girl sand. Besides, in the book, Gale is
brutally whipped by Romulus Thread after being discovered with a freshly hunted turkey, as it is
an activity prohibited on Capitol Hill. On the other hand, the film completely changed this
sequence by turning Gale the hero of the moment, to show brutally demolishing an agent of
peace intended to attack innocent people of District 12.
Concerning perspective, the novel was written from the first-person point of view of the
main character Katniss Everdeen. However, in the film, a variety of changes have been made
with respect to how the narrative is revealed as opposed to the use of the first-person perspective.
The novels first-person narration makes it possible for readers to feel the events of the
characters, particularly Katniss better. However, in the film the narration provides a rather
general view of the characters and the storyline from beginning to end.
While the book has most of its characters intact, the adaptation of Catching Fire has an
important omission compared to the work of Suzanne Collins: Scores of our heroes are never
revealed. Although many may think that this is an insignificant detail, we must remember
Rangers give a perfect score to the tributes from District 12, believing that in this way the other
tributes form alliances against him. Francis Lawrence makes clear that Snow has every intention
of ending Katniss in the Quarter Quell; however, it seems that the president has full confidence
in the brutality of the new arena to achieve its mission (McCarthy). Having remained faithful
adaptation, the film would have shown us that the President's plans were much more perverse, to
completely isolate Katniss in an arena fraught with extremely dangerous characters.

Surname

Suzanne Collins reveals that the water area of the sand is specifically designed to end the
girl on fire, as President Snow assumes that the tributes of District 12 cannot swim (McCarthy).
Although water Katniss takes you by surprise, the female is able to reach the shore by their skills
while Peeta prevents water because it is he who cannot swim. Francis Lawrence decided to
change this time by throwing water Peeta, where he is fiercely attacked by a tax that aims to
drown him. The Baker gets out alive before the nervous look of Katniss, before being helped by
Finnick. In the novel, Katniss Everdeen goes into the forest to reminisce about her life before the
Hunger Games, but her tranquility is interrupted when she meets Bonnie and Twill, two women
from District 8 seeking to reach District 13 to for shelter. This news greatly surprised Katniss
because she thinks that District 13 was destroyed in the last rebellion. In the film, it is needless to
say that these characters were completely omitted from the adaptation of Francis Lawrence in the
film Catching Fire.
Another difference in the two pieces of literature is the portrayal of Darius. Before the
arrival of the brutal Romulus Thread District 12, the Peacekeepers in the area are led by Darius, a
young man who prefers to avoid problems by ignoring some of the obvious irregularities in the
mining district (Collins, Ray & Ross 101). Unfortunately, the character is brutally beaten and
arrested when trying to stop whipping Romulus imparts to Gale, then be converted into an Avox:
people who are forced to serve in the Capitol and whose tongues are cut as punishment for
betraying the government (Collins 78). Just like Bonnie and Twill, Darius is completely omitted
in the film. Darius may not have a great importance in the saga, but his presence reminds us that
even within the structure existed noble people opposed to the severity of the government. History
also shows us the cruel punishment that all those who seek to challenge the Capitol to go
through.

Surname

When it comes to the novel, Katniss Everdeen volunteered to save her little sister Prim in
District 12, where she had been held. Peeta Mellark, the bakers son also joins her in her quest.
In this sense, both tributes appear to be very different from each other Katniss lives in the Vein,
in poor neighborhoods of the district. This occurs to her family by driving clandestinely with
Gale Hawthorne, who is her best friend. In the arena, everyone will adopt a different strategy for
survival. They are both determined and unfriendly (McCarthy). The Hunger Games novel
encompasses the original ideas and content. Nevertheless, the film contains vaguely distinct
content and does not stand for similar intentions. In this sense, the novel had hardly any
modifications made to it since it contains the original material obtained firsthand from the author.
To exemplify this point, we can see that in the novel, Madge gives her goodbyes to Katniss
before she takes to the Capitol and offers her the Mockingjay pin as a gesture from her district
(McCarthy). On the other hand, this concept was slightly adjusted in the film where Greasy Sae
is the one that offers the Mockingjay pin to Katniss. Katniss then gives Primrose the pin as a sign
of protection during the reaping day. These gestures are demonstrated differently in both the film
and the novel.
The Hunger Games leaves us very clear that to become a mentor, Haymitch had to win a
previous edition of the bloody competition. However, the second novel delves more into this
character, after Katniss and Peeta watch videos of previous editions in which they discover that
Haymitch used the force field surrounding the arena to become the victor. Francis Lawrence
completely omitted this background in the film, so the audience would not discover Haymitchs
victory or the fact that a force field could be used against the system. Some might consider that
the mention of the force field could ruin the outcome of the tape, in which Katniss uses her arrow
and the energy emitted by a powerful beam to end the madness of Quell. However, the true

Surname

severity of the omission is that Haymitch could acquire more depth with this revelation,
especially if he had explained that President Snow destroyed the family character to discover the
truth behind the force field (McCarthy). In this sense, from its victory, the character fell into a
severe depression and became an alcoholic and deeply lonely.
Conclusion
In conclusion, by carefully comparing and contrasting the film and novel, one can notice
that the movie was efficient in conveying certain themes and was not successful in
communicating others. In terms of perspective, narration and characterization, the director made
significant changes to the novels presentation. Many characters are omitted in the film and
included in the book and vice versa. Even though the film and the novels plan are nearly
indistinguishable, there are several slight divergences between novel and film that change the
storyline considerably. The film was fascinatingly modified so as to understand a variety of
concepts that are not easy to be presented in a written approach. I believe that in order to
demonstrate this, the film could have had all of the concepts and themes that Suzanne Collins in
the novel had but could not be fully integrated into the film in a similar manner as in the novel.
Either way, the story is a fascinating one for both book and film lovers of all dimensions.
Outline
Comparison of Hunger Games book and film
I.

Introduction

Background information: The film The Hunger Games is said to have been based on Suzanne
Collins best-seller novel, by the same name. Despite the fact that the film is based on the novel,

Surname

there are a variety of similarities and differences that arise from these two works of art. The book
demonstrates most Katniss experiences in The Hunger Games, an annual event in Panem that
involves one boy and one girl from each district aged between 12 and 18 years must face each
other in combat on national television. It presents a strong criticism of the system of government,
the media and society in general. We live in a world where inequality is present in all areas of our
lives, giving rise to the problem: the naturalization of these inequalities.
Thesis: Although the film is similar to the novel, it has put into place a variety of improvements
to the novels storyline.
Compare and contrast essay
II.
May the odds be ever in your favor
A. In both the film and the novel, the phrase May the odds be ever in your favor is
common.
i)
This particular phrase was depicted in the novel as words that the people would
simply joke about.
ii)
In the film, the participants here the phrase before they compete in the hunger games.
III.
Madge gives her goodbyes to Katniss (difference)
A. There is a slight difference in the film and the novel in relation to Katniss return to the
Capitol and how she receives the Mockingjay pin.
i)
When it comes to the novel, Madge says goodbye to Katniss before she takes to
the Capitol and offers her the Mockingjay pin as a gesture from her district.
ii)
In the film where Greasy Sae is the one that offers the Mockingjay pin to Katniss
IV.
The beginning of the story with Katniss (difference)
A. There is a variance as to how Katniss begins the story of the Hunger Games
i)
In the novel, Katniss begins her quest in District 12 when it is destroyed by the
ii)

bombing
In the film, it begins with Katniss recovering in a ventilation shaft after having a

nightmare
V.
Rebellion in District 11 (difference)
A. Omission in the novel

Surname
i)

In the film, we see the rebellion as portrayed in District 11 following the death of

Rue.
ii)
This particular scene is omitted in the novel
VI.
Perspective (difference)
A. There is a difference in the perspective as we compare film to novel
i)
The novel was written basically in the first-person perspective of the main
ii)

character, Katniss.
However, in the film, several significant changes were made in relation to how

the story is told.

VII. Dinner at the Capitol (difference)
A. Omissions in the film
i)
In the novel, Plutarch Heavensbee tries to gain the sympathy of Katniss
Everdeen by showing his watch during the dinner at the Capitol.
ii)
This is absent in the film
VIII. Conclusion
IX.
i)
The similarities between the book and film are few. However, the

X.

ii)

differences are seen throughout the two stories.

It is clear that the directors made significant changes to their film but

iii)

used the book as guidance. The book contains original material.

There is difference in terms of perspective, appearances, where some

things have been omitted and the Capitol.

References
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/hunger-games/review/300825.
https://books.google.co.ke/books?
id=hm3NrQEACAAJ&dq=The+Hunger+Games&hl=es&sa=X&redir_esc=y

Surname

Work cited>>>[The assignment requires 6 sources. The first two will be the primary
sources and should be the Hunger Games Novel and the second should be the movie
Hunger Games and should list the director. Please look up how to cite a movie title. Four of
the sources would be secondary such as book and film reviews, critiques, articles about the
book and film. You must research and add 4 secondary sources.]
Collins, Suzanne, Billy Ray, and Gary Ross. The Hunger Games. Lionsgate, 2012. Print.
Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. New York: Scholastic Press, 2010. Internet resource.
McCarthy, T. (2012). The hunger games: Film review. The Hollywood reporter. Available from
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/hunger-games/review/300825.