Many authors base their narratives on a myth or event from the yesteryear. As we are presently analyzing western civilisation, it comes natural for me to choose a movie based in portion on a myth from ancient Greece and amusement in Rome. I say in portion as there were besides more modern inspirations which besides contributed to the movie. I chose to compose a paper on the movie The Hunger Games. My purpose is to indicate out the similarities between the Greek myth Theseus and the Minotaur, the preponderantly Roman gladiator games and some Roman similarities. I say preponderantly Roman as gladiators were besides present in other societies. I will besides discourse whether or non the cultural mentions were obvious or non. It is of import because it shows how myths, narratives and history inspire modern authors and film manufacturers.

The movie is based on a book written by Suzanne Collins. The film was directed by Gary Ross and produced by Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik. The screen drama was written by Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, and Billy Ray. Its chief histrions are Jennifer Lawrence ( Katniss Everdeen ) , Josh Hutcherson ( Peeta Mellark ) , Liam Hemsworth ( Gale Hawthorne ) , Woody Harrelson ( Haymitch Abernathy ) , Elizabeth Banks ( Effie Trinket ) , and Donald Sutherland ( President Coriolanus Snow ) .

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The film takes topographic point in a post-apocalyptic society where 13 territories rebelled against its capital Panem. At the terminal of the atomic war the capital had won with territory 13 being

wholly wiped out. Twelve territories remained. As requital for the territories ‘ rebelliousness against Panem a competition was to be held one time a twelvemonth in which a male and a female age 12-18 must be selected from each of the 12 poorer territories. They must contend each other to the decease until there is one subsister. That subsister and their territory addition celebrity and wealth normally in the signifier of nutrient. These games are broadcasted over telecasting and the population is either forced to watch in the instance of the territories or voluntary as in the instance of the capitals population.

All of the territories are non every bit hapless. Neither are they every bit hapless within a territory. This creates an inequality as names are entered in a lottery ( called a harvesting the twenty-four hours of the drawing ) The regulations are get downing at age twelve your name is entered one time the first twelvemonth, twice the 2nd, with an extra entry each twelvemonth thenceforth until they turn 18, the last twelvemonth they are eligible for the reaping. In add-on, they have the option to hold their name added more times in exchange for a tessera, which is a twelvemonth ‘s supply of grain and oil for one individual, and they can make this for each household member in their family, with the entries being cumulative. This evidently puts the odds in the favour of those households that are richer to get down with.

Fictional characters: Katniss is the storyteller and diacetylmorphine of the film, Peeta a male child whose household were bakers deliberately burnt a loaf of staff of life and threw it outside one twenty-four hours when he knew Katniss was outside and hungering. He was besides the other testimonial to the hungriness games.

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A few thoughts led to the development of the narrative. One was the Grecian myth Theseus and the Minotaur. The narrative goes, Androgeus, who was the boy of king Minos of Crete was killed by the

Athenians at the Pan-Athenian games in Athens. As a consequence King Minos sailed to Athens and demanded his boy ‘s bravos from King Aegeus. King Aegeus did non cognize who killed Androgeus so he sacrificed the whole town. The understanding was to direct seven Athenian male childs and seven Athenian misss as testimonial to Crete to be eaten by the Minotaur life in a Labyrinth. The

clip frame every twelvemonth, seven old ages or nine old ages is non clear. Theseus voluntaries to travel in topographic point of one of the male child tributes to murder the Minotaur. The comparing to The Hunger Games is the territories are forced to direct two testimonials to the games as penalty for rebellion against the capital. Another comparing is when Katliss voluntaries to travel in topographic point of her sister when she is selected at the reaping.

The Romans formed conquered countries into states which were controlled by governors and had military personnels to keep control over the enslaved population. This compares with the conquered territories in The Hunger Games which were policed by “ peacekeepers ” . Another mention to Roman times is in relation to the Roman phrase panem et circenses ( staff of life and circuses ) coined by a Roman ironist named Juvenal. It related to how the Roman swayers used grain and the colosium ( gladiators ) mass events to pull crowds to pacify the conquered people ‘s subserviency. This compares with the capital metropolis in The Hunger Games being named Panem and the circuses associating to the games held in an out-of-door sphere. Besides big crowds of people watched and were captived by the violent death and blood in both the Roman colleseum and The Hunger Games.

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Both the hungriness games and Roman gladiator games show the inurement that can ensue from the broadcast medium or screening of this Gore over and over. A feeling of separation from world may get the better of those viewing audiences non involved in the games. I would contend that within the territories feelings were non common.

Many of the characters names have besides come from Roman times.

Katniss Everdeen: The heroine of the trilogy has what seems, at first, like a not-so-heroic nickname. ( Her best friend, Gale, calls her Catnip. ) But her name is one of the few that gets an account: In a flashback, her father-who is already dead when the book begins-tells her that “ every bit long as you can happen yourself, you ‘ll ne’er hunger. ” The katniss works has nurturing roots, and is besides known as “ arrowhead. ” It belongs to the genus Sagittaria, and the configuration of the same name, Sagittarius, is besides known as the archer-a adjustment ode to her impressive bow-and-arrow accomplishments.

Gale Hawthorne: Katniss ‘ best friend ‘s portions his name with a strong wind-but some fansites suggest that it ‘s really derived from the Old English word gaile, intending jovial. This seems improbable ; Gale is n’t truly the gay type. Like a strong air current, nevertheless, the largely absent, dwelling Gale is hardly seeable, though his presence can hold dramatic effects.

Peeta Mellark: I have n’t seen any convincing readings for Katniss ‘ chap District testimonial. Given that he comes from a household of staff of life bakers, nevertheless, Peeta may merely be an

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alternate-dystopic, if you will-spelling of pocket bread. ( The humble Peeta besides stands in contrast to the grandiose Panem, which, as noted above, is Latin for staff of life. )

Haymitch Abernathy: Ralph Abernathy was a leader in the Civil Rights motion, and is a fitting namesake for the radical Haymitch. But what about that loony foremost name? I have no thought.

Effie Bangle: The bodyguard for the District 12 testimonials has one of the few names presently go arounding ( if minimally ) in the baby-name pool. Effie is short for the Grecian name Euphemia, intending well-spoken, which fits good enough-though the Greek for well-groomed might accommodate her better. Her last name does nod to her garb: It describes a small/cheap decoration, something Elizabeth Banks ‘ costume interior decorator has down to a T.

Rue: The most darling of the non-District 12 testimonials besides has a plant-based name: The herb of grace is known as the herb-of-grace and is frequently used for its medicative belongingss. But you likely know it better as significance commiseration or sorrow ( as in “ you will repent the twenty-four hours ” ) , something the people who kill her will certainly experience, one time Katniss is done with them.

Seneca Crane: In add-on to possessing the universe ‘s best facial hair, Seneca Crane has the distinguished rubric of Head Game Master. While he portions his name with a Native American folk now populating in New York and Ontario, Collins was likely mentioning to the Roman philosopher, who was forced to perpetrate self-destruction when accused of confederacy. The philosopher ‘s destiny intimations at Crane ‘s ain.

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Cinna: Katniss ‘s stylist does n’t hold a last name, but he portions his first name with a fellow creative person: the poet in Shakespeare ‘s Julius Caesar-who was mistaken for another Cinna, a

politician who helped kill Caesar. The poet Cinna was later killed by a rabble, which foreshadows what happens to Katniss ‘s stylist. Sorry, Lenny Kravitz fans.

Claudius Templesmith: The games announcer portions his name with the Roman emperor Claudius, whose ain name comes from the Latin claudus, intending square. In the Roman ‘s instance,

it ‘s a mention to his physical malformation, but the modern, conversational significance of “ feeble ” seems more adjustment for Mr. Templesmith.

Coriolanus Snow: The evil president is named for another Roman, one who was immortalized in the Shakespeare drama with the same name. Shakespeare ‘s Coriolanus supported the power of blue bloods over the common people. Sounds familiar.

In decision I would province The Hunger Games is merely one illustration of ancient Greek and/or Roman myths or truths that have inspired authors to come up with a modern version in their ain reading. I would besides province as with any signifier of art many different readings may originate after the fact. Merely the author truly knows what inspired them. It is unusual nevertheless that many different thoughts can look to suit or can logically explicate a determination whether or non it was originally conceived.