The Heros Journey Structure Table – The Hunger Games Movie

ORDINARY WORLD

·         Introduce the protagonist in a way that makes the character compelling

·         Show your character’s slice of life but throw a hitch in it

·         Give or introduce your character’s external goal

·         Introduce or hint at what your character needs

·         The first glimpse of Katniss’ prowess is seen when she is portrayed hunting in the forest area of District 12, where she uses a bow and arrow to shoot a wild turkey. This positions her as a resourceful survivor and a provider for her family.

·         The district is painted as grey, dilapidated, and poor, which sets a dark tone for Katniss’ everyday life.

·         The relative stability and the monotonous life of the main character, Katniss, are shaken when her sister, Prim, is called the female tribute for the Hunger Games.

CALL TO ADVENTURE

The first sight of that special but annoying someone the H/H will be pursuing/sparring with.

·         Katniss has a strong desire to protect her younger sister, so when the names of the tributes are drawn and Prim’s name is called, she does not hesitate and volunteers to take her sister’s place.

·         Before the reaping, the only time that Katniss and the male tribute from District 12, Peeta, had any contact was when they were kids.

·         At the age of 11, Peeta purposefully burned two loaves of bread in his family’s bakery and endured a beating from his abusive mother in order to feed the bread to a starving Katniss.

·         Instead of the normal ‘annoying someone’ the hero has to deal with, Peeta’s past gesture shows a different relationship between the two tributes. The aspect of hero-adversary is not clearly defined due to the hint of unresolved feelings and possible loyalty between Katniss and Peeta.

REFUSAL OF THE CALL

·         Before getting on the train to the Capitol, Katniss clings to Prim as if she is trying to hold on to the last thread of her ordinary life.

·         However, Katniss does not refuse the call.

MEETING WITH THE MENTOR

·         At first glance, he is a bitter drunkard who has given up on the fight after seeing firsthand the horrors of the games.

·         During their first encounter with Haymitch on the train to the Capitol, Haymitch seems to have no time for them and is more concerned with drinking than preparing them for the arena. Katniss’ frustration with Haymitch’s apathy is palpable, as she declares, “So you just sit back and watch us all die?”

·         However, Haymitch suddenly changes when he realizes that Katniss and Peeta have potential. He begins to give them strategic information that would be useful to them, like the need to get sponsors by impressing them during the pre-game events.

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD

Vogler writes, “This is the moment that he balloon goes up, the ship sails, the romance begins, the wagon gets rolling.”

·         This crossing of the threshold is portrayed with so much drama and intensity in the movie. Before the start of the Games, the camera focuses on the faces of Katniss and the other tributes and the shared dread that is evident on all of their faces.

·         The Hunger Games arena itself is a completely unfamiliar and hostile environment for Katniss. It is an artificial and technical place meant to be a combat zone with hidden dangers lurking everywhere. For Katniss, entering this space is like entering a world of confusion and certain death.

·         This is another significant step that puts Katniss in the middle of a dangerous path from which she cannot turn back. She has crossed the line. She has no choice but to fight for her life in the Hunger Games.

TESTS, ALLIES, ENEMIES

·         The first scene of Cornucopia is quite a violent and intense example of Katniss’ physical abilities as she tries to get the necessary things with the help of her reflexes, agility, and fighting skills. She has to rely on her bow and arrow and wit to outcompete the other players and survive the carnage.

·         Surviving in the dangerous environment of the arena is not the only challenge Katniss has to face. She has to rely on her experience in the wilderness to locate food, water, and shelter, and she has to be on the lookout for dangers lurking in the background and other tributes out to kill her.

·         The most challenging part of the Hunger Games for Katniss is the night ambush by the Career tributes. Trapped in the tree, Katniss has to think of a way to deceive the Careers and escape from the tree, which gives her more opportunities to show her cunning and prove she is a smart player in the arena.

Allies and Enemies

·         In addition to these challenges, the Capitol also pits various characters against each other in the arena, which Katniss has to navigate.

·         One of the most significant events in the movie is her first interaction with Rue, a young tribute from District 11. Katniss becomes aware of Rue’s weakness and decides to take her under her care, and they develop a sisterly relationship. Katniss is affected by their cooperation and Rue’s death.

·         On the other hand, Katniss’ primary antagonists are the career tributes, who are ruthless and skilled killers from the richer districts. They are the most direct and severe threats to Katniss’ life.

APPROACH TO THE INMOST CAVE

·         This is best seen in the case of Katniss, which leads to her decision to go deep into the camp of the Career Tribute in order to blow up their supplies. This poses a great challenge to her bravery and determination since she has to go deep into the den of her most bitter enemies.

·         Katniss enters the “Inmost Cave” very carefully, as it is the most dangerous stage of the process. She takes her time to watch the Career camp, their movements, and their defense strategies in order to come up with a good strategy to attack them.

·         Katniss’ successful sabotage of the Career camp is another major strategic victory. It weakens her strongest competitors, giving her a significant game advantage. More importantly, it empowers Katniss and boosts her morale and self-esteem, as she is told she is a strong, intelligent, and resilient player.

·         This victory also brings her recognition and appreciation from the other tributes and the Capitol audience. Her audacity and intelligence make her a worthy opponent, changing the course of events and people’s opinions about her.

ORDEAL

·         In an act of rebellion, Katniss and Peeta come up with a strategy to commit suicide by consuming berries that are lethal. This dramatic action is meant to express their anger at the Capitol and to demonstrate that they are not mere objects in the Capitol’s sick game.

·         However, as Katniss and Peeta are about to commit suicide, the Capitol comes in and makes them both winners of the Hunger Games. This turns the conventional narrative on its head and overthrows the authority of the Capitol.

SEIZING THE SWORD – REWARD

·         They both get what they wanted from the beginning of the movie: to win the Games.

·         Katniss also gets a reward from the fact that she saved her sister and her home district.

THE ROAD BACK

·         Katniss and Peeta are now the victors, and as such, they become rebels against Capitol authority. The Capitol views them as a threat that must be wiped out.

·         At first, Katniss is not fully aware of the consequences of their actions, as she is more concerned with the fact that they are still alive.

·         Haymitch has to explain to Katniss the consequences and dangers connected with the Capitol now.

·         Knowing that the Capitol is angry at them, Katniss and Peeta attempt to present their relationship as a love story.

·         However, this is only a temporary solution because the Capitol’s threats and desire for revenge are still present.

RESURRECTION

The true climax of the story. If the hero survives, they can start looking forward to a sweet ending.

·         This is evident in the case of Katniss and Peeta, where the Capitol is after them because they are considered rebels.

·         Katniss and Peeta must face this final test side by side, ready to sacrifice all for the sake of the rebellion.

·         For instance, to be reborn and ready for the final fight, Katniss has to face her internal battles, including her feelings for Peeta.

·         Their love and dedication to the cause of the resistance finally get them into a place where they are willing to stand up to the Capitol.

RETURN WITH THE ELIXER

·         The fact that both Katniss and Peeta won the Hunger Games has made them become a symbol of rebellion against Capitol’s oppression.

·         It has brought hope and started the rebellion in the districts of Panem.

·         By the end of the Games, Katniss and Peeta learn valuable lessons about the strengths and weaknesses of the regime.

·         They also make strategic alliances with influential people within the Capitol.