Tuesday 19 June 2012

Compare/ Contrast Essay- The Hunger Games

COMPARE/CONTRAST ESSAY
Katniss Everdeen & Chris Stewart
Imagine being only 14, having to take care of your family, worrying about shelter and food for your whole family. This was the situation Katniss Everdeen and Chris Stewart were put in. Something like this rarely happens and it’s not fair to the kids that is does. Normally you can’t compare fictional characters and nonfiction characters. However; in this situation it is very easy because they both had a similar childhood and upbringings. They both came out on top with a lot of pride, toughness and perseverance and the willing to take care of others.

Katniss Everdeen is a fictional character in the book The Hunger Games. She is 16 years old and lives in a district called Panem in the poorest part of town called, The Seam. She lives with her mother and younger sister. Her father passes away during a coal mining explosion when she was 11 years old. After that tragedy Katniss’ mother went into deep depression and was unable to take care of her daughter’s, Katniss and Primrose. During her Mothers depression Katniss had to come and step up to take care of the family. Her family was on the verge of survival and on the brink of starvation. “I was determined to feed us...I kept us alive” said Katniss. She did whatever it took to take care of them from walking miles to try and find scrapes from garbage’s in the rich part of town, to hunting in the forest for plants. That’s how her father got most of their food hunting illegally in the forest for plants. Katniss did something remarkable that changed her life forever by using these four words “I volunteer as tribute”. She saved her sister from basically dying at The Hunger Games and putting herself in that situation. She called it an ancient sign for saying “admiration” and “goodbye to someone you love.” She was also very skilled in archery, hunting and trapping. Having learning those skills from her father, she saved her family from starvation and survival.

Chris Stewart is and N.H.L hockey player who currently plays for the ST.Louis Blues in the NHL. He is 25 years old and is the son of Norman and Sue Stewart. In 1974 his father Norman immigrated to Canada from Jamaica his mothers Sue was stay at home mom. During his childhood Chris was evicted from home and moved to a subsidized shelter in what has been described as a "rough" neighborhood of Scarborough, Toronto. Chris did not have a lot of money. Chris’ father worked during the days and his mother was a stay at home mom so there was no one to get food for the family. The family relied on Chris to get food for them. Chris did just that he went out on his own hunting for food to save their family from starvation and survival. However after his childhood he grew up to play in the NHL. His life was described as “One of the NHL’s most unlikely success stories”

Katniss Everdeen and Chris Stewart are similar because the have the same background and similar stories. However they do have their differences. Katniss is a non fictional character and Chris is a fictional character. One is a boy and one is a girl, but their similarities are most interesting. Both had to to face life changing challenges at young ages and both came out on top. They had to take care and fend for their families at a very young age. In the end, they both are very successful Chris followed his dreams and went on to be an N.H.L hockey player while Katniss made it to the last two in the games and took care of her family.

In conclusion, it doesn’t seem easy to compare a fictional and non fictional character however in this situation it was. Having similar upbringings it made it easier to compare these two heroes. They had courage and the willing to fight for the ones they love. Learning about these two people makes me thankful for everything I’ve got, how lucky and fortunate I am. Both are true heroes and people I will always look up to no matter what.  They are great role models.

Monday 18 June 2012

The Hunger Games- Book vs Movie

The Hunger Games- Book vs The Movie
First of all I must say I very much enjoyed both the book and the movie very much. However I found that there were a lot of differences. The book was a lot more detailed and it made me want to read more unlike the movie where it was different I didn’t feel as involved as I did with the book. For example in the book Katniss was given the Mockingjay pin by the mayor’s daughter Madge. That came by surprise to her as she thought that Madge didn’t like her. Also one of the big differences for me was in the book Haymitch was drunk at the reaping and fell off the stage however in the movie that did not happen. I felt that was a big change because in the book that’s our first thought about Haymitch is being a drunk. In the movie that scene did not happen.

All of those I found to be big changes and really made a difference to me from reading and watching the hunger games. There were a couple more little changes that just made the movie not as good as the book. Like when Peeta’s dad brings Katniss cookies, making her realize he liked her all along. Where Only Prim, Gale, and Katniss’ mother in the movie are allowed to visit.  Peeta’s father is never mentioned. Also in the book rue is stabbed by a boy from district 1 while trapped in the net however in the movie Katniss frees her then she is stabbed. In the end I thought it was a great book and movie I enjoyed them both but I liked the book more as it caught my attention and made me want to read more.

Friday 15 June 2012

harrisons song reviews


Harrison Yolland
Structures: at las[t]
And if you thought it was over then you
Better think twice. You've been given
Your last chance, now face the fucking
Avalanche. And who the fuck are you to
Say that we're just wasting time? There's
No need to look back as we approach the
Finish line. Can't stand side by side, if you
Can't face the fucking avalanche. We're
Standing on top at last. At last, you'll
Have to face the fucking avalanche.
Standing at the top of the world. At last,
Looking down from the top of the world.
At last. We feel alive.


This song describes the bands rise to fame and how they had to be so aggressive to do well. In the business they had to take the full on criticism of everybody and no matter what they said they just kept on pushing. Now being an extremely successful band and probably the youngest in there genre they have succeeded.
   
Bad religion: 1000 more fools
I heard them say that the meek shall reign on earth,
Phantasmal myriads of sane bucolic birth.
I've seen the rapture in a starving baby's eyes,
Inchoate beatitude, the Lord of the Flies.
So what does it mean when your mind starts to stray?
Kaleidoscoping images of love on the way.
Brother you'd better get down on your knees and pay.
1,000 more fools are being born every fucking day.
They try to tell me that the lamb is on the way,
With microwave transmissions they bombard us every day.
The masses are obsequious, contented in their sleep.
The vortex of their minds ensconsed within the murky deep.
So what does it mean when your mind starts to stray?
Kaleidoscoping images of love on the way.
Brother you'd better get down on your knees and pay.
1,000 more fools are being born every fucking day.


In this song it shows the hate of the band for the government and how it works. It shows how many mindless people grow up not know what its like to live  and how they just grow up band get a boring job to pay for money to get food so they can survive to make children and then there children begin the cycle all over again.

A day to remember: all I want
i'm always screaming my lungs out 'til my head starts spinning
Playing my songs is the way I cope with life
Won't keep my voice down
Know the words I speak are the thoughts I think out loud
I like to keep things honest
I'm a safe bet like your life's staked on it, for real
I'd hate to keep you all wondering
I'm constant like the seasons, I will never be forgotten man
Let's leave no words unspoken
And save regrets for the broken
Will you even look back when you think of me?
All I want is a place to call my own
To mend the hearts of everyone who feels alone
Whoa, you know to keep your hopes up high
And your head down low
Keep your hopes up high and your head down low
Still got something left to prove
It tends to keep things movin' while everyone around me says
My last days are looming overhead
But just what the hell do they think they know?
I keep my head above the water
While they drown in the undertow
Let's leave no words unspoken and save regrets for the broken
Will you even look back when you think of me?
[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/a/a-day-to-remember-lyrics/all-i-want-lyrics.html ]
All I want is a place to call my own
To mend the hearts of everyone who feels alone
Whoa, you know to keep your hopes up high
And your head down low
All I want is a place to call my own
To mend the hearts of everyone who feels alone
Whoa, you know to keep your hopes up high
And your head down low
If you take it from me, live your life for yourself
'Cause when it's all said and done, you don't need anyone else
C'mon!
So let's get back to when everything seemed perfect
Not a worry in the world, tell me was this all worth it?
I get what I want so everyone's always judging me
I'm not afraid of anything, I've got the whole world in front of me
All I want is a place to call my own
To mend the hearts of everyone who feels alone
Whoa, you know to keep your hopes up high
And your head down low
All I want is a place to call my own
To mend the hearts of everyone who feels alone
Whoa, you know to keep your hopes up high
And your head down low

This song shows no matter what happens you’ve got to always keep your hopes up high even if it means being quiet.  For example this band didn’t get to where they are today by hoping the end up a garage band. They may have never dreamed of headlining North America’s biggest alternative tour. But I can guarantee you they sure weren’t hoping to be rocking fifty people shows either.


harrison's book to movie comparison


The Hunger Games Movie vs. Book                                      Harrison Yolland
This movie is very different from the book. For example in the book she gets the mocking jay pin differently than in the movie where she gets it at the market where she sells hunted game.  Also I found that the movie is a lot less detailed than the book and that the movie could have been better explained.  I think that the movie in some ways was a little bit of a let down from the book and I liked things better the way I pictured them while reading the book than when the movie gave me a new image.

“Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!”
-Effie Trinket This
quote was one of the quotes that stuck with me the most.  I like it because of the irony of how you barely have any odds in your favor.  This quote was used in both the book and the movie and is probably one of the most famous and commonly known ones.  Another famous one is “Here’s some advice. Stay alive.”-Haymitch Abernathy and this is good because of the classic sarcasm coming from the rude drunk Haymitch.  In conclusion I would recommend reading the book before seeing the movie if seeing the movie at all

Thursday 14 June 2012

Final Exam Links

http://www.dowlingcentral.com/MrsD/area/literature/Terms/conflict.html


http://quizlet.com/2794661/elements-of-fiction-flash-cards/

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Quote Response- The Hunger Games

Quote Response
Christopher Reaves says "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”. I truly think this is the perfect definition of Katniss Everdeen the protagonist in the hunger games. At a young age Katniss really was just an ordinary girl however she became an individual who found the strength to persevere and endure a lot of obstacles. “I was determined to feed us...I kept us alive that was the way Katniss was everyday growing up after her father passed away in a coal mining accident. I believe that shows how an ordinary girl who came to be extraordinary by overcoming life’s obstacles’. A hero is someone we all want to be but very few really are and Katniss is one of them.

The Hobbit – Bilbo Baggins – Comparative Essay


When you think of a hero, you usually think of a courageous, selfless person that would put his life on the line for someone else. Whereas a villain is a person who, is greedy for riches and power, looks out for themselves alone, and doesn't care about what happens to others. But what if you combined these opposing morals and ways of making decisions? You would probably come up with someone like Bilbo Baggins of The Hobbit. In Tolkien's book (The Hobbit), he combines the villain mindset, with the hero mindset to create a most intriguing character.

In this essay we will be comparing Bilbo's way of acting, his motivation and his character style to the normal hero's mindset.

Bilbo's way of acting is different from the conventional hero's to say the least. When making a decision, he often puts his needs above the needs of others. Whereas, in the traditional hero, they normally put themselves on the line to keep another safe. Bilbo also takes on a sort of “watered-down” characteristic of the normal hero, being that Bilbo is not greedy. You could say that not being greedy is sort of a normal hero characteristic, but compared to all the other characters, especially the dwarves, for obvious reasons, Bilbo cares a lot less about gold and treasure than most others in the book.

In the beginning of the book, Bilbo is hesitant to go out on an adventure (his Baggins side), but his more curious side (his Took side) is what pushed him into the adventure. Which isn't exactly what you would see in a normal hero. In a normal hero, they would likely be motivated by simply, the want, or even need, to do good things. Unlike most other characters in the book, he is not motivated by the treasure at the end at all, and is even willing to give up his (original) share, just so tensions between the men, and the dwarves can settle. As we near the end of the book, his motivation shifts heavily to the promise of getting home after a year or so of adventure.

Bilbo's character style is different from the classic hero. He has his hero-like characteristics, like (slight) generosity, hospitality and how humble he is. But his occupation on the adventure is not a hero's quality, that being thieving. In a lot of important parts in the story, Bilbo is attempting to steal something. All the way form the beginning of the book where he has to steal food from the trolls, right up to the end where he steals the Arkenstone from Thorin. The closer we get to the return journey of Bilbo, the more and more adventurous and courageous he becomes. Altough even with this he needs help, the biggest sign of bravery occurs when he finds that the ring can make him invisible. He needs to disappear in order to be enough to overcome his fears and the dangers he encounters.

To conclude, Bilbo is more of a contemporary hero than the usual one would find in other works of fiction. He has different ways of acting, different things that motivate him, as well as a unique character style. He is a fictional creature, quiet and domestic, scared to so much as set foot outside of his hometown. Yet, this unlikely hero was the one that left his familiar surroundings, to explore new lands, to meet new and interesting individuals, and to evade certain death, on multiple occasions.

Tuesday 12 June 2012

Imaginative Essay Chantals


Imaginative Essay
What if Gale was chosen as the male tribute from district 12?

And the male tribute from district 12 is... Gale Hawthorne. I'm the female tribute, Katniss Everdeen from our district. District 12. Oh no, I'm thinking. Not Gale! He's my hunting partner, my best friend. Both of our fathers were blown to ashes in a mine explosion, so our families now depend on us for food and survival. Both of us being in the Hunger Games means either both our deaths or just one. This can't be happening. I just can't believe I'll be in a fight to the death with Gale.

We just spent 2 days on a train to get to the Capitol, Gale and I. The train was amazing, so beautiful and had such delicious food but the fact that we were on it to begin our journey to fight each other to the death just made it unbearable. We also just finished all of our training. Since Gale and I know each others strengths and weaknesses we decided to be coached together. And neither of us are planning on killing each other anyways, so it didn't matter. The training was awful, only made me dread the day the games begin even more. Gale and I decided it would be best for us to act like there's nothing between us, so that we look like less of targets in the real thing. Our last day of training went well, we got ranked on our skills between 1 and 12. Gale and I both got high enough scores to keep us alive for a few days maybe. But the scores really don't matter much, a tribute who gets a low score could just be hiding their talent until the end of the games.

The Hunger Games begin. As I'm entering the arena on my single elevator, I see all other 23 tributes, including Gale. I can't help not look at him one more time before it all begins, but he smiles at me and I can't hesitate to smile back. We're not partners anymore, it's everyone for themselves from now on, even if you have an alliance you can trust no one. The countdown is going, 5... 4... 3... I can see the cornucopia, 2... They have bow and arrows! I won't go there right away, it's just a blood bath every year 1... Let the games begin! Everyone jumps off their platforms and either bolts into the forest or to the cornucopia. I went for the forest, I didn't see how many were killed right there at the cornucopia but 13 were killed that first day. Gale and I are still both alive. 

There's only 5 of us left. Rue, Cato, Thresh, Gale and I. I don't have an alliance. Of course I would like to be with Gale but if it came down to be the both of us, one of us would have to kill the other. I don't think either of us would be able to live with ourselves if we did so. Boom, and another boom, then one more. Three tributes have just died. I don't know which ones yet but tonight their faces will light up the sky. That means I'm in the top two. Which means there's a good chance that Gales dead. I can't even imagine him being gone. Gale is 16, but still so innocent and too young to die. As sad as this is I can't be seen so emotional right now when all of panem is probably watching me and the other remaining tribute on huge screens. I decide to pack it in for today. 

It's been about 2 weeks since the games began. All the rivers have dried up and I desperately need water. I suppose the gamemakers did this to drive us together to the lake, for the last showdown. I finally get to the lake, it took me a few hours because my lack of food made me so weak. When I get there, I don't see anyone. Then I start to hear footsteps behind me. I turn around so fast with my bow and arrow ready to shoot, because I assume that it's Cato because he's a career tribute and probably stronger than Gale. But it's just Gale. He's so wounded, theres blood all over him and he can barely walk. I tell him to kill me, because I can't imagine living without him. But just as I'm saying that a huge pack of wild dogs are running straight towards us. Without hesitation Gale and I bolt for the cornucopia to get up on top of it. I make it up on top but Gale is so weak I have to pull him up. We both make it. And the dogs all of a sudden freeze. They're motionless. Then we hear Claudius Templesmith giving out an announcement. She says that if Gale and I manage to kill all 5 dogs, we can both be victors of the hunger games since we are both from the same district. The dogs unfreeze. I have my bow and arrow and start shooting wildly! I manage to kill 3, then realize there are no arrows left. Then I remember that Gale has a knife. I take it from him and throw it at another dog that I manage to kill. Just one more to kill then we can both go home. But we have no weapons left. Then Gale pulls out of his pocket a handful of berries, they must have been poisonous because we fed them to the last dog and it instantly died. It's finally come to an end. One last time Claudius Templesmith makes an announcement. Congratulations Gale Hawthorne and Katniss Everdeen from district 12, you are the victors of the 74th annual hunger games! We did it. We both get to return home to our districts.

Monday 11 June 2012

Diary Entry- Amanda Sharpe


Amanda Sharpe

Katniss Everdeen's Diary


Day 1 in the arena- I've only been in this arena for about 2 hours and I've already come face to face with death. It was a very close call, the girl from 2 threw her knives and I just managed to avoid them and one stuck in my backpack. At least I got a weapon out of it. I'm not sure how many are dead yet, I will know tonight when the faces show in the sky. My priority right now is water. Where is it? I might have been able to get some if Peeta hadn't distracted me. What game is he playing here? He can't really care about me can he? He was definitely just trying to distract me so he could have the advantage. If I don't find water soon I'm going to have a serious problem.

Day 4 in the arena- This is it. They've got me trapped. The careers and Peeta sit below me waiting for me to climb down and face my fate. The Gamemakers surely set this up. They knew that fire would chase me straight into the careers eager murderous hands. I'll wait it out. Maybe the Gamemakers will pity me. Doubtful. Maybe another tribute will draw their attention away from me. Highly unlikely. Wait what is that. There are eyes looking at me in the tree across from me. Rue.... There is a Tracker Jacker nest directly above me in my tree. Great, two things waiting to kill me.


Day 7 in the arena - The Tracker Jackers saved my life. I dropped the branch with the nest onto the careers. Glimmer, the girl from 1, died from her stings. Mine weren't so bad I was knocked out for two days though. Rue showed me how to take care of the stings. I'm glad I chose her as an ally. We are going to destroy the career's food. I don't know how yet but we will. We need to level the playing field and this is our chance. I'm so relieved to not be alone anymore. I didn't realize how lonely it was here. Even with Rue here I feel the need to constantly be watching my back. This is true torture.

Day 9 in the arena - Rue is dead. I blew up the Career's food but it came with a price. I left her alone out here. How could I have been so stupid? Of course they found her, how could they not. I killed the boy from District 1 but his face doesn't haunt me like hers. She was so similar to Prim. Oh, how I wish I could hug Prim one last time. But my fire has been refuelled by Rue's death. With her gone I'm going to fight my hardest even though I probably won't make it out of here. I have to try, for Rue and for Prim now. Let the Games begin.

Imaginative Essay- Amanda Sharpe


Amanda Sharpe
Imaginative essay

What if Katniss was never born?


Imagine you live in Panem, the rebels lead by Katniss Everdeen have just defeated the Capitol. The whole country is celebrating, new leaders, new rights, new freedom. Now rewind about 17 years. Imagine Katniss Everdeen was never born. Suddenly the future doesn't seem so bright does it?

With Katniss non existant Prim is left an only child, her father dead in the mines, her mother too sick to work. Prim is starving and on the verge of being sent to the community home where they would be able to feed her. But reaping day is fast approaching and that one slip with her name on it could change everything.

I jolt awake when I hear my mother screaming. I crawl over to her and shake her awake. “What's wrong?” I ask sleepily. “He's dead” my mother replies with the same emptiness in her voice as in her haunting stare. I can feel the rumbling in my stomach but I fight to ignore it. “Prim, he's dead” she mutters. “I know, go to sleep now” I say stroking her clammy hand. When she finally starts to drift back off I get up and stumble to our kitchen cabinets. I rummage through empty boxes and wrappings and finally find a small load of bread and some peppermint tea. I make us a small breakfast and draw a bath for my mother. We both eat, bathe, then dress in nice clothes and head to the square for the reaping. I see Posy, a little girl who's father also died in the mines, her mother Hazelle and her brother Gale. She had two other brothers but after their father died they both died of starvation, one of the most common causes of death here in District 12. I sign in and go stand with the other girls my age waiting for the names to be called. The next few minutes pass by in a blur and the next thing I know I hear my name called, my mother crying in the crowd and I'm up on stage being congratulated on my death sentence. Then I hear the boy's name called in Effie Trinket's Capitol accent, “Gale Hawthorne”.

A lot of different what if's go with what if Katniss Everdeen was never born. What if Katniss and Gale had never teamed up as hunting partners? What if Prim had to feed herself? What if Prim had no one to volunteer for her when her name was called at the reaping? Gale wouldn't be able to feed his family, Prim wouldn't be able to keep herself fed, and the biggest change of all Prim would be sent into the arena to fight to the death. On person wasn't born and it affected the whole country of Panem. The change killed and saved some people, but was this change for the best?

The next few days are training, public appearances, costumes, crying and trying to avoid looking at Gale's cold grey eyes that remind me so much of my home in the seam. Our mentor Haymitch drinks, Effie, our escort, looks at us in disgust as we stuff our faces with delicious Capitol food and Gale and I quietly go about our business. I recieve a 6 in training because it turns out I'm not too bad at climbing trees and throwing knives and Gale pulls up a 10, how? I don't know. The first day in the arena arrives and the metal plate lifts me up into the mysterious place where I will surely die. The sun is blinding and it takes me a couple seconds to regain my vision. I see the golden cornucopia in the center of a grassy field. On one side long grass spreads out as far as I can see and on the other there is a forest just like the one beyond the fence in 12. There is also a lake off to one side of the cornucopia but I'm sure it won't be of any use to me. Sixty seconds is up before I know it. I turn and run towards the forest. I'm almost there when I feel a sharp pain in my elbow and fight the urge to check what it was. I just keep running until I reach the edge of the forest. After I've been running for a while I climb a tree and examine my wound. There is a knife lodged in my elbow. I pull it out and wrap the deep gash in a leaf. That's when I notice someone standing on a branch about two feet above me.

In my view of the story if Katniss was never born Prim goes through very similar challenges while Gale loses much more than he ever did with Katniss alive. Prim learns that all those years when she was struggling to feed herself she could have been using her natural abilities, such as climbing tree and throwing knives, to hunt and feed herself and her mother. Too bad she didn't find that out until she was forced to accept that her life was over.

  1. I glance up and see a small girl, very similar to me in stature. Rue from district 11. I reach up to shake her branch and knock her to the ground but she suddenly disappears. Then I see that she has jumped to the next tree. So that's how she got her 7 in training. As night begins to fall I see a figure moving through the forest. I draw the knife that injured my elbow and prepare to run. I just make out Gale's face as something hits me on the back of the head and I fall to the ground. I lie still in the dirt, vision blurry, a ringing in my ears. I see the District one and two tributes closing in on me with Gale standing by a tree in front of me. Then Gale starts walking towards me too and I see the knife in his hand. As hard as I try to get up my legs just refuse to move. I know this is the end, in a second Gale's knife will pierce my heart and a cannon will go off announcing my death. That's exactly what happens next except I don't hear the cannon go off, instead I am pulled into never ending darkness.
Katniss' lack of life affects so many people around her. The districts didn't rebel, Peeta wasn't chosen for the Hunger Games, Gale was chosen and joined the career pack in the arena. The one thing that didn't change is that Prim died. Prim's death is an event in the history of Panem that from my point of view is unchanging.

Hunger Games game


Hunger Games Game “Write Up”
By Joseph and Rowen
In our game, we have represented many characteristics of the story. We have used Katniss’ bow and arrow as the main “tool”, we have used characters from the story and we have placed them in a “Good” or “Bad” chart. The chart may not be exactly accurate, but that is because many of the novel’s characters are vague in their relationship with Katniss, such as Thresh. He is a fellow tribute, and therefore is considered an “enemy”, but at the same time, he lets Katniss live and she wanted him to win if she, Peeta or Rue did not. I guess being a fourth choice wouldn’t be ideal, but it would be better than being an antagonist, such as Cato. Also, in the targets, we have added citations to several of the cards, giving explanation to them from the story. The game actually took longer than expected to create and the bow was defiantly the hardest thing to make, taking about as long as the entire rest of the board.

Compare & Contrast- Panem vs. The Ancient Roman Empire


Compare/Contrast essay on the Hunger Games:
Panem vs. The Ancient Roman Empire
By Joseph Dobbs
There are many similarities between the civilization of Panem in the book “The Hunger Games” and the Ancient Roman Empire, and even the author cites that many elements of the book are, consciously or unconsciously, based on that civilization. But how similar are they really? In fact, in nearly all major points they are next to identical. Even the name “Panem” is a word in Latin, coincidentally meaning “bread”. In my opinion, all the world of the Hunger Games is a modern adaptation with all the ideas and ideals of the former Roman Empire. Even the arena and the tributes are an ancient invention; they come from a Greek myth where every year, fourteen Athenian boys and girls were sent to Crete to be sacrificed to the minotaur to to keep their city in fear of the Cretans.

Of course, there are many differences, such as the futuristic hovercrafts, the skyscrapers, the guns and the trains, as well as the powerful medicine Katniss receives in the arena and the plastic surgery that is so prominent in the Capitol. The dual use of the games is also something new, where in the past the killing of people in such a way was always used as a deterrent or as entertainment, but never before has it been used as both. The Roman philosopher and satirist Juvenal came up with a term for his era's games: “bread and circuses”, or “panem et circences”. It was in reference to the way the overlords pacified the common people by diverting their attention from how they were oppressed. In ancient Rome, the “bread” was the distribution of grain, and the “circuses” were the gladiatorial combat that occurred often in most cities. Coincidentally, in the Hunger Games, the same is true.

Hello, Katniss. I’m Cinna, your stylist”. Many of the names of the characters also share a connection to the ancient Roman empire. For example, we see that in this quote that the character's name is Cinna, probably after the poet Gaius Helvius Cinna, or the general Lucius Cornelius Cinna. Seneca Crane, the head gamemaker, is likely named after Lucius Annaeus Seneca, a “praetor”(judicial officer) of ancient Rome responsible for “the production of the public games”. This is just a little too coincidental to be random, in my opinion. It also appears that Suzanne Collins is a fan of Shakespeare, as the names Caesar, Brutus, Portia, Cinna, Cato, and Flavius all appear both in the Hunger Games and in the play “Julius Caesar”.

More similarities include the word “tribute”, which comes from the Latin word “tributa” meaning a tax paid to the government. Therefore, this quote shows us that Katniss is basically giving herself up to be “spent” by her rulers at their own discretion, as can be represented by the fact that the gamemakers can kill off tributes in the arena indiscriminately and by the amount of control the capitol has on the lives of the surviving victors .“With one sweep of my arm, I push her behind me. “I volunteer!” I gasp. “I volunteer as tribute!”. This is Katniss volunteering to save her sister from certain death, as her sister was just 12 years old and had very few survival skills.

All in all, the civilization of Panem is, in my opinion, too similar to the ancient Roman empire to be a coincidence. Whether the author knew that she was basing it upon the Romans or not, surely the ideas must have come from someplace, and what better a place then one so old it's almost mystical but that we know so much about? In some cases, I'm almost sure she researched it, as shown by the origins of the name of Katniss' stylist, Cinna. In conclusion, I don't at all mind the basis of Panem, and as they say, “All the best stories have already been told a thousand times, in the actions of our ancestors.”
-Unknown

The End

Saturday 9 June 2012

Compare and Contrast Panem VS Canada (Ding Ding ) Cai Brown


Compare and Contrast
Panem VS Canada (Ding Ding )
Cai Brown 

    Panem: a world of odd hairstyles, evil government officials killing poor children chosen at random, poverty and crazy man eating genetically modified animals. Imagine if Panem was a real country in our world. The game makers in our world would be considered as a modern Hitler. Imagine in some countries similar things have happens such as the Taliban in Afghanistan. Canada is a great place to live I am really glad I live in Canada

    Canada compared to Panem is like Heaven, here we have: health care, non bloodthirsty government officials who have a full time job of making a Hellhole, to throw us into and watch us fight to the death. Think about event like the Hunger Games happening in a world like ours what would happen, the only thing that has happened in a world like ours is some of history most horrific events. All of those evens ended in war and thousands of deaths. Sadly in Panem the Reaping is just an accepted fact. Everyone is terrified by the reaping, games, the Fright if having you name pulled out of that evil bingo roller. In our world there would be a huge rebellion.

   But to some it is an honor and they volunteer their lives to take part of the hunger games, in fact they are raised to be a bloodthirsty animal. The scary part is that their parents are proud of them if they successfully slaughter 23 other children. That’s why they volunteer there live versus 23 other children for the smallest chance of victory and fame. Only the wealthy districts such as district 1 and district 2 do such a thing. In the other districts many of the young children end up entering their name more time that necessary because of the tesserae with is a option from the capitol, if you chose to take the offer you will receive grains heating oil and other survival essentials, Katniss had entered her name many times because she came from such a Poor family. For instances like this in a world like our own this would be very helpful if we had such a poverty stricken country, but thankful we have a very good country. Thankfully if something as awful as the reaping were to happen in our world there would be assistance from other countries to end such a terrible event. In Panem one thing I don't understand is how their is no external interference to end the hunger games I don't understand how their whole world is formed of Panem controls the whole planet but on thing for sure is that if something like that happen here their would be international assistance for the victims of a awful even like it is.

   In the hunger game they also have very advanced technology, so advanced that they can make a tree come out of now weir from the comfort of their living room some of the unbelievable technology they have I cant even see us having not even in a one hundred years. Mind you the movie take place in a time way far into the future compared to our generation. Panem has many very modern styles such as some of the big wigs in the department of choosing of the wining of the game had a beard with some pretty cool graphics if I do say so myself.

 
 When I really think about it Panem is a place I cant imagine fitting into our world, as we know it, having some extremely rich parts, and in the other regions some people are starving to death. It really doesn’t make sense to me. But that’s just one person’s opinion.

(I think Canada won)
Don’t you?

Friday 8 June 2012

ENGLISH ESSAY izzie l.

Izzie Ledet
June 7, 2012
English 9 
If you were from District 12 and chosen as tribute, you know you don't have a good chance of winning. You were never feed well enough, you don't have any meat or strength in your bones. When Katniss was chosen as tribute she did not think she could win either, but the people close to her disagreed. She was different from most. She had the skills of using a bow and arrow, and she had courage. Courage is a key strength in the Hunger Games. The career tributes usually win, and they are the ones with the courage, they know what they have to do to win. Katniss' courage is a very important trait to have in the Hunger Games, and her skills with a bow and arrow help her stay alive till the end.
Without the bow and arrow Katniss wouldn't have survived. The bow and arrow was key for feeding her family.
“Who would fill those mouths that are always asking for more?”
Katniss is asking this to Gale when he mentioned escaping into the woods with her. Without her and Gale, their siblings would be starved and probably dead by now.
“My bow is a rarity, crafted by my father along with a few others that I keep well hidden in the woods, carefully wrapped in waterproof covers.”
In this quote Katniss realizes how lucky she she is to have a bow and arrow. Most people in District 12 only have a knife and don't have the courage to venture out into the woods. 
Katniss was so familiar with the bow and arrow that she used it impulsively to vent her anger towards the gamemakers. 
“I smooth my hair, set my sholders back, and walk into the gymnasium. Instantly, I know I'm in trouble. They've been here too long, the gamemakers.” 
Katniss, infuriated that the gamemakers were more focused on the free buffet rather that watching her, shot an arrow straight into the apple in the pig's mouth. Even though it did not hit one of the gamemakers she was still nervous that they would punish her. Later that night when everybody was watching the announcement of the scores, she pulled up an eleven out of twelve! Haymitch had said to her after:
“I guess they liked your temper.”
By using her skills with bow and arrow to express her anger, she actually got many sponsers which really helped her during the games when she needed medicin to treat her wounds. 
Why does Katniss ignore Haymitch’s advice to head directly away from the Cornucopia? She knew she had the skill of a bow and arrow, she just needed to get a hold of one. So she put her worries of the bloodbath behind her and headed for the cornucopia. Even though she did not manage to get a bow and arrow, it was still worth it for her to ignore Haymitch's advice. Out of her pack she got a sleeping bag, rope and a water bottle. All key things for survival. All though she was putting her life in danger to go close to the cornucopia, it was all worth it in the end.
In conclusion Katniss’ skills with the bow and arrow help her survive life before the games and also helped her win them. It was her key to survival. Her courage also helped keep her family safe. If she hadn’t volunteered for her sister at the reaping, her sister wouldn’t have survived and her mum would have “blacked out” again, just like when her father died.

Imaginative Essay


The Absolutely True Connection

When I was eleven my sister and my mom travelled with me to Quebec. We left my dad back at home. We went to Quebec, because my grandmother was dying of cancer and had given up on chemo therapy. Also my aunt had breast cancer and was determined to beat it. It was a hard situation for my sister and I to be put in. We wanted to say good-bye, but at the same time keep our last few weeks with my grandma happy.

That reminds me of the book by Sherman Alexei; when Junior talks about after his grandmothers funeral. “We all have to find our own way to say good bye.” It was such a sudden shock that he did not know how to react.

A few months later my grandmother died. The extended family all came together for a big funeral and celebration of her life. My dad even flew to join us. I was very happy to see my father and all the relatives. But at the same time I was sad about my grandmother. I was faced with overtaking mixed emotions. In the Absolutely True Diary Of a Part-Time Indian, Arnold is faced with the same difficulty; “When it comes to death we know that laughter and tears are pretty much the same thing.” junior says this when he can't control his emotions at his grandmothers funeral. He is so overwhelmed with all the supportthe community gives him.

Finally when we returned home I found myself angry a lot of the time. It was a rough few months. I would get angry and just go for walks. It seemed a problem was hidden deep in the anger. When I read the book by Sherman Alexie I finally made a connection why I would get so angry. “There are all kinds of addicts, I guess. We all have pain and we all look for ways to make the pain go away.”

I think that I am not the only one who can connect to such a powerful book filled with humour and tragedy. I find this book to be very honest and something very important. I think a lot of people don't see what kind of condition these people are treated. Calling drunks and lazy isn't fair. They all had dreams like me and you and giving the chance to succeed, things would be very different. This isn't just about first nations, this is about people who are less fortunate as us. We as a society are very corrupted. Sherman Alexei was saying that just because you are poor does not mean you don't have dreams.

Thursday 7 June 2012

Taija's expository essay


Mockingjay                                                                               Taija Thompson



Mockingjay, what is it? To us it’s just a bird, a bird that never stops squawking. It wakes us in the early morning, and keeps us up into the wee hours of the night. We hate this bird, but in the hunger games this bird is the difference between survival and death. The mockingjay pins luck gave her a chance to rebel angst the capitol. Without the mockingjay she would have never succeeded to the point that she did.



The mockingjay first entered Katniss' life as a child when her father would sing her to bed about such a bird.  At this time the bird represented peace, loving, the homelike feeling, but this all changed once her father died. Instead of having the loving feeling like before, all she felt was remorse and sadness at the thought that he used to sing this to them.Here it’s safe, here it’s warm” A simple sentence her father used to tell them. To prove that, wherever they will be they will always be in a safe environment with the mockingjay around.



After a short on edge hunt, followed by a quick snack with Gale. Katniss goes to the black-market to catch a trade with a vender. Arriving at greasy Sae's booth and making the trade of squirrel for a loaf of day old bread, she notices a pin. This pin was indeed a mockingjay pin. “Mockingjay’s represent the rebellion of district 13, but also their destruction. They were the first and only to ever rebel” Katniss took this as a sign of good luck. Luck she is going to need. Not only is she scared for herself with her name in the bowl over 20 times, but now poor sweet innocent Prim has her name in their too.



Clearly the mockingjay does not represent luck. Or maybe it does. Maybe Katniss being in the arena was a stroke of luck from the side of the growing rebellion. Maybe the mockingjay helped Katniss decide if she wanted to be part of the rebellion that was uprising. “You half to win Katniss, for you and for me” a dying child tells Katniss, a girl that she was lead to by the mockingjay. This was a turning point for Katniss, that everything the capitol does is wrong, for example putting a 13 year old girl into the games. The mockingjay brought Katniss to the conclusion that an uprising against the capitol won't be a bad thing, that it will hopefully change things for the good.



Katniss Everdeen would have never succeed, learned, or became part of the begging of the rebellion without the mockingjay. They carved the path for her to express herself during the games; they also showed her what horrible things the capitol has done (death in games of 13 year old girl) and why they should go down. These birds are the symbol that will forever live in her mind; they saved her, protected her and showed her home. They show the world that nothing is ever to far out of reach, that you can always achieve whatever you want, you just need to confidence and support to get there.                                                                                             

Expository Essay : Literary - SPEAK


Expository Essay : Literary
SPEAK By: Julian Carvalhal-Smith

Being a teenage girl in high school is hard enough, but going to high school when everybody hates you is even harder. Melinda has found herself in this terrible predicament that has ruined her friendship, her grades, and her self respect.Melinda doesn't believe that she has what it takes to speak up and tell the truth. Despite Melinda's traumatic experience, she shows courage and strength when overcoming her social and physical problems.

Melinda used to have friends and be quite popular. Until the night at the party when she got raped and called the police. No one knew she got raped. She was outside and isolated from everyone else. Therefore, people thought she called the police because she was either drunk or scared. Melinda's life has completely turned around from being popular and having lots of friends to being emo and flunking classes. If only Melinda told the truth about getting raped and everybody believed her. If only she had the courage to stand up for herself and speak. But like a flower for example, it has to grow and grow to stand strong. Melinda is much like a flower. She has to grow the courage to stand up strong and speak. “No one really cares what you have to say.” - Melinda Sordino

As you keep reading, you notice that Melinda slowly starts build up that courage by actually talking to people and by making a friend. The new girl was sitting alone at Melinda's table. Melinda built the courage to talk to her and actually ended up befriending her. Her name is Heather. Heather and Melinda don't exactly have everything in common. Their like two opposites, except they don't attract. Heather likes to be apart of the school and join clubs, whereas Melinda has no school spirit whatsoever. Eventually Heather becomes a model and joins the Martha club and leaves Melinda to broken pieces like before. Melinda gets kicked to the curb... Again. “My life sucks.” - Melinda Sordino

Melinda’s self confidence could not be any lower now. The one person who really helps Melinda’s self confidence is Mr. Freeman. Unlike most of the other people in the story, Mr. Freeman can tell that something’s up and knows that Melinda has something to say. Mr. Freeman’s the only teacher who really cares what’s going on in the students lives. As him being an art teacher, he spots all sorts of emotions. In this case, he spots Melinda’s depression. Mr. Freeman knows that Melinda really has something to say. Just by saying that, Melinda’s self confidence boosts up by knowing people really do care for what you have to say. Melinda ends up getting a lot of support from her parents and guidance counselor to not be afraid to speak up of whatever it was that traumatized her. From all the support she got, she finally ends up speaking the truth. She tells her old friend Rachel/Rachelle first. She tells her that she got raped at the party and that she was scared and didn’t know what to do. Rachel had recently started to go out with Andy Evans, and Melinda did not want to see Rachel get hurt. So, Melinda told Rachel what really happened. At first Rachel was speechless and felt sorry until Melinda said it was Andy Evans who raped her. Then Rachel turned back to hating Melinda and called her disgusting and jealous. Melinda did not know how anyone would believe her if Rachel didn’t. “There is no point in talking to my ex-friends.” –Melinda Sordino

What more could possibly worse if no one believed her? ... Then the unthinkable happened. Someone had trapped Melinda into a dark closet. The lights turned on and it was IT... Andy Evans trapped Melinda in the same room as her. Andy got aggressive with her and was trying to rape her again! Melinda fought for herself and held him off for a bit. But Andy was too strong and got a grip on her. Melinda had thrown chemicals in his eyes from the closet and grabbed a shard of glass from a broken jar and held it to his neck. The glass was far enough in his neck to cut him. Andy begged for mercy, until suddenly the door opens. Standing there was Nicole and the lacrosse team with their sticks held high. One of them runs for help. The truth is out and Melinda could not possibly feel any better. A year with hate and regret has finally all been put behind her and is now the past. “Have a nice life.” - Melinda Sordino

As said, Melinda does have courage and strength to speak has she has proved. No matter how scared you are, you will always have the courage and you will use it no matter how shy or how scared you are. The bigger problem, the more you want to resolve it. If Melinda can go through a year with people hating her, then anyone can... All you need is a little strength, courage, and belief that you have what it takes to overcome your problem(s). These sorts of problems happen all the time. You just have to believe in yourself and SPEAK UP.