Sacrifice In The Hunger Games, By Suzanne Collins

A Novel has many components that makes it good. The novel “The Hunger Games” is a story that goes through many ups and downs. The literary devices Suzanne Collins uses makes it easier for the reader to understand the struggle the characters are going through. Three main components are theme, characterization, and point of view. A reader can see things differently than another person who already read the book. This is why literary devices are important in a novel, so that a reader can think about the clues an author is leaving in the book.

One major literary device is theme. Sacrifice, the theme of this novel, plays a mayor part in the novel “ The Hunger Games” . ‘“I volunteer!” I gasp. “I volunteer as tribute!”’ (22) In this quote Katniss Everdeen volunteers for her sister in the games. Katniss is sacrificing herself for her sister. This sacrifice is to keep her sister safe, but puts her in danger. “ I loosen the top of the pouch and pour a few spoonfuls of berries into his palm. Then I fill my

own “ On the count of three?” Peeta leans down and kisses me once, very gently. “ The count of three,” he says.” (344) In this quote you see that Katniss and Peeta are willing to sacrifice themselves for each other at the end of the games. They were willing to die together. The theme of this novel, sacrifice made a big impact in this novel because it reminded the reader the human life means something.
Characterization can either directly tell you something about a character, or it can be indirect meaning it can leave hints that have you thinking before you figure out something about a character.

“ His mother yelling, “Feed it to the pig, you stupid creature! No one decent will buy burned bread!”” (30) This quote shows direct characterization. The way Peeta’s mom is taking to him, or screaming at him, lets the reader know that she is cruel. “ My throat is tight with tears, hoarse from smoke and fatigue. But if this is Prim’s, I mean, Rue’s last request, I have to at least try.” (234) This indirect characterization shows Katniss in a sorrowful state, but saying “ I have to at least try” shows that she's still strong and will still put others before her. Collins is showing that even if Katniss is put in a difficult situation she will still be strong. Collins use of indirect and direct characterization lets the reader know details about a character in different

ways.
Point of view is the perspective of which a story is being told. “ I was terrified.” (26) In this quote the use of the pronoun “I” lets a reader know that this novel is in first person point of view. Also notice that Katniss is explaining to the reader the way she feels, which states that she is the narrator of this story making this first person point of view. “ Somewhere in my befuddled mind one thought connects to another and I’m on my feet, teetering through the trees back to Glimmer.” (192) Collins use of the words “my” and “I’m” show the reader once again that the story is being told in Katniss’s perspective. Knowing Katniss's actions and thoughts shows that this novel is in first person point of view.
Literary devices play a mayor part in any novel. They can explain to the reader how a story is being told. Also, they can directly or indirectly explain details about a character. Then there’s theme which explains the whole meaning of a book. The way a reader sees these literary devices can be different in many ways, meaning that there is always a story behind the novel.