Approaching the Hunger Games Trilogy ─ A Literary and Cultural Analysis

For academics and general readers, Henthorne (English and women's and gender studies, Pace U.) examines the importance and appeal of the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins from literary and cultural viewpoints such as literary studies, psychology, gender studies, history, media studies, and cultural studies. He analyzes the significance of the story and its characters, rather than providing plot summary and character analysis, and applies various theoretical approaches to themes of identity, gender, and transgression; war, including discussion of her previous series, The Underland Chronicles; and philosophy and how the work is a study in pragmatism. He also uses media studies to examine how the Hunger Games broadcasts and related programming are used to maintain control over people; considers how the trilogy is dystopian; looks at trauma and its effects on the main character; and examines the trilogy in terms of digital culture. He discusses the emergence of young adult fiction in the 1960s; the trilogy's structure, narrative mode, and use of literary devices; and whether it has aesthetic qualities associated with literary text. He includes a biographical essay on Collins and a glossary of concepts, terms, and characters, as well as discussion questions relating to the trilogy, film, and The Underland Chronicles. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

The late Tom Henthorne was an associate professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies at Pace University and director of the American Studies program. He was the author of numerous articles on topics ranging from Cyberspace to Star Wars and wrote a book on Joseph Conrad’s early, postcolonial fiction.