#132: First Chapter Analysis: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Fiction Writing Made Easy

Savannah Gilbo

Education, Fiction, Writing Tips, Arts, Bestseller, Writing, How To, Author, Writing Community, Books, Novel, How To Write Fiction, Writing Fiction, Writer, How To Write A Book

4.9 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 5 March 2024

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“In stories that feel society dominant, is survival even worth it if you don't have freedom?” - Abigail K. Perry

We’re taking a deep dive into The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins to see how and why it works. Join me and Abigail K. Perry as we break down this first chapter to see how it hooks our interest and pulls us into the story! Here's a preview of what's included:

[04:39] Chapter summary: In the opening chapter, the author employs a tight focus on Katniss's perspective, utilizing vivid imagery and carefully chosen details to immerse the reader in the setting.

[08:57] Macro analysis: We use Paula Munier’s 7 Key Questions to highlight the multifaceted nature of the narrative, incorporating elements of action, societal critique, and internal transformation.

[44:16] Micro analysis: We talk through the structure of the scene using The Story Grid’s 5 Commandments. We focus on a specific scene involving Katniss and Gale since it is a well-crafted and impactful part of the narrative, showcasing the author's adept talent to convey character dynamics, conflicts, and thematic depth.

[01:04 ] Final thoughts: Reflecting on this scene, it becomes apparent how it propels the narrative forward and leaves a lasting impact on the characters entwined within it. Ultimately, this initial chapter accomplishes all the essential functions expected of a compelling opening.

Click here to check out the LitMatch Podcast with Abigail Perry! You can also get in touch with Abigail through her website or on Instagram @abigailkperry.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Writing is hard. Getting honest feedback shouldn't be.
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0:24.0	And the best part, they've agreed to give you my lovely listeners 15% off the price of a
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0:35.9	go to Savannah Gilboo.com forward slash the spun yarn
0:39.1	and use code Savannah Gilboe at checkout.
0:41.7	And the first is, wekett and to me,
0:44.6	is the driving question of the story.
0:46.8	So when you have a question like that,
0:48.6	Will Katna survive as the main stakes of the story,
0:51.3	the physical stakes, you know you're in action territory.
0:54.3	Right. In addition to action, a super strong subplot in the story is society and we're dealing with the idea of
1:00.4	eventually towards the end of the trilogy, building towards a revolution.
1:04.1	We have rebellion in moments here, even in chapter two we can kind of see little bits of a desire
1:10.1	to rebel against the capital and how we're dealing with a power source.
1:14.0	Welcome to the fiction writing made easy podcast. My name is Savannah Gilboo
1:21.0	and I'm here to help you write a story that works. I want to prove to you
	...

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