ESSAY ANALYSIS in The Hunger Games

What is the difference between plot summary and literary analysis?

Plot summary says what happened; analysis explains what happened, how it was shown, why it matters, and what it reveals.

What should you ask yourself when analysing a scene?

What happened? How was it shown? Why is it important? What does it reveal?

What does PEAL stand for?

Point, Evidence, Analysis, Link.

What is the Point in a PEAL paragraph?

The argument you are making.

What is Evidence?

A specific scene, event, character action, symbol, or film technique supporting your argument.

What is Analysis?

Explaining how and why the evidence proves your argument.

What is the Link?

Connecting the paragraph back to the essay question and overall argument.

What is weak analysis?

"Katniss is nice because she helps Rue."

What is stronger analysis?

"Katniss's compassion toward Rue rejects the Capitol's attempt to reduce the tributes to competitors and demonstrates that humanity itself can become a form of resistance."

What should you avoid doing in a literary essay?

Simply retelling the plot.

What should you focus on instead of only saying what happened?

Meaning, significance, themes, character development, symbols, and film techniques.

What kind of language should you use when analysing the film?

"The director shows…", "The contrast…", "The use of costume…", "The lighting…", "The close-up…", and "This symbol represents…"

What is a thesis?

The central argument or position of your essay.

What makes a strong thesis?

It directly answers the question and gives a clear argument about the film.

What makes an essay argument sophisticated?

Connecting individual scenes to larger themes and messages.

What is the most important question to ask after giving evidence?

"So what?"

Why is "so what?" important?

It forces you to explain the deeper significance of the evidence.