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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

"Twilight" vs. "The Hunger Games"


Authors Note~ This is an essay demonstrating text to text analysis.

     50% of the audience polled said, that they liked "The Hunger Games." 29% said they liked "Twilight." The other percentages said they liked both or neither. Both of these series of books are very popular but, one has to come out on top. Teens everywhere are so blinded by the compassion and love contributed through these two books. Do they realize that these books have nearly the same plot?

    First, let's take a look into Bella's life. Bella is a 17 year old girl who lives in gloomy Forks, Washington. Shortly after her arrival, she falls in love with Edward Cullen.  Bella depends on Edward to protect her 100%. She later finds out that Edward is a vampire.  This doesn't scare Bella away. Secretly her old hometown friend Jacob wishes it did. After a while she has to make a choice, Edward or Jacob? She chooses Edward. Later on they get married. Only then, Bella is no longer the lame duck and she has found the power to "'shield" herself and her loved ones.

     On the other hand Katniss, is a 16 year old girl who lives in gloomy District 12. She has volunteered to be a tribute in the 75th annual Hunger Games. Katniss  volunteered in place of her 12 year old sister Prim.  Katniss is very independent and she proves that throughout the games. Until she falls in love with the bakers son, her fellow tribute Peeta. Then all she allows herself  to do is make sure the two of them survive. Though surviving was her main focus, it caused trouble with her being ableto see the bigger picture and where she fits in. For example, how Gale really feels about her and how Peeta really loves her, even though it was supposed to be an act. But in the end,  she chose Peeta over Gale.

     While these two characters lives and personalities seem different, the plot makes them seem alike. First off these two books are about a love triangle. Both triangle scenarios are the same. The girls must choose between a new love and an old friend. They would rather choose their new love, over their old friend. Also in common they are getting hunted by some one or something. Bella is being  hunted by vampires while Katniss is being hunted by tributes. They also both get  special treatment ,so to speak. Bella gets to become a family with vampires and be with the one she loves forever. While Katniss gets to survive the Hunger Games along with Peeta.  This helps keep their  inspiring love story alive.

   All in all, these authors basically used the same plot and plugged in different characters.  I really like the twist that Stephenie Meyer and Suzanne Collins both added, it made the plot more unique. You would have never noticed before how close these books are in comparison until now. Good luck trying to picture Peeta with out seeing a blood sucking vampire. 

1 comment:

  1. All right, you got me. While I didn't want to admit any possible similarities between the novels, you have proven your point. (And thanks for admitting that comparing the two heroines is an insult to Katniss.)

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