Katniss Everdeen – Hero’s Journey

The Mundane World

Katniss Everdeen was a girl who lived in the Seam of District 12, hunted in the woods, and traded in the Hob.  Her life was a series of days repeating those three things in order to keep her family alive.  She shared her life with her mother, sister, and hunting friend, Gale.

The Call To Adventure

Katniss’ sister, Prim, was randomly chosen to represent District 12 in the Hunger Games.  The games are a yearly penance for an ancient rebellion by the Districts against the Capitol of Panem.  One boy and one girl from each District are placed into an arena and forced to kill each other until one winner remains.  Rather than seeing her innocent sister die, Katniss volunteers to take her place.

Crossing the Threshold

Along with Peeta, the male competitor from District 12, Katniss travels to the Capitol where she is lavished with comfortable clothes and accommodations, as well as delicious food.

The Path of Trials

The path begins for Katniss with training.  She is mentored by Haymitch, the only previous District 12 winner of the Hunger Games.  Initially appearing useless, Haymitch turns out to be a valuable ally for Katniss when she enters the arena.

After scoring an 11 out of 12 in the training exhibition, Katniss enters the arena with a large target on her back.  Some of the competitors had been training all their lives for this event and were thus efficient killers.  Katniss knows her best bet was to run as fast and far as possible.

As competitors start to die, Katniss finds herself in a strong position.  She destroys the supply centre of the strongest competitors, finds an ally in Rue from the 11th District, and eventually partners with (and falls in love with) Peeta.

The Master of Both Worlds

When every competitor is dead except for Peeta and Katniss, they are encouraged to kill each other.  Katniss refuses, instead offering a suicide pact to Peeta.  He accepts, but they are stopped by the organizers of the game, and crowned co-winners.  Katniss goes back to District 12 having discovered love for Peeta as well as increasing her sense of mistrust for the Capitol and her sense of independence.

Tags: Books, Children, Female, Movies

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