The World of Panem
Interpreting Society, Geography, and Characters of the Hunger Games
Category: Sunrise on the Reaping
Sunrise on the 70s: Shag Carpet, Wood Paneling, and Orange Everywhere
WARNING: Spoiler Alert for Capitol design trends in Sunrise on the Reaping Upon finishing his first read of Sunrise on the Reaping, a student of mine keenly observed, “The color orange is everywhere in this book. What’s with all the orange?” I admittedly had… Continue Reading “Sunrise on the 70s: Shag Carpet, Wood Paneling, and Orange Everywhere”
Pa Abernathy’s Big Metaphor: Painting Posters and Reclaiming the Narrative
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Sunrise on the Reaping Author’s Fun Note: Sarshee Whitcomb is likely named for author and poet, James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916), known as the “Hoosier poet” in Indiana for his accomplishments in children’s poetry and as a best-selling author. Given that… Continue Reading “Pa Abernathy’s Big Metaphor: Painting Posters and Reclaiming the Narrative”
Unpacking David Hume’s “Implicit Submission”: How He Might Critique Songbirds and Snakes and the Social Contract
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Sunrise on the Reaping No more implicit submission for you, Haymitch Abernathy. Plutarch Heavensbee (SOR 197) It appears that Collins’ fundamental message in her second prequel can be boiled down to two words: implicit submission. This concept first appears in… Continue Reading “Unpacking David Hume’s “Implicit Submission”: How He Might Critique Songbirds and Snakes and the Social Contract”
Inside the Baffling Gamemaker Scene in Sunrise: Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Implicit Submission?
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD for Sunrise on the Reaping After a lighthearted moment with Haymitch and Maysilee tromping toward the hedge, the pair is suddenly surprised by a Career ambush (p. 296). Notably, their water jug breaks, the knife having narrowly missed both of them.… Continue Reading “Inside the Baffling Gamemaker Scene in Sunrise: Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Implicit Submission?”
Toad Licking is a (Deathly) Thing: A Psychedelic Throwback to the 1970s.
WARNING: Spoilers Ahead for Sunrise on the Reaping (though no plot revelations) Perhaps no other character in Sunrise has raised more eyebrows in disgust than the repulsive Magno Stift. Making his shocking entrance as District 12’s stylist, Haymitch describes his sun-leathered skin tattooed with… Continue Reading “Toad Licking is a (Deathly) Thing: A Psychedelic Throwback to the 1970s.”
Inside the Dome: Plutarch, Haymitch, and Renaissance Architecture in District 11
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD for Sunrise on the Reaping and (for newcomers), the trilogy! One seemingly overlooked curiosity in Collins’ saga is how much we learn about the District 11 Justice Building, both inside and out. And now in Sunrise, Plutarch becomes an essential part… Continue Reading “Inside the Dome: Plutarch, Haymitch, and Renaissance Architecture in District 11”
Two Generations of Donners: The Sweetshop, Marshmallows, Mayor’s House, Piano, Merrilee’s Illness, Canaries, and the Mockingjay Pin (Whew!)
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD for Sunrise on the Reaping, and the Trilogy! Haymitch first introduces us to the Donners’ sweetshop when he buys a “little white paper bag of multicolored gumdrops — Lenore Dove’s favorite,” to share with her later (16-17). The purpose of this… Continue Reading “Two Generations of Donners: The Sweetshop, Marshmallows, Mayor’s House, Piano, Merrilee’s Illness, Canaries, and the Mockingjay Pin (Whew!)”
Strawberry Connections: Why Mags Sends Ice Cream Into the Arena and Trilogy Tie-ins
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD for Sunrise on the Reaping, and the Trilogy! Upon first scan, readers of Sunrise encounter some apparently meaningless strawberries, embedded within Mag’s ice cream treat for our District 12 tributes. Those with little memory of the original trilogy could be forgiven… Continue Reading “Strawberry Connections: Why Mags Sends Ice Cream Into the Arena and Trilogy Tie-ins”
Burdock’s Clues to a Third Prequel and Other Loose Ends in Sunrise
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD for Sunrise on the Reaping (Feature Image Above: An “Old Appalachian” apothecary in Yancey County, North Carolina. See this local feature article about the “Life-changing Magic of a Mountain Medicine Man.”) Is there a third prequel coming? Katniss’ father, Burdock Everdeen,… Continue Reading “Burdock’s Clues to a Third Prequel and Other Loose Ends in Sunrise”
The Mysterious Maysilee Donner: Unexpected Skills, Covey Connections, and that Orange Paint
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD for Sunrise on the Reaping If any character in Sunrise is going to steal the show, as they say, Maysilee is a likely contender. Part of Haymitch’s purpose in this story, it seems, is to help unfold Maysilee’s own backstory and… Continue Reading “The Mysterious Maysilee Donner: Unexpected Skills, Covey Connections, and that Orange Paint”
Meet the Author
Tom Paradis
This site inspired by a first-year seminar on the Hunger Games at Butler University.
The World of Panem 