1868

Main Characters:

Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March

Key Plot Points:

Follows the lives of the March sisters.

The sisters befriend neighbour Laurie.

Meg marries Laurie's tutor and starts a family.

Beth dies from scarlet fever.

Amy marries Laurie after Jo turns Laurie down.

Jo marries a professor she meets at a boarding house and opens a school for boys.

Source:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Little-Women-novel-by-Alcott

2008

Main Character:

Katniss Everdeen

Key Plot Points:

The 'Capitol' is the government of the twelve districts of a dystopian America.

Each year every district is forced to nominate a boy and girl, the tributes, to compete in the 'hunger games'.

Katniss' little sister is chosen but Katniss volunteers to take her place.

In the 'hunger games', tributes fight to the death and one person is crowned the victor.

Katniss and Peeta, the boy from her district, win the games by outsmarting the makers of the 'hunger games'.

Source:

thehungergames.fandom.com/wiki/The_Hunger_Games_trilogy

1815

Main Character:

Emma Woodhouse

Key Plot Points:

Emma is a spoiled, self-absorbed, smart, and wealthy individual.

Emma sees herself as the matchmaker of the town.

The book follows Emma's endeavours to arrange marriages and navigate her own romantic journey.

Source:

https://britannica.com/topic/Emma-novel-by-Austen

'By the end of the trilogy, Katniss is no longer ignorant of the suffering Panem has been facing over years. She accomplishes the real purpose of revolution, that is to overthrow current system and replace it with a new one which most people think is best.'

'Therefore Katniss’s behaviour has been shaped by the society. The relationship and the struggle between the two socioeconomic classes both give influences on her life. Katniss being selfless and indifferent is a reflection of the condition in Panem.'

'Katniss Everdeen has changed a lot through The Hunger Games trilogy. This protagonist used to be selfless, but only to the ones she cares about, and indifferent towards her surroundings. Her world was once revolved around being a breadwinner who supports all of her family’s needs and at the same time struggling with poverty. It is not until she volunteers to participate in the Hunger Games that she starts to develop as a character. She transforms from an indifferent person to a national heroine.'

'This character's development is a product, a reflection to the society where she belongs to: a society with the socioeconomic classes.'

In summary: Katniss is selfless when it comes to providing for her family, she would go to any length, but when it comes to others she sees them as competition, the enemy. By volunteering for the hunger games she is exposed to the true extent of the capitols power and wrongdoings. In turn, Katniss realises that the people are not her enemy, the capitol is, and that everyone living in the districts are in the same position as her and her family. This makes Katniss turn her anger from the people like her to the true cause of the injustice, the capitol.

Source:

https://jurnal.ugm.ac.id/lexicon/article/download/41265/22867

Panem: meaning bread in Latin, also the name of the country in 'The Hunger Games'

Panem et Circensus: A phrase that originated in ancient Rome meaning 'bread and circuses'. It is an act of government control, they provide enough food and entertainment for the people to be content in passive obedience.

Source:

https://openjournals.neu.edu/nuwriting/home/article/download/127/114

Dystopia

Definition: 'Relating to a very bad or unfair society in which there is a lot of suffering, especially an imaginary society in the future.'

The main show of dystopia in the novel is the allegory of the Latin phrase 'panem et circenses', meaning 'bread and circuses', 'Panem' being the name of the country in the novel. Collins uses this phrase to convey governmental control, as they provide the people with enough food and entertainment to keep them obedient.

Another instance of dystopia in the novel is the portrayal of class division: The Capitol and the people, and this division goes a step further with the people being separated into districts of worsening conditions.

Sources:

https://openjournals.neu.edu/nuwriting/home/article/download/127/114

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/dystopian

There are at least four types of feminism present in this novel: liberal, Marxist, existentialist, and radicalist.

The first type, liberal feminism, is the idea that women can provide for themselves and fulfil their own needs by working hard and generating income.

Example in novel: "Let's each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I'm sure we work hard enough to earn it."

The second type, Marxist feminism, is the idea that women's sense of identity is shaped by the work she does and the role she plays in her family.

Example in novel: "I'm the man of the family now Papa is away."

Existentialist feminism is the next type of feminism shown in the novel. This is the idea that women must not conform to the traditional female characteristics, breaking free from labels, stereotypes, etc.

Example in novel: "Don't, Jo. It's so boyish!" "That's why I do it."

The final type of feminism portrayed in the novel is radicalist feminism. This is the idea that women's bodies are the root cause of their oppression.

Example in novel: "I don't approve of corporal punishment, especially for girls."

Source:

https://www.coursehero.com/file/122195319/2487-6062-1-PBpdf/

The novel is written from the point of view of the unreliable narrator, Emma Woodhouse. Since we, as readers, can't rely on the narrator for a truthful telling of the story, we have to look at the social behaviour exhibited by the characters to determine the real nature of Emma and the other characters.

In Emma, the main theme is love. Both in the sense of Emma attempting to arrange marriages for the people of her town, and in her blindness to her own feelings and the true feelings of those around her. This blindness is shown as she tries to force couples together, not giving interest to who they are compatible with, Emma is only interested in the aesthetic value of the couples.

Jane Austen wanted independence, whether that be financially or intellectually, for her heroines as it freed them from the life they were doomed to have as women in the 1800s.

Source:

https://al-kindipublisher.com/index.php/ijllt/article/view/481/438

The main take away for readers from Jo's development as a character is to not give up on our passions and to believe in our own skill.

Jo's greatest ambition in life is to become a published author. But throughout the story Jo is met with obstacles that break her spirit and her belief in her writing skills. She confides in her sister, Beth, who gives her the motivation and confidence to continue in her pursuits once again. The message the readers takes away from this development is to have a strong will and share your burdens with those around you as it will encourage and respark desire.

Source:

https://medium.com/@salmanisrina26/little-women-influence-through-its-character-development-fd469193bf0d

For the majority of the story Emma is blind to her flaws and is unaware of her capacity for growth. Mr Knightley is the catalyst for Emma's realisation that she has the potential to grow due to the connection and respect she holds for Mr Knightley.

'Emma realizes the possibility of her growing throughout her marriage with Mr. Knightley, thus recognizing her boundless capacity for growth.'

Source:

https://artsone.arts.ubc.ca/student-journal/austens-emma-self-knowledge-and-growth/#:~:text=Emma%20realizes%20the%20possibility%20of,Knightley's%20proposal%20and%20love.

Mockingjay

Arrow/Bow

Katniss plant

Deer

Bread and Circuses

Source:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=nYJP9M7ssN4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA11&dq=hunger+games+symbol&ots=mthGuU2srt&sig=Vu3Q-S_WyoDhT-XQAKnp-e9gKEY&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=hunger%20games%20symbol&f=false

https://baselius.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Journal-January-June-2021-3.pdf#page=18

Gloves

Burns

Source:

https://www.supersummary.com/little-women/symbols-and-motifs/

https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Little-Women/motifs/

Charades/Puzzles

Source:

https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/emma/symbols/

https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Emma/symbols/

President Snow's symbol is the white rose.

Scent of rose masks blood and poison, Snow is a symbol to the capitol, distracting them from the death and wrongdoings.

Contrasts to Katniss's plant, which is a source of food and nourishment, the rose is the opposite of the Katniss plant. A symbolic way of representing these two conflicting characters.

Source:

Katniss the Cattail: An Unauthorised Guide To Names And Symbols In Suzanne Collins' 'The Hunger Games' by Valerie Estelle Frankel

Katniss' name is originated from the cattail root, the katniss plant. It is a very nourishing plant, it's tall, has white flowers and leaves shaped like arrowheads. The roots of the plant are edible and 'as nourishing as a potato'.

This is a very fitting symbol for Katniss as she is the provider for her family. Her whole purpose before The Hunger Games was to feed her family and keep them alive, and then after the games by winning.

Source:

Katniss the Cattail: An Unauthorised Guide To Names And Symbols In Suzanne Collins' 'The Hunger Games' by Valerie Estelle Frankel

In the novel, the Capitol created these birds to spy on the districts, as they would gather information and relay it back to the Capitol, but they ended up working against the Capitols favour. In the novel they now are known for their singing voices, and are used by the districts as alarms.

Katniss: "I am the Mockingjay. The one who survived despite the Capitol's plans. The symbol of the rebellion."

This symbol of Katniss shows her resilience and her defiance against the Capitol's plans.

A symbol of hope for the people of the districts.

Source:

Katniss the Cattail: An Unauthorised Guide To Names And Symbols In Suzanne Collins' 'The Hunger Games' by Valerie Estelle Frankel

The mutts, or mutations, are genetically modified animals used by the Capitol in the Games as weapons.

Just like Katniss represents the hope and life of the districts, the mutts represent the unnatural horror of the Capitol. They are meant to 'damage people with a perverse psychological twist', to control and torment the people of the districts. They are just another display of the Capitol's power and the helplessness of the districts.

Source:

Katniss the Cattail: An Unauthorised Guide To Names And Symbols In Suzanne Collins' 'The Hunger Games' by Valerie Estelle Frankel

https://thehungergames.fandom.com/wiki/Muttation#:~:text=Muttations%2C%20or%20simply%20mutts%2C%20are,and%20within%20Hunger%20Games%20arenas.

In the novel, the Hanging Tree is where the people of district 12 were taken to be executed by the Capitol.

There is a district 12 song that tells a story of a man on the way to be executed by the Capitol at the Hanging Tree, and him calling for his lover to join him. It is a revolutionary anthem in district 12.

The Hanging Tree and the song signifies that the people of the districts would rather be dead than to continue facing the rath of the Capitol. It just reinforces to the reader that true horrors of the Capitol and their power.

Source:

Katniss the Cattail: An Unauthorised Guide To Names And Symbols In Suzanne Collins' 'The Hunger Games' by Valerie Estelle Frankel

https://thehungergames.fandom.com/wiki/Hanging_tree

Young adult books are books aimed at readers aged 12 - 18, however older readers also enjoy YA books.

Source:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-hunger-games/suzanne-collins/9781407132082https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-hunger-games/suzanne-collins/9781407132082

https://www.profwritingacademy.com/what-is-young-adult-fiction#:~:text=First%20up%2C%20YA%20isn't,avid%20readers%20of%20YA%20fiction.

The Hunger Games is classed as a 'four-quadrant' film. This means that the film appeals to the four main target audiences: women 25 and over, women under 25, men 25 and over, and men under 25. The film/book has action, romance, is female driven, and is about young people rebelling, all of which can be aimed at the different audiences.

The film is rated a 12A, meaning it contains moderate violence and themes unsuitable for younger children. However, the BBFC say that the film could have been rated a 15 without any cuts, but as the books had the younger audience, they wanted to make it accessible to them too.

Source:

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/marketing-hunger-games

https://www.bbfc.co.uk/education/case-studies/the-hunger-games

The survey is anonymous.

The survey ask if they have ever read/watched The Hunger Games, and if they have, what age range do they think it is most suitable for. I wanted to survey these questions, especially the age range of the media, as it informs my design choices. If the responses indicated it was most suitable for children, then my design would be aimed towards the 12-18 age range, and the same if other audiences were mentioned. It is important that my design is relevant and suitable for the intended audience. If the readers of the book, and the people of that age range, aren't the target audience of my design then they won't be drawn to the book.

This will be visible on the shelf, so it's important to consider the design.

It should reflect the style and tone of the front cover. It's also important that the typeface, font size, and colour are all both readable and aesthetically pleasing.

Should include the title, authors name, and publisher's logo.

The Front Cover

The design needs to be visually captivating, as the viewer will make a split second decision on whether they've read it before, who it's by, and if it's their type of book.

This means the design must tell the viewer the author, the title, and the genre.

This also reinforces the fact that my target audience research is very important for the successfulness of my design.

The Typography

The font should compliment the style of the design.

The text must be readable!

The Readership

The design should communicate the genre and give the reader some insight into what the book is about.

By reflecting the genre of the novel in the design, it automatically brings in the target audience.

Source:

https://www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk/learning-zone/the-principles-of-great-book-cover-design#:~:text=This%20means%20the%20front%20cover,the%20attention%20of%20the%20reader.

Line

Can be used to organise, connect or create a rhythm within in a design.

Shape

The external outline of a shape, or anything with height and width.

Texture

The look and feel of a surface, which adds dimension.

It can also refer to 'pattern', which is visual texture.

Space

The distance between shapes and forms.

It is referred to, in a design, as 'white space' or 'negative space'.

Size

The scale of objects in relation to each other.

Value

The lightness or darkness of an area.

Value adds dimension in a design as it creates the illusion of depth.

Principles of Design

Balance

When all elements are equally distributed within a design. Either 'symmetrically' or 'asymmetrically'.

Emphasis

The main focus of the design, or the 'focal point'.

Emphasis can be placed on an element by using one of the elements/principles of design. For example: making an object bigger and bolder using size and value.

Unity

When all the elements of a design work together/relate and create a cohesive design.

Rhythm

A pattern created by repeated elements in a design. The layout of a design can create intentional movement in the design and direct the viewers eye.

Contrast

This stresses the visual difference in elements. This will direct the viewers eye to certain aspects in order. It creates a hierarchy within the design elements.

Source:

Design for Communication: Conceptual Graphic Design Basics

By Elizabeth Resnick

Designed by Sir Issac Newton in 1666.

Three primary colours: red, yellow, blue.

Three secondary colours: green, purple, orange.

Six tertiary colours: blue-green, red-violet, etc.

Secondary colours are colours made when two primary colours are mixed.

Tertiary colours are colours made when primary and secondary colours are mixed.

Warm colours: red, orange, yellow.

Cool colours: blue, green, purple.

Warm colours: energy, brightness, action.

Cool colours: calm, peace, serenity.

Hue, Shade, Tint, Tone

Hue: pure colour

Shade: add black

Tint: add white

Tone: add gray

Colour Schemes

Complementary: two opposite colours

Analogous: three side-by-side colours

Triadic: 3 equally spaced colours

Source:

https://99designs.com/blog/tips/the-7-step-guide-to-understanding-color-theory/

https://www.colouringheaven.com/how-to-colour/colour-theory/

They all feel very grungy and apocalyptic. This is way too contrasting to my illustration style and would clash horribly with my design.

As my design will be hand-drawn it will have inconsistent lines, so I don't want the font to be too stiff or neat.

I think a script font would compliment the design nicely as it is loose and dynamic. However, I think script may feel too vintage, which is not at all the look that I want for the illustration, as it is a dystopian novel.

Yellow: happiness, intellect

Blue: tranquility, peace, confidence

Green: growth, ambition

Orange: joy, enthusiasm

Purple: luxury, creativity

Black: power, mystery

White: safety, innocence

Source:

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/color-theory-design

I was initially planning to use Photoshop as it is a software I am familiar with, and I thought it would be a simple method, but upon researching I found that it was quite a backwards method to making a useable font on Photoshop.

I then started researching alternative methods and I found this website called Calligraphr.com. This was a really easy method to making my own font.

For Calligraphr.com all I had to do was:

• print out a template

• draw my own alphabet in the template

• scan the paper

• upload it to the website

• and then the website generates your work into a useable font!

As I am hand drawing my illustration and the lines are going to be intentionally askew, I wanted my font to match that style! I also think it just adds more to my design if I have made the font.

Making a font, as opposed to just drawing the lettering, makes it so much easier to edit the text and the alignment, etc. It will save me time in the long run when playing about with compositions in my development.

Source:

https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2792775-the-hunger-games

Source:

https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2792775-the-hunger-games

Source:

https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2792775-the-hunger-games

This is really useful to me as I know what the general target audience for the novel is, and how to orient my design for this audience!

This means I can make my design a bit more mature than if I had to cater to the teen category.

I chose to relate 'trajectory' to the character development in 'The Hunger Games'.

Snow was the catalyst for Katniss' development. Being a tribute in the Games opened her eyes to the extent of the Capitols power.

I wanted my illustration to show this change in Katniss when she enters the Games. I think I was successful in achieving this through the distorted plants. The Katniss plant, and the rose, which represents Snow, are combined and distorting each other. This symbolisies the change that Snow makes in Katniss. The distortion of the plants feels wrong and unnatural which represents the disturbed nature of the Games and the Capitol.

Inspirational Artists:

Karlotta Freier

Michael De Forge

Sam Alden

Both Karlotta Freier and Michael De Forge use simplified shapes and visible line work in their art. Their style is very bold and stylised using flat plains of colour with minimal shading. Their use of shape and line was a big inspiration for this project. The style is playful and expressive, which I also wanted to capture in my work, especially as I planned on using flat colours, the style adds the visual interest.

Sam Alden influenced my work through his use of colour. Colour sets the tone in a piece, so this was an important consideration for me. He uses colour very thoughtfully, to convey certain emotions/tones. All of his work uses complementary colours, nothing contrasting, to create a cohesive and harmonising composition. I took this into my own work when thinking about colour, using his work for inspiration.

I also found when research existing book cover illustrations that I liked the more contemporary covers the best! Designs with flat colours, stylised shapes, and compositions on the minimal side. I took this into consideration when thinking about my own layout, using larger elements, and focusing on the shape and colour over the detail.

I have used this software before outside of college. It has great options for different brushes/tools, and I find it generally easy to use.

I do think that I need more practice with the software to better understand all of the available tools/tricks. The way I went about colouring was quite time consuming and I think there is probably an easier and more efficient way of doing this. When I go to use Procreate again, I will do some researching beforehand to better understand the software.

When I think about 'The Hunger Games' my mind goes to the setting of the Games, and the districts, which are all shrouded with nature: the Games being held in a forest.

The symbols of the Cattail plant and the rose where also very fitting for my interpratation of 'trajectory'. They perfectly embodied the influence Snow had on Katniss throughout the novel, and the change/development he urged from Katniss.

I chose this specific quote as I felt it encompassed the 'trajectory' of the character Katniss Everdeen. The quote conveyed the idea that Katniss was a strong female lead that faced adversity on her journey, but was able to persevere through her own strength.

It also related to the imagery of the Katniss plant that was in my illustration.

I chose to relate 'trajectory' to the character development in 'The Hunger Games'.

Snow was the catalyst for Katniss' development. Being a tribute in the Games opened her eyes to the extent of the Capitols power.

I wanted my illustration to show this change in Katniss when she enters the Games. I think I was successful in achieving this through the distorted plants. The Katniss plant, and the rose, which represents Snow, are combined and distorting each other. This symbolisies the change that Snow makes in Katniss. The distortion of the plants feels wrong and unnatural which represents the disturbed nature of the Games and the Capitol.