Hunger Games & Philosophy: Catch the Fire
In this one-time class, students will learn about philosophy as it relates to The Hunger Games trilogy.
Jennifer Smith, MA
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(137)
What's included
1 live meeting
1 hrs 25 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
During this one-time class, students will be taught differing philosophical viewpoints on morality, fate, and hope through the lens of The Hunger Games Trilogy. Students will also learn the names and thoughts of certain philosophers connected to topics studied during this class. Some of the philosophers that students will be introduced to during this course are as follows: Nicholas Rescher, Immanuel Kant, Simone Weil, Thomas Nagel, Arthur Schopenhauer, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Marcel Mauss. During this class, I will present differing philosophical views on morality and relate them to characters and events in The Hunger Games Trilogy. This will be followed by a class discussion. I will then guide the class in a discussion about the role of fate in The Hunger Games Trilogy and share various beliefs on fate held by philosophers. We will then talk about our beliefs/philosophies about fate. For the final part of this class, we will discuss the concept of hope in The Hunger Games Trilogy. How is hope kept alive in the Districts? How do we keep hope alive in the darkest of times now? What did/do some of the most well-known philosophers have to say about hope? I enjoy discussions and interactions with students. One of my goals is to stir students' curiosity so that their flame for learning is ignited and catches fire. Another one of my goals is to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable enough to share their ideas with the class. Philosophy is a subject that requires discussion and debate, so this class will be quite interactive. There will be some lecture time, as it will be necessary to introduce philosophical concepts and philosophers to students, but there will be plenty of time for students to discuss and debate their ideas. Students need to have previously read The Hunger Games Trilogy.
Learning Goals
Students will learn how to apply philosophical concepts and views to characters and events in The Hunger Games trilogy. Students will also gain familiarity with several philosophers.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
There is some discussion of violence and disturbing imagery due to the nature of The Hunger Games trilogy.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined April, 2020
4.9
137reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in English from Southern New Hampshire University
I am the author of the book Mountains and Melancholy: A Collection of Poems About Life With Depression. Prior to joining Outschool, I was the Coping With Depression blogger at HealthyPlace.com for almost three years. I learned healthy coping skills over the years I spent in therapy, and I practice these skills daily. I am active in the mental health community. I feel my experience in this area has prepared me for teaching a class with heavy and challenging content.
Finally, I have read all of The Hunger Games trilogy and watched all of the movies countless times. I have previously taught The Hunger Games, both here on Outschool and in other formats.
Students will have the opportunity to discuss how each topic affects them and the characters in the trilogy. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$18
per classMeets once
85 min
Completed by 6 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
3-8 learners per class
