The Hero's Journey in the Hunger Games

The Hunger Games Poster

1. The Call to Adventure: On reaping day which is the day when two people from each district are selected to compete in the Hunger Games, Katniss's sister Primrose is called from District 12 to compete in the Hunger games, as Katniss cannot fathom her young sister competing in the barbarism of a fight to the death with the other districts, Katniss volunteers as tribute to compete instead of her. Katniss is the protagonist and the Heroine who the viewer follows along with the Hero's Journey.

2. Refusal of the Call: Katniss and Gale did consider running away from district 12 before reaping day but as Katniss has volunteered as tribute to compete in the games, The hunger games is one of the few movies where the refusal of the call is void as Katniss has volunteered to take her sisters place and is willing to fight her hardest to survive the games along with the all the macabre that will ensue. 

3. Supernatural Aid: The Mentor in The Hunger games is Haymitch, a previous hero who has battled through the horror of the Hunger games and lives to tell the tail, albeit often Haymitch doesn't feel like much of a mentor as the trauma that he has dealt with from the Hunger Games has turned him into a cynical alcoholic, Haymitch has always had Katniss's best interest at heart even when it doesn't seem like it.

4. Crossing the First Threshold: Crossing the threshold is when Katniss is hovered through a test tube and emerges into the arena for the Hunger games where she will fight to the death with the other districts while the whole world watches.

5. Belly of the Whale:  The Belly of the whale in The Hunger Games is when Katniss first experiences the Capital. The Capital is in start contrast to the decrepit hovel of District 12, as the Capitals aesthetic is that of whacky and whimsical characters with outlandish multicoloured costumes and hairstyles. The Capital contains the creators of The Hunger Games and also Katniss meets her threshold Guardians which are the people from the other world in this case the Capital which guide and train Katniss to be Capital worthy. Katniss's threshold Guardians include, Effie, Cinna and a whole Capital glamour squad which transforms Katniss by changing her appearance. 

6. The Road of Trials: Katniss is put through rigours training methods to improve her fighting, quick thinking and acting abilities so that she is hunger games ready. 

7. The Meeting with the Goddess: Katniss meets Peeta who is also from district 12 as they have an interview together Peeta declares his love for Katniss

8. Woman as Temptress: The temptation for Katniss in the Hunger games is Peeta who is competing in the Hunger games along side her and is her ally

9. Atonement with the Father: The Atonement with the Father in the Hunger Games is president snow who is the ruler of the Capital. President snow is a vindictive and manipulative man with a lot of power.

10. Apotheosis: Katniss and Peeta are the final two contestants in the Hunger Games and Katniss comes up with a plan to outsmart the capital by having herself and Peeta pretend to eat poisonous berries to make it seem like they will die together. They both fool the Creators of the games and are aloud to both survive the games.

11. The Ultimate Boon: The Ultimate Boon is When Katniss survives the Hunger Games along with Peeta. 

12. Refusal of the Return: There is no refusal of the Return In The Hunger Games as Peeta and Katniss would gladly rather return to District 12 to be with their friends and family then stay in the  fraudulent corrupt Capital.