Abstract

Music has played an important role in The Hunger Games trilogy. Therefore, the thesis aims at studying the aspects that are related to music in The Hunger Games trilogy to analyze the significance and functions of the music in these aspects such as background, characters, theme and the structure in this trilogy. 

The outline of the thesis is as follows. The first chapter introduces both the author and the story and related researches done previously. The second chapter mainly shows examples where the music such as nature sounds, lullabies and ballads, is used in the story. Based on the second chapter, the third part analyzes the significance and functions of the music in the trilogy, including developing plots, enhancing contrast and shaping and reflecting characters’ modes and personalities. The fourth chapter talks about music’s role in expressing two themes contained in the trilogy: deep ecology and dystopia. The next chapter analyzes the structure of the novel from the perspective of music, by comparing polyphony and the multi-thread narration, sonata and foreshadowing and rondo and the repetition of images. The last chapter is the conclusion of the whole thesis to again summarize music’s significance and functions in the novel.

Keywords: novel; music; lullaby and ballad; significance and function

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

1.1. Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games Trilogy-1

1.2. Literature Review-2

1.2.1. The Close Connection of Music and Novels in Its Early Stage-2

1.2.2. Music and the Contents of Novels-2

1.2.3. Music and Forms of Novels-4

2. Music in The Hunger Games Trilogy-6

2.1. The Sounds of Nature-6

2.2. Lullaby and Ballad As the Background Music-7

3. The Significance and Functions of The Music in The Hunger Games Trilogy-11

3.1. To Help Develop Plots-11

3.2. To Enhance Contrast-11

3.3. To Shape and Reflect Character’s Moods and Personalities-12

3.3.1. The protagonist, Katniss Everdeen-12

3.3.2. The father of Katniss Everdeen-13

4. Music and The Theme of The Hunger Games Trilogy-14

4.1. Deep Ecology-14

4.2. Dystopia-15

5. Music and the structure of The Hunger Games Trilogy-16

5.1. Polyphony and The Multi-thread Narration-16

5.2. Sonata and Foreshadowing-16

5.3. Rondo and the Repetition of Images-17

6. Conclusion-18