I saw the theme of survival in the texts “Tomorrow when the War began” by John Marsden, “The Hunger Games” Directed by Garry Ross, “Lying on the side walk bleeding” by Evan Hunter and “Rush” Directed by Ron Howard. The theme of survival means to keep something alive. In the film, “Rush”, the theme of survival is prevalent throughout the entire film. The film, based on a true story, follows the one of the most fearsome rivalries of Formula One’s golden era, focusing on the events of the 1976 World Championship between Austrian, Niki Lauda, and Brit, James Hunt.
We see the theme of survival when Niki returns to the race track after his massive crash in order to allow his championship hopes alive. The often heated rivalry between Hunt and Lauda had stepped up a notch at the 1976 German Grand Prix as Lauda was leading the championship over Hunt and the difficult Nurburgring circuit was soaked in water and with the rain not stopping any time soon, Lauda called a meeting to try prevent the race from happening due to safety concerns. Lauda was ignored race went on in the wet and dangerous conditions.
Lauda, in chase of Hunt was launched over a crest in the track and upon landing, braking a part of the rear suspension spearing him into the wall. On impact the fuel tank ruptured and ignited, leaving Lauda trapped in an inferno. Eventually he was hauled out of the flaming wreckage and taken to hospital with severe injuries. Whilst in hospital, Lauda missed out on a few rounds of the Formula One Championship and lost crucial points to Hunt in the series standings. However after only spent six weeks in
Hospital and against doctors orders, Lauda insisted he returned to the race track, knowing it was his only hope if his Championship hopes were to survive. He made his return at Italian Grand Prix and finished fourth and Hunt failing to finish, bringing Lauda straight back into the Championship hunt. “… watching you win those races while I was fighting for my life, you were equally responsible for getting me back in the car. ” Is what Lauda said to Hunt, referring to coming back to try keep his championship hopes alive.
This is similar to “The Hunger Games” when Katniss cuts down a Tracker Jacker hive so it falls onto her sleeping opponents, killing one and injuring the rest. Lowing their chances of survival, and increasing hers. This is similar because both situations improved their chances of survival, weather it be winning the Hunger Games or the Formula One world championship. In the film “The Hunger Games”, the theme of survival is shown throughout the film. In the film 24 teenagers, two from each district (12), are selected to take part in a ‘last man standing’ type game held annually in a controlled arena and broadcasted on TV.
The ‘tributes’ have to kill others to remain the final person standing in hope of doing their respective districts proud. The theme of survival is shown when Katniss shoots open a net of apples sitting on the enemies food supplies so they roll out onto land mines, which in turn causes the land mines to explode and destroy the enemies supplies. This hurts the survival chances of that group as all there supplies were destroyed. This is similar to “Tomorrow when the War began” when the teenagers blow up the Heron bridge in order to cut off the army’s main route in and out of Warrawee.
This is similar because it increases the chances of Katniss in “The Hunger Games” and the teens in “Tomorrow when the War began” and decreased the survival chances of the enemies In the short story, “Lying on the sidewalk bleeding”, the theme of survival is shown when Andy is stabbed in a inter-gang ‘rumble’ and he is cut badly in the stomach and is rendered immobile and come to him, but he is unable to communicate with them to show his injuries and request help to enable his survival.
“Hey, I’m alive! Hey, look at me! I’m alive! Don’t you know I’m alive? Don’t you know I exist? is what Andy thought when he tried to call for help to survive. This is similar too “Rush” when Niki Lauda crashes and is trapped in his burning car. Fellow drives stop and pull over to help Lauda by undoing his race harness but are unable to help Lauda survive as Lauda cannot communicate with the drivers trying to help him survive. This is similar because the lack of communication due to the circumstances decreased both Andy’s and Niki Laudas chances of survival, although Andy died and Lauda survived, the lack of communication was in essence a contributing factor to there outcome.
Had Andy been able to communicate with someone nd say he was injured, he may not have died and if Niki had been able to communicate with the drivers helping him, he may have been able to be removed from the car quicker and have less severe injuries. In then novel, “Tomorrow when the War began”, the theme of survival is shown all through the text. The novel follows a group of teenagers who return home from a camping trip to find their country is under attack and there families are missing. They then must defend themselves against the soldiers in order to survive.
We see the theme of survival when Ellie, Kevin and Corries escape from soldiers when they were caught looking around the Showgrounds. The 3 are chased by soldiers after being seen sneaking around the Showgrounds, where the hostages are being held. They end up in someones back yard and Ellie brews a plan to give them a break from the soldiers. She sees a ride on lawn mower sitting in the vard and uses a Kevin’s shirt to soak in petrol and make a trail of petrol to the mowers fuel tank. She ignites it and causes an explosion which kills the 3 soldiers chasing them.
She feels guilty afterwards but is told that she needed to for there survival. “This is war now, normal rules don’t apply” Is what she is told by Homer essentially saying survive at all costs. This is similar to “The Hunger Games” when Katniss tells her sister, Primrose, that she will try to will no matter what, so she can return to care for her. “I told her I’d try win. I’d win for her. ” This is similar because both Ellie and Katniss realised they must try to ‘win’ their battles at all costs and survive to return to their families.
I saw the theme of survival in the texts “Tomorrow when the War began” by John Marsden, “The Hunger Games” Directed by Garry Ross, “Lying on the side walk bleeding” by Evan Hunter and “Rush” Directed by Ron Howard. From this theme I learn’t that we must fight for our survival in any situation, weather it be a sports match or fighting for our lives, we must fight for that survival. I realised that no matter how hard we fight for our survival, sometimes it may not be enough to survive.