Character
Who is the main character that performs fasting as an art?
The Hunger Artist
Sentence: “The children stood open-mouthed, holding each other’s hands."
Q: Which literary device creates a vivid picture in the reader’s mind?
Imagery
What is the usual limit for the hunger artist’s fast?
40 days
What does the cage symbolize?
isolation and social restriction
Why does the hunger artist continue fasting even when no one is watching him anymore?
Because fasting is his identity and the only thing that gives his life meaning.
Why does the hunger artist feel misunderstood by people?
Because people think he cheats or do not understand his art.
Sentence: “He shook the bars of his cage like a wild animal.”
Q: What literary device is used when the hunger artist is compared to a wild animal using like?
Simile
Who decides that the fast should end after 40 days?
The impresario
What does fasting symbolize?
Sacrifice, suffering and search for meaning
Why does the hunger artist finally admit that he fasted because he could not find food he liked?
It reveals his deep dissatisfaction with life and explains his extreme behavior.
Why does the hunger artist become angry at the watchers?
Because they suspect he secretly eats.
Sentence: “The whole town took a lively interest in the hunger artist.”
Q: What literary device is used when something is exaggerated to emphasize its importance?
Hyperbole
Where does the hunger artist work later in his life?
In a circus
What does the circus symbolize?
Society and public entertainment.
Why is the hunger artist quickly forgotten after his death?
Society easily replaces things it no longer finds entertaining or meaningful.
Why does the hunger artist want to fast longer than 40 days?
He believes he can fast much longer and wants greater recognition.
Sentence: The hunger artist dedicates his life to fasting, but people stop caring about him.
Q: What literary device is shown when the result is the opposite of what we expect?
Irony
What happens when people forget about him in the circus?
He continues fasting and becomes weaker.
What does the hunger artist represent?
A misunderstood true artist
Why does the author introduce the panther immediately after the hunger artist’s death?
To contrast the artist’s suffering with the panther’s vitality, freedom and natural life.
What does fasting mean to the hunger artist personally?
It is his identity and the purpose of his life.
Sentence: The weak hunger artist is replaced by a strong and energetic panther.
Q: What literary device highlights the strong difference between these two characters?
A: Contrast / Juxtaposition
What happens to the hunger artist at the end of the story?
He dies in his cage.
What does the panther symbolize at the end?
Vitality, freedom and natural life.
What does the ending of the story suggest about the relationship between true art and society?
True art and dedication are often misunderstood, ignored or replaced by more exciting entertainment.