the hunger games by suzanne collins literature guide

Neither Katniss nor Peeta want to fight and kill, but are forced to do so by the arena itself as well as fear for the safety of their families and district in general. What are the themes of the Hunger Games?Ī primary theme is injustice and how to stand up in overwhelmingly adverse situations, or even if it’s possible to do so. It also becomes a love triangle in Katniss’s heart between Gale and Peeta. In his interview, Peeta professes his love for Katniss and their love story, which is only partly real, becomes the talk of the games. Rue sings the tune of the mockingjay, which is the three note whistle you hear in the commercials and a symbol of innocence and beauty.īecause the Hunger Games are as much about fame as fighting, the tributes are interviewed and discussed over TV.

One important character is Rue, a little girl who reminds Katniss of her sister Primrose and who Katniss tries and fails to protect. Most of the book is the fight between Katniss and Peeta and the rest of the tributes. The other tribute is a boy named Peeta, the baker’s son. Katniss becomes a tribute by volunteering in the place of her younger sister, Primrose. The last tribute alive wins, earning fortune for himself or herself and some better standards of living for their district. The districts are forced to watch and are conflicted as they hate the games, but hope for the success of their own tribute. The Capitol loves the spectacle and watches it with enthusiasm. The fight takes several days and is televised around the country. They enter an acres-large, high-tech arena with many special effects traps and obstacles. These tributes are forced to fight to the death. She is beginning to think Gale might love her and is not sure how she feels about that.Įvery year, the Capitol drafts two “tributes” from each District as a show of power. Katniss violates the law by breaking into forbidden territory and poaching game by bow and arrow with her friend Gale. It’s a coal mining district where all the men and many of the women are forced to work in the mines.

Spunky Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12, roughly comparable to Tennessee or Kentucky. The Capitol is rich and foppish while the districts are poor and often starving. There are 12 Districts (a 13 th having been destroyed by the Capitol for rebellion).

The Capitol, run by President Snow, brutally rules what’s left of the former country. The Hunger Games takes place in a post-apocalyptic future America.

The hunger games by suzanne collins literature guide