Characters
Who volunteers to take Prim's place?
Katniss Everdeen.
What is District 12 primarily associated with?
Coal mining
What symbol does Katniss wear that becomes strongly associated with her?
The mockingjay pin
Who controls Panem?
The Capitol
What are five major theme of The Hunger Games?
Power, control, oppression, survival, inequality, rebellion, identity, love or media manipulation.
Who mentors Katniss and Peeta during the Games?
Haymitch Abernathy
What happens to Rue?
She is killed by another tribute after becoming Katniss's ally.
Boundaries are a recurring motif throughout the novel. Identify THREE different types of boundaries that are used to control or oppress the citizens of Panem.
How does the Capitol maintain control over the districts? Provide 5 examples
Through fear, violence, surveillance, punishment and control of resources.
Why is Katniss's appearance important during the Games?
Her costumes and "Girl on Fire" image make her memorable and help her gain audience attention and sponsors.
Why is Katniss particularly skilled with a bow and arrow?
She learned to hunt to provide food for her family.
Why does Katniss cover Rue's body with flowers?
To honour Rue and show that she is a person deserving of dignity, rather than simply entertainment for the Capitol.
What does the mockingjay eventually come to represent?
Hope, resistance and rebellion against the Capitol.
Why is the contrast between District 12 and the Capitol important?
It highlights the extreme inequality between those with power and wealth and those experiencing poverty and oppression.
How does Collins use Katniss's first-person perspective to influence the reader?
Readers experience Panem through Katniss's thoughts and limited understanding, meaning they must interpret events alongside her.
What does Peeta's approach to the Games reveal about his character?
He values humanity, relationships and maintaining his identity, rather than simply becoming a killer.
Why does Katniss threaten to eat the nightlock berries?
She would rather die with Peeta than allow the Capitol to force them to kill each other.
Why is food an important motif throughout the novel?
It represents survival and inequality. The districts experience hunger while the Capitol has enormous abundance.
What is the idea of "bread and circuses", and how does it relate to the Capitol's control over the districts?
Bread and circuses describes giving people basic needs and entertainment to distract them from political problems and inequality. In The Hunger Games, the Capitol uses food, luxury, fashion and the spectacle of the Games to distract citizens from the oppression and inequality within Panem.
How does Collins suggest that human connection can challenge oppressive power?
Provide examples from the novel.
Katniss's relationships with Prim, Rue and Peeta influence her choices and lead her to resist the Capitol's attempts to dehumanise the tributes.
Katniss and Peeta respond very differently to the Games. What does this reveal about their different approaches to survival? Compare each approach.
Katniss tends to prioritise physical survival and protecting others, while Peeta relies heavily on relationships, performance and maintaining his humanity.
Why is Katniss and Peeta's decision with the berries more than simply an attempt to survive?
It challenges the Capitol's authority. By refusing to follow the rules, they expose the limits of the Capitol's control and turn themselves into symbols of resistance.
Fire is a recurring motif throughout The Hunger Games. What does fire represent, and how does its meaning develop throughout Katniss's journey?
Fire initially represents Katniss's district - coal mining, and her identity and strength. As the novel progresses, fire also becomes a symbol of hope, rebellion and resistance.
Which is more important to the Capitol's control: fear or entertainment? Defend your answer.
Multiple valid answers. Strong responses should explain how fear discourages rebellion while entertainment distracts people and makes oppression appear normal or acceptable.
What do you think is Collins's biggest warning to the reader? Explain using at least TWO examples from the novel.
Strong answers might discuss authoritarianism, inequality, media manipulation, desensitisation to violence, exploitation or the importance of resisting injustice.