Life & Setting đźŹ
What district is Katniss from?
District 12
What is the Reaping?
A lottery where one boy and one girl from each district are chosen to participate in the Hunger Games
What is the name of the country where the story takes place?
Panem
How do the contrasting personalities of Effie Trinket and Haymitch Abernathy reflect the divide between the Capitol and the districts?
Effie represents the Capitol’s obsession with order, appearance, and tradition, while Haymitch, a former victor from District 12, is cynical and disillusioned. Their differences highlight the cultural and emotional disconnect between the Capitol and the oppressed districts.
What does the mockingjay pin symbolize?
Rebellion, resistance, and Hope
What illegal activity does Katniss do to help feed her family?
Hunting (especially outside the district boundaries, which is illegal)
Why does Katniss volunteer for the Hunger Games?
To save her sister, Prim, who was originally chosen
What is the purpose of the Hunger Games?
To remind the districts of the Capitol's power and to punish them for the past rebellion
What is Peeta’s connection to Katniss before the Games?
He gave her bread when she was starving
What does Katniss’s volunteering say about her character?
She is brave, selfless and protective of her family
How does the physical environment of District 12 reflect the social and economic conditions of its people?
District 12 is described as bleak, rundown, and surrounded by fences, symbolizing both poverty and control. The scarcity of resources and the need to hunt illegally show the harsh living conditions and lack of freedom.
What narrative techniques does Suzanne Collins use to build suspense during the Reaping scene?
Collins uses short, fragmented sentences, internal monologue, and sensory details to heighten tension. The pacing slows as Prim’s name is called, emphasizing Katniss’s shock and the emotional weight of her decision to volunteer.
How does the Capitol keep the districts under control?
Through fear, propaganda, and the annual Hunger Games
Who is Haymitch Abernathy?
District 12's only living Hunger Games victor and their mentor
What does the Capitol’s fashion and food reveal about its culture?
They are obsessed with excessive, appearance, and spectacle
What is the Hob?
The Hob is the black market in District 12
What is the name of the male tribute from District 12?
Peeta Mellark
In what ways does the Capitol use spectacle and entertainment to maintain power over the districts?
The Hunger Games are designed as a public spectacle to distract, intimidate, and entertain. By turning violence into a televised event, the Capitol desensitizes its citizens and reinforces its dominance over the districts.
What is the name of Katniss’s stylist?
Cinna
How does Katniss feel about being in the spotlight?
She feels uncomfortable and exposed
What does Katniss trade at the black market?
Game (animals she hunts), herbs, and other foraged items
How does the crowd react when Katniss volunteers?
They are silent, a sign of deep respect and sorrow
Why are the Games televised?
To entertain the Capitol and reinforce control over the districts.
How does Peeta surprise Katniss on the train?
He is kind and supportive which confuses Katniss
What does Katniss’s reaction to the Capitol’s luxury on the train reveal about her values and worldview?
Katniss is both amazed and disturbed by the abundance of food and comfort. Her discomfort shows her awareness of inequality and her mistrust of the Capitol’s intentions, reinforcing her grounded, survival-focused mindset.