Characters & Motivations
Why does Katniss volunteer for the Games even though it puts her life at risk?
What is to protect her sister, Prim
Why does the Capitol encourage flashy costumes and theatrics during the tribute parade?
What is to distract from the brutality of the Games and emphasize control and spectacle?
What is the significance of the Mockingjay pin given to Katniss by Madge (or her substitute in adaptations)?
What is it symbolizes hope, rebellion, and a connection to home?
Which personal skill does Katniss rely on most for hunting?
What is her expertise with the bow and arrow?
Which recurring theme is established when Katniss volunteers for Prim?
What is love, sacrifice, and protection of family?
What internal conflict does Peeta reveal during his interview that complicates Katniss’s understanding of him?
What is that he has feelings for her and might ally with her emotionally in the Games?
What does the train ride to the Capitol reveal about the disparity between District 12 and the Capitol?
What is the extreme wealth, luxury, and indulgence of the Capitol versus the poverty of District 12?
Why is Katniss’s arrow shot at the Gamemakers’ table significant beyond impressing them?
What is it demonstrates defiance, courage, and refusal to be ignored by those in power?
How does Katniss’s knowledge of plants demonstrate her survival skills?
What is she can identify edible and medicinal plants, giving her a life-saving advantage?
How is fear used by the Capitol as a tool of control in these chapters?
What is by creating the Hunger Games and punishing rebellion, the Capitol instills fear to maintain order?
How does Haymitch manipulate the tributes’ perceptions to benefit Katniss and Peeta?
What is by giving advice that encourages them to appear weak or to attract sponsors strategically?
How does Effie Trinket’s behavior reveal the Capitol’s priorities?
What is her obsession with manners and appearances shows the Capitol values style over substance or survival?
How does the “Girl on Fire” costume function symbolically for Katniss?
What is it portrays her as extraordinary, rebellious, and memorable to sponsors and the audience?
How does Peeta’s camouflage ability foreshadow survival strategies in the arena?
What is he can blend into his environment, showing skill in deception and self-preservation?
What does Peeta’s declaration of love foreshadow about the public narrative during the Games?
What is it foreshadows a potential “star-crossed lovers” story that can influence sponsors and audience perception?
How does Gale’s relationship with Katniss create tension in her preparation for the Games?
What is it adds guilt and emotional distraction while she focuses on survival?
What is the symbolic purpose of the Gamemakers’ evaluation and scoring system?
What is to encourage the tributes to perform for spectacle and manipulate audience perception, which affects sponsor support?
How does Peeta’s strategy of being kind and charismatic contrast with Katniss’s approach?
What is it creates complementary strategies: Katniss relies on skill and survival instinct, Peeta relies on image and emotional appeal?
Why is Katniss cautious about revealing all her training abilities to the Gamemakers?
What is to avoid giving other tributes a tactical advantage by knowing her strengths?
How does Katniss’s distrust of the Capitol reflect larger societal themes in the story?
What is it highlights oppression, surveillance, and the power imbalance between the Capitol and districts?
How does Katniss’s understanding of the Capitol differ from Peeta’s understanding, and how does this affect their strategy?
What is Katniss is wary and distrustful, Peeta is more socially aware and skilled at using public perception; this affects how they present themselves to sponsors and the Gamemakers
How does Peeta use public perception during his televised interview to his advantage?
What is by revealing his love for Katniss, he gains sympathy and audience support, creating a potential strategic advantage?
How does the Reaping establish the theme of sacrifice and societal control?
What is it forces children into a deadly lottery to remind districts of the Capitol’s power, highlighting injustice and sacrifice?
How does the relationship between Katniss and Gale prepare her psychologically for the Games?
What is it builds resilience, emotional motivation, and understanding of teamwork under high-stakes conditions?
What does the repeated focus on appearances (parade, interviews, costumes) suggest about the nature of survival in Panem?
What is survival depends not only on physical skill but also on manipulating perception and gaining public support?