The Hunger Games- Themes & Characters Flashcards
How many themes are there?
10
What are the ten themes?
Power Versions of Reality Identity Society and Class Love Strength and Skill Politics Sacrifice Punishment Community
Who is the main source of power in The Hunger Games?
The totalitarian government of the Capitol
How does the Capitol control all of the Districts?
The Capitol holds most of Panem’s wealth
They use the military (Peacekeepers)
What is the ultimate display of the Capitol’s power?
The Hunger Games
Why did the Capitol create The Hunger Games?
To warn the populace against rebellion
How do the Hunger Games work?
24 teenagers are put into an arena
There is a boy and a girl from each District
Only one can win
So they are forced to kill one another
The Capitol broadcasts it live on television
What are The Hunger Games symbolic of?
How the Capitol keeps the Districts divided
Prevents them from uniting against the Capitol
Divided districts mean less resources for the Districts
In what ways do the Districts resist the Capitol?
District 12 salutes Katniss
Katniss covers Rue’s dead body in flowers
They rebel by maintaining their humanity
What do these gestures represent?
The fact that there are actual people in the Hunger Games-not just game pieces
What is the one show that Panem watches?
The Hunger Games
How are The Hunger Games a different version of reality?
It makes us question what is real and not real in the Hunger Games
How are we shown a different reality in the Capitol?
Fake flames
Muttations
The cosmetic surgery on the people in the Capitol which changes their appearance
How did Katniss identify herself before the Hunger Games?
She was a hunter and gatherers he didn’t like cats
She loved her sister
She kept her feelings well hidden
What Katniss’s main goal before she became a Tribute?
The survival of her family
What did Katniss have to do after she became a Tribute?
Change her persona
Try to sell herself to the audience and potential sponsors
Why did Katniss have to change after being chosen?
She was now in a world where image is everything
When was another time she had to remake herself?
After her father died
How does Katniss maintain her identity, even as she is changing?
She keeps her Mockingjay pin
She keeps her hair in a single braid down her back
How does Peeta adapt to being in front of the cameras?
His intentions and personality seem to change constantly, but he claims he wants to maintain his humanity in the Games
What are the two distinct classes shown in the Hunger Games?
Very poor
Very rich
Who portrays upper class in the Hunger Games?
The Capitol
Who portrays lower class in the Hunger Games?
District 12
Are all the Districts poor?
No
Which are the three richer Districts?
1
2
4
What do the richer Districts do, in terms of the Hunger Games?
They train teenagers to become tributes
How do the richer Districts see the Hunger Games?
As a way to glory and fame
How do the poorer Districts see the Hunger Games?
They focus on survival
How is Oanem similar to South Africa?
It shows how money can change people
How has Katniss chosen to cope with her traumatic experiences?
She does so without affection
What traumatic experiences has Katniss gone through?
Her father’s death
Her mother’s depression
Her near starvation
Who are the only two people Katniss has opened her heart to?
Primrose
Gale
What does love become during the Hunger Games?
A tool
A form of manipulating the audience that Katniss can use
How does the book make us question Katniss’s love for Peeta?
We wonder if her love is sincere or just another method of survival
Why doesn’t Katniss love anyone except Prim and Gale?
After her father died and her mother closed off, those were the only two people left for her to love
After that, she had no time to think about love, because she was too busy trying to survive
Why is Peeta more loving?
He has a kind father, so has a better example of love
He is not so focused on survival, so has had more time to think about love
What is Cato’s set of skills?
He is powerful and arrogant
Has a force temper
Can snap someone’s neck with his bare hands in an instant
What is Foxface’s set of skills?
She is crafty
Strategic
Clever
What is Rue’s set of skills?
She can jump from tree to tree
Talk to birds
Has a lot of knowledge about plants- which ones are safe to eat and which ones can be used as medicine
What is Peeta’s set of skills?
He appeals to the audience
He is a master of camouflage
He can lift heavy weights
What are Katniss’s skills?
Fast Agile Skilled hunter Knowledgable gatherer Strategic
What country can be compared to the Capitol’s form of government?
Nazi Germany
What is the rule of the Capitol like?
Controlling No freedom of speech No free media No voting or elections No way of demanding a better life
What kind of life does the book show us, in terms of politics?
What it is like to live in a society where speaking out could get you killed
What do sacrifices represent in the Hunger Games?
They remind us that human life means something
What are some of the reasons that people make sacrifices in The Hunger Games?
Could be for sponsors
To run away from something (Katniss and Peeta didn’t want to live without each other)
Could be to pay something back
Give some examples of sacrifices
Peeta sacrifices burnt bread to feed Katniss
Katniss volunteers for Prim
District 11 sacrifice money to give Katniss bread
Thresh sacrifices his chance to kill Katniss in order to pay her back for Rue
Katniss and Peeta are prepared to sacrifice their lives instead of killing one another
How are citizens forced to obey the laws of the Capitol?
They are punished if they step out of line
Where else do we see the method of punishment used to control citizens?
Throughout history
How does the Capitol prevent rebellion? (Apart from the Hunger Games)
They separate the Districts to prevent unity
They starve some people and make others rich to create imbalance
What does Katniss believe at first is the best strategy for the Hunger Games?
That staying isolated and only relying on herself is the best strategy
How does Katniss’s strategy change?
She realises that people are stronger together
How do we see Katniss’s realisation?
Her alliance with Rue
Her alliance with Peeta
How does Katniss realise that the Capitol is her actual enemy?
He newfound sense of community shows her who she is really against
How do the Tributes usually ally themselves?
With people from their own District
With people who have the same standing in society (the Career Tributes)
How does Katniss’s community help her?
When she leaves, many of the people from her District offer to take care of her family
District 11 sends her bread
Who is the main character in THG?
Katniss Everdeen
What is Katniss’s nickname?
The Girl on Fire
How old is Katniss?
16
Where does Katniss live?
District 12 with her mother and her sister (Primrose)
How many times was Katniss’s name in the reaping?
20 times
What are Katniss’s skills?
She is an accomplished hunter
Who is Katniss in THG?
The narrator
Protagonist
What are Katniss’s defining moments?
When her father is killed in a mine explosion
Peeta Mellark gave her bread to stop her from starving
When she volunteers for her sister
When Rue is killed
When she saves Peeta’s life
When she decides to sacrifice herself instead of killing Peeta
When she wins the 74th annual Hunger Games
Where does Katniss find solitude?
In the woods outside her District
She hunts there
With her friend Gale
Why doesn’t Katniss run away, as Gale suggests?
She is completely loyal to her sister
She shows this when she sacrifices herself for her sister
Who does Katniss despise?
The Capitol
Why does she hate the Capitol?
She blames them for her father’s death
She blames them for her starvation
She despises them for the barbarism of THG
What is Katniss’s personality?
She is defiant
She is strong minded and spirited, even feisty
How does Katniss act in the Games?
She focuses on survival
She is reluctant to kill anyone
When pressed she quickly kills anyone who poses a threat
What is Katniss’s weakness in the Games?
She secretly has a kind heart
She feels sympathy toward Rue, because Rue reminds her of her sister
What is Katniss’s reaction to Rue’s murder?
She becomes very emotional
She becomes more determined in her quest against the Capitol
How does Katniss feel about herself?
She underestimates herself
Who is Katniss’s fellow tribute?
Peeta Mellark
How does Katniss feel about Peeta?
She has conflicting feelings toward Peeta
She feels indebted to him for saving her life
She trusts him, but does not want to
How do Katniss’s opinions of Peeta change during THG?
After an announcement that two tributes can win, Katniss finds him, nurses back to health and wins the Games with him
How is Gale portrayed during THG?
He is a reference for Katniss
She constantly thinks about what he could be thinking
What is Katniss’s ultimate act of defiance?
Her suggestion to Peeta that they eat poisonous night lock berries instead of killing one another
How does Katniss feel about Peeta after THG?
She is unsure whether she loves him or not
How does Katniss change after THG?
She hates the Capitol even more
Her opinion of Gale changes
Her opinion of Peeta changes
What is the question that we are most encouraged to ask throughout the novel?
Did Katniss ever really love Peeta
Who is the secondary protagonist?
Peeta Mellark
What is Peeta’s nickname?
The boy with the bread
How old is Peeta?
16 years old
What does Peeta look like?
Medium height
Stocky build
Ashy blond hair
Who here does Peeta live?
In District 12
With his father the baker
What are Peeta’s skills?
Notably strong
Good in hand to hand combat
Excellent at camouflage
Who is Peeta in love with?
Katniss Everdeen
How does Peeta fair in THG?
He is the winner of the 74th Hunger Games
What is Peeta’s personality?
Compassionate
Kind hearted
Good with words
Charming
What sacrifice did Peeta make for Katniss?
He purposefully burned bread, so that he could give to Katniss
How does Leeta appear at first and how does that change?
He seems quiet and weak, but he reveals a depth
What does Peeta try to do throughout THG?
Maintain his character and integrity
How does Peeta achieve his goal?
He refuses to hurt Katniss
He and Katniss make the Games a love story, rather than a savage fight
When does Peeta confess his love for Katniss?
In an interview with Caesar Flickerman
How does Peeta protect Katniss?
He “joins” the Careers to prevent them from finding Katniss
He later helps her to escape from them, at the cost of Cato’s wrath
What happens to Peeta after his fight with Cato?
He has a serious leg wound
He is left for dead
It becomes infected
He gets blood poisoning
Was Peeta really in love with Katniss?
Yes
He appears hurt when he finds out she was just acting
Who is Katniss’s best friend?
Gale Hawthorne
How old is Gale?
18
What does Gale look like?
Tall Handsome Straight black hair Olive skin Gray eyes
What do Katniss and Gale have in common?
They are both hunters
They both provide for their families
Their fathers were killed in the same mine explosion
They both hate the Capitol, but Gale is more vocal about it
Who is Haymitch Abernathy?
He is the mentor for District 12
He once won THG
Why is Haymitch important to Katniss and Peeta?
He is responsible for arranging gifts for them from the sponsors
He can give them advice about the games
What is Haymitch’s main flaw?
He is notoriously drunk
How is Haymitch’s character developed?
He actually helps Katniss and sends her gifts
He communicates to her through these gifts
He is actually shown as quite similar to Katniss
He does support Katniss and Peeta and defends them against the Capitol
How are Primrose and Rue similar?
They are both 12 years old
They are both drawn to Katniss and rely on her
They both have medicinal knowledge
They are both small and petite in stature
Who is Cinna?
He is Katniss’s stylist
Why does Katniss consider him her friend?
He makes her feel safe
He keeps her pin safe for her
He is unaffected by the outlandish styles of the Capitol
He helps Katniss through the outfits that he gives her and assists her in her interview
He is determined to make Katniss memorable
He says that he is rooting for Katniss
Who is the main antagonist?
The Capitol
What is the Capitol like?
Lavish extravagant
Over the top
Expensive
The fashion is absurd and alters a person’s experience without limits
Celebrates death as a form of entertainment
Who is Effie Trinket?
She is the Capitol representative
What is Effie like?
She is the embodiment of the Capitol- she celebrates THG
She is superficial
She has pink hair
She has white skin
What is Effie’s character?
She is perky and fake
She doesn’t seem to see anything wrong with THG, but she does actually seem to care about Peeta and Katniss
