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The Hunger Games
Discussion Questions
Hunger Games Questions
Part I Questions:
1. The story is set in the future, so when Katniss references her ancestors, she is referring to us. What has happened to North America? How might we have contributed to the destruction of it? North America went into war and it was almost destroyed. The way we (the general people of the world) contributed was that we started the war.
2. Gale makes the comment that the Capitol wants the districts to be divided, that it is to their
advantage. What does he mean by this? He means that if all the districts are divided then they won’t be as strong and wouldn’t stand a chance against the capitol.
3. Katniss lives in the “Seam” of district 12. Why do you think it is named the “Seam”? What is a seam and how might it apply to her neighborhood? I believe I means the Seam connecting two pieces of fabric. The two pieces of fabric being to good life and the Seam being a gorge in between the good life also being the bad part of life.
4. Would you volunteer for your little sister (or brother, or older sibling, or friend)? Why or why not? What does it tell you about Katniss? Yes because I am much stronger and more cunning than my sister. Katniss loves her sister very much.
5. Why couldn’t Katniss’s mother take care of Katniss or her sister Prim? If they lived somewhere other than the Seam, would things have been different for her mother? Katniss’ mother went into depression and stopped having the will to live. If they didn’t live in the Seam they would probably have more money and more food at their disposal, so the mum wouldn’t have gone into depression from losing the man she depended on for money and food.
6. How do you feel about the victors of the Hunger Games earning free food for their fellow citizens? What problems might arise? I feel happy for them because if they are from somewhere like the Seam then they’d have food and clean clothes all the time. Some problems that could occur is that the other citizens may become jealous and try to attack or steal from them.
7. Why doesn’t Katniss want to get close to any of the tributes, including Peeta? She doesn’t wont to get close to any of them because she believes they will betray her and stab her in the back.
8. Why is it ironic that Effie calls district 12 barbaric? It’s ironic because they will be going into the games where they will be barbaric by killing the other tributes without thinking twice.
9. Do you think it is merely coincidence that the red-headed Avox girl is serving the district 12 tributes, the nearest district from where she was captured? Could it be possible that the Capitol knows Katniss was in the woods that day? Why or why not? yes I do think it is merely a coincidence that the redheaded Avox girl is serving district 12. Yes it could be possible that the Capitol knows katniss was in the woods that day but not very likely.
10. Why the stark contrast between the two? What other differences do you see between the Capitol and District 12? The Capitol doesn’t have to send in two teens into the games.
11. Compare the modern conveniences in the Capitol with the primitive living conditions of District 12. List them.
12. How would you respond to Katniss’s private session if you were a Gamemaker? Why? I would be very impressed by her confidence that she would hit the apple and not one of the game-makers of sponsors, but shocked that she would pull a stunt like that.
13. Why does Haymitch have difficulty coaching Katniss for her interview? How would you coach her if you were him? He has trouble coaching her because her personality is hard to work with and make something out of. I would have no idea how to coach her if I was Haymitch.
14. Describe Caesar Flickerman. Does he remind you of any current TV personalities or talk show hosts? Caesar Flickerman has light blue hair with a big smile, a flawless complexion and has blinding white teeth, but does not remind me of any talk show hosts (even though I don't watch talk shows)
15. What do you think Peeta’s motivation is with his announcement at the end of part 1? I think his motivation is that if Katniss and him pretend to be in love they will get more sponsor gifts from the sponsors.
13. Why does Haymitch have difficulty coaching Katniss for her interview? How would you coach her if you were him? He has trouble coaching her because her personality is hard to work with and make something out of. I would have no idea how to coach her if I was Haymitch.
14. Describe Caesar Flickerman. Does he remind you of any current TV personalities or talk show hosts? Caesar Flickerman has light blue hair with a big smile, a flawless complexion and has blinding white teeth, but does not remind me of any talk show hosts (even though I don't watch talk shows)
15. What do you think Peeta’s motivation is with his announcement at the end of part 1? I think his motivation is that if Katniss and him pretend to be in love they will get more sponsor gifts from the sponsors.
Part II Questions
1. Peeta says that he doesn’t want to lose himself once the Games begin and that he wants to prove he’s not just a “piece in their Games.” What does he mean by this? He means he doesn’t want to change himself and become a killing monster.
2. What is the purpose of a district token? Can you think of any events in real life where people might bring a token with them? Explain. The purpose of the district token is so that the tribute remembers home and can represent their District proudly.
3. How will the Capitol and audience be able to locate the tributes in the arena? What does this remind you of? It reminds me of that house arrest thingy where the police put an ankle bracelet with a tracking device and when you leave the house the police get called to your position.
4. How do you feel about Capitol residents touring the past arenas? How does it make Katniss feel? Can you think of places that people vacation to that might be similar to the Hunger Games arenas? Why do people visit them? Are we any different than the Capitol residents in this regard? Why or why not? I don't care much for people visiting the arenas because it's their choice alone. It makes Katniss feel angry because people just go to remember the way the tributes died in the arena. We aren't very different because we go to war memorials but we go to remember and thank the men and women that died.
5. Would you join an alliance or play the game on your own? Why? I would play the game alone but if some was willing to save me then I would make an alliance because people can be unpredictable and can stab you in the back at any time. Sometimes literally.
6. Where are the cameras? They aren’t visible to Katniss, therefore they aren’t visible to the readers. Where do you think they are hidden? Or are they so high-tech that they are invisible? Elaborate. The cameras were probably not invisible because they are advanced but not that advanced, so the cameras were probably camouflaged in trees, tree hollows, into rocks, the sky, and maybe even the mutated animals.
7. What is the Capitol’s attitude about living things? What about their creations, like the muttations? The Capitol people/government left the male jabberjays to die out and did not destroy the tracker jacker nests around the districts (only those near the Capitol). What does this say about the Capitol? It says that the Capitol doesn’t care about the district people.
8. Peeta aligns with the Careers and Katniss eventually aligns with Rue. What are the benefits of alliances? What are the downfalls? The benefits are that you have someone to trust, to help you and care for you. Some downfalls, you can be torn apart if they die and they can betray you.
9. How do the conditions in District 11 differ from those in District 12? Explain. The conditions are different because in District 11 plants and food grow well and in District 12.
10. Why doesn’t the Capitol want the viewers to learn about the other districts? How does it benefit the Capitol? The Capitol doesn't want the viewers to know about the other districts because the viewers might realise that life in another districts life is so much better and easier they might form another rebellion.
11. Why does Rue like mockingjays? Why does Katniss like mockingjays? How are the two girls similar to the bird? Rue likes the birds because they sing her song and tell the other people harvesting in the fields that it is time to go home. Katniss likes the birds because her father used to have a voice that every mockingjay in the area would stop and listen to his song. The two girls are similar to the bird because they both have beautiful voices.
12. Describe the Careers’ survival skills. In what ways are they superior to Katniss’s and the other tributes? In what ways are they lacking? The Careers' survival skills mainly include getting in first, getting the best weapons and travelling and staying together. It's more superior to the other tributes because the Careers don't have to hunt and gather their food, they have it protected from the other tributes.
13. What does the word “rue” mean? What does it mean to “rue the day”? How is this symbolic of the events at the end of part II? Rue is a herb that produces a small yellow flower. It is used for some medical purposes. The word "rue" means regret bitterly, to feel sorrow over, to repent of. I think that Rue was named "rue" because her parents felt sorry for bringing her into such a cruel world at the time.
14. If Katniss had given Rue her knife when they separated, would things have turned out differently for Rue? Why or why not? Things probably would be different if Katniss had given Rue the knife because when Rue got caught in the net, if she had the knife she would have been able to cut the rope and escape from it and not get killed by the boy from District 1.
15. Analyze the meadow song Katniss sings to Rue. She says it’s often sung to crying babies (think about “Rock-a-bye, Baby” or other lullabies). How does the song fit the moment? How does it relate to Rue?
Part III Questions
1. Katniss’s first reaction when she hears the news about the rule change is to call out Peeta’s name, despite the dangers of alerting the tributes to her presence. Our first reactions are usually are truest; so how does Katniss really feel about Peeta? Is it true that she thinks she must seek him out because no one in district 12 would forgive her. Or is there more to it? I think that there isn't much more to it at that time, but as they spend more time together there is a lot more to it.
2. Katniss is constantly thinking about how the audience is perceiving her, whereas Peeta (we think, anyway) just says what he feels. Why? Katniss is trying too hard to pretend because she isn't the sort of person who just says what she feels but Peeta is actually saying what he feels because he isn't pretending.
3. Why is Katniss willing to go to the feast to get the medicine for Peeta? She is willing to go to the feast because Peeta is dying and she doesn't realize that she has stopped pretending to be in love with him.
4. In order to go to the feast, Katniss must drug Peeta. Of course, we know it’s never a good idea to drug your friends. Is this an exception? Does it make that act morally acceptable? Why or why not. The action of Katniss drugging Peeta is more or less accepted by Peeta because he ends up getting pretty much healed to full health.
5. Further discuss the moral dilemma Katniss faces with saving Peeta’s life with the phrase: “The end justifies the means.” She reasons that the means to get the medicine (knocking Peeta out) justifies the end result (saving his life). How do we use this reasoning in real life? Do lawmakers/politicians make decisions based on this? How? (Give examples.)
6. Discuss the issue of “paybacks.” List examples of characters who feel as though they owed another character something.
7. Why do you think some characters (like Katniss and Thresh) feel as though they “owe” someone for kindness, and others (like Peeta) never expect “payment” for their kindness shown.
8. Katniss wonders if her family will stay at home to watch the feast or go to the town square, where it will be broadcast and certainly school will be canceled so people can view it live. Where do you think her mother and sister will watch it? What does it say about their society that it is not only mandatory viewing, but worthy of canceling school for? What sort of events do we cancel school for or have a holiday break? Does this reflect our community’s priorities? Why/why not?
9. What psychological impact could the wolf mutts have on a tribute? Why? Is this worse than the physical threat? Explain.
10. Why does Katniss wait so long to kill Cato? How does she feel when she finally does?
11. Right before the rule change is announced Katniss is looking around for a stick for Peeta’s tourniquet and finds her arrow instead (page 342). We know why Katniss picks up the arrow, but the audience does not hear her thought process. From their viewpoint, what might it look like instead?
12. Katniss’s first reaction to the second rule change (which revokes the first rule change) is to shoot Peeta when she sees his hand grabbing the knife. When she realizes that he does not intend to defend himself or kill her, she feels ashamed of her gut reaction to kill him. Do you think she could really kill him, as she almost did? Why or why not?
13. Why is the moment with the berries an act of rebellion against the Capitol?
14. How we behave when we are placed into uncomfortable or terrible situations says a lot about our character. Which tributes showed humanity toward others, showed they had good character, in the arena? Which tributes gave in to cruelty and went along with the inhumanity of the Games? How did they show their true colors?
15. When the victors greet their mentor, escort, and stylist, why do they wear the same outfit they wore when they entered the arena? How might this be perceived by the Capitol audience?
16. What will happen next? Will Katniss and Peeta begin a relationship? How will Gale react? How will their lives change?
1. Peeta says that he doesn’t want to lose himself once the Games begin and that he wants to prove he’s not just a “piece in their Games.” What does he mean by this? He means he doesn’t want to change himself and become a killing monster.
2. What is the purpose of a district token? Can you think of any events in real life where people might bring a token with them? Explain. The purpose of the district token is so that the tribute remembers home and can represent their District proudly.
3. How will the Capitol and audience be able to locate the tributes in the arena? What does this remind you of? It reminds me of that house arrest thingy where the police put an ankle bracelet with a tracking device and when you leave the house the police get called to your position.
4. How do you feel about Capitol residents touring the past arenas? How does it make Katniss feel? Can you think of places that people vacation to that might be similar to the Hunger Games arenas? Why do people visit them? Are we any different than the Capitol residents in this regard? Why or why not? I don't care much for people visiting the arenas because it's their choice alone. It makes Katniss feel angry because people just go to remember the way the tributes died in the arena. We aren't very different because we go to war memorials but we go to remember and thank the men and women that died.
5. Would you join an alliance or play the game on your own? Why? I would play the game alone but if some was willing to save me then I would make an alliance because people can be unpredictable and can stab you in the back at any time. Sometimes literally.
6. Where are the cameras? They aren’t visible to Katniss, therefore they aren’t visible to the readers. Where do you think they are hidden? Or are they so high-tech that they are invisible? Elaborate. The cameras were probably not invisible because they are advanced but not that advanced, so the cameras were probably camouflaged in trees, tree hollows, into rocks, the sky, and maybe even the mutated animals.
7. What is the Capitol’s attitude about living things? What about their creations, like the muttations? The Capitol people/government left the male jabberjays to die out and did not destroy the tracker jacker nests around the districts (only those near the Capitol). What does this say about the Capitol? It says that the Capitol doesn’t care about the district people.
8. Peeta aligns with the Careers and Katniss eventually aligns with Rue. What are the benefits of alliances? What are the downfalls? The benefits are that you have someone to trust, to help you and care for you. Some downfalls, you can be torn apart if they die and they can betray you.
9. How do the conditions in District 11 differ from those in District 12? Explain. The conditions are different because in District 11 plants and food grow well and in District 12.
10. Why doesn’t the Capitol want the viewers to learn about the other districts? How does it benefit the Capitol? The Capitol doesn't want the viewers to know about the other districts because the viewers might realise that life in another districts life is so much better and easier they might form another rebellion.
11. Why does Rue like mockingjays? Why does Katniss like mockingjays? How are the two girls similar to the bird? Rue likes the birds because they sing her song and tell the other people harvesting in the fields that it is time to go home. Katniss likes the birds because her father used to have a voice that every mockingjay in the area would stop and listen to his song. The two girls are similar to the bird because they both have beautiful voices.
12. Describe the Careers’ survival skills. In what ways are they superior to Katniss’s and the other tributes? In what ways are they lacking? The Careers' survival skills mainly include getting in first, getting the best weapons and travelling and staying together. It's more superior to the other tributes because the Careers don't have to hunt and gather their food, they have it protected from the other tributes.
13. What does the word “rue” mean? What does it mean to “rue the day”? How is this symbolic of the events at the end of part II? Rue is a herb that produces a small yellow flower. It is used for some medical purposes. The word "rue" means regret bitterly, to feel sorrow over, to repent of. I think that Rue was named "rue" because her parents felt sorry for bringing her into such a cruel world at the time.
14. If Katniss had given Rue her knife when they separated, would things have turned out differently for Rue? Why or why not? Things probably would be different if Katniss had given Rue the knife because when Rue got caught in the net, if she had the knife she would have been able to cut the rope and escape from it and not get killed by the boy from District 1.
15. Analyze the meadow song Katniss sings to Rue. She says it’s often sung to crying babies (think about “Rock-a-bye, Baby” or other lullabies). How does the song fit the moment? How does it relate to Rue?
Part III Questions
1. Katniss’s first reaction when she hears the news about the rule change is to call out Peeta’s name, despite the dangers of alerting the tributes to her presence. Our first reactions are usually are truest; so how does Katniss really feel about Peeta? Is it true that she thinks she must seek him out because no one in district 12 would forgive her. Or is there more to it? I think that there isn't much more to it at that time, but as they spend more time together there is a lot more to it.
2. Katniss is constantly thinking about how the audience is perceiving her, whereas Peeta (we think, anyway) just says what he feels. Why? Katniss is trying too hard to pretend because she isn't the sort of person who just says what she feels but Peeta is actually saying what he feels because he isn't pretending.
3. Why is Katniss willing to go to the feast to get the medicine for Peeta? She is willing to go to the feast because Peeta is dying and she doesn't realize that she has stopped pretending to be in love with him.
4. In order to go to the feast, Katniss must drug Peeta. Of course, we know it’s never a good idea to drug your friends. Is this an exception? Does it make that act morally acceptable? Why or why not. The action of Katniss drugging Peeta is more or less accepted by Peeta because he ends up getting pretty much healed to full health.
5. Further discuss the moral dilemma Katniss faces with saving Peeta’s life with the phrase: “The end justifies the means.” She reasons that the means to get the medicine (knocking Peeta out) justifies the end result (saving his life). How do we use this reasoning in real life? Do lawmakers/politicians make decisions based on this? How? (Give examples.)
6. Discuss the issue of “paybacks.” List examples of characters who feel as though they owed another character something.
7. Why do you think some characters (like Katniss and Thresh) feel as though they “owe” someone for kindness, and others (like Peeta) never expect “payment” for their kindness shown.
8. Katniss wonders if her family will stay at home to watch the feast or go to the town square, where it will be broadcast and certainly school will be canceled so people can view it live. Where do you think her mother and sister will watch it? What does it say about their society that it is not only mandatory viewing, but worthy of canceling school for? What sort of events do we cancel school for or have a holiday break? Does this reflect our community’s priorities? Why/why not?
9. What psychological impact could the wolf mutts have on a tribute? Why? Is this worse than the physical threat? Explain.
10. Why does Katniss wait so long to kill Cato? How does she feel when she finally does?
11. Right before the rule change is announced Katniss is looking around for a stick for Peeta’s tourniquet and finds her arrow instead (page 342). We know why Katniss picks up the arrow, but the audience does not hear her thought process. From their viewpoint, what might it look like instead?
12. Katniss’s first reaction to the second rule change (which revokes the first rule change) is to shoot Peeta when she sees his hand grabbing the knife. When she realizes that he does not intend to defend himself or kill her, she feels ashamed of her gut reaction to kill him. Do you think she could really kill him, as she almost did? Why or why not?
13. Why is the moment with the berries an act of rebellion against the Capitol?
14. How we behave when we are placed into uncomfortable or terrible situations says a lot about our character. Which tributes showed humanity toward others, showed they had good character, in the arena? Which tributes gave in to cruelty and went along with the inhumanity of the Games? How did they show their true colors?
15. When the victors greet their mentor, escort, and stylist, why do they wear the same outfit they wore when they entered the arena? How might this be perceived by the Capitol audience?
16. What will happen next? Will Katniss and Peeta begin a relationship? How will Gale react? How will their lives change?