Part 1 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?The Hunger Games started from a war or fighting, the hunger games was the result of the winning people from the war, to punish all North Americans for fighting in the war. Katniss was a part of North America so when she referrers to us, she is referring to North Americans and 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?
The districts were separated because the Capitol wanted rivalry between different people, areas, and districts. Having them all separated, the poorer districts would want to win to earn food and items to survive on. All people would be vicious and there would be a need to fight and win between all districts, poor or rich.
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?
The seam may mean the edge or border of district 12. The miners come in and out from district 12 and because the seam is on the edge, the only part separating it from the Meadow is bush and fences/ gates.
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?
I would volunteer for a little brother or sister because you want to keep them safe. You would try to get both of you out of it, but if it comes down to death I would because they are younger and you love them.
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 needs to look after her mother and sister because after her father died, her mother wasn’t in control and couldn’t earn food or water for the whole family, so Katniss made the decisions.
6. How do you feel about the victors of the Hunger Games earning free food for their fellow citizens? What problems might arise?
The problems that might arise would be if it was a poor district, other families or people may want to take their food or may steal from them, because they are the winners or the rich ones.
7. Why doesn’t Katniss want to get close to any of the tributes, including Peeta?
She doesn’t want to get close to any of them because they may turn on her and she may think they are friends, but he/she might turn around and kill her or lead her into being killed.
8. Why is it ironic that Effie calls district 12 barbaric?
I think it is barbaric because it is animalistic and inhuman, she is calling their district barbaric, where they hunt and kill animals, but she is in charge of a big competition that includes people killing and stabbing each other (to death).
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?
It could be possible that the Capitol knows Katniss was in the woods but I think the red-headed Avox girl was captured and it is a coincidence that she is serving the district 12 tributes.
10. Compare the modern conveniences in the Capitol with the primitive living conditions of District 12. List them.
In the modern building that Katniss is kept in before she is taken into the Hunger Games, has been made from rich, wealthy people and this has been done because Katniss’ district is poor and would never experience these times. There is a very good chance that 23 out of the 24 people will be killed, so they have transformed a building that has many choices of meals, giant rooms, and has everything modern and beautiful, something that Katniss has never seen before and will be her only chance.
11. Why the stark contrast between the two? What other differences do you see between the Capitol and District 12?
There is a stark contrast between the two, and the differences are that everything there is modern, with technology involved (to make the whole stadium for the Hunger Games) and in Katniss’ district, there is barely enough food for them to live on, there would never be technology and they don’t have all of the modern furniture or lives like Katniss is experiencing.
12. How would you respond to Katniss’s private session if you were a Gamemaker? Why?
I would wonder why her other partner from the same district as her isn’t with her. I would respond happily but confused as well because it is unusual to not be coached together, when you are from the same district. In a way, it would be better for the both of them because they don’t have the same tactics or thoughts.
13. Why does Haymitch have difficulty coaching Katniss for her interview? How would you coach her if you were him?
Haymitch has trouble because Peeta has decided to be coached separately and Haymitch cannot tell one or the other the same tactics or thoughts about how to win the Hunger Games. I would try to get Katniss and Peeta to be coached together instead of separately. I would try to think of separate tactics for both of them, and I would try to get Katniss to talk to Peeta about being coached together.
14. Describe Caesar Flickerman. Does he remind you of any current TV personalities or talk show hosts?
Caesar Flickerman is a loud and interesting speaker, he motivates the audience and wears costumes that no one would ever think of. He is funny and gets the audience excited to meet new people, and have new thoughts about people and their personalities.
15. What do you think Peeta’s motivation is with his announcement at the end of part 1?
I think Peeta’s motivation is to get the audience to like him, or think twice about him, so he can get sponsors for the Hunger Games.
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?
The districts were separated because the Capitol wanted rivalry between different people, areas, and districts. Having them all separated, the poorer districts would want to win to earn food and items to survive on. All people would be vicious and there would be a need to fight and win between all districts, poor or rich.
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?
The seam may mean the edge or border of district 12. The miners come in and out from district 12 and because the seam is on the edge, the only part separating it from the Meadow is bush and fences/ gates.
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?
I would volunteer for a little brother or sister because you want to keep them safe. You would try to get both of you out of it, but if it comes down to death I would because they are younger and you love them.
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 needs to look after her mother and sister because after her father died, her mother wasn’t in control and couldn’t earn food or water for the whole family, so Katniss made the decisions.
6. How do you feel about the victors of the Hunger Games earning free food for their fellow citizens? What problems might arise?
The problems that might arise would be if it was a poor district, other families or people may want to take their food or may steal from them, because they are the winners or the rich ones.
7. Why doesn’t Katniss want to get close to any of the tributes, including Peeta?
She doesn’t want to get close to any of them because they may turn on her and she may think they are friends, but he/she might turn around and kill her or lead her into being killed.
8. Why is it ironic that Effie calls district 12 barbaric?
I think it is barbaric because it is animalistic and inhuman, she is calling their district barbaric, where they hunt and kill animals, but she is in charge of a big competition that includes people killing and stabbing each other (to death).
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?
It could be possible that the Capitol knows Katniss was in the woods but I think the red-headed Avox girl was captured and it is a coincidence that she is serving the district 12 tributes.
10. Compare the modern conveniences in the Capitol with the primitive living conditions of District 12. List them.
In the modern building that Katniss is kept in before she is taken into the Hunger Games, has been made from rich, wealthy people and this has been done because Katniss’ district is poor and would never experience these times. There is a very good chance that 23 out of the 24 people will be killed, so they have transformed a building that has many choices of meals, giant rooms, and has everything modern and beautiful, something that Katniss has never seen before and will be her only chance.
11. Why the stark contrast between the two? What other differences do you see between the Capitol and District 12?
There is a stark contrast between the two, and the differences are that everything there is modern, with technology involved (to make the whole stadium for the Hunger Games) and in Katniss’ district, there is barely enough food for them to live on, there would never be technology and they don’t have all of the modern furniture or lives like Katniss is experiencing.
12. How would you respond to Katniss’s private session if you were a Gamemaker? Why?
I would wonder why her other partner from the same district as her isn’t with her. I would respond happily but confused as well because it is unusual to not be coached together, when you are from the same district. In a way, it would be better for the both of them because they don’t have the same tactics or thoughts.
13. Why does Haymitch have difficulty coaching Katniss for her interview? How would you coach her if you were him?
Haymitch has trouble because Peeta has decided to be coached separately and Haymitch cannot tell one or the other the same tactics or thoughts about how to win the Hunger Games. I would try to get Katniss and Peeta to be coached together instead of separately. I would try to think of separate tactics for both of them, and I would try to get Katniss to talk to Peeta about being coached together.
14. Describe Caesar Flickerman. Does he remind you of any current TV personalities or talk show hosts?
Caesar Flickerman is a loud and interesting speaker, he motivates the audience and wears costumes that no one would ever think of. He is funny and gets the audience excited to meet new people, and have new thoughts about people and their personalities.
15. What do you think Peeta’s motivation is with his announcement at the end of part 1?
I think Peeta’s motivation is to get the audience to like him, or think twice about him, so he can get sponsors for the Hunger Games.
Examples of Capitol Modern Conveniences
· LOTS OF TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE · HEATED BEDS AND MODERN FURNITURE · LIVING IN BIG BUILDINGS AND MODERN HOUSES · ALWAYS HAVING FOOD AVAILABLE, HAVING MANY MEALS AND DIFFERENT MEATS AND PRODUCTS TO CHOOSE FROM. · BEING THE LEDERS AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE STYLISTS, AND MAKEUP ARTISTS. |
Examples of District 12 Primitive Living Conditions
· OLD FURNITURE AND NO LIGHT. · NOT ENOUGH FOOD TO SURVIVE ON · HAVING TO SHARE BEDS, NOT HAVING BIG HOUSES · NEEDING TO HUNT FOR FOOD EVERY DAY AND ONLY HAVING LIMITED PRODUCTS TO MAKE FOOD TO LIVE ON. · HAVING TO TRESPASS THROUGH LAND TO HUNT FOR THEIR ONLY WAY OF GETTING FOOD. NEEDING TO ENTER INTO THE HUNGER GAMES BY LAW AND NEEDING TO HAVE MORE NAMES ENTERED, WHICH LEADS TO HAVING MORE OF A CHANCE TO HAVE TO KILL. |
Part 2 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?
Peeta is explaining that he is tougher than the Capitol thinks he is. He wants to try and win, and doesn’t want the Capitol to control him, he wants to seem tougher and make them think that he is more than just someone in the games.
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 token on Katniss, is that it was given to her and she sees it as a good luck charm. She feels that whoever has it, can be trusted by her (like Rue).
3. How will the Capitol and audience be able to locate the tributes in the arena? What does this remind you of?
The Capitol and the audience can locate the tributes by putting a chip in their arm before the games start. They ‘don’t want to loose them during the games’, the audience watches from their districts as they see through a screen.
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?
We aren’t any different to the arenas, besides having hem computer controlled. We are different to the capitol residents because we are not putting children to death like they have done in having the Hunger Games.
5. Would you join an alliance or play the game on your own? Why?
It would be more of a benefit being in an alliance, and they think that more people is much better than one. But being in an alliance can turn to be the worst, if the group is mostly made up of one district (like District 2), they could turn around and kill you, if they are playing a trick on you. Not being in an alliance can be worse, because all of the people can turn on you and there is more of a chance that they could kill you before you do to them, having more people in the group.
I would play the game on my own, because there is less of a chance that the people will turn on you being in an alliance. It is still possible to escape from an alliance of people, and you could work better on your own (like Katniss did).
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 aren’t visible because it is a computer controlled stadium. Not all cameras are invisible, because they are hidden, they cant be seen and they have been hidden by the people, being computer controlled. For example: hidden in the trees, or the landscape.
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?
The Capitols attitude towards living things was in their creation of the computer controlled arena. The capitol doesn’t care much about the animals, because they have let animals die out, but they love making new and unique creations such as the jabberjays and tracker jackers.
8. Peeta aligns with the Careers and Katniss eventually aligns with Rue. What are the benefits of alliances? What are the downfalls?
The benefits of alliances are that you can watch each others backs, such as one being asleep, and one being awake. You can look after each other and if you trust the others, you can stay together for the whole games.
The downfalls of being in an alliance, is that people can turn on you and in the case of the hunger games, they can turn on you and kill you. You can trust them for the whole games, but they can turn on you and leave you or join another alliance.
9. How do the conditions in District 11 differ from those in District 12? Explain
District 11 grow crops, but are not allowed to eat them, but District 12 don’t grow any kind of food, and don’t have much food to live on. District 11 get more food than district 12, but are not the richest District.
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 audience to learn about the other districts because it would make the game more interesting. The viewers would want to watch the game more to find out how they are going and what they are doing. This would benefit the capitol because they would get more viewers to watch the games.
11. Why does Rue like mockingjays? Why does Katniss like mockingjays? How are the two girls similar to the bird?
Rue likes mockingjays because ‘they carry a message for her’. The mockingjays repeat a hum on notes, which is used as a signal for Rue and Katniss.
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 Careeres were very healthy, very fit, and had been very well trained before the games.(to get them strong and fierce), They had many mastered skills. Katniss hasn’t been trained as well as Districts 1 and 2, she had very good bow and arrow skills, from being in the woods so much at home, in District 12. Katniss has very good skills just from neding to get food at home, such as her bow and arrow, but has not been trained like the other districs.
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 the day’ means ‘I wish it had never happened’. Rue means a evergreen plant with bitter, strong scented leaves that can be used as a herbal medicine. Rue the day means that I wish the day had never happened, and this is shown when Rue dies. Katniss didn’t want this day to happen because it was so sad and upsetting.
14. If Katniss had given Rue her knife when they separated, would things have turned out differently for Rue? Why or why not?
If Katniss had given Rue her knife, she wouldn’t have been able to do much because, she was running before she got caught in a net, the knife may have helped being able to get out, by cutting it, but if she got shot immediately after the District 1 boy realized she was in the net, the knife wouldn’t have been desperately needed.
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?
The song that Katniss sings is a lullaby about keeping safe, sound and comfortable. Katniss is trying to reassure Rue. She is trying to keep Rue calm before she passes away. She is making sure she is not too frightened, the song talks about going to sleep and this reflects on Rue being not too scared, by keeping her calm. It talks about forgetting your woes (which is what is worrying you), by letting your troubles lay. Katniss loves Rue and this is shown in the song, by saying ‘Here is the place where I love you’.
Peeta is explaining that he is tougher than the Capitol thinks he is. He wants to try and win, and doesn’t want the Capitol to control him, he wants to seem tougher and make them think that he is more than just someone in the games.
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 token on Katniss, is that it was given to her and she sees it as a good luck charm. She feels that whoever has it, can be trusted by her (like Rue).
3. How will the Capitol and audience be able to locate the tributes in the arena? What does this remind you of?
The Capitol and the audience can locate the tributes by putting a chip in their arm before the games start. They ‘don’t want to loose them during the games’, the audience watches from their districts as they see through a screen.
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?
We aren’t any different to the arenas, besides having hem computer controlled. We are different to the capitol residents because we are not putting children to death like they have done in having the Hunger Games.
5. Would you join an alliance or play the game on your own? Why?
It would be more of a benefit being in an alliance, and they think that more people is much better than one. But being in an alliance can turn to be the worst, if the group is mostly made up of one district (like District 2), they could turn around and kill you, if they are playing a trick on you. Not being in an alliance can be worse, because all of the people can turn on you and there is more of a chance that they could kill you before you do to them, having more people in the group.
I would play the game on my own, because there is less of a chance that the people will turn on you being in an alliance. It is still possible to escape from an alliance of people, and you could work better on your own (like Katniss did).
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 aren’t visible because it is a computer controlled stadium. Not all cameras are invisible, because they are hidden, they cant be seen and they have been hidden by the people, being computer controlled. For example: hidden in the trees, or the landscape.
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?
The Capitols attitude towards living things was in their creation of the computer controlled arena. The capitol doesn’t care much about the animals, because they have let animals die out, but they love making new and unique creations such as the jabberjays and tracker jackers.
8. Peeta aligns with the Careers and Katniss eventually aligns with Rue. What are the benefits of alliances? What are the downfalls?
The benefits of alliances are that you can watch each others backs, such as one being asleep, and one being awake. You can look after each other and if you trust the others, you can stay together for the whole games.
The downfalls of being in an alliance, is that people can turn on you and in the case of the hunger games, they can turn on you and kill you. You can trust them for the whole games, but they can turn on you and leave you or join another alliance.
9. How do the conditions in District 11 differ from those in District 12? Explain
District 11 grow crops, but are not allowed to eat them, but District 12 don’t grow any kind of food, and don’t have much food to live on. District 11 get more food than district 12, but are not the richest District.
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 audience to learn about the other districts because it would make the game more interesting. The viewers would want to watch the game more to find out how they are going and what they are doing. This would benefit the capitol because they would get more viewers to watch the games.
11. Why does Rue like mockingjays? Why does Katniss like mockingjays? How are the two girls similar to the bird?
Rue likes mockingjays because ‘they carry a message for her’. The mockingjays repeat a hum on notes, which is used as a signal for Rue and Katniss.
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 Careeres were very healthy, very fit, and had been very well trained before the games.(to get them strong and fierce), They had many mastered skills. Katniss hasn’t been trained as well as Districts 1 and 2, she had very good bow and arrow skills, from being in the woods so much at home, in District 12. Katniss has very good skills just from neding to get food at home, such as her bow and arrow, but has not been trained like the other districs.
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 the day’ means ‘I wish it had never happened’. Rue means a evergreen plant with bitter, strong scented leaves that can be used as a herbal medicine. Rue the day means that I wish the day had never happened, and this is shown when Rue dies. Katniss didn’t want this day to happen because it was so sad and upsetting.
14. If Katniss had given Rue her knife when they separated, would things have turned out differently for Rue? Why or why not?
If Katniss had given Rue her knife, she wouldn’t have been able to do much because, she was running before she got caught in a net, the knife may have helped being able to get out, by cutting it, but if she got shot immediately after the District 1 boy realized she was in the net, the knife wouldn’t have been desperately needed.
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?
The song that Katniss sings is a lullaby about keeping safe, sound and comfortable. Katniss is trying to reassure Rue. She is trying to keep Rue calm before she passes away. She is making sure she is not too frightened, the song talks about going to sleep and this reflects on Rue being not too scared, by keeping her calm. It talks about forgetting your woes (which is what is worrying you), by letting your troubles lay. Katniss loves Rue and this is shown in the song, by saying ‘Here is the place where I love you’.
Part 3 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?
Katniss feels that if she and Peeta don’t agree and team up with each other, eventually they will have to kill one and other. If they go back to District 12, having one winning but had to kill the other, the people of District 12 will not forgive them. But having the rule change, now both of them can work together to win The Hunger Games.
2. Katniss is constantly thinking about how the audience is perceiving her, whereas Peeta (we think, anyway) just says what he feels. Why?
Katniss worries about getting sponsors and if she is in trouble, and she hasn’t said what she thinks, no one will like her enough to send her something (being a sponsor). Katniss is worried about what the people in the Capitol will think of her (as someone tough or week) once she kills somebody or if she doesn’t for the whole games. She worries about the other people and if she should be afraid of them or not but Peeta talks about what he thinks about the games, being his thoughts.
3. Why is Katniss willing to go to the feast to get the medicine for Peeta?
Katniss is willing to go to the feast to get the food because she cares about Peeta and loves him. She would fight to protect her District and would fight for Peeta because she knows Peeta would do the same for her is she was in danger or hurt.
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.
Peeta has said to Katniss, that if she goes to the feast Peeta will follow her as far as he can, so for Katniss to go to the feast to get the medicine she needs to give Peeta the drug. (Sleep syrup). It would be an exception but then Katniss worries about giving him it. People are now very excited that Peeta and Katniss are together and everyone will be happy about it if they team up together.
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.)
In the book, Katniss needs to knock out Peeta to get the medicine but this all turns out to be the best thing to do because if she didn’t, Peeta probably wouldn’t be alive. Lawmakers/ politicians make these decisions because, to save lives, they need to make some people suffer to get a better end result. E.g. In the government, they are going to shut down a jail, but if they do, hundreds of people will loose their jobs, in the end this does benefit the government because they make more money (not having to pay for running the jail).
6. Discuss the issue of “paybacks.” List examples of characters who feel as though they owed another character something.
Thresh owed Katniss something for being nice and caring for Rue (which was to let her go and not kill her). Peeta feels that he owes Katniss for taking care of him. So he takes watch, tries to keep the rain away from her and looks after her after she was cut by Clove.
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.
Thresh owes Katniss, because he is from District 11, the same as Rue and because Katniss was so nice and caring for Rue, he let her go and didn’t kill her. But now they are even, so if Thresh sees or has an opportunity to kill Katniss again, he will.
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?
School may have been cancelled because it is such a big event, involving all of the Districts and families. Katniss is worrying about Prim, and her mother, she is wondering if they are getting fed enough to survive (because she is the main person who collects the food). Her family will have more privacy being alone at home but if they go to the square, they may get some food, and will get needed support from other people. Often, we don’t cancel school for holiday breaks in the middle of terms, but we get days off, when it is an important day, such as the queen’s birthday and public holidays.
9. What psychological impact could the wolf mutts have on a tribute? Why? Is this worse than the physical threat? Explain.
It is worse than a physiological impact because the wolf mutts were made from humans, by the electronic computers and arena. The people wanted the game to end quicker and thought that somebody could die by adding the wolf mutts in there (making the game more interesting).
10. Why does Katniss wait so long to kill Cato? How does she feel when she finally does?
She waits so long to kill Cato because she hasn’t purposely killed anyone in the whole games and wasn’t sure about doing it. Her mind was set on saving Peeta because he was falling off the edge about to get eaten by the wolves before Cato was killed. Once Cato had Peeta in a headlock and was killing him, Katniss new she had to kill Cato to free Peeta. Katniss loved Peeta and would save him through anything.
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?
Katniss picked up the arrow because it would have been stronger than just using a stick (more reliable). The audiences thought process would have been seeing Katniss picking up the arrow but not seeing her using it as a tourniquet, they may have thought that she was going to grab the arrow to stab him, but she was actually using the arrow as support for Peetas wound.
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?
I don’t think Katniss would have killed Peeta, but she had the bow and arrow set up as a defense if Peeta was to almost kill her. I don’t think Peeta or Katniss would kill each other, because they love each other and would never forget it if they did kill one and other.
13. Why is the moment with the berries an act of rebellion against the Capitol?
Katniss and Peeta would have eaten the berries and the Capitol wouldn’t have had a winner of the Hunger Games. They would have both died and would have denied the Capitol, meaning that they wouldn’t have had a winner and it is payback to the capitol for making the Hunger Games.
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?
Cato didn’t show humanity to the others because he was there to kill and didn’t show sympathy to any of the other tributes. Katniss did show humanity to the others, she didn’t kill anybody throughout the whole hunger games and she was nice to other competitors, wanting to team up with them, including Rue, she helped Rue survive and kept her as safe as possible throughout the Games. Rue did show humanity to the others, she helped Katniss through the hunger games and helped her get out of trouble. Clove and Glimmer didn’t show humanity to the other tributes, they teamed up with Cato and were also out there to kill, they wanted to aim at people and didn’t want to be friends with any of the others. Peeta did and didn’t show humanity, at the beginning he teamed up with Cato, thinking it was the best idea to survive and thinking that they wouldn’t kill him, but at the end he realized he did the wrong thing and should have gone with Katniss the whole way, he teamed up with her and they ended up winning.
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?
They would need to wear the same outfit to catch the audience’s attention. They need to seen and noticed by the audience, being remembered as the girl and boy on fire. The audience saw Katniss and Peeta as the people on fire and they needed to be noticed as the center of attention and this is shown by showmanship. They need to look outstanding, to be noticed and recognized when the audience sees them again.
16. What will happen next? Will Katniss and Peeta begin a relationship? How will Gale react? How will their lives change?
The first time Gale saw Peeta and Katniss kiss, he was upset and shocked, he didn’t know what to do. When Katniss gets home, I think she will great friends with Gale, but I think she will start a relationship with Peeta. After the whole experience, I think Peeta and Katniss appreciate, love and admire each other.
Katniss feels that if she and Peeta don’t agree and team up with each other, eventually they will have to kill one and other. If they go back to District 12, having one winning but had to kill the other, the people of District 12 will not forgive them. But having the rule change, now both of them can work together to win The Hunger Games.
2. Katniss is constantly thinking about how the audience is perceiving her, whereas Peeta (we think, anyway) just says what he feels. Why?
Katniss worries about getting sponsors and if she is in trouble, and she hasn’t said what she thinks, no one will like her enough to send her something (being a sponsor). Katniss is worried about what the people in the Capitol will think of her (as someone tough or week) once she kills somebody or if she doesn’t for the whole games. She worries about the other people and if she should be afraid of them or not but Peeta talks about what he thinks about the games, being his thoughts.
3. Why is Katniss willing to go to the feast to get the medicine for Peeta?
Katniss is willing to go to the feast to get the food because she cares about Peeta and loves him. She would fight to protect her District and would fight for Peeta because she knows Peeta would do the same for her is she was in danger or hurt.
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.
Peeta has said to Katniss, that if she goes to the feast Peeta will follow her as far as he can, so for Katniss to go to the feast to get the medicine she needs to give Peeta the drug. (Sleep syrup). It would be an exception but then Katniss worries about giving him it. People are now very excited that Peeta and Katniss are together and everyone will be happy about it if they team up together.
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.)
In the book, Katniss needs to knock out Peeta to get the medicine but this all turns out to be the best thing to do because if she didn’t, Peeta probably wouldn’t be alive. Lawmakers/ politicians make these decisions because, to save lives, they need to make some people suffer to get a better end result. E.g. In the government, they are going to shut down a jail, but if they do, hundreds of people will loose their jobs, in the end this does benefit the government because they make more money (not having to pay for running the jail).
6. Discuss the issue of “paybacks.” List examples of characters who feel as though they owed another character something.
Thresh owed Katniss something for being nice and caring for Rue (which was to let her go and not kill her). Peeta feels that he owes Katniss for taking care of him. So he takes watch, tries to keep the rain away from her and looks after her after she was cut by Clove.
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.
Thresh owes Katniss, because he is from District 11, the same as Rue and because Katniss was so nice and caring for Rue, he let her go and didn’t kill her. But now they are even, so if Thresh sees or has an opportunity to kill Katniss again, he will.
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?
School may have been cancelled because it is such a big event, involving all of the Districts and families. Katniss is worrying about Prim, and her mother, she is wondering if they are getting fed enough to survive (because she is the main person who collects the food). Her family will have more privacy being alone at home but if they go to the square, they may get some food, and will get needed support from other people. Often, we don’t cancel school for holiday breaks in the middle of terms, but we get days off, when it is an important day, such as the queen’s birthday and public holidays.
9. What psychological impact could the wolf mutts have on a tribute? Why? Is this worse than the physical threat? Explain.
It is worse than a physiological impact because the wolf mutts were made from humans, by the electronic computers and arena. The people wanted the game to end quicker and thought that somebody could die by adding the wolf mutts in there (making the game more interesting).
10. Why does Katniss wait so long to kill Cato? How does she feel when she finally does?
She waits so long to kill Cato because she hasn’t purposely killed anyone in the whole games and wasn’t sure about doing it. Her mind was set on saving Peeta because he was falling off the edge about to get eaten by the wolves before Cato was killed. Once Cato had Peeta in a headlock and was killing him, Katniss new she had to kill Cato to free Peeta. Katniss loved Peeta and would save him through anything.
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?
Katniss picked up the arrow because it would have been stronger than just using a stick (more reliable). The audiences thought process would have been seeing Katniss picking up the arrow but not seeing her using it as a tourniquet, they may have thought that she was going to grab the arrow to stab him, but she was actually using the arrow as support for Peetas wound.
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?
I don’t think Katniss would have killed Peeta, but she had the bow and arrow set up as a defense if Peeta was to almost kill her. I don’t think Peeta or Katniss would kill each other, because they love each other and would never forget it if they did kill one and other.
13. Why is the moment with the berries an act of rebellion against the Capitol?
Katniss and Peeta would have eaten the berries and the Capitol wouldn’t have had a winner of the Hunger Games. They would have both died and would have denied the Capitol, meaning that they wouldn’t have had a winner and it is payback to the capitol for making the Hunger Games.
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?
Cato didn’t show humanity to the others because he was there to kill and didn’t show sympathy to any of the other tributes. Katniss did show humanity to the others, she didn’t kill anybody throughout the whole hunger games and she was nice to other competitors, wanting to team up with them, including Rue, she helped Rue survive and kept her as safe as possible throughout the Games. Rue did show humanity to the others, she helped Katniss through the hunger games and helped her get out of trouble. Clove and Glimmer didn’t show humanity to the other tributes, they teamed up with Cato and were also out there to kill, they wanted to aim at people and didn’t want to be friends with any of the others. Peeta did and didn’t show humanity, at the beginning he teamed up with Cato, thinking it was the best idea to survive and thinking that they wouldn’t kill him, but at the end he realized he did the wrong thing and should have gone with Katniss the whole way, he teamed up with her and they ended up winning.
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?
They would need to wear the same outfit to catch the audience’s attention. They need to seen and noticed by the audience, being remembered as the girl and boy on fire. The audience saw Katniss and Peeta as the people on fire and they needed to be noticed as the center of attention and this is shown by showmanship. They need to look outstanding, to be noticed and recognized when the audience sees them again.
16. What will happen next? Will Katniss and Peeta begin a relationship? How will Gale react? How will their lives change?
The first time Gale saw Peeta and Katniss kiss, he was upset and shocked, he didn’t know what to do. When Katniss gets home, I think she will great friends with Gale, but I think she will start a relationship with Peeta. After the whole experience, I think Peeta and Katniss appreciate, love and admire each other.