The Hunger Games

Study Questions

Chapter 1
1. Describe the narrator. What is her family situation?
2. Describe District 12 and the Seam.
3. What illegal activity does Katniss participate in doing? Why does she need to do this?
4. Describe the relationship between Gale and Katniss.
5. What is the Hob?
6. What is the reaping? Do you think this practice is fair? Explain.
7. What is a tesserae?
8. What are the Hunger Games?
9. Who is selected at the reaping?
Chapter 2
1. How does Katniss save her sister from the reaping?
2. What does three middle fingers to the mouth and then held out mean?
3. Who is the male tribute and how does Katniss know him? What is ironic about his selection?
4. What is Katnisss mothers mental state? How has it affected Katniss?
5. What was the significance of the dandelion?
Chapter 3
1. What happens after the anthem?
2. What instructions does Katniss give her family?
3. What act of kindness does Peetas dad show to Katniss? How do you think this man might have influenced his
son?
4. What advice does Gale give Katniss about surviving the games?
5. What is the mockingjay bird? Why does it make Katniss think of her father?
6. How are District 12s actions at the reaping described by the TV commentators?
7. What role will Haymitch play at the Hunger Games?
Chapter 4
1. What does Katniss mean when she says: A kind Peeta Mellark is far more dangerous to me than an unkind
one?
2. Why does Katniss detest Haymitch?
3. What deal does Haymitch make with the Tributes?
4. What are Haymitchs first words of advice?
5. What happens to convince Haymitch that Peeta and Katniss might be fighters?
Chapter 5
1. The presentation of the tributes seems to be greatly focused on visual presentation and looks what does this
reveal about the belief systems of the Capitol?
2. Why do newcomers like Cinna get assigned District 12?
3. Compare and contrast life in the Capitol to life in District 12.
4. Describe the traditional District 12 costumes and how this year is different.
Chapter 6
1. How does Katniss feel about Effies description about the barbarism of your district?
2. What is an Avox? What penalty is levied on them?
3. What does Haymitch think of Peeta and Katniss holding hands?
4. How is Katniss in Peetas debt again?
Chapter 7
1. What are the pros and cons of Peeta and Katniss being coached together?
2. What reasons does Peeta give for thinking Katniss will be better than him in the arena?
3. What do you think Peeta means by she has no idea the effect she can have?
4. What advice does Haymitch share with Peeta and Katniss?
5. How does Katniss initially think she stands versus the other Tributes?
6. What skills do they learn in training?
7. Who is their shadow?
8. Who are the Gamemakers?
9. What does Katniss do before the judges? Why might this act be considered controversial?

Chapter 8
1. What does Katniss fear will happen as a result of her behavior before the judges?
2. What is the significance of the score givento each tribute? What are Peeta and Katniss scores?
3. How did Katniss meet Gale? What role does Gale serve for Katniss?
4. Why do you think Peeta asks to be coached separately?

Chapter 9
1. Why is Katniss having so much trouble with preparing for the interview?
2. What understanding does Katniss reach with the red headed Avox?
3. Describe Katniss and Peetas costumes. Why do you think Cinna dressed them like this?
4. What shocking secret does Peeta reveal during his interview?

Chapter 10
1. What effect do Peetas comments have on the crowd?
2. How does Katniss react to Peetas declaration once they are alone?
3. What does Peeta mean when he says the following: I want to die as myself.
4. Why do the Games start at 10am?
5. What is Haymitchs final arena advice?
6. What does Cinna make sure Katniss brings into the arena with her?

Chapter 11
1. What is the cornucopia?
2. What does Katniss see in the cornucopia that she feels is meant for her?
3. Who is the first person to die in the arena? How do they die?
4. How are the tributes notified that someone has died in the arena?
5. How do you think Katniss feels when she hears Peeta planning with the Careers?
Chapter 12
1. Why has Peeta been kept alive by the Career Tributes?
2. How and why is Katniss playing the cameras?
3. What thought angers Katniss?
4. How does this chapter conclude?

Chapter 13
1. Whom does Katniss believe started the fire?
2. What kind of injury does Katniss receive and how does she get it?
3. What is ironic about Katnisss injury?
4. Describe the nights encounter with the Career Tributes.
5. Who is in the tree with Katniss?



Chapter 14
1. What is different about the wasps found in the Hunger Games?
2. What does Haymitch send to Katniss from the sponsors?
3. How does Katniss disperse the Career Tributes? What is the result?
4. What item does Katniss acquire?
5. What does Katniss realize before she blacks out?
6. Who saves Katniss life?

Chapter 15
1. How do the weapons give Katniss an entirely new perspective on the games?
2. What is the new alliance? Why does Katniss want to form this alliance?
3. Why are citizens not allowed to eat crops in District 11?
4. Why does Katniss think that her conversation with Rue will be blocked?
5. How many Tributes are left?
6. What has happened to Peeta?

Chapter 16
1. Why is food such an important key to surviving the Hunger Games?
2. What advantage do Rue and Katniss have when collecting food?
3. What has happened to Peeta?
4. What has Foxface done? What does she avoid?
5. How does Katniss destroy the Career Packs supplies?

Chapter 17
1. What are the effects of the explosion?
2. What happens to the boy from District 3? How many Tributes are left?
3. Why does Katniss not want Foxface as an ally?

Chapter 18
1. Who does Katniss blame for Rues death?
2. How does Katniss mourn Rue?
3. How does Rues district show their gratitude for the way Katniss honored Rue?
4. What does Katniss realize about her first kill (p243)?
5. What major rule change occurs at the end of this chapter?

Chapter 19
1. What does Katniss perceive as the consequence of not allying with Peeta?
2. Where does Katniss find Peeta? What shape is he in?
3. What does Katniss realize so far about Peetas actions in the games?
4. Who are the only others to benefit from the Games rule change?
5. Why would Prim be better in the arena than Katniss during this situation with Peeta?
6. What does Katniss do in order to receive a gift from Haymitch?
7. What message is Haymitch trying to send via the sponsors gift of broth?
8. Who do you think Haymitch believes to be the stronger competitor and why?

Chapter 20
1. Why does Katniss change the story of how she acquired Prims goat? What parts does she change?
2. How can a goat change your life in District 12?
3. What is Claudius Templesmiths message? What is there in addition to the feast to facilitate the Tributes
attendance?
4. How does Katniss trick Peeta so she can leave?


Chapter 21
1. What is Katniss prediction as she readies herself?
2. How are the Gamemakers affecting the Games?
3. What does a feast in the Games mean for District 12?
4. What are Katniss thoughts on Gale?
5. How does Foxface outsmart the rest of the tributes at the feast?
6. Who saves Katniss and from Clove and why? Why might this action upset the Capitol?
7. What is in the District 12 backpack?

Chapter 22
1. Why have the Gamemakers sent the thunderstorm?
2. What is Katniss opinion of Thresh?
3. Where is Thresh?
4. Describe the story Peeta tells Katniss. What does this reveal about both Peeta and his father? What do we learn
about Katniss father?

Chapter 23
1. Who do we find out is dead? Why does this upset Katniss and Peeta?
2. How do Katniss and Peeta suppose Haymitch won the Games?
3. What could be the roots of Haymitchs drinking?
4. What are Katniss fears about surviving the games? What does she decide she will never do if she survives, and
why does she decide this?
5. How does Peeta compare to Gale as a hunting partner?

Chapter 24
1. How is Peeta responsible for Foxfaces death?
2. What does Katniss think of Catos state of mind? How does she have a better understanding of him than she
thought?
3. How have the Gamemakers changed the game? Why?
4. What is Cato wearing? Why is he running?

Chapter 25
1. What are Muttations? What about the dogs makes Katniss especially uneasy?
2. What does Cato say to Katniss that makes her pause?
3. Describe Catos death.
4. Why do the games not end immediately after Catos death?
5. How do Peeta and Katniss outsmart the game makers?

Chapter 26
1. What advice does Haymitch give to Katniss?
2. What new dangers face Katniss in the Capitol?
3. What is the significance of the following statement: But the Hunger Games are their weapon and you are not
supposed to be able to defeat it (p358)

Chapter 27
1. What was the reason for Cinnas choice of dress for Katniss?
2. What power do the people who select the highlights possess? What is omitted from the highlights?
3. What startling discovery does Katniss make about Peeta during the interview?
4. How does Katniss explain the use of the berries during the interview?
5. What do the pink and white flowers given by Peeta remind Katniss of?
6. What does Peeta realize about Katniss actions during the Hunger Games? (p372-374)