The Hunger Games Thought-Provoking Discussion 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?

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?

3. 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?

4. How do you feel about the victors of the Hunger Games earning free food for their fellow citizens? What problems might arise?

5. Why doesnt Katniss want to get close to any of the tributes, including Peeta?

Copyright2010, T. Orman

The Hunger Games Thought-Provoking Discussion Questions Part II Questions

6. Peeta says that he doesnt want to lose himself once the Games begin and that he wants to prove hes not just a piece in their Games. What does he mean by this?

7. Peeta aligns with the Careers and Katniss eventually aligns with Rue. What are the benefits of alliances? What are the downfalls?

8. Would you join an alliance or play the game on your own? Why?

9. What is the Capitols 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?

10. What does the word rue mean? What does it mean to rue the day? How is this symbolic of Rues death?

Copyright2010, T. Orman

The Hunger Games Thought-Provoking Discussion Questions Part III Questions

11. Katnisss first reaction when she hears the news about the rule change is to call out Peetas 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?

12. Katniss is constantly thinking about how the audience is perceiving her, whereas Peeta (we think, anyway) just says what he feels. Why?

13. Why is Katniss willing to go to the feast to get the medicine for Peeta?

14. Discuss the issue of paybacks. List examples of characters who feel as though they owed another character something.

Copyright2010, T. Orman

The Hunger Games Thought-Provoking Discussion Questions

15. 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.

16. Why does Katniss wait so long to kill Cato? How does she feel when she finally does?

17. Katnisss first reaction to the second rule change (which revokes the first rule change) is to shoot Peeta so she can be the winner. When she realizes that he does not intend to defend himself, 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?

18. Why is the moment with the berries an act of rebellion against the Capitol?

Copyright2010, T. Orman

The Hunger Games Thought-Provoking Discussion Questions TEACHERS GUIDE Part I Questions & Answers
(Although some of these may be opinion, others do have specific answers. Even so, answers may vary from what I have.) 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? I believe this is a statement the author is making about the effects of climate change and our slow reaction to taking preventative measures. The Capitol is symbolically the U.S. in its excessive materialism and lack of care that may go into funding our wants/needs (such as stripping the coal mines, putting peoples lives in dangerous and deadly situations as they have to go further down into the earth). 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? Gale is implying that if there is separation of the districts, the people will always be at odds with one another, rather than directing their anger toward the true enemy, the Capitol (or government). We see this is district 12, where there is resentment between the classes: the lower class Seam workers, the merchant class business owners, the wealthier government employees, and the victors. This is a direct reference to Karl Marxs theory of a classless society in which the state is the true enemy because it represses the lower class citizens (from Encyclopedia Britannica):
classless society, in Marxism, the ultimate condition of social organization, expected to occur when true communism is achieved. According to Karl Marx (181883), the primary function of the state is to repress the lower classes of society in the interests of the ruling class. However, after the class struggle has resulted in the victory of the proletariat and the establishment of a socialist society, there will be no further need for such a repressive institution; with the disappearance of classes, the state is expected to wither away.

3. 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? Answers will vary to first part. It shows that Katniss is not only protective, but willing to die for her sister. She has unconditional love for her. It shows a strong sense of character, of selflessness. She will sacrifice her life for her sister. But would she for her mother? Contrast her relationship with her mom to that of her sister. She is like a mother to Prim, and even like a mother to her own mom. Yet she does not feel that same love for her mom. Instead she feels resentment, a sense of abandonment.

Copyright2010, T. Orman

The Hunger Games Thought-Provoking Discussion Questions

4. How do you feel about the victors of the Hunger Games earning free food for their fellow citizens? What problems might arise? Since this is essentially rewarding bad behavior (rewarding kids for killing one another), it is going to reinforce the belief that killing is not so bad, and is actually good if you win. In education, we all know the downfalls of rewarding bad behavior. The morals and ethical standards of the people fall as they becoming more accepting of this unethical treatment of one another. They will no longer value human life, which, in the end, could destroy them all. 5. Why doesnt Katniss want to get close to any of the tributes, including Peeta? Katniss doesnt want to become friends with anyone because it would make it all the harder to kill them, which is what she will have to do to win the Games. The lesson here is that once we do get to know people, we understand them better, and wont want to cause them harm. We also see that even though they may look differently from us, we are more alike as humans than we think. Perhaps instead of making war on other countries, we should try to look at their perspectives and negotiate peace. Although, some people are not rational and will never try to make peace. Then what? As the book progresses, well see Katniss mentally grappling with this, trying to figure out who her enemies really are.

Part II Questions & Answers

6. Peeta says that he doesnt want to lose himself once the Games begin and that he wants to prove hes not just a piece in their Games. What does he mean by this? First part: Peeta does not want to turn into some sort of killing machine or monster; he wants to stay true to himself, which is a kind, loving, caring human being. But he knows that given the environment they are going in to, he will have to defend himself, thereby killing others. Second part: He does not want to be manipulated by the Capitol, or anyone else, into playing these Games--doing things to give the audience a show or gain sponsors. He doesnt want to partake in this manipulation of the audience because he knows that is what they want all the tributes to do so they can put on a good show. Its the reason theyre given make-overs and put in elaborate costumes--its all a show. He does not want to become that in the arena. he wants to die doing something dignified and true to himself. Katniss has no idea what he means, and shes a little offended by his selfrighteousness. She just wants to win, and she doesnt see the manipulation of the audience as a problem. Shes been acting since she stepped onto the

Copyright2010, T. Orman

The Hunger Games Thought-Provoking Discussion Questions

stage to take Prims place, whereas Peeta let his emotions show. Eventually, though, she will understand his meaning. 7. Peeta aligns with the Careers and Katniss eventually aligns with Rue. What are the benefits of alliances? What are the downfalls? Working as a team or group has benefits: more of you to hunt, more can watch your back or look out for you, you can team up against an opponent, there is more safety in numbers, your opponents fear the group (intimidation factor). Downfalls include: may not always trust your allies since they could turn on you or lead you astray, eventually youll have to abandon the alliance, if you have a weaker ally it makes you weaker, large groups are easy targets--cannot hide as well. 8. Would you join an alliance or play the game on your own? Why? Answers will vary. 9. What is the Capitols 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 Capitol has little respect for any living things, even those creatures they created themselves. This could be a statement the author is making about cloning--that our lack of respect for life will come back to bite us. Even cloned beings are living things, but perhaps we shouldnt mess with Mother Nature at all. The Capitol had no regard for the jabberjays, which is why the mockingjay is such an important symbol--it was created out of their disregard, and it will (perhaps) come back to eventually destroy them. Leaving the trackerjacker nests near the districts tells us, once again, that they have little regard for human life outside the Capitol. It also tells us that they were willing to hold on to the tracker jackers because they could still use them as a weapon, even though they are not at war. Since the jabberjays were now useless, they no longer cared about them. 10. What does the word rue mean? What does it mean to rue the day? How is this symbolic of Rues death? Rue means regret or remorse and to rue the day means that the person will one day bitterly regret what they have done. It is symbolic because Rues death was not accidental. Even though the district 1 boy kills her, he is doing so because he is forced to kill by the
Copyright2010, T. Orman

The Hunger Games Thought-Provoking Discussion Questions

Capitol. It is the Capitol who will rue the day for their actions against these kids. That they will wish they would have never created the Games. Katniss feels remorse for killing the district 1 boy, even though he is supposed to be her enemy. But as the Games continue, she is realizing more and more that the tributes are not her enemy--the Capitol is.

Part III Questions & Answers

11. Katnisss first reaction when she hears the news about the rule change is to call out Peetas 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? Answers will vary, but they should be able to infer from her first reaction that she does, indeed, care for Peeta. Whether it is because she feels as though she owes him for her life is a possibility. But perhaps she does, deep down, truly love him. 12. Katniss is constantly thinking about how the audience is perceiving her, whereas Peeta (we think, anyway) just says what he feels. Why? Answers will vary. One thing I wanted my students to think about (other than the reasons we discussed before about Katniss trying to make herself look strong for sponsors) is that Katniss is looking at things as though she is going to be a victor and what impact her words or actions will have on those she loves. Shes careful not to admit she hunts illegally when she tells the story about getting Prims goat. She knows it could get her and Gale in trouble. Yet, Peeta does not censor his emotions. He lives as though each day could be his last. It could be because Peeta has not partaken in illegal activities, therefore has nothing to hide. Yet, he admits his father was in love with her mother, so that had to have an impact back home. His mother would surely make his father pay for that. Is it that Katniss cares more about her loved ones back home to look out for them even in the arena? I think Peeta is still a loving, caring person, so I think this is proof that Peetas feelings for her are genuine and he is truly willing to die for her because he is not concerned about being punished for what he says in the arena--he is still staying true to himself and speaking the truth. (And isnt it ironic that Katniss is the one who cant trust him and thinks he is such a good liar?) 13. Why is Katniss willing to go to the feast to get the medicine for Peeta?

Copyright2010, T. Orman

The Hunger Games Thought-Provoking Discussion Questions

Answers may vary. This may be the point where Katniss realizes she doesnt want him to die, that she does love him. She is now willing to give her life so he can live. She may be realizing that he is a truly good person and she doesnt feel as though she, herself, is. Or perhaps she is, again, concerned that the audience would never forgive her if she let Peeta die without trying. In the end, I think she still feels as though she owes him, and this way she can try to even up the score. Though I do believe she cares a lot for him, she just hasnt quite realized it yet. 14. Discuss the issue of paybacks. List examples of characters who feel as though they owed another character something. -Katniss feels indebted to Peeta because he gave her bread when they were 11. -District 11 felt they owed Katniss for her treatment and respect for Rue, so they gave her the bread. -Thresh felt as though he owed Katniss for becoming allies with Rue, so he spared her life. 15. 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 and Katniss most likely have very similar upbringings (working class) in which they struggled more than the merchant class, so when someone is given something for nothing it is seen as a debt that must be paid back. Yet, Katniss, most likely, would not make Prim pay her back for sacrificing her life for Prim. So it is most likely the fact that perhaps because Katniss and Thresh have had to rely on others (in some ways) for survival that they feel this strong sense of wanting to do the same for someone so they can feel worthy as people--so they can feel as though theyve contributed in a positive way. Peeta expects nothing in return for his kindness to Katniss. This is probably because he truly loves her. Katniss truly loves Prim, but she does not make the connection that it is love that might be the factor in not owing paybacks. She also doesnt understand that there are people in the world who would do unlimited good deeds and kind acts for others just because they are good people. Peeta is one of them. And even though she cannot recognize it yet in her mother, we will later find that Mrs. Everdeen is also a giving person who expects nothing in return for her medical services (in Catching Fire).

Copyright2010, T. Orman

The Hunger Games Thought-Provoking Discussion Questions

16. Why does Katniss wait so long to kill Cato? How does she feel when she finally does? Katniss doesnt have any arrows left to kill him, so she takes the chance that the mutts will do it for them. But after hours of torture, Cato is still alive and practically begging for mercy--to be killed to put him out of his misery. Katniss and Peeta both realize that the right thing to do is kill him to ease his pain. They see it as an act of mercy, not vengeance, so there is no remorse with his death. 17. Katnisss first reaction to the second rule change (which revokes the first rule change) is to shoot Peeta so she can be the winner. When she realizes that he does not intend to defend himself, 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? Answers will vary. Some may say it is in her nature, as a hunter, to defend herself. Others may say that somewhere inside her she cares about him and could never do it. 18. Why is the moment with the berries an act of rebellion against the Capitol? The act of killing themselves so the Capitol will have no victor (i.e. no victory tour, no gala events, no recap interviews, no celebrations) is an act of rebellion because they are not following the rules of the Games. They feel no victor is better than one, so they are placing death as more desirable than life as a lone victor. That is a slap in President Snows face (to say theyd rather die than live as his victor). Also, they are dictating how the Games will end, not the Capitol (or Gamemakers). Tributes are not supposed to have any power in determining how it plays out.

Copyright2010, T. Orman