Religion

In a book that features many moral issues, religion and God do not appear anywhere in the book.  Why do you think Suzanne Collins left out religion in her book?  Do you think that was a good choice?

How would the book be different if Katniss and Peeta had been very religious people?  Would you have liked that better or worse?

Courage

Many of the tributes had to show an extraordinary amount of courage in the hunger games.  Who do you think was the most courageous player?  Give some examples of why you think they acted bravely.

Are you a courageous person?  Have you ever faced a situation where you had to act bravely?

Catching Fire

The sequel to The Hunger Games is called Catching Fire.  What does that title make you think about?

Make some predictions about what you think will happen to Katniss and Peeta in Catching Fire. 

The Ending

What did you think of the end of the book?  Did you like it?  Why or why not?


Do you think Peeta is really in love with Katniss?  Explain your opinion.

Do you think Katniss is really in love with Peeta?  Explain your opinion?

Foxface

How would you describe the character of Foxface?  How does she act?  Do you think she is a good competitor in the games?

Were you surprised by Foxface's death or at least by how she died?  Why or why not?

Why didn't Katniss and Peeta ever form an alliance with Foxface?

If They Win...

In chapter 23 Katniss thinks about what her life would be like if she won the games.  She would get a new house in the Victor's Village where she and her family could stay.  Think about how her life would change if she won the games.

How would her life change for the better? 

What would be some of the challenges she would face returning home?

How might her relationships with Gale and her mom have changed since the start of the novel?

Family vs. Friends

Some people think family is more important than anything else.  Other people think friends can be just as important as family.  Which side do you fall on?  Give examples from your life to support your opinion.

Do you think Katniss would say her friends or family are more important?  Or are they both equally important?  Give examples from the book to prove your point.

Dealing with Death

Many people die in this book because of the hunger games.  Rue's death has probably been the most shocking one so far.  Think about when people die in real life and in our community. 

How do people in real life handle death?  What do we do when people die? 

Have you ever had someone close to you die?  What was that experience like?  What are some things that can help you deal with grief and sadness?

Conflicts

We have been studying the four following types of conflict:

1.  Character vs Character
2.  Character vs. Society
3.  Character vs. Nature
4.  Character vs. Self

Which type of conflicts do you find the most interesting to read about?  Give examples of the types of conflicts that grab your interest the most.  You may use your "Conflicts in The Hunger Games" worksheet to help you decide your preferenec and to help you find examples.

Movie Version

The Hunger Games is in the process of being turned into a movie that will be released sometime in the next few years.  Who do you think should play the roles of the following characters?  Name an actor or an actress and why you think they would do a good job portraying that character.

1.  Katniss
2.  Peeta
3.  Rue
4. Haymitch
5.  Cato
6.  Prim

Rue's Death

Rue dies when one of the other tributes kills her with a spear. 

1.  What was your first reaction when you read about Rue being killed?  Were you surprised?  Shocked?  Sad?  Angry?  Explain why you felt that way.

2.  What do you think Katniss will do now that her one ally is dead?  What are her options?

3.  If you were Katniss, what would you do next after Rue's death?

Good Couple?

Do you think Katniss and Peeta would make a good couple?  Why or why not?

What do they have in common?  How are they different?

Haymitch's Advice

Haymitch told Katniss and Peeta to run away from the Cornucopia, hide in the woods, and find a source of water.  Was this good advice?  Why or why not?  Would you have followed his advice?

Do you think Katniss made a wise move by grabbing the backpack and plastic cover? 

Would you have gone all the way for the bow and arrows?

The Last Two

If Peeta and Katniss are the last two tributes alive, do you think they will kill each other?  Who do you think would win?

If they don't kill each other, what are their other options?  How would the games ever end?

Peeta In Love?

Do you think Peeta really loves Katniss?  What has he done before that would make you believe him?

If you don't believe Peeta loves Katniss, why would he lie?

Do you think announcing his feelings on live television was the right thing to do?  How would you feel if someone did that about you?

Celebrities and Television

How are the tributes, such as Katniss and Peeta, treated like celebrities when they arrive at the capitol? 

Think about celebrities in our world.  How are they treated?  What status do they have in our society?  do you think they earn the fame the get or do you think it is undeserved?

What are some examples of celebrities that are good role models?  What are some examples of celebrities that are bad role models?  Explain your opinion.

Haymitch

Haymitch is the mentor of Katniss and Peeta because he is a former hunger games winner from District 12.  Haymitch is basically an alcoholic because he drinks to numb the pain of what he experienced. 

Think about mentors, coaches, or other people in your life that give you guidance.  What makes a person a good mentor or coach?  Use examples from your own life in your answer.

Do you think Haymitch will end up helping Peeta or Katniss or ruining their chances of winning the hunger games?

Violence as Entertainment

In the book, the hunger games are shown on live television and everyone has to watch the tributes kill each other.  Thus, violence is a form of entertainment for the people in Katniss' s world. 

Do you think violence (fighting, death, etc.) is entertaining?  Does it keep you interested?  Why or why not?

Do you think it is good or bad to have violent tv shows, movies, and video games?  How does it affect young people? 

District St. Helens

Katniss is from District 12, known for its coal mining.  If St. Helens were one of the districts in the book, what do you think it would be known for? 

What would the costume for the St. Helens district tribute look like?  Be creative!

Game Strategy

Katniss and Peeta will soon be let loose into the hunger games arena to fight to the death with the 22 other tributes.  What do you think would be the best game strategy to use to try and make it to the end alive?  Would you try to form an alliance with other players?  Would you stay by yourself?  Would you trust anyone?  Would you hide away or try to kill others before they killed you?

If you were Katniss...

If you were Katniss...

1.  Would you have volunteered to take Prim's place?
2.  Would you trust Peeta to be your friend?
3.  How would you feel about fighting in the hunger games?

Book Opinion

How do you like the book so far?  Explain your opinion. 

What is your favorite part of the book so far - maybe a scene or a character?

What is your least favorite part of the book so far?

The Future

Do you think Suzanne Collins did a good job imagining what our country will be like in the future?  Do you think our government would ever hold something like The Hunger Games?  What are some other similarities and differences between our world today and the world Katniss lives in in the future?

Favorite Character

Who is your favorite character so far?  Why?  What do you like about them?

Who is your least favorite character so far?  Why?  What don't you like about them?