What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel?

One of the main themes of this novel is survival. The purpose of the Hunger games is to stay alive. Throughout the novel, Katniss and Peeta were only thinking and trying to do one thing. Keep the other alive.

Throughout the book Katniss and Peeta both want the other to survive more than themselves.  They both did everything in their power to keep the other alive in the arena, however they didn’t know they were doing so. This is because Haymitch made two opposing promises to them both that he would help do whatever he could to keep the other alive, therefore lying to both of them. Haymitch’s final advice to Katniss and Peeta before entering the arena was “stay alive.”  

Another theme is loyalty. There is loyalty shared between Gale and Katniss, as Gale has been friends with Katniss for a very long time. Peeta and Katniss are also very loyal to each other because they survived the first games together and have been by each other’s sides ever since and throughout the second games as well. Katniss is also loyal to her family and to the capital. 

What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?

The setting of the arena in the Quarter Quell really made for an interesting and suspenseful setting. The arena was designed to look like a clock. Every hour something would happen in a section of the arena. The arena was a very small circle that was split into 12 sections, each for a different hour of the day. In the center of the island of the arena was the Cornucopia surrounded by vast amounts of salt water. Then there was a jungle on the outer ring of the arena.

It didn’t take long for the tributes to figure this rhythm. I found this very creative and added suspense and suspicion because you were always wondering what was to come.   

This is the cycle of the clock.

§  12-1 - Bursts of lightning hitting a single tree.

§  1-2 - Blood Raining down from sky.

§  2-3 - Corrosive fog spreading though jungle.

§  3-4 - Orange Monkey-like mutts attack.

§  4-5 - Jabber jays torture Tributes with loved ones screams.

§  5-6 - unknown

§  6-7 - unknown muttation that rips one tribute into five pieces, named "Beast" by Peeta.

§  7-8 - unknown

§  8-9 - unknown

§  9-10 - unknown

§  10-11 - Tidal wave hits beach.

§  11-12 - unknown. From the sound of clicks, Katniss guesses that it is Insect-like mutts with pincers swarm.

This cycle was repeated periodically to match the time, with each hour triggering a new event, each event was carried out twice in one day.

Did certain parts make you feel uncomfortable? if so, why?

 Some of the scenes that make me feel slightly uncomfortable are the times where people died. A scene that sticks out takes place in district 11, home of Katniss’ friend and ally in the hunger games, Rue. This tragic part happens during the victory tour shortly after Peeta and Katniss make their speech, thanking them for their tributes. When the speech ends and old man starts to whistle the tune that Rue used in the arena to tell Katniss that she was safe. The song acts as a signal, and everyone salutes Katniss using the same gesture that she used to say farewell to Rue. As this is happening Katniss is taken away, but not before she out of view she sees Peacekeepers shoot the whistling man in the head. This part in the novel makes me feel upset and a little uncomfortable because an innocent man was murdered for doing a thoughtful thing. I know a lot of this takes place in the Hunger Games trilogy, however this specific scene sticks out in my mind because I really don’t think he should have been killed for the gesture he performed. It meant a lot to Katniss. 

President Snow

Another part of the novel that makes my stomach sink is when President Snow announces the Quarter Quell in which Katniss and Peeta will be heading back to the arena to compete in their second hunger games.