The Hunger Games
Chapter 21
by Collins, SuzanneIn the hours leading up to the feast, the protagonist meticulously camouflages the cave entrance to protect Peeta, who is severely injured and in need of medicine. She prepares for the upcoming confrontation by gathering supplies, purifying water, and cleaning her weapons, though she only has nine arrows left. Despite her efforts, she worries about Peeta’s survival if she fails to return, acknowledging that District 12’s chances of having a victor hinge on her success. The chapter highlights her strategic planning and the emotional weight of her responsibility toward Peeta and her district.
The protagonist reflects on the likely participants at the feast, anticipating direct confrontations with Cato, Clove, and Thresh, while doubting Foxface’s involvement due to her avoidance of combat. She recognizes her advantage in long-range attacks but knows she must venture into danger to retrieve the backpack marked with District 12’s number. As night falls, she stays vigilant, battling the extreme cold and her loneliness, finding solace in Peeta’s feverish warmth. The chapter underscores her isolation and the psychological toll of the Games, even as she steels herself for the impending battle.
Her thoughts drift to her family and friends in District 12, imagining their anxiety and hope as they watch the Games. She wonders about their support and whether the baker has kept his promise to feed Prim. The protagonist also reflects on Gale, questioning the nature of their relationship and his feelings about her alliance with Peeta. These musings reveal her longing for connection and stability amid the chaos, as well as her awareness of the performative aspects of the Games, such as the “star-crossed lover” narrative she must maintain.
As dawn approaches, the protagonist finalizes her preparations, leaving Peeta with essentials and donning extra layers for warmth. She navigates the eerie nighttime woods, relying on her glasses to compensate for her damaged hearing. Arriving at the Cornucopia, she waits for the feast to begin, anxious about the missing backpacks until a table rises with the promised supplies. The chapter ends on a tense note, poised for the bloodshed that the feast will inevitably bring, as the protagonist braces herself for the final showdown.
FAQs
1. What preparations does Katniss make before leaving for the feast, and what do these actions reveal about her priorities and survival strategy?
Answer:
Katniss undertakes meticulous preparations before departing for the feast, highlighting her strategic mindset and concern for Peeta. She camouflages the cave entrance to protect Peeta, leaves him water and the medical kit, and takes his jacket for warmth, noting his fever makes it unnecessary for him. She also packs essentials like food, bandages, and weapons, prioritizing practicality. Her decision to kiss Peeta before leaving underscores her awareness of the “star-crossed lovers” narrative’s importance for gaining Capitol favor. These actions reveal her dual focus: survival through resourcefulness and maintaining the persona that could secure sponsors or sympathy.2. How does the chapter illustrate Katniss’s emotional state and her relationship with Peeta? Analyze specific passages that convey her loneliness and conflicted feelings.
Answer:
Katniss’s emotional turmoil is palpable as she describes feeling “so physically close to someone who’s so distant,” comparing Peeta’s unreachability to being “on the moon.” This metaphor emphasizes her isolation despite their physical proximity. Her loneliness is compounded by thoughts of Gale and uncertainty about their relationship, wondering if his offer to run away was pragmatic or romantic. The cold night and her reliance on Peeta’s fever for warmth mirror her emotional vulnerability. Her lingering kiss for the cameras contrasts with her inner detachment, revealing the strain of performative survival versus genuine connection.3. What tactical considerations does Katniss weigh regarding the other tributes, and how does this reflect her understanding of the Games’ dynamics?
Answer:
Katniss analyzes the remaining tributes’ strengths: Cato and Clove’s deadliness, Thresh’s brute force, and Foxface’s avoidance of direct confrontation. She anticipates Foxface scavenging rather than fighting, while preparing to face the others head-on. Her awareness that her archery skills are her “greatest asset” but that she must enter the fray for the backpack shows her strategic adaptability. She also considers psychological warfare, hoping rivals assume Peeta is guarding her. This planning reveals her grasp of the Games as a blend of combat, deception, and exploiting others’ perceptions—a survival calculus honed through observation and experience.4. How does the chapter use environmental details to create tension and foreshadowing? Discuss the significance of the cold and the delayed appearance of the feast.
Answer:
The bitter cold, possibly engineered by the Gamemakers, heightens tension by emphasizing Katniss’s physical discomfort and the arena’s artificial cruelty. It mirrors her emotional chill and the high stakes of the impending feast. The delayed arrival of the feast—marked by the rising table at dawn—builds suspense, with Katniss’s panic about the wrong location underscoring her vulnerability. The “ominous” nighttime forest and the “morning gray” sky create a foreboding atmosphere, foreshadowing violence. These details reinforce the Games’ controlled brutality and Katniss’s precarious position as both hunter and prey.5. Compare Katniss’s reflections on District 12’s reactions to the Games with her earlier attitudes. How has her perspective evolved, and what does this suggest about her character development?
Answer:
Earlier in the Games, Katniss was skeptical of District 12’s support, but here she imagines their excitement—people like Greasy Sae and even Peacekeepers cheering for her and Peeta. This shift reflects her growing recognition of unity’s power, both as morale and a survival tool. Her hope that the baker aids Prim (due to the “team” narrative) shows her pragmatic acceptance of alliances. Yet, her thoughts of Gale reveal lingering conflict between personal loyalty and performative survival. This evolution highlights her deepening complexity: she’s learning to navigate communal hope while grappling with the costs of her public persona.
Quotes
1. “The cave now appears to be part of a larger pile of rocks, like so many in the vicinity. I can still crawl in to Peeta through a small opening, but it’s undetectable from the outside.”
This quote showcases Katniss’s survival skills and strategic thinking as she carefully camouflages their hiding place. It highlights the constant tension between safety and vulnerability in the Games.
2. “It’s strange to be so physically close to someone who’s so distant. Peeta might as well be back in the Capitol, or in District 12, or on the moon right now, he’d be no harder to reach. I’ve never felt lonelier since the Games began.”
This poignant reflection reveals Katniss’s emotional isolation despite physical proximity to Peeta. It captures the complex dynamics of their relationship and the psychological toll of the Games.
3. “Spirits must be running high in District 12. We so rarely have anyone to root for at this point in the Games. Surely, people are excited about Peeta and me, especially now that we’re together.”
This quote demonstrates Katniss’s growing awareness of her role as a symbol of hope for her district. It marks a shift from pure survival to understanding the broader political implications of her actions.
4. “The woods always look different at night. Even with the glasses, everything has an unfamiliar slant to it. As if the daytime trees and flowers and stones had gone to bed and sent slightly more ominous versions of themselves to take their places.”
This beautifully atmospheric description reveals Katniss’s deep connection to nature while underscoring the ever-present danger in the arena. It shows her hunter’s perspective and the psychological impact of the Games’ artificial environment.
5. “Do they suppose, I wonder, that I have Peeta with me? I doubt Foxface and Thresh even know he was wounded. All the better if they think he’s covering me when I go in for the backpack.”
This quote demonstrates Katniss’s strategic mind at work, using psychological warfare and deception against her opponents. It shows how she leverages perceptions to gain tactical advantage in the deadly competition.