What are some symbols in The Hunger Games?
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Symbolism In The Hunger Games
Bread. (Represents life, friendship, survival and love.) - When Katniss was eleven and starving to death, Peeta burned bread for her on purpose so he could give them to Katniss. - Katniss receives bread from District 11 during the games (after Rue's death) - Tessera bread is flat and dense which is appropriate in this context. - Panem also means bread.
Dandelion. (Represents survival, hope). - Katniss sees Peeta at school then sees a ton of dandelions which she eats and keeps her alive. - Food for survival, remind Katniss of her dad. - While Katniss is on the train, she throws the cookies Peeta's father had given her out the window. The cookies hit a pack of dandelions which allows Katniss to think about Peeta. It also foreshadows by saying she will survive.
Mockingjay. (Represents rebellion, survival, and ability to adapt) - The mockingjays are a "slap in the face" to the Capitol because they were only male and expected to die off, but instead they matted with female mockingbirds creating a new species that wasn't suppose to exist. - Katniss' dad could sing to the mockingjays - The mockingjays were Rue's friends - Madge (the mayors daughter and Katniss' friend) gave Katniss a mockingjay pin for her to wear as a District token for the games.
Peeta (Represents friendship, love and sacrifice) - Peeta noticed Katniss since they were young, but Katniss only noticed him when he gives her the bread, But Katniss started to love him even though she cannot trust him because of the games.
The Silent Salute (Represents respect, gratitude) - When Katniss volunteers to take Prim's place during the reaping, everyone gives her the salute. - When Rue dies, Katniss gives her the salute and says good-bye.
The Woods (Represents survival, the world beyond District 12, danger and rebellion) - Katniss' dad taught her to hunt in the woods. After she died she would go in alone. - Katniss gets most of the food from the woods. - Katniss meets Gale in the woods (the only person whom she can be herself around) - The Capitol put up a fence around the woods so no one could go through it.
Katniss (From arrow head to plant) (Represents survival, her skills with and arrow [visual symbolism] that she is named after a plant that is shaped like an arrow.) - Katniss finds "herself" in the woods with her dad. Once she "finds herself" she will never starve. She can survive as long as she can find herself. - She hunts with arrows.
Katniss' Outfits (Represents strategy, making herself noticeable, change and passion) - Cinna creates her outfits to resemble burning embers and fire. (Nicknaming her the girl on fire) - Fire is a symbol for change in alchemy, it also represents, renewer passion, anger, destruction and sacredness.
Rue (Represents innocent, friendship and inhumanity) - Rue is the tribute from District 11 who is the youngest competitor. She is only twelve, and therefore the smallest tribute in the games. - Rue makes a friendship with Katniss after they become allies. - It's inhuman how the Capitol forces someone (young and innocent) like Rue compete in a fight to the death.
Rue's flowers (Represents honor respect for the dead, rebellion ageist the Capitol) - Katniss believes Rue deserves to be hinoured with flowers (white, yellow and violet, which also have symbolic meaning) - Because of Rue's death, Katniss finally understands what Peeta was staying on the roof durning the last night before the games. Rue was more than just a piece of the games, and so is she.
Poisonous berries- Nightlock. (Represents deception, harsh, rebellion) - Nightlock berries were found by Peeta and killed Foxface - Katniss saved them hoping to use on Cato, but instead used them to rebel. She was going to kill herself and Peeta since there could only be one winner.
Food Symbolism
· Note: A lot of the food meaning is fertility. This is because fertility has to do with birth. Durning the games, Katniss was reborn into someone new. Katniss entered the games as the girl from District 12, but left as the rebellious girl on fire.
Goat Cheese/ Milk (Represents sacrifice, fertility, moving from dark to light/ light to dark) - It is eaten on reaping day. (The day Katniss becomes a tribute) - It is also eaten near the end of the games when Peeta and Katniss are in the cave. (Sign of foreshadowing that they will win the games)
Fish (Represents good luck, fertility, transformation, powerful female and faith) - Katniss finds fish on reaping day with Gale in the woods, and leaves it with her mom and Prim to eat later. - Katniss' mom and Prim's loves will change and foreshadows Katniss will return.
Strawberries (Represents righteous, modesty, good and perfection) - Katmiss collects strawberries on reaping day with Gale - The mayor of District 12 has a fondness of strawberries (showing that the mayor is not evil)
Lamb (Represents gentleness of character, patience, under suffering, purity, meekness and sacrifice) - The Capitol prepares them the meal and it reflexes what they will have to do in th arena. - Katniss says durning the interview her favorite thing so far is the lamb stew.
Eggs (Represents fertily, youth, rebirth, sacrifice and resurrection ) - The tributes represent youth - Rue finds an egg durning the games for her and Katniss.
Ham/ Pig (Represents wealth, greed, naiveness.) - The Gamemakers are eating a pig with an apple in it's mouth while Katniss is performing in front of them - Katniss shots an arrow at the pig and it hits the apple in it's mouth. (During the games, Katniss shots an arrow at the Careers pack and hits an apple using her arrows causing it to blow up.)