THE HUNGER GAMES BY: SUSAN COLLINS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Before the post-apocalyptic world of Panem, the citizens of the United States rise up against their government, and thus, the fall of the USA and the rise of a single-party dictatorship. The country of Panem consists of 13 districts, but the people of district 13 rebel against the Capitol. Consequently, the are obliterated.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Panem eventually grew large enough that it was segmented into thirteen separate districts, each responsible for producing goods of a particular industry to serve the growing needs of the nation, and all operating under the auspices of Panem's oppressive Capitol. Its exact method of expansion is unknown; it is possible that some of the separate districts may have even once been smaller, separate nations that were eventually annexed by Panem.

Some districts are more wealthy than the others, meaning the more provisions they have. The closer the districts are to the Capitol the more they are provided for. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Soon after the country of Panem was created, there was a rebellion that broke out amongst the people of Panem. This rebellion is started by district 13, and in response to their rebellion, the Capitol removed district 13 from history. BACKGROUND INFORMATIO N

In direct response of the rebellion and to ensure another one would never occur, the Capitol creates the annual Hunger Games.

HUNGER GAMES In the wake of the rebellion, the Capitol established the Hunger Games, an annual event in which twenty-four children between the ages of twelve and eighteen, one boy and one girl from each district, are chosen from a lottery and entered into a gladitorial competition where they must fight each other to the death until only one remains standing.lottery

HUNGER GAMES After the victor is crowned, they are immediately rewarded for their heroism and given a mansion to live in with their family, wealth, and most importantly, food.

HUNGER GAMES The event served two purposes. The first was to demonstrate the overwhelming power the Capitol had over the districts by taking their children by force and forcing them to slay each other in a no-rules competition. The second purpose was purely for entertainment. The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in the same vein as a reality show, its entrants practically considered celebrities and the events themselves dramatized and glorified.entrants

ANCIENT ROME AND HUNGER GAMES The Games themselves are reminiscent of the Roman munera, or gladiatorial games. The districts surrounding the Capitol are similar to the Roman provinces that surrounded the city of Rome. Many names, particularly of those from the Capitol are Roman names, such as Cinna, Seneca, Caesar, Coriolanus, Portia etc.

PANEM The name Panem derives from the Latin phrase panem et circenses, which literally translates into 'bread and circuses'. The phrase itself is used to describe entertainment used to distract public attention from more important matters. Furthermore, by the government providing ample food and entertainment, the citizens would give up their political rights.

Advanced, utopian city, where the powerful and wealthy live. Located: west of the former Rocky Mountains Dictator: President Snow Army: Peacekeepers CAPITOL

People and Culture: Fashion and Food Plastic Surgery Viewed as alien, odd, and distrustful CAPITOL

THE DISTRICTS 12 operational districts Welfare levels vary Each district is in charge of particular industries. For example, district 12 is known for coal and district 4 is fishing.

Luxury items Tributes: Glimmer and Marvel Career Tributes DISTRICT 1

Stone quarries Weapons, trains, supplies Peacekeepers Tributes: Clove and Cato DISTRICT 2

Electronics Automobiles and firearms No notable tributes DISTRICT 3

Fishing nets and tridents, making fishhooks from scratch, swimming, and identifying edible sea life. Career District DISTRICT 4