The Hunger Games Chapter summaries
Chapter 1:
In chapter 1 of The Hunger Games, we learn that the setting is in the ruins of what was once North America. This place is
called “Panem”. In Panem, there is the Capital, which is the control center of the Country, kind of like the Government.
There are twelve districts in Panem. Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12 with her younger sister, Primrose Everdeen (Prim),
and her mother, who’s name was never mentioned. In the beginning of the chapter, Katniss is getting ready to go hunting
with her best friend, Gale. Soon after, she and her family go to the Annual Reaping. The reaping is when Effie Trinket
randomly draws the name one boy and one girl from each district out of a drawing and whoever’s names she calls must be
a tribute in the annual Hunger Games. From district 12, Peeta Mellark and Primrose Everdeen’s names are drawn.
Chapter 2:
Katniss is shocked that her little sister Prim got picked to compete in the Hunger Games, since Prim’s name was only
entered once. Katniss decides to volunteer to take Prim’s place in the games. Katniss does this because she knows that
Prim isn’t prepared at all for this kind of event and that she would get killed if she went in. Katniss though she would have a
better chance of staying alive than Prim would. The second name is drawn out by Effie for the male tribute for District 12.
The name is Peeta Mellark. Katniss is for some reason shocked. She starts thinking about the time she saw Peeta. She
remembered after her father died she went to trade some baby clothes for food for her family. She was wandering around
the shop when she smelled the baker’s bread. She sees a little boy with two loaves of burnt bread in his hands getting
yelled at and beaten by his mother. he comes outside and walks up to Katniss Everdeen and throws her the loaves and she
takes them home to eat them with her mother and sister.
Chapter 3:
Katniss and the other tributes are taken into custody. They are divided up and taken into fancy rooms to say their final
good-byes to their friends and family. Katniss forces herself not to cry and doesn’t cry because she is on camera and this
could show weakness and lead the other contestants to target her because they think she could be taken down easily. She
doesn’t want people to get a bad impression on her so she stays strong and doesn’t cry. The tributes are put onto a train to
take them to the training area. Katniss and Peeta find out that Haymitch is going to be their sponsor. He stumbles onto the
train drunk and throws up everywhere. Haymitch is known for being drunk all the time.
Chapter 4:
After Haymitch stumbles onto the train and throws up, Peeta volunteers to help clean him up. Katniss wonders if this is a
Games strategy move or if he is just being kind. Katniss has another flashback. Katniss tells us what happened those many
years ago after Peeta gave her the bread and she saw the dandelion. She and Prim go to the Meadow where they gather
enough dandelions for a huge salad. Katniss realizes she could look for even more food with her mother’s book from the
apothecary. Katniss also begins going under the fence surrounding District 12 and out into the woods to hunt. She uses the
small bow and arrow that her father had made for her. After she hunts and begins to get more food for her family, her
mother comes out of her depression of her fathers death. But Katniss doesn’t feel like she can trust her mother ever again.
After the flashback, Katniss starts thinking. Katniss realizes that maybe she has underestimated Peeta. Maybe he does have
a plan, and that plan probably involves killing her.
Chapter 5:
The train arrives at the Capitol where the tributes are in the Remake Center getting groomed for the Games. Katniss is with
She has been scrubbed clean and has had her nails fixed. She also got her entire body waxed so she has no hair except
what is on her head. Katniss then goes to her stylist, Cinna. Cinna and Katniss have lunch together. They eat food that
Katniss has never had before since District 12 is quite poor and doesn’t have fancy foods. They discuss things like Katniss’
outfit for the Opening Ceremony and how to fix her up. Cinna plans for Katniss to set “set on fire” at the Opening
Ceremony. Peeta and Katniss are both dressed in jumpsuits so they won’t get burned from the fire. They get in the chariot
and the ceremony music starts playing. Katniss reminds herself not to flirt with Peeta and not get too attracted to him
because they are trying to kill each other. She leans up and kisses him on his bruise.
Chapter 6:
Katniss and the other tributes ride a crystal elevator to the twelfth floor of the Training Center where the District 12 team
will be staying. Effie Trinket, comes to talk to Katniss and Peeta and is impressed with how well they did in the ceremonies.
She’s never had a team do well, apparently. She tells them she’s been talking them up as best she can, but she’s not the
one responsible for getting sponsors, Haymitch is. After showering and dressing, Katniss is called to dinner where the
whole team assembles. Katniss drinks wine and her head is a bit shaky. A cake is brought in and set in flames when Katniss
recognizes the the red headed girl who is setting it on fire. The girl tells Katniss that she knows her but then she gets a
terrified look on her face. The girl is an Avox.
Chapter 7:
