Brooke Bunny
With “Hunger Games : Catching Fire” less than 6 weeks away – or for some lucky Movieholers, like Clint and Ash, and anyone else with heavy duty contacts, even closer than that – it’s time to get you virgins to the franchise up to speed.
Here’s my A to Z of “The Hunger Games” to help prep newbies arriving in the Capitol next month!
A is for Avox, someone convicted of treason and punished by having their tongue removed.
B is for Bow and Arrow, Katniss Evergreen’s favourite choice of weaponry.
C is for Clint, our beloved boy who was fighting for his life with a tumour (diagnosed just the week before, I believe) while we were all enjoying what would ultimately be one of his favourite films of 2012. This will be a special thing for Clint, seeing the sequel on the big screen! C is also for Capitol, of course, which is the central government system of the nation of Panem, and the government’s head city.
D is for Districts. Originally, the residents were split into 13 districts (or groups), but after a quarrel between District 13 and the Capitol, there are now only 12.
E is for Effie Trinkett, the escort and speak of ceremonies for the Hunger Games competition. She’s played in the films by Elizabeth Banks.
F is for Force fields. Careful where your step around the arena – especially around the edges!
G is for Game, the whole gist of the books and series is it involves a group of youngsters competing in a Game – albeit a deadly one.
H is for Hunger Games, the official name of the aforesaid game. It involves pitting those from the twelve Districts against each other in a battle to the finish.
I is for interviews. Caesar Flickman, played by Stanley Tucci in the movies, conducts interviews with those participating in the Games.
J is for the Japanese “Hunger Games : Catching Fire” trailer, released online this week :
K is for Katniss Evergreen, the heroine of the series. I don’t think one needs speculate who wins the thing.
L is for Lamb Stew. It’s usually on the menu during the Hunger Games.
M is for Mockingjay, which is a cross-between a Jabberjay (constructed by the Capitol) and a Mockingbird. They whistle.
N is for Night. At night, the gamekeepers show pictures in the sky of those who didn’t survive the Games that day.
O is for Octavia, who is part of Katniss’s prep team.
P is for Panama, otherwise known in ye old times as North America.
Q is for Quarter Quell. Every 25 years, to celebrate the anniversary of the Treaty of Treason, the Hunger Games are heightened and called ‘Quarter Quells’.
R is for The Reaping ceremony. This is the ceremony in which a male and female, from each District, are picked to participate in the Games.
S is for Snow, as in President Snow. Needs no explanation. He’s a President, so he’s not especially trustworthy.
T is for Tributes, the name given to those chosen to fight in the Games.
U is for Underwear. Many of the tributes likely dirtied theirs during the Games.
V is for Virgin. Whereas most young girls between 17 and 25 might have “gone there” a couple of times, Katniss is “pure”, according to Peeta. This, of course, opens the doors for Johanna. Grr.
W is for Water. Crucial to get your hands on in order to survive the Games.
X is for X, a demarcation that’s used to target soothing with a weapon.
Y is for Young. The Hunger Games books are generally considered for Young readers (though many of us slightly older ladies – I’m 23 – love them too!).
Z is for Zee End. I have run out of letters.
