Catching Fire Setting Analysis

Time Period : The novel takes place almost a year after Katniss and Peeta had won the 74th Hunger Games.

Main Places : District 12 : District 12 remains the same, there's The Hob for traders, The Meadow for illegal hunters, and everythings else is the same, until the new Head Peacekeeper arrives. Following Katniss' rebellious action at the 74th Hunger Games,Head Peacekeeper Cray is replaced by a new peacekeeper named Thread, who's a lot more vicious, dangerous and ruthless. He burns down the Hob and changes the District completely. As Katniss explains (pages 128 129 131 132) : " Nothing much will happen during the blizzard. That's what Peeta and I had agreed. But we couldn't have been more wrong. The square has been transformed. A huge banner with the seal of Panem hangs off the roof of the Justice Building. Peacekeepers, in pristine white uniforms, march on the cleanly swept cobblestones. Along the rooftops, more of them occupy nests of machine guns. Most unnerving is a line of new constructions, an official whipping post, several stockades, and a gallows, set up in the center of the square. "Thread's a quick worker," says Haymitch. Some streets away, from the square, I see a blaze flare up. None of us has to say it. That can only be the Hob going up in smoke. ... The streets are almost deserted, which would not be so unusal at this time of day if people were at the mines, kids at school. But they're not. I see faces peeking at us out of doorways, through cracks in shutters. ... No one mentions the ugly tools of torture just yards from the front door. The last thing I notice as we leave the square is that I do not recognize even one of the peacekeepers' faces. As the days pass, things go from bad to worse. The mines stay shut for two weeks and by that time half of the district is starving. The number of kids signing up for tessarae soars, but they often don't receive their grain. Food shortages begin, and even those with the money come away from stores empty handed. When the mines reoprn, wages are cut, hours extended, miners sent into blatantly dangerous work sites. The eagerly awaited food promised for Parcel Day arrives spoiled and defiled by rodents. The installations in the square see plenty of action as people are dragged in and punished for offenses so long overlooked we've forgotten they are illegal." 

The Quarter Quell Arena : The Arena, is the shape of a clock. Each hour, the tributes face another danger. Monkey attacks, poisonous sandstorms, jabberjays that make the tributes face(rather hear) their greatest fears, etc... There's one thing that hasn't changed : the Cornucopia, where there are weapons and backpacks that have supplies in them; yet the tributes need to swim there to reach it or anywhere(each tribute is supplied with a belt that protected them from drowning though). At the end of Chapter 22, Katniss figures out the way the Arena works with Wiress' help(Pages 324 325 326 327): " " Tick, tock"  I agree softly." It's time for bed.Tick, tock. Go to sleep." The sun rises in the sky until it's directly over us. It must be noon, I think absently.Not that it matters.Across the water, off to the right, I see the enormous flash as the lightning bolt hits the tree and the electrical storm begins again. Right in the same area, it did last night. Someone must have moved into its range, triggered the attack. I sit for a while watching the lightning, keeping Wiress calm, lulled into a sort of peacefulness by the lapping of the water. I think of last night, how the lightning began just after the bell tolled. Twelve bongs. " Tick, tock," Wiress says, surfacing to consciensciousness for a moment and then going back under. Twelve bongs last night. Like it was midnight. Then lightning. The sun overhead now. Like it's noon. And lightning. Slowly I rise up and survey the arena. The lightning there. In the next pie wedge over came the blood rain, where Johanna, Wiress, and Beetee were caught.We would have been in third section, right next to that, when the fog appeared.And as soon as it was sucked away, the monkeys began to gather in the fourth. Tick tock. My head snaps to the other side.A couple of hours ago,at around ten, that wave came out of the second section to the left of where the lightning strikes now. At noon. At midnight. At noon. " Tick tock," Wiress says in her sleep. As the lightning ceases and the blood rain begins just to the right of it, her words suddenly make sense. " Oh" I say under my breath " Tick tock" My eyes sweep around the full circle of the arena and I know she's right." Tick tock. This is a clock" /(Chapter 23) A clock. I can almost see the hands ticking around the twelve sectioned face of the arena. Each hour begins a new horror, a new Gamemaker weapon, and ends the previous. Lightning, blood rain, fog, monkeys; those are the first four hours on the clock. And at ten, the wave. I don't know what happens in the other seven, but I know Wiress is right. At present, the blood rain's falling and we're on the beach below the monkey segment, far too close to the fog for my liking. Do the various attacks stay within the confines of the jungle? Not necessarily. The wave didn't. If that fog leaches out of the jungle, or the monkeys return..." Get up" I order, shaking Peeta and Finnick and Johanna awake. " Get up, we have to move." There's enough time, though, to explain the clock theory to them. About Wiress's tick tocking and how the movements of the invisible hands trigger a deadly force in each section. I think I've convinced everyone who's conscious except Johanna, who's naturally opposed to liking anything I suggest. But even she agrees it's better to be safe than sorry. While the others collect our few possessions and get Beetee back into his jumpsuit, I rouse Wiress. She awakes with a panicked " tick,tock!" " Yes, tick tock, the arena's a clock.It's a clock, Wiress, you were right" I say." You were right." Relief floods her face, I guess because somebody has finally understood what she's known probably from the girst tolling of the bells." Midnight" " It starts at midnight," I confirm. A memor struggles to surface in my brain. I see a clock. No, it's a watch, resting in Plutarch Heavensbee's palm." It starts at midnight," Plutarch said. And then my mockingjay lit up briefly and vanished. In retrospect, it's like he was giving me a clue about the arena. But why would he? At the time, I was no more a tribute in these Games than he was. Maybe he thought it would help me as a mentor. Or maybe this had been the plan all along. Wiress nods at the blood rain. " One thirty," she says." Exactly. One thirty. And at two, a terrible poisonous fog begins there," I say pointing at the nearby jungle.

Catching Fire Character Analysis

Katniss Everdeen : Katniss is the main character and protagonist in the whole story. She had won The Hunger Games the year before, with Peeta Mellark. It was the first time in the whole Hunger Games history that two tributes had survived and won the Hunger Games. That gave fire to the districts that were thinking of a rebellion because if a girl and boy could defy the Capitol,why not a whole district?As Katniss mentions in the victory tour in District 11(pages 51 52) : "There's a long pause.Then, from somewhere in the crowd, someone whistles Rue's four note mockingjay tune.The one that signaled the end of the workday in the orchards. .... What happens next is not an accident. It is too well executed to be spontaneous, because it happens in complete unison. Every person in the crowd presses three middle fingers of their left hand against their lips and extends them to me. ... A pair of Peacekeepers dragging the old man who whistled to the top of the steps.Forcing him to his knees before the crowd. And putting a bullet through his head."   Also, the mockingjay had become the symbol in the rebellious districts. Even though she had won the games, she still isn't happy because she sees nightmares each night; about her family, Gale, the tributes she had killed and seen die,especially Rue. She still hunts in the woods illegally even though her family can afford to eat. She hunts for entertainment, serenity and Gale's family because they still can't afford to buy food,and he doesn't accept her money.As she says in the beggining of the story(page 5) : " And here I am, with buckets of money,far more than enough to feed both our families now, and he won't accept a single coin.It's even hard for him to let me bring in meat,although he would surely have kept my mother and Prim supplied if I'd been killed in the Games.I tell him he's doing me a favor,that it drives me nuts to sit around all day. Even so, I never drop off the game while he's at home.".She cares about Gale, Peeta and her family more than anything on earth. When the 3rd Quarter Quell's rules are announced, that the tributes would be reaped from their existing pool of victors, she only wants that Peeta wins the Games and survives, not her. As she mentions to Haymitch right after the announcement : " I bite my lip because once he's said it, I'm afraid that's what I do want. For Peeta to live, even if it means Haymitch's death." 

Peeta Mellark : Peeta is the other victor of District 12 in the 74th Hunger Games. He is in love with Katniss and would do anything to protect her, even if it means his death; so he volunteers for Haymitch in the Quarter Quell reaping to protect Katniss (page 186) : " Then she catches Haymitch's name. He barely has time to shoot me an unhappy look before Peeta has volunteered to take his place."  He too is unhappy after the Hunger Games even though he had won. He has nothing to do, he's lost contact with Katniss and he suffers from nightmares, just like Katniss. He is brave, strong and caring; and those qualities combined with Katniss' made him win the Hunger Games the year before. He has low self esteem because of the way his mother behaved him and he has nothing to lose, except Katniss.

Haymitch : His most obvious quality is that he's an alcohol addict who is drunk most of the time. Yet, it can be easily understood that he's smart because of the way he instructed Peeta and Katniss in the 74th Hunger Games for victory, the way he made a rebellion plan with other tributes and Plutarch Heavensbee, and the way he foresaw big trouble after Katniss' rebellious act in the end of the 74th Hunger Games. He's irritating but caring,as we can understand from the passage(pages 178 179) : " There's something else I want from Haymitch. " Okay, I figured out what I'm asking," I say."If it's Peeta and me in the Games,this time we try to keep him alive." .Something flickers across his bloodshot eyes.Pain." Just like you said, it's going to be bad no matter how you slice it.And whatever Peeta wants, it's his turn to be saved.We both owe him that." My voice takes over on a pleading tone.Besides,the Capitol hates me so much.I'm as good as dead now.He still might have a chance.Please,Haymitch.Say you'll help me." He frowns at his bottle,weighing my words." All right"  he says finally."  Also, he's the first Hunger Games winner of District 12.

Gale : He is and was Katniss' closest friend, her hunting buddy. He lives a life Katniss lived before she had won the Hunger Games;he has 6 brothers, a poor family that needs care. He had also lost his father in the mine explosion that took Katniss' father's life. After the 74th Hunger Games, he began working in the mines to take care of his family. He cares about Katniss and Katniss cares about him. He doesn't accept Katniss' money or the game she hunts. He is rebellious against the Capitol, as we can understand from the passage(pages 99 100): " " Safe to do what?"  he says in a gentler tone." Starve?Work like slaves?Send their kids to the reaping?You haven't hurt people,you've given them an opportunity.They just have to be brave enough to take it.There's already been talk in the mines.People who want to fight.Don't you see?It's happening!It's finally happening!If there's an uprising in District Eight,why not here?"  ... Gale pushes me roughly away from him. " You leave then.I'd never go in a million years." ".

President Snow : He rules Panem with an iron fist. He's ruthless, merciless and pragmatic. He has almost infinite power in Panem. He punishes Katniss and shows off his power by threatining her at her own house and announcing the rules of the 3rd Quarter Quell(page 172): " Without hesitation,he reads, " On the seventy fifth anniversary,AS A REMINDER TO THE REBELS THAT EVEN THE STRONGEST AMONG THEM CANNOT OVERCOME THE POWER OF THE CAPITOL,the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors." 

Effie Trinket : She is the reaping announcer of District 12. She's from the Capitol,so not many people around District 12 like her. However, beneath her irritating accent and not understanding behaviour, a very caring and emotional woman lies. She likes Katniss and Peeta, and they like her even though they didn't use to, before the first Hunger Games.

Plutarch Heavensbee : He is the rebels strongest weapon. He's the gamemaker that replaced Seneca Crane, who was the one that let Katniss and Peeta live in the 74th Hunger Games. It didn't end well for Seneca Crane. Plutarch Heavensbee is a rebel who worked for the Capitol for years, and got the gamemaker seat after those years. He's calm, smart and friendly. We can infer that he's friendly and that he's rebellious(a very small bit) from his mockingjay watch and his communication with Katniss at the party (page 83) : " It's another mockingjay. Exactly like the pin on my dress.Only this one disappears.He snaps the watch closed." That's very pretty" I say." It's more than pretty.It's one of a kind." he says." If anyone asks about me, say I've gone home to bed.The meetings are supposed to be kept secret.But I thought it'd be safe to tell you." " Yes,your secret's safe with me," I say. As we shake hands, he gives a samll bow,a common gesture here in the Capitol." Well,I'll se you next summer at the Games,Katniss.Best wishes on your engagement,and good luck with your mother." 

Prim and Katniss' mother : They are the most valuable people for Katniss. She does what she does for them primarily. Prim had learnt to take care of her mother after Katniss had left for the games. She gets milk and cheese from her goat, and she can handle problems emotionally, unlike herself before the 74th Games. Katniss' mother also took responsibility and can take care of Prim,unlike herself before Katniss went to the Hunger Games, when she was unable to take care of them and lie in bed all day; and she continues her pharmacy work, now that they can afford medicine. 

Cinna : He's not only Katniss' stylist but also part of the rebellion, her friend and a very brave man. Katniss likes him for his friendly behaviour, normal style unlike other stylist at Capitol and his perfect creativity that creates perfect dresses for Katniss. We can easily understand that he is part of the rebellion and that he has guts after the interview before the Quarter Quell, when he risks his life to remind the people of Panem and Katniss who the real enemy is(pages 248 252) : " " Will I be twirling again?" I ask, thinking of my dress last year. " I'm sure Caesar will ask you. And if he doesn't,you suggest it yourself.Only not right away.SAVE IT FOR YOUR BIG FINALE" Cinna instructs me. ... For a split second I'm gasping,completely engulfed in the strange flames.Then all at once,the fire is gone.I slowly come to a stop,wondering i I'm naked and why Cinna has arranged TO BURN MY WEDDING DRESS.But I'm not naked. I'm in a dress of the exact design of my wedding dress, only it's the color of coal and made of tiny feathers.Wonderingly,I lift my long,flowing sleeves into the air,and that's when I see myself on the television screen. Clothed in black except for the white patches on my sleeves. Or should I say my wings.BECAUSE CINNA HAS TURNED ME INTO A MOCKINGJAY." 

Finnick : He's the Capitol audience's (doubtedly) favourite tribute, and has been for years.He's from District 4.As Katniss describes him(Pages 208 209)  " Being from District 4, he was a Career, so the odds were in his favor, but what no trainer could claim to have given him was his extraordinary beauty. Tall, athletic, w,th golden skin and bronze colored hair and those incredible eyes. While other tributes that year were hard pressed to get a handful of grain or some matches for a gift, Finnick never wanted for anything, not food or medicine or weapons. It took about a week for his competitors to realize that he was the one to kill, but it was too late. He was already a good fighter with the spears and knives he had found in the Cornucopia. When he received a silver parachute with a trident, which may be the most expensive gift I've ever seen in the arena, it was all over. District 4's industry is fishing. He'd been on boats his whole life. The trident was a natural, deadly extension of his arm. He wove a net out of some kind of vine he found, used it to entangle his opponents so he could spear them with the trident, and within a matter of days the crown was his." . Katniss doesn't trust him at first, but after he saves Peeta's life, twice, she becomes his true ally. Also, he's part of the rebellion.

Beetee and Wiress : They're from District 3. Katniss chooses them as her allies at first because she trusts them, and she knows that she can learn from them. They're friendly but fidgety. They invent things. As Katniss describes them(page 226) : " The woman, Wiress, is probably around my mother's age and speaks in a quiet intelligent voice. But right away I notice she has a habit of dropping off her words in mid sentence, as if she's forgotten you're there. Beetee, the man, is older and somewhat fidgety, He wears glasses but spends a lot of time looking under them. They're a little strange but I'm pretty sure neither of them is going to try to make me uncomfortable by stripping naked. And they're from District 3. Maybe they can even confirm my suspicions of an uprising there." 

On The Bridge Character Analysis

Adam Lockwood : Adam is Seth's so called friend who is a smoker. Seth smokes only around him. He is aggresive, cocky and not dependable. We can easily understand that when he brags about having beaten the crap out of some guy at the mall the day before; his ripped sleeves on his old leather jacket; and the time when he tells the three big men that Seth was the one who flicked the cigarette on the car whereas it was him even though it meant that Seth would get beaten by three big men for his actions.

Seth Dawson : Seth is Adam's friend who wants to be cool like him. He isn't a smoker normally, but he smokes around Adam to look cool. He thinks that Adam is cool and hangs around him just to look cool, and that's not the only thing he does to look cool. He had ripped the sleeves of his new denim jacket and had washed it in the washing machine a thousand times to make it look old to look cool, like Adam. He is naive, shy, a wannabe but trustworthy and brave. He tries to look like something he's not to look cool;0 he is awestruck at each of Adam's actions(making out with girls, mocking the drivers and civilians on the highway, etc.) because he thinks it's way too cool;and he doesn't tell the three big men that it was Adam who threw the cigarette on their car not to squeal on Adam and lose his trust.