74th Hunger Games

The 74th Hunger Games are groundbreaking as they are the first Games to ever have two victors, Katniss Everdeen, and Peeta Mellark, at the same time. The events of this edition of the Games are the driving force for all of the events in the Hunger Games trilogy and the spark that leads to the Second Rebellion.

74th Hunger Games Key Facts 

• Arena: Large flatland with the Cornucopia at the center. Surrounded by forests, lakes, meadows, streams, a wheat field, caves, and pools.
• Head Gamemaker: Seneca Crane 
• Arena Costume: Green shirt, tawny trousers, sturdy belt, and heat-reflecting jackets. Leather boots with flexible rubber soles.
• No. of deaths in the Initial Cornucopia Bloodbath: 11
• No. of days the Games lasted: 18
• Victor: Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark 
• Alliances: Katniss’ alliance (consisting of Katniss and Rue), Career Alliance (consisting of Glimmer, Marvel, Cato, Clove, Peeta, and the District 4 female)

List of Tributes in the 74th Hunger Games 

• District 1: Glimmer, Marvel 
• District 2: Clove, Cato
• District 3: Unnamed, unnamed
• District 4: Unnamed, Marina
• District 5: Unnamed, “Foxface”
• District 6: Unnamed, unnamed
• District 7: Unnamed, unnamed
• District 8: Unnamed, unnamed
• District 9: Unnamed, unnamed
• District 10: Unnamed, unnamed
• District 11: Rue, Thresh
• District 12: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark 

Major Events of the 74th Hunger Games 

The Reaping

In the 74th annual Hunger Games, Primrose Everdeen, the younger sister of Katniss Everdeen, is selected as the female tribute from District 12 during the televised reaping ceremony. Nevertheless, Katniss, the valiant 16-year-old protagonist of the story, courageously steps forward and volunteers to take her sister’s place. Peeta Mellark, a compassionate classmate of Katniss who once selflessly provided her famished family with bread, is designated as the male tribute representing District 12.

Tribute Parade

Katniss and Peeta embark on their journey to the Capitol. Along the way, they receive guidance from Haymitch Abernathy, their intoxicated mentor and the sole living victor of the Hunger Games from District 12, as well as Effie Trinket, their chaperone. Their advisors emphasize the importance of shaping their public image, enabling them to attract sponsors who can provide crucial aid during the Hunger Games.

To make a lasting impression, a skilled stylist named Cinna creates distinctive costumes for Katniss, while Portia does the same for Peeta. The duo make a dazzling appearance during the Tribute Parade, where the various tributes from Districts 1 to 12 are introduced to the public in a chariot ride. Katniss’s attire, inspired by the element of fire, earns her the memorable nickname “Girl on Fire” during the parade.

Training

The tributes spend a few days at the training center learning how to use different weapons, such as swords, bows, knives, spears, sickles, throwing knives, and so on. They also try to pick up various survival skills. At the end of the training, tributes are required to show a demonstration of their unique skills in a private training session with the Gamemakers. This year, the Career tributes receive scores between 8 to 10 while everyone else averaged a score of 5. Katniss Everdeen unexpectedly receives the highest training score with a score of 11. Peeta receives a score of 8.

Interviews

The Games feature televised interviews hosted by Caesar Flickerman. Here, tributes try to boost their public appeal by showcasing themselves as strong contenders or by garnering the Capitol’s affection.

During his interview, Peeta unexpectedly confesses his deep affection for Katniss. This revelation catches Katniss off guard, but she acknowledges that his proclamation enhances her appeal. Recognizing the opportunity, Haymitch seizes upon the notion of portraying Katniss and Peeta as star-crossed lovers originating from District 12, thus reinforcing their public image.

In the Arena: Bloodbath and After

The commencement of the Hunger Games heralds an eruption of violence, with the tributes engaging in a frenzied battle to secure weapons for their survival. This is known as the Initial Bloodbath at the Cornucopia. Heeding Haymitch’s counsel, Katniss swiftly manages to grab a backpack and evades the attention of her fellow tributes. She runs away into the woods as the Careers eliminate several tributes at a time. 

The bloodbath results in 11 deaths on day 1, including the female from District 3, the male from District 4, the male from District 5, both tributes from Districts 6, 7, and 9, the male from District 8, and the female from District 10.

Before long, Katniss crosses paths with the formidable “Career Pack” hailing from Districts 1, 2, and 4. These tributes, who have dedicated their lives to training for the Games, possess a reputation for ruthlessness, often producing a victor among their ranks. To her dismay, Katniss discovers that Peeta has aligned himself with these career tributes, who harbor a fervent desire to eliminate her. Nevertheless, the Careers eventually move on, leaving Katniss unharmed. Meanwhile, the female from District 8 dies on day 2 of the Games. 

Continuing her solitary journey in search of water, Katniss steadily distances herself from the other tributes. The Gamemakers intervene by conjuring an artificial fire, intending to steer her closer to her adversaries. Taking refuge in a tree, Katniss successfully evades the relentless pursuit of the Careers.

Katniss and Rue’s Alliance

Under the cover of night, Katniss and Rue, who had been concealed in a nearby tree, devise a strategy to unleash a swarm of “tracker jackers” upon the group of Careers. These genetically engineered insects possess a violent nature, targeting those who disturb their nests and injecting venom into their victims’ minds, inducing hallucinations. As a result, the tracker jacker nest eliminates two of the career tributes (Glimmer and the District 4 female) and forces the remaining adversaries to retreat. Unfortunately, Katniss herself is stung and experiences her own vivid hallucinations.

Peeta returns to the scene and, rather than harming Katniss, urges her to flee while he confronts one of the Careers. Later, he reveals that he intended to safeguard her well-being. Katniss manages to escape but collapses in exhaustion, finding solace in a nearby ditch. Subsequently, she and Rue reunite to form an alliance once more, aiming to dismantle the supplies of the Career tributes. Katniss is successful in this mission. However, the events result in the deaths of the District 3 male and the District 10 male.

Tragically, Rue sustains a fatal injury inflicted by Marvel, the male tribute from District 1. In an act of vengeance, Katniss exacts justice by eliminating Rue’s killer and remains by her side as she drifts toward the end of her life. As a gesture of respect, Katniss honors Rue’s memory by gently adorning her body with flowers, and receiving a loaf of bread from District 11 as an expression of gratitude.

The Feast

As six tributes remain in the arena, a new regulation is declared within the Games. Instead of having only one victor, the Gamemakers now permit two tributes from the same district to emerge as a victorious team. Consequently, Katniss and Peeta form an alliance, although Peeta has sustained grave injuries from his encounter with the Career tribute.

Katniss assumes a façade of affection towards Peeta, leveraging it to garner valuable provisions from the sponsors. The Gamemakers announce a Feast where each district would be given the object that they need the most to win the Games. Katniss concludes that the Gamemakers have given Peeta valuable medicine that is required for him to survive. She puts her life at risk to acquire the medicine for Peeta. 

Along her journey, she confronts a Career tribute, Clove, who intends to end her life. Clove, however, ends up being slain by the male tribute from District 11 known as Thresh. In light of Katniss’s compassionate actions towards his district partner, Rue, Thresh spares her. Consequently, Katniss successfully secures the medicine and tends to Peeta’s well-being, nursing him back to health.

The Wolf Muttations

Foxface dies from consuming poisonous nightlock berries that Peeta had previously gathered. The final surviving Career, Cato, eliminates Thresh. The Gamemakers compel Katniss and Peeta to face Cato, only to discover that he is being pursued by genetically mutated wolves. Cato suffers a gruesome fate as he is savagely torn apart by the wolf mutts, but his demise is prolonged and agonizing. With compassion, Katniss releases an arrow, ending Cato’s suffering by piercing his head.

Katniss and Peeta as Victors

Consequently, Katniss and Peeta emerge as the sole remaining contestants in the Games. Nevertheless, a heartless turn of events unfolds as the Gamemakers unveil yet another alteration to the rules. They demand Katniss and Peeta to eliminate each other, intending to orchestrate a gripping climax. Yet, defying the Capitol, Katniss, and Peeta make a bold choice. They opt to rebel and prepare to consume the deadly “nightlock berries” together, fully aware of their poisonous nature. Recognizing the impending double suicide, the Gamemakers hastily intervene, abruptly terminating the Games and declaring both Katniss and Peeta victorious.

Aftermath of the 74th Hunger Games

Katniss and Peeta make their way back to District 12, where they are greeted with a triumphant reception as victors. They are given two separate mansions to live in at the Victors’ Village along with their families. They also no longer have to worry about living in poverty. 

Nevertheless, Peeta experiences profound heartache upon realizing that Katniss’s display of affection during the Games was nothing more than a charade to elicit sympathy from sponsors. Haymitch, too, cautions Katniss about the Capitol’s inevitable response to her defiant actions. Resolute and prepared for the consequences, Katniss fortifies herself, while simultaneously grappling with the far-reaching effects of the Games.

FAQs