As I have continued reading The Hunger Games and have begun to experience the world of the "Games" this novel has begun to take on similar themes as The Road. Now that all of the tributes have been thrust into the arena many of their thoughts revolve solely around food and survival. They are pitted against each other for resources because only one or two of them can survive. Just as in The Road, the characters in The Hunger Games are now fighting for survival.

The easiest connection to draw between the novels is both characters lack of food and resources. As the games begin all the of tributes in The Hungers Games have nothing and they are forced to battle other tributes out in the open or use stealth to acquire materials as time goes on. But even Katniss, who is experienced in the woods and used to hunger struggles at times. Within the first few days of reaching the arena Katniss is dreadfully dehydrated and in dire need of water stating, "fatigue is beginning to settle in on me, but it's not the usual tiredness that follows a long hike. I have to stop and rest frequently, although I know the only cure for what ails me requires continued searching" (166).

Additionally in The Road as well as The Hunger Games characters are pitted against each other, and every new face appears to be an enemy. Although The Road is not a formal competition, those who live in this post- apocalyptic world have extremely limited resources, there is not enough to go around and often certain groups result to dire measures, such as cannibalism, to stay alive. The tributes in The Hunger Games know that there can be only one victor so the competition is very real to them. Katniss often thinks during her first few days in the arena, "I could kill them, every one of them, if those silver weapons were in my hands" (183).

Lastly the theme that connects these novel is the idea of "carrying the fire." The boy and the man often talk about it in The Road, they want to keep their humanity even in their dire situation and despite all the people around them who have clearly lost their humanity. The same is true for Peeta and Katniss in The Hunger Games. Before even entering the area Peeta states, "My hope is to not disgrace myself... I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I'm not." It is clear here that Peeta values integrity and want to stay good and pure no matter what is thrown at him in the arena. Additionally, when Rue died Katniss does everything she can to honor here, and to show the citizens of Panem what an awful thing the Hunger Games truly are. She places flowers all over Rue and sings her to death, she wants to "shame the [capitol], to make them accountable, to show the Capitol that whatever they do or force us to do is a part of every tribute they can't own." Here she is, in a way, pledging to continue carrying the fire, she will not let the Capitol break down her character.