Rue

Rue was the 12-year-old female tribute from District 11 who was selected to participate in the 74th Hunger Games^[3]. Rue formed an alliance with Katniss Everdeen^[1] after warning her about a nest of tracker jackers^[5][6]. Rue decided to trust Katniss partly because of the pin she wore over her heart: the famous mockingjay pin^[2]. Katniss avenged Rue when Marvel killed her. As a memorial to Rue's death, Katniss covered her in flowers and sang to her until she died, indicating to the Capitol that Rue was not just a piece in their Games.^[7]

Quick Answers

What led Rue to form an alliance with Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games?

Rue, a tribute from District 11 in the Hunger Games, allied with Katniss Everdeen due to their mutual will to survive. Trust was established when Rue saw Katniss's mockingjay pin, a symbol that reminded her of home. Their similarities further solidified the alliance. Katniss's care for Rue while she was incapacitated from tracker jacker venom also reinforced their bond. The alliance was a survival strategy common in the Hunger Games.

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What is the significance of the mockingjay pin that Katniss wore in the Hunger Games?

Katniss Everdeen's mockingjay pin, a gift from Madge Undersee, served as her tribute token in the 74th and 75th Hunger Games. The pin evolved into a symbol of rebellion against the Capitol and an emblem of Katniss. It also reminded her of her father and Rue. However, many in the Capitol saw it merely as a fashion accessory.

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How did Katniss Everdeen react to Rue's death in the Hunger Games?

Rue's death in the Hunger Games had a profound impact on Katniss Everdeen. It served as a driving force for her to continue her fight. She pledged to win for Rue, a promise she held above her commitment to win for Prim. In a rebellious act against the Capitol, Katniss adorned Rue's body with flowers and performed the District 12 farewell gesture. Rue's memory persisted with Katniss, who memorialized her in a book of loved ones lost to the Capitol's tyranny.

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Who was responsible for Rue's death in the Hunger Games?

Rue, a tribute in the Hunger Games, was killed by Marvel. Despite being fatally injured, Rue was comforted by Katniss Everdeen, who adorned her body with wildflowers and sang to her as an act of defiance against the Capitol.

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What was Rue's age when she was selected for the 74th Hunger Games?

Rue, the female tribute from District 11, was chosen for the 74th Hunger Games when she was 12 years old. Despite being the youngest and having the lowest odds, she was the only 12-year-old to survive the initial stages of the Games.

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Biography

Early life

Rue lived in District 11 prior to the 74th Hunger Games. She was the eldest child in her family^[2], with five younger siblings^[8]. She worked from sunrise to sunset in the orchards in District 11, alongside the other citizens of her district^[1]. Despite her size, she was able to jump from tree to tree in the orchards, even on the most slender branches^[9]. She could scale the tallest trees in District 11, allowing her to see the flag that signaled quitting time, after which she would sing her four-note song. The tune would be picked up by the mockingjays in the area, which would spread the message through the orchards that the working day was over. Rue claimed that these mockingjays were her special friends.^[2]

Reaping

Rue was chosen during the reaping at the age of 12 for the 74th Hunger Games along with Thresh, District 11's male tribute. When Rue was chosen, her district escort asked if anyone would like to volunteer in Rue's place, but the district answered with silence, and the only sound that could be heard was the wind. Katniss was deeply disturbed by this, as she was the same age and size as Primrose, her sister.^[3]

Training and Interview

Rue and her tribute partner dressed up as a farmer to represent their district's industry, agriculture, for the tribute parade. During the training sessions in the film, Rue showed her swift and silent abilities by swiping Cato's knife while he wasn't looking. This caused him to attack another tribute, much to the amusement of her district partner, Thresh^[10].

While all the tributes were training, Rue observed them closely to see their strengths and weaknesses—placing a special focus on Katniss and Peeta. When Peeta informed Katniss that they had "a shadow", Rue peeked out from behind a corner, and Katniss and Peeta smiled at her in response.^[11] She managed to get a seven out of twelve in her private session with the Gamemakers^[12]. It is likely she showed them her skill to move about swiftly and unnoticed^[6], although this belief was never confirmed.

During her interview with Caesar Flickerman, she told him not to count her out because of her speed. Caesar replied by saying he wouldn't count her out in a million years. He then concluded Rue's interview.^[13]

The Games

In the arena, Rue managed to stay alive^[14] by staying off the ground^[1], much like Katniss did^[14]. She used her extensive knowledge of plants^[11] to collect food. She also retrieved a backpack from the Cornucopia in the beginning of the Games, but it contained little because she "had to get away from the Cornucopia fast" and she likely retrieved it at the edge of the clearing^[1]. She found a sharp shard of rock she used as a knife. She made a slingshot for herself as well. Rue's pack contained a small water skin and an extra pair of socks she used to keep her hands warm during the cold nights. Her following of Katniss in the Training Center continued in the arena. It is implied that she had followed Katniss even before the tracker jacker incident.^[1]

After the forest fire (in which many of the tributes, including Rue and Katniss, suffered burns^[5]) Rue climbed a tree to avoid the approaching Career pack. Noticing Katniss nearby, she alerted her to a tracker jacker nest on a higher branch.^[5] In the morning, Katniss alerted Rue that she was about to drop the nest; Rue nodded and leapt out of range^[6].

After the tracker jacker attack, Rue continued to follow Katniss. While Katniss attempted to make a fire, she heard a branch crack, realizing it to be Rue after seeing her boot sticking out from behind the tree. She tells Rue the Careers weren't the only ones who could make an alliance. Rue emerged and offered to heal Katniss's tracker jacker wounds with leaves. Relieved, Katniss offered Rue treatment for her burns in exchange, as well as the leg of a groosling she had hunted. Katniss and Rue then discussed their life in their district. After the conversation, Rue explained about the Careers' camp and the strategy they had for protecting food and supplies, giving Katniss the idea of destroying their supplies.^[1]

Death

Rue said she trusted Katniss when she saw that Katniss was wearing a mockingjay pin. She then proceeded to help Katniss with her plan to rid the Careers of their food: Rue would light three fires to distract the Careers away from the campsite while Katniss destroyed the supplies. Rue managed to light the first fire^[2], but soon after the second fire was lit, she stumbled into a trap set up by Marvel, who speared her through the stomach just before Katniss reached her^[15]. In the movie, Katniss was able to cut her free before Marvel attacked^[10].

After Katniss killed Marvel, Rue's dying wish was for Katniss to sing to her. Katniss honored her wish and sang a lullaby until she died. The mockingjays soon picked up Katniss's song and sang it through the entire arena.^[7]. Furious with the Capitol for allowing an innocent child to die, Katniss covered Rue's body with beautiful white flowers. Before she left, she made District 12's gesture of farewell to Rue.^[7] After Rue died in the film, an uprising began in District 11, where the citizens rebelled to avenge her death^[10]. Rue placed 7th out of the 24 tributes.

Legacy

District 11 sent Katniss a loaf of bread as a sponsor gift to show their appreciation.^[7] Later, during the feast, Katniss was pinned down by District 2 female Clove, who gloated about her failure to prevent Rue's death. Overhearing this, an enraged Thresh grabbed Clove and killed her by cracking her skull, despite her truthfully denying involvement with Rue's death. In gratitude for her alliance with Rue, Thresh spares Katniss.^[17]

Wolf mutts made to resemble the fallen tributes were unleashed on the seventeenth day of the Games. Katniss was upset when she recognized the one that resembled Rue; it was the smallest in the pack, with dark, glossy fur, huge brown eyes, and a collar with the number 11 in woven straw.^[18]

When the Capitol showed Katniss and Peeta a video of the 74th Hunger Games after it ended, they did not show the part where Katniss covered her body in flowers, as the filmmakers thought it hinted at rebellion^[19].

During Katniss and Peeta's Victory Tour, Katniss thanked Rue for everything she had done for her. Katniss said that she felt Rue was still with her and that everything beautiful brought Rue to mind. Katniss then thanked District 11 for their tributes, Rue and Thresh, telling Thresh's family how much she admired him.^[8]

Later, when asked by the Gamemakers to show his skill for the 75th Hunger Games, Peeta painted Rue covered with flowers on the floor, earning a 12 from the Gamemakers^[20] and further fueling the rebellion^[8].

Afterward, Katniss told Peeta about her only "good" dream since the Games, explaining how she followed Rue as a mockingjay, singing and "talking". When Peeta asked where Rue was taking her, Katniss replied that "they never arrived, but they felt happy".^[21]

In the arena, Katniss remembered Rue's vast knowledge about plants and realized that a distinct disadvantage of being a District 12 tribute was that unlike other tributes, they didn't get to learn skills specific to their district before turning 18^[22]. After watching Haymitch fail to save Maysilee Donner on a tape of the 50th Hunger Games, Katniss remembered how she was also "too late to save Rue"^[23].

After the Games were terminated, Katniss compiled a memory book about all the people who died because of the Hunger Games, including Rue^[24].

Physical description

Being the youngest of the tributes at the age of 12, Rue was naturally the smallest - but this still gave her a massive advantage for being light on her feet and agile. Suzanne Collins has stated that Rue is African-American,^[25] with thick dark hair, dark satiny brown skin and "golden eyes."

She always stood leaning forward, on her toes, with both arms slightly extended as though she was about to take off flying^[11]. This is how Prim, Katniss' sister, also stood, which brings back memories of Rue whenever Katniss sees her own sister^[9]. This stance made her look like a bird, ready to take flight^[11][9]. Her swift and almost invisible movements through the treetops added to the bird-like description^[5][6]. Rue says that what she enjoys most in life is music, something which greatly confuses Katniss when she considers the hardship Rue has endured on the fields in District 11^[2]. She is described as 4' 8."

Rue's pre-Games interview costume was a sheer dress with shimmering gossamer wings^[13].

Family

Rue was the eldest of six children^[2]. She had five younger siblings, all living in poverty in District 11^[8].

She usually gave her food rations to her younger siblings, and foraged in the fields to provide more food for them^[2]. District 11 has very strict laws^[1] and Rue could be punished for helping her family in this way. During the Victory Tour, Katniss saw Rue's family, noting that her siblings greatly resembled Rue^[8]. Her parents were also seen weeping. After a man was shot in the crowd, Katniss heard two more shots, which could possibly mean someone in the family was killed or wounded^[26]. However, at the Quarter Quell, Seeder assured Katniss that Rue's family was safe^[27].

Relationships

Katniss Everdeen

Rue reminded Katniss of her sister, Prim^[3][11][1]. Like Prim^[9], Rue sometimes stood on her toes with her arms slightly extended^[11]. Katniss described her as "birdlike"^[11] and after the Games, she could barely look at Prim without noticing Rue in her and being reminded of her death^[9]. Small, quick, intelligent, and young, the two had many similarities^[3], which led Katniss to make Rue her ally^[1]. Soon after Katniss asked Rue for an alliance, Rue agreed^[1], saying she had already made the decision to trust Katniss because of her mockingjay pin^[2]. Katniss also realized she could trust Rue because Rue watched over her while she was unconscious from the tracker jacker venom^[1].

Rue and Katniss had a loving relationship. Rue told Katniss everything about her, like how her favorite thing in the world was music. Katniss felt empathy and pity for her,^[2] especially since she had been forced into the arena at such a young age^[3]. Katniss demonstrated her love for Rue by crying and mourning her death, then covering her body in flowers to show that she was "more than just a piece in their Games"^[7].

Rue and her bonded the night Katniss awakened from her tracker jacker injuries. Rue received a groosling leg from Katniss after she refused the first few times.^[1] Katniss and Rue discussed their life and district with each other. Rue told Katniss about the Careers' camp to help with her plan to destroy their supplies.^[1][2] Being the smaller of the two, Rue was in charge of setting three fires to distract the Careers as Katniss approached their camp. To communicate, Rue would sing her four-note melody to let Katniss know that all was going well. However, soon after the second fire was lit, Rue stumbled into a trap set up by Marvel, who stabbed her through the abdomen with his spear while Katniss ran to save her^[15]. After dispatching Marvel, Rue begged Katniss to win and to sing to her as she died. As an act of defiance and a way to honor Rue's death, Katniss covered Rue's corpse with brightly colored flowers and gave her District 12's farewell gesture.^[7]

Thresh

Thresh liked Rue and took pity on her since she was so young, feeling that she did not deserve to be forced into the Games. Thresh was infuriated and saddened by her death^[17]. During training in the film, when Rue stole Cato's knife, Thresh looked up and smiled at Rue^[10].

Later, at the feast, Thresh overheard Clove taunting Katniss about Rue and taking credit for her death. Enraged, Thresh pushed Clove off Katniss and held her above the ground by her throat, yelling accusations at her. Terrified, Clove insisted she didn't kill Rue (this is true, as it was Marvel who killed her^[15][7]), but Thresh didn't believe her and crushed her skull with a large rock, avenging Rue's death. Due to Katniss' alliance with Rue, Thresh spared her life, suggesting that he cared for her.^[17]

Personality and traits

Rue had a gentle and kind nature. Her greatest joy in life was music, and she loved singing with the mockingjays at home. The mockingjays liked her and were used to her; a few were even her special friends because she was the one who sang a four-note melody that signaled the end of a work day out in the fields.^[2]

While in the arena, Rue showed excitement at the prospect of adventure - one character trait that Katniss noted differed her from Prim^[2]. Rue was clever and quite observant of her surroundings, noticing every piece of information she saw when spying on the Careers^[1][2].

Being the eldest child in her family, Rue was a caretaker and always made sure her younger siblings were tended to^[2]. Similarly, she helped heal Katniss in the arena and willingly shared her supplies and knowledge^[1][2]. Once allied with Katniss, Rue put a great deal of trust in her, falling asleep quickly that night and agreeing to Katniss's schemes^[2].

Skills

Rue had a talent for singing; her greatest joy was music. During work she would sing to the mockingjays and they would sing back. She was also able to whistle a four note song which had meaning in her district that the day of work was over.^[2]

Exceptionally talented at climbing, she could silently jump from one tree to another without being noticed; Katniss compared her skill to that of the birds^[6]. Rue was able to stalk and track Katniss and other tributes during the Games to gain information and no one picked up that they were being followed or watched by her^[1]. Also, she climbed to the top of the rafters during training after stealing a knife from Cato in the film^[10].

Rue was also intelligent. She was able to survive by herself before she formed her alliance with Katniss.^[14] She survived mostly on roots and berries that she found and discovered could be eaten. She was expected to have survived by staying off the ground and hiding in trees, giving her a significant advantage as most of the other tributes were unable to climb. Rue was very observant as well, picking up every small and important detail about the Careers' camp and some useful information about other tributes.^[1]

Rue was very talented with a slingshot^[11].

Possessions

Rue's tribute token was a grass necklace with a wooden star, used as a good luck charm in the Games^[2]. She received a water skin and an extra pair of socks from the Cornucopia that she used to keep her hands warm. She also made herself a slingshot, which seemed to be of good quality, and a knife that she made from a sharp shard of rock.^[1]

Etymology

Rue is named after a small mountain flower called ruta graveolens. Considering the flower is also known as "herb-of-grace", it may explain Rue's delicate touch and gentleness.

Trivia

• Rue received her name from a small mountain flower (Ruta graveolens), just as Katniss received her name from a waterside plant, and Prim received her name from a bush (Primrose bush). Symbolically, both Ruta graveolens and primrose blossoms close at night.
• 'Rue' is also a word meaning repentance or regret.
• There was some backlash from the public at the casting of Amandla Stenberg, an African American actress, when it was first announced, but Stenberg merely responded that she was glad to be a part of the film.
• In the promotional posters, almost every character is looking left, with the exception of Katniss (who is looking right) and Rue (who faces left but is looking down).
• Rue foraged for food in the meadows before the Games^[2], which is a very serious offense in District 11^[1].
• If Katniss had not volunteered for her sister, Prim, there would have been at least two 12-year-old girls participating in the 74th Hunger Games from the poorer districts.
• She was the shortest female tribute in her Games.
• In the film, she received the lowest number of odds to win the games, 60–1, possibly due to her height.
• Her odds of winning are shown to change from 60–1 to 7–1 in the film.
• Rue received a training score of 7, which was a very high score for her age and size^[12].
• At the start of the Games, Rue runs away from the Cornucopia, as she tells Katniss while looking at Rue's supplies^[1].
• Rue was the only 12 year old in the 74th Hunger Games that survived after the bloodbath, despite being the tribute with the lowest odds.
• Rue trusted Katniss because of her mockingjay pin^[2].
• In the book, Rue is the one to show Katniss the mockingjay signal^[2], but in the film, it is Katniss that shows Rue^[10].
• Rue reminds Katniss of Prim^[3][11][1]. Both Rue's and Prim's deaths heavily affected Katniss^[7][17][28].
• Rue's cannon is never heard in the film.
• Rue survived for 9 days in the book and for 6 days in the film.
• Rue, Thresh and Marvel are the only named deceased tributes from The Hunger Games film to appear in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
• In a deleted scene from the film, Rue confesses to Katniss that she has a crush on a boy in her district.

References