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"I know Chaff by sight cause I've spent years watching him pass a bottle back and forth with Haymitch on television."
Katniss Everdeen about Chaff[src]

Chaff was the male tribute for District 11 who participated in the 75th Hunger Games and was the victor of the 45th Hunger Games.[1]

Biography[]

Chaff won the 45th Hunger Games between the ages of 15 and 18, but lost a hand in the process. Katniss Everdeen speculated that he may have refused a prosthesis from Capitol doctors.[1] Following his victory, he turned to alcohol to cope with his trauma, and became friends and drinking buddies with Haymitch Abernathy.[2][1]

75th Hunger Games[]

Being a previous victor, Chaff was reaped for the 75th Hunger Games (3rd Quarter Quell)[2]. Along with Beetee, Wiress, FinnickMags, Johanna, Seeder, Woof, CeceliaBlight and the Morphlings, Chaff was part of the rebellion and was instructed by Haymitch Abernathy to try his best to find Katniss and Peeta and to make sure they both lived after they were reaped during the 75th Hunger Games, a Quarter Quell. He was one of the few tributes who knew about the plan to get Katniss out of the arena, to District 13.[4]

Chaff's chariot costume

Chaff's chariot costume

Training[]

After the Tribute Parade, Chaff and Seeder rode back to the Training Center when all the other tributes had gotten together. After being introduced by Haymitch, Chaff gave Katniss a kiss on her lips which surprised her, causing her to push him away. Chaff and Haymitch laughed at her reaction.[1] They were good friends and seemingly both alcoholics.

During training, Chaff and Peeta became close and talked quite often during training. They both were shown training together with Brutus at the spear throwing station, and had lunch together.[3]

Chaff's suit from his interview with Caesar

Chaff's suit from his interview with Caesar

Interview[]

During Chaff's interview with Caesar Flickerman he stated that President Snow could change the Quell if he wanted to but wouldn't because he thinks it doesn't matter to anyone[5]. After all the interviews were finished, Chaff along with the other victors joined hands as an act of solidarity, which Snow took as an act of outright rebellion. He and Katniss were the first to join hands at the interviews, suggesting he was one of the more rebellious victors.[6]

Cornucopia bloodbath[]

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Finnick Odair (left), District 9 Female (middle) and Chaff (right) on their metal plates.

Chaff survived the initial Cornucopia bloodbath[7], he stood on the pedestal on the right of the District 9 female. Although Seeder, his district partner, was killed, he managed to escape into the jungle to hide[7].

The Games[]

Chaff was not seen much during the Games, most likely seeking Katniss as it was his mission to protect and rescue her so she could help the rebels defeat the Capitol. Unfortunately, he could not locate her or Peeta until near the end of the Games.

Death[]

ChaffDeathPortrait

Chaff's death portrait.

Chaff was able to make it to the top 8. Later on in the games, he finally meets up with Peeta, only to be killed by Brutus moments later. Shortly after, Peeta avenged Chaff's death by killing Brutus.[8] Chaff placed 8th out of 24, meaning he was one of the last tributes to die. This was unfortunate because with the right survival instincts, he and the other victors could have lived long enough for Katniss to blow up the force field and live.

Physical description[]

"He's dark-skinned, about two meters tall, and one of his arms ends in a stump because he lost his hand in the Games he won thirty years ago."
—Katniss about Chaff[src]

Chaff was at least six feet tall, probably as tall as Thresh, with dark skin, and had an arm that ended with a stump because he lost his hand in the 45th Hunger Games. He and Haymitch were friends, as they both turned to drinking after they won their Games.[1] During the reaping recaps, Effie Trinket commented that "Chaff never could stay out of a fight", implying that may have volunteered as tribute[2]. Chaff was in his mid to late forties when he died. He was killed at the very end of the 75th Hunger Games by Brutus at the free-for-all just minutes before Katniss Everdeen destroyed the force field surrounding the Arena.[8]

Personality[]

Chaff seemed to be a troublemaker, as Effie implied when she said he "never could stay out of a fight".[2] Chaff loved to laugh and was one of Haymitch's close friends[2], whom he drank with. Chaff joked by kissing Katniss on her lips and laughing with Haymitch at her reaction[1]. However, he did have a soft side, shown when he was friendly and kind to Katniss and Peeta during the training sessions[3], as well as when he backed Seeder up during her interview, and when he joined hands with the other Victors at the end of the interviews without hesitation, unlike Enobaria and Gloss[6].

Etymology[]

"Chaff" is a word for the outer hull of grain that is often removed during the refining process.

Trivia[]

  • In the film, Chaff's face is shown in the sky on the second day even though in the book he was killed by Brutus on the third day[9].
  • In the film, Chaff has a scar along his left cheek[9].

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Catching Fire, Chapter 15
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Catching Fire, Chapter 14
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Catching Fire, Chapter 16
  4. Catching Fire, Chapter 27
  5. Catching Fire, Chapter 17
  6. 6.0 6.1 Catching Fire, Chapter 18
  7. 7.0 7.1 Catching Fire, Chapter 20
  8. 8.0 8.1 Mockingjay, Chapter 2
  9. 9.0 9.1 Catching Fire
The Hunger Games trilogy
Novels The Hunger GamesCatching FireMockingjay
Main Characters Katniss EverdeenPeeta MellarkGale HawthorneHaymitch AbernathyEffie Trinket
Supporting Characters Primrose EverdeenPresident SnowCinnaMrs. EverdeenMr. EverdeenPresident CoinClaudius TemplesmithCaesar FlickermanMadge UnderseePaylorPlutarch HeavensbeeSeneca Crane
Tributes MarvelGlimmerCatoCloveFoxfaceThreshRueMaysilee DonnerTitus
Past Victors Augustus BraunAnnie CrestaBeetee LatierBlightBrutusCashmereCeceliaChaffEnobariaFinnick OdairGlossJohanna MasonLymeMags FlanaganMorphlingsPorter Millicent TrippSeederWiressWoof
Groups RebellionGamemakersPrep teamTributesVictors
Locations PanemThe CapitolDistrict 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8District 9District 10District 11District 12District 13
Behind the Scenes Suzanne CollinsGary RossFrancis Lawrence
Films The Hunger Games (film)Catching Fire (film)Mockingjay - Part 1Mockingjay - Part 2
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