Suzanne Collins, the author of Catching Fire, uses many literary devices in her Hunger Games series. One main literary device used is symbolism.

Katniss Everdeen, the main protagonist in the novels, is herself a symbol. Katniss is a symbol of rebellion and government defiance. When people of Panem watch the games at the end of The Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta plan to commit suicide together and end the games. When the games are stopped and two victors are declared, Katniss becomes the spark to rebellion.

Another symbol in this story is the Mockingjay pin Katniss wears. This pin represents many things. To Katniss, this pin represents her friend Rue. Rue and Katniss used mockingjays to communicate before Rue was killed. To the people of Panem, the mockingjay is a symbol of the rebellion against the Capitol, because it is associated with Katniss and she herself is a symbol of the rebellion.

A second type of literary device used in the story is an allusion. An allusion makes an indirect reference to something else. One allusion mentioned earlier is when Katniss and Peeta plan to commit suicide to end the games. This is an allusion to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Fortunately for Katniss and Peeta, the games are stopped before their plan can be executed.

A third type of literary device Collins uses is imagery. Through her descriptions of the games and of each district and each character, the reader can believe that these games, people, and places are real, even though they are fictional.

Suzanne Collins employs a wide variety of literary devices in Catching Fire, including symbolism, understatement, and allusion.

Symbolism

“The bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst into flames. I am the mockingjay. The one that survived despite the Capitol's plans. The symbol of the rebellion.”

Katniss' realization toward the end of the novel makes Collins' meaning concrete; Katniss and her mockingjay pin represent the rebellion against Panem.

When President Snow visits Katniss at her home in District 12 to pressure her against any action that would further ignite the revolution, he mentions her action with the berries fromThe Hunger Games.  To President Snow, the berries represent a lionizing act of defiance against the Capitol. 

Understatement

Understatement is a type of figurative language that the author uses to downplay the importance of a certain moment or situation, usually for comedic effect. 

“I guess this is a bad time to mention I hung a dummy and painted Seneca Crane's name on it...” 

Katniss downplays the severity of her actions; readers find this humorous as Effie Trinket is an uproar over Peeta's picture of Rue.

“I really can't think about kissing when I've got a rebellion to incite. ”

Katniss downplays her role in the rebellion by comparing it to kissing.

Allusion

“We star-crossed lovers of District 12, who suffered so much and enjoyed so little the rewards of our victory..."

Collins references Romeo and Juliet with "star-crossed lovers," and even though the people of Panem might not be aware of Shakespeare's famous phrase, the readers certainly are and make the connection between the characters, hoping that Catching Fire does not end as tragically.