In The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins uses a variety of literary devices, including symbolism, imagery, paradox, and irony, to convey her primary themes of power, survival, the resilience of human nature, propaganda, and cruelty. Let's look at some examples.

Symbolism is strong in this novel. We might point to snakes that symbolize the danger that comes from the desire for power or the quest for survival. Roses represent the resilience of human nature and the desire to present a particular image to the world. Coriolanus's mother's compact indicates the connections he is trying to hold onto but eventually symbolizes his descent into corruption when he gives it to Lucy Gray as a container for rat poison (a cruel device that helps her win the Hunger Games dishonestly). Mockingjays are the symbol of resistance for many people, while Panem's Anthem is a representative of propaganda.

Collins also employs imagery when she describes Coriolanus's poverty and when she details the horrors of the Hunger Games. The vividness of her language brings her themes to life as we see the reasons behind Coriolanus's struggle for power and the tributes' struggle for survival.

Finally, there is paradox in this story. Lucy Gray from District 12 apparently has no chance of winning the Hunger Games, but she does. Of course, ironically, she must cheat to do so, with the help of Coriolanus.