Storytelling: Fictional Narratives, Imaginary People, and the Reader's Real Life

Rationale

Abraham Lincoln made this statement: "A house divided against itself cannot stand." During his time—Civil War—the United States could not have been more divided. Although the framers of the United States Constitution established a government system rooted in democratic principles, throughout history there have been challenges that have shaken those ideals. Would historians refer to the American Revolution, the Civil War, the World Wars, the aftermath of September 11, 2001, or the current economic crisis as situations of dystopia that have threatened the validity of our democratic foundations? I would say to some level, yes. Samantha Moya defines dystopia as "dominated by bleakness and roboticism, a totalitarian government enforcing upon the people a lifestyle that lulls them into a state of obedience." ⁴ Elements of this definition can be seen during each period of American adversity mentioned above. Each one of these historical events through government control either casted a negative shadow on the nation or manipulated citizens into submission. For example, the American Revolution and the Civil War were wars of internal or domestic disobedience, only called into called into government control through force. For this reason, using the text The Hunger Games to teach principles of civic responsibility and governmental principles provides students with an opportunity to reflect and analyze America's government system and provide feedback for improvement.

The United States is not the only country that has experienced times of human misery. During the Holocaust, Nazis executed millions, either because they were deemed defective or hazardous, similar to the behavior of early Americans' treatment towards African Americans. These times of difficulty and complexity have offered opportunities for citizens to overcome trials and tribulations, redefine civic responsibilities, hold the nation accountable, and rejuvenate the spirit of democracy. ⁵ For these reasons, The Hunger Games is an appropriate tool for teaching about the role American citizens' play in society and in the political arena, and for establishing the components of a well-defined citizen.

Through experience, I know that many students within urban education systems struggle with comprehending civic and economic content and applying that knowledge. Many spend little to no time reading outside of the classroom for either content growth or leisure. As a history/political science major for my undergraduate studies, I am given pause when my students express no need for civics, economics, or reading. Margit McGuire states it best: "The long-term goal of socials studies education is to produce young people to become citizens in a democratic society." ⁶ Specifically, it is my intent to use The Hunger Games, a contemporary work of literature, to grab students' interest while they learn applicable civics and economics skills and content knowledge. Collins does a commendable job of exposing the reader to the vulnerability of democratic values through themes of power, citizenship, media influence, and politics. The use of civic and political storytelling to illustrate these significant American concepts and social norms prevents the knowledge gained from becoming stagnant. Students are then able to take the knowledge gained and pass it from generation to generation. ⁷ Considering the political implications of this novel, it is a fitting selection for students to examine the different dynamics and tiers to American constitutional government.