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

Background: Connecting The Hunger Games to the content

The act of storytelling has served as a means of communicating family history, providing entertainment, and educating future generations for centuries. This thread, connecting the past to the present and the future of human life, allows the narrator to take the simple act of storytelling and transform it into a powerful tool used to provide a clear interpretation of complex issues. Dianne Swenson Koehnecke states it best: storytelling is "heart to art," simply put. ⁸ Personal events come to life through oral, written, or other means of storytelling. Stories can take place anywhere; however, within the confines of the social studies classroom stories allow the teacher to provide students with a familiar context to engage in critical discussions about social issues, particularly those that shape American citizenship. ⁹ Renard B. Harris emphasizes that blending personal narratives with specific social studies content to tell stories within the social studies classroom helps validate students' civic identity as adults and can make the biggest difference in their lives. ¹⁰ Although storytelling is an age-old practice, it can be used to engage students using 21 ^st century techniques to place significance on their narratives and connection to civic education. ¹¹

"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." ¹² When John F. Kennedy made this statement at his 1961 inaugural address, it can be imagined that he did not envision adolescents fighting to the death at the behest of the federal government. Nonetheless, that is exactly what occurs in Collins' The Hunger Games. Collins uses the dysfunctional society of Panem, the country in The Hunger Games, to convey the challenges of democratic issues of power, citizenship, media influence, and politics. In order to teach this unit with the goal of crafting the ideal citizen, the educator must be knowledgeable about how these themes seamlessly connect. This section provides a transparent connection between the society of Panem and that of the United States, making it applicable to English and humanities courses.

Democratic Foundations

Although many of the events are extreme in regard to current American political practices, several components of The Hunger Games correlate with the concepts that are taught in Virginia 8 ^th grade civics and economics courses. This piece of literature connects to fundamental principles of limited government, rule of law, and representative government. These principles are at the core of American constitutional government and are applied to every American citizen. Regardless of a person's economic, political, or social standing, all citizens are held to the same standards of law and bestowed equal rights and liberties. The government may not enforce a national religion, have selective law enforcement practices, or take away an individual's right to participate in the political process. However, America is not perfect; the authority of these principles has been tested throughout its history: For instance, Jim Crow segregation, bank bail-outs, and most recently the Trayvon Martin case. For example, although America has laws and policies in place to protect its citizens the application of these laws changes as society and government changes. These lowly times have made America aware of weaknesses and areas of growth to expand its democratic beliefs.

However, in the society of Panem the enforcement of such principles varies from district to district and among social classes. Those that are in positions of power or wealth share forms of representative government. Given this, ideas of limited government and rule of law are restricted. In Panem political leaders or the economic elite are superior to those who are less fortunate. The Capitol enforces unlimited authority over the districts' participation and selection method of the games. The Capitol uses games as a reminder and form of punishment for the Dark Days, or uprisings, of the district many years ago. Districts have no say on any element of the game, other than to sacrifice themselves for someone else as Tribute, or a replacement contestant. ¹³ All children between the ages twelve and eighteen must participate in the Reaping. This is the Tribute selection event, and all children of eligible age must have their names entered once for each year they are eligible. However, those in financial need may enter their names multiple times to increase their food supply. This places destitute citizens at a greater risk to be forced into a violent battle to the death.

The Ideal Citizen

In addition, Collins incorporates how the community views influences how civic and social duties address community needs and character traits that facilitate effective citizenship. As United States citizens, individuals are bestowed certain social and civic duties that aid in maintaining civility. Serving in the armed forces, obeying laws, or appearing in court are some examples of how American citizens contribute to the common good. The office of the President can be viewed as the position of top citizen. This individual conducts him- or herself in a manner that is viewed to be honorable and establishes a blueprint to follow and look up to as an outline of being a good citizen. The backgrounds and character traits of these individuals have varied, meaning that the definition of a good citizen has also changed over time.

In Panem citizens are required to pay a much higher cost for citizenship. Each one of the twelve districts must offer one male and one female youth to fight for their lives in games. ¹⁴ This civic duty is not taken lightly or desirably. The end result is tragic for the majority of the Tributes. The sole survivor not only receives praise and bounty for him/her and family but also extra food rations, or tesseras, for his/her district. ¹⁵

Katniss Everdeen is the major character in The Hunger Games. Immediately, the reader is made aware of her heavy responsibilities: responsibilities as the financial bread winner and maternal matriarch of her family. These roles and responsibilities within her household shape her identity as a citizen. Katniss' hunting and gathering skills which provide for her family, the ceremonial respect she bestows to Rue after she is killed, her selfless act of taking the place of her sister, Primrose, as Tribute, all illustrate her honorable civic traits, her allegiance to uphold social and civic duties, and her contribution to the common good.

The Role of the Media

The media plays an essential role in the American political system as it does in The Hunger Games. In the American political system the media is used to draw attention to targeted issues, spread propaganda, hold elected officials accountable, and broadcast different point of views. Within the environment of Panem the media is vital in communicating the Capitol's power and control over the twelve districts. The Capitol broadcast interviews in which the Tributes are dressed in glamorous apparel to give an acceptable view of the games. They also broadcast edited streaming of the games and replay commercials of the key game moments. This media intoxication serves as a means to acquire financial sponsors for the Tributes and spread propaganda that the games are fun and entertaining, when in reality they are barbaric and gruesome.

As taboo as this may seem, the United States is guilty of similar behavior. Candidates dress in charming attire, conduct interviews, and broadcast bias commercials to gain votes and financial support, which places them in a better position to win the office for which they are running for. Similar to the Capitol and media in Panem, the United States government and the media are often intermingled, working together to communicate strategic messages.

Role of the Government and Economic Concepts

In Panem the Capitol controls who has and who has not. This form of control and power through the management of wealth establishes a clear view of the type of government and economic system that is in place in Panem. Due to this level of government control, Panem can be viewed as a command economy where goods and wealth are managed by the central government. The character Rue was from District 11, the agricultural district. District 11's specialty was producing crops and livestock. Given that natural food resources were her district's specialty, it would be assumed that Rue would have plentiful access to fruits, vegetables, and meats. However, that was not so. Rue explained that anyone found taking food would be harshly punished. ¹⁶

In America's economic system the people have sovereign authority over their economic means and resources. In the United States citizens have "certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," meaning that individuals have the authority to choose their career path, where they wish to live, and when, where, and what they want to eat. With strong elements of a free market economy overlaid with mixed economy components, the United States, unlike the Capitol, derives its power from the people. Both of these societies experience forms of scarcity, supply and demand, and varying forms of resources.