Student Question
What signal do Katniss and Rue use to communicate their safety in The Hunger Games?
Quick answer:
Katniss and Rue use a four-note melody to communicate their safety. Rue originally uses this melody to signal workers in her district, and she teaches it to Katniss. They agree to use this mockingjay melody to signal that everything is okay. While the book does not specify the exact notes, the movie depicts Rue's melody as Db - F - Eb - Gb, and Katniss whistles a different sequence: G - Bb - A - D.
The portion of the book that your question is asking about can be found in chapter sixteen. Rue tells Katniss about the signal that she sends to the workers in her district. The signal is a four note melody that Rue sings, and the mockingjays repeat the melody all around the orchard. Rue teaches Katniss the four note mockingjay melody, and they agree to use the mockingjay four note sequence to signal that everything is okay.
The book does not explain what the four notes are, but the reader is under the impression that Katniss uses those exact notes. Interestingly, the movie has Katniss practice and use an entirely different four note signal from what Rue taught her. Also Katniss doesn't sing the notes like Rue does. Instead, Katniss whistles.
Rue's four note melody in the movie is Db - F - Eb - Gb.
The four note melody that Katniss whistles in the movie is G - Bb - A - D.
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