Dystopian NovelsMr. Deitz11th Grade Honors EnglishStandards: CC.1.3.9-10.H

Novels that follow DystopiasFirst, click the links that lead to the background information on Utopias and Dystopias. After viewing both, click on a novel to learn some information on it. When finished with everything, please press the ? Button.

Dystopias

Background Knowledge: Utopias

• A utopia is a community or society with highly desirable or near perfect qualities.

• Derives from Sir Thomas More’s 1516 book Utopia.

• Karl Marx’s 1848 novel The Communist Manifesto created a type of government that followed utopian characteristics. (Later coined Marxism due to failure in Communism)

• Comes from the English word “eutopia”, which comes from the Greek phrase “good-place”.

Karl Marx

Background Knowledge: Utopias (continued)

• Requires everyone to be equal in the society.

• Usually secluded from other societies.

• Usually fails and turns into a dystopia.

Background Knowledge: Dystopias

• Comes from the Greek words literally meaning “not-good bad-place”.

• Results from a failure of a perfect society.

• No one is truly equal.

• Usually leads to an overthrow in government or rebellion.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Why a utopia?

• Farmer was abusive and forgot to feed animals.

• Animals were worked to much for little.

• Proposed that everyone would run the farm together where they would only need to work enough to keep the farm operating and they would be fed pleasantly.

What led to a dystopia?

• Pigs stepped into a leadership role, worse than the farmer.

• Pigs lived a life of luxury where they ate plenty, never worked, and made profit from the farm.

• Animals worked long, hard days and were fed rations or none at all.

• Anyone who voiced out was chased away from the farm.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Why a utopia?

• Societies were suffering from disaster.

• They made societies that removed memories of famine, war, etc. to keep order and prosper.

What led to dystopia?

• Awful “releasing” of people who ruin societal function.

• Removed the memories that you would want to know (Christmas, etc.)

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Why a utopia?

• United States have fallen, and different cities, specifically Chicago, are made to create a new world.

• Wanted to make a society that wouldn’t “crumble on itself”.

What led to a dystopia?

• There is turmoil for those who are factionless and live on the streets.

• Different factions have different roles in society leading to dispute.

• One faction believes it is best and begins to overthrow the government and start anew as the superiors.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Why a utopia?

• The North American continent fought and led to complete destruction.

• A new society arose from the rubble and wanted equality.

What led to dystopia?

• A rebellion occurred that led to The Capitol’s endorsement of The Hunger Games.

• Certain districts live in famine where people perish from starvation.

• A boy and a girl from each of the 12 districts must compete in a death match where the winner receives nourishment by food for life.

• The Hunger Games is used to show The Capitol causes fear in the districts, and keeps them from starting a rebellion.

1984 by George Orwell

Why a utopia?

• After an atomic war, the land of Oceania (mainly everywhere other than Asia) rose to keep a society of equality.

What led to a dystopia?

• The government watches societies every move.

• If laws are disobeyed, it leads to severe reinforcement or death (usually hanging).

• You are not allowed to think or express what you do not like about the government

Common Phrases

• “Big Brother is always watching.”

• “Room 101”

• “2+2=5”

What is a common idea between these novels that leads to them being considered dystopian novels?

a. Equality is consistent.

b. The societies are scouring for food.

c. The government breaks the basic ideals of utopias.

You pressed: Equality is consistent

In all of the novels, equality is broken which leads to a dystopia.

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You pressed: The societies are scouring for food

Only in The Hunger Games and Animal Farm are the whole society fighting for food.

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You pressed: The government breaks the basic ideals for a utopia.

Correct! In order for the societies the be considered “dystopian”, they must break the basic ideals for a utopia, which is equality, fairness, etc.

Please press the information button to proceed to the next question.

Who was first to use the term “utopia”?

a. Karl Marx

b. Sir Thomas More

c. George Orwell

You pressed: Karl Marx

• Karl Marx is the author of The Communist Manifesto. This novel was created in 1848, over 300 years after the invention of a utopia.

• Please press the button to try again.

You pressed: Sir Thomas More

• Correct! Sir Thomas More wrote the novel Utopia in 1516. This was the first time the word was used in literature.

• Congratulations! You finished the assignment. Please press the home button to reset the assignment for the next student.

You pressed: George Orwell

• George Orwell was an author of the 20th century, writing two dystopian novels we will be reading this year. He was born over 400 years before the invention of a utopia.

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