Famous texts
In Veronica Roth’s 2011 novel, sixteen-year-olds choose one of five factions, and Tris chooses Dauntless. (also a movie)
Divergent
This character’s act of defiance turns her into a symbol of resistance against an oppressive government. This character is the protagonist.
Katniss Everdeen
The opposite of a dystopia: an imagined perfect society.
Utopia
When an object, colour or character represents a larger idea, such as the mockingjay pin standing for rebellion.
Symbolism
Once a year, children are chosen by lottery to take part in the Hunger Games. What is this event called, and how does it show that the government is in control?
In James Dashner’s 2009 novel, Thomas arrives in a lift with no memory and finds himself in a Glade surrounded by a deadly maze. (adapted into a movie)
The Maze Runner
This wealthy city lives in luxury and excess while the districts it rules go hungry.
The Capitol
In this type of government, the state controls almost every part of public and private life.
Totalitarian
An early hint, such as a warning or ominous detail, that suggests what will happen later in the story.
Foreshadowing
Everyone in Panem must watch the Games on television. What does this show about how the Capitol treats people’s lives?
In Scott Westerfeld’s 2005 novel, everyone is turned “pretty” by a compulsory operation at sixteen. (adapted into a movie)
Uglies
This ruler of Panem keeps absolute power through fear, propaganda and violence.
President Snow
Biased or misleading information spread by a government to shape what people believe.
Propaganda
Suzanne Collins contrasts the grey, coal-dusted streets of District 12 with the bright, colourful, extravagant look of the Capitol, using descriptive language that appeals to the senses. This technique creates those pictures in the reader’s mind
Imagery
People in District 12 struggle to find enough food, while the Capitol holds lavish feasts. What dystopian feature does this show?
This George Orwell novel, published in 1949, gives us Big Brother and the Thought Police.
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
The government uses this televised event, in which children fight to the death, to keep the districts afraid and obedient.
The Hunger Games
Cameras, telescreens and tracking devices let rulers do this to citizens at all times.
Surveillance
Suzanne Collins tells the story through Katniss, using “I” so readers experience the Games through her thoughts, fears and choices. This is the narrative point of view.
First Person narrative
Peacekeepers enforce the Capitol’s laws and punish people who break the rules, such as hunting illegally. How does this show oppression?
In this Ray Bradbury novel, firemen don't put out fires. They burn books.
Fahrenheit 451
In this poor coal-mining district, Peacekeepers enforce the Capitol’s laws and families struggle to find enough food.
District 12
In dystopian societies, those in power treat people unjustly and cruelly, keeping them under control by denying their rights and freedoms. This is the name for it.
Oppression
The novel is told as events happen, in this tense, which adds urgency and makes readers feel they don’t know whether Katniss will survive.
Present tense
At the end of the 74th Games, Katniss and Peeta threaten to eat poisonous berries rather than kill each other. What does this show about resistance against a dystopian government?