Elements of Dystopia
Define dystopia.
A fictional society that often comments on flaws in our world and has undesirable conditions. (Anti-utopia)
What is the name of the novel following a society in which televised death matches between children from twelve districts are forced to participate?
The Hunger Games
The first examples of dystopian literature date back to....
The 19th century
What types of government / political systems are commonly mentioned?
Anarchism, dictatorship, or theocratic government
What element of dystopia commonly includes an oppressive society where citizens have little to no power?
Government control
What is the name of the novel written by Ray Bradbury following a firefighter who must burn books in a time of censorship?
Fahrenheit 451
What was the initial purpose of dystopian literature?
To serve as a vessel for political commentary.
What character conflict focuses on the main character’s inner struggles, self-doubts, or emotions?
Person vs. Self
What element of dystopia depicts post-apocalyptic societies with a type of ecological disaster?
Environmental devastation
What is the name of the 1954 novel following a group of schoolboys abandoned on a tropical island after a plane crash?
Lord of the Flies
What book published in 1993 began the popularity of dystopian novels in the young adult genre?
The Giver by Lois Lowry
What character conflict involves an individual fighting injustices in their community?
Person vs. Society
What element of dystopia robs citizens of their basic rights and depicts the dangers of conformity?
Loss of individualism
What is the name of the novel written by George Orwell where the world is under dictator "Big Brother's" complete control?
1984
"It is, perhaps, too complimentary to call them Utopians, they ought to be rather called dys-topians, or caco-topians." Who said this in a speech to the House of Commons in 1868?
John Stuart Mill
What is a common character archetype for the protagonists in a dystopian novel?
Rebel or Anti-hero
What do dystopian authors typically warn readers about regarding technology?
Over-reliance on computers, social surveillance with technology, technological advancements harnessed for warfare, social manipulation through algorithms, or job losses due to automation
What is the name of the 1993 novel following a 12 year-old boy in a society converted to "Sameness?"
The Giver
Yevgeny Zamyatin invented the modern literary genre of dystopia in 1924 in his novel...
We
A dystopian protagonist often...
Questions existing social and political systems, struggles to escape injustice, helps the reader understand negative aspects of their dystopian world, etc.