RWCB Literature Circles
Journal Time!
Describe a world that you would absolutely HATE
to live in
Details to consider:
Climate
Surroundings
Laws
Kinds of people
Fashion
3-2-1 Bridge
Use the word “dystopia”
Think of three words that
come to mind when you hear
that word
Think of two questions that
come to mind when you hear
that word
Think of one simile or
metaphor that deals with that
word
What is a dystopia?
The word “dystopia” refers to an imaginary place or
condition where everything is as bad as humanly possible
So, dystopian literature refers to a novel about such an
environment
Examples of Popular Dystopian Novels or Films:
The Hunger Games
1984
The Giver
Divergent
A Clockwork Orange
Characteristics of a
Dystopia
Use of propaganda to control society
Information, independent thought, and freedom are
restricted
A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of
the society
Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance
Citizens have a fear of the outside world
Citizens live in a dehumanized state
The natural world is banished and distrusted
Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality
is bad.
The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.
Types of Dystopian
Controls
Corporate
Bureaucratic
Technological
Philosophical/ religious
control
Corporate Control
Corporate: controlling
society through products,
advertising, and/or the
media
Example: Wall-E
Clip:
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=h1BQPViCkU
Bureaucratic Control
Bureaucratic: controlled in a
governmental sense
Example: V for Vendetta
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=6rRn8kM4-ds
Technological Control
Technological: controlled by
technology and science
Example: Gattaca
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=ZppWok6SX88
Philosophical/ Religious
Control
controlled by a philosophical
or religious ideology that is
enforced through a
dictatorship or theocratic
government
Example: The Giver
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=4Fq1yXBJuHo
The Dystopian
Protagonist
often feels trapped and is
struggling to escape.
questions the existing social and
political systems.
believes or feels that something is
terribly wrong with the society in
which he or she lives.
helps the audience recognizes the
negative aspects of the dystopian
world through his or her
perspective.
Learning More About
Dystopian Novels. . .
You will be grouped into the following:
Why is dystopian literature so popular for teens?
What is the controversy that surrounds dystopian literature
for young adults?
What is the history behind the dystopian novel?
Are there connections between dystopias and real life?
What are the different types of dystopias?
In your groups, you will be given an article to read, and
from that, you will create a mind map
You will be presenting these to the rest of the class and
informing them more about the answer to your question
What is a mind map?
It is an outline of what you
have learned
A “web” of ideas
Visually demonstrates the
article and which points you
found to be the most significant
The main concept (or question)
is in the center of the web
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