Dystopian Novels

Definition Check: Utopian Utopian refers to human efforts to create a hypothetically perfect society. It refers to good but impossible proposals - or at least ones that are difficult to carry out. 7th Grade English TEKS 7.12. Characteristics of Genres A) Identify the purposes of different types of texts B) Recognize the distinguishing features of genres 7.11. Literary Response B) Interpret text ideas through varied means D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues in texts 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills B) Analyze information using various methods D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference Image obtained from Thomas Morus’s book Utopia by Johann Froben in 1518

Dystopian versus Utopian Dystopian is the opposite of utopian; it is often a utopia gone sour, an imaginary place or state where everything is as bad as it could possibly be. 7th Grade English TEKS 7.12. Characteristics of Genres B) Recognize the distinguishing features of genres 7.11. Literary Response D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues in texts 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.17. Points of View in a Democratic Society Identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups 7.20. Science/Technology/Society. F) Make predictions about consequences resulting from future discoveries 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills B) Analyze information using various methods D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference

Dystopian Novels Dystopian novels usually include elements of contemporary society and are seen as a warning against some modern trend. Writers use them as cautionary tales, in which humankind is put into a society that may look inviting on the surface but in reality, is a nightmare. 7th Grade English TEKS 7.12. Characteristics of Genres A) Identify the purposes of different types of texts B) Recognize the distinguishing features of genres 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.20. Science/Technology/Society F) Make predictions about consequences resulting from future discoveries 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills B) Analyze information using various methods D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference

Examples of Dystopian Novels 1984 Brave New World Fahrenheit 451 A Clockwork Orange Animal Farm The Time Machine 7th Grade English TEKS 7.11. Literary Response A) Offer observations, connections, and questions in response to the text B) Interpret text ideas through varied means 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference

1984 1984 by George Orwell (1948) The setting is the future world of 1984, where the head of government is the all-knowing Big Brother. The hero’s longing for truth and decency leads him to secretly rebel against the government. He is arrested by the “Thought Police” who torture the hero to “reeducate him” and force him to love the Big Brother. 7th Grade English TEKS 7.12. Characteristics of Genres A) Identify the purposes of different types of texts 7.11. Literary Response A) Offer observations, connections, and questions in response to the text B) Interpret text ideas through varied means D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues in texts 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.17. Points of View in a Democratic Society Identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups 7.20. Science/Technology/Society F) Make predictions about consequences resulting from future discoveries 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills B) Analyze information using various methods D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference

Relation to the Real World 1984 serves as a cautionary tale against totalitarianism Totalitarianism - A centralized government that does not tolerate parties of differing opinion and that exercises dictatorial control over many aspects of life 7th Grade English TEKS 7.12. Characteristics of Genres A) Identify the purposes of different types of texts 7.11. Literary Response A) Offer observations, connections, and questions in response to the text D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues in texts 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.17. Points of View in a Democratic Society Identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups 7.20. Science/Technology/Society A) Compare types and uses of technology in the past and present. F) Make predictions about consequences resulting from future discoveries 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills B) Analyze information using various methods D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference

Relation to the Real World The regime in the book could represent a futuristic England or United States, since Orwell was worried about their increasing power during his lifetime.

Relation to the Real World There are direct parallels between the book and the society at that time: Leader worship – similar to Big Brother, dictators Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler were revered and followed absolutely Joycamps - a reference to Jewish concentration camps Thought police – a reference to the Gestapo, the secret police of the Nazis The Use of Propaganda – similar tactics were used in the totalitarian regimes of Hitler and Stalin

Brave New World Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932) At first, the world it describes sounds like a utopia: humanity is carefree, healthy, and technologically advanced. Warfare and poverty have been eliminated, and everyone is permanently happy. However, all of these things have been achieved by eliminating family, cultural diversity, art, literature, science, religion, and philosophy.

Relation to the Real World The issues raised in the book were influenced by the issues of Huxley’s time. The Industrial Revolution had brought massive changes to the world. Mass production made cars, telephones, and radios cheap and widely available. The effects of World War I and totalitarian regimes were still being felt. Huxley used his book to express the fear of losing individual identity in the fast-paced world of the future. 7th Grade English TEKS 7.12. Characteristics of Genres A) Identify the purposes of different types of texts B) Recognize the distinguishing features of genres 7.11. Literary Response A) Offer observations, connections, and questions in response to the text B) Interpret text ideas through varied means D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues in texts 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.17. Points of View in a Democratic Society Identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups 7.20. Science/Technology/Society A) Compare types and uses of technology in the past and present. F) Make predictions about consequences resulting from future discoveries 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills B) Analyze information using various methods D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference

Relation to the Real World One event that influenced Huxley was an early trip to America. Huxley was outraged by the commercial-led cheeriness and selfish nature of many of the people. There was a strong fear in Europe of worldwide Americanization. 7th Grade English TEKS 7.11. Literary Response A) Offer observations, connections, and questions in response to the text B) Interpret text ideas through varied means D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues in texts 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.17. Points of View in a Democratic Society Identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups 7.20. Science/Technology/Society A) Compare types and uses of technology in the past and present. F) Make predictions about consequences resulting from future discoveries 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills B) Analyze information using various methods D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference

Relation to the Real World Therefore, in Brave New World, Huxley explores the fears of both Soviet communism and American capitalism. Worse, he suggests that the price of universal happiness will be the sacrifice of everything important in our culture: motherhood, home, family, community, and love. 7th Grade English TEKS 7.11. Literary Response A) Offer observations, connections, and questions in response to the text B) Interpret text ideas through varied means D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues in texts 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.17. Points of View in a Democratic Society Identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups 7.20. Science/Technology/Society F) Make predictions about consequences resulting from future discoveries 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills B) Analyze information using various methods D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference

1984 versus Brave New World The major difference between the two books is in 1984 people are controlled by constant government surveillance, secret police, and torture. In Brave New World humans are controlled by technological interventions that start before birth and last until death, and actually change what people want. 7th Grade English TEKS 7.12. Characteristics of Genres A) Identify the purposes of different types of texts 7.11. Literary Response A) Offer observations, connections, and questions in response to the text D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues in texts 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.17. Points of View in a Democratic Society Identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills B) Analyze information using various methods D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference

Fahrenheit 451 Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953) The story takes place in the twenty-first century, in an America where books are banned. Society feels that “opinion” books contain conflicting theories which are disruptive to society. The penalty for owning one is having one's house and books burnt by "firemen." 451° F is stated as “the temperature at which book paper catches fire and burns…” 7th Grade English TEKS 7.11. Literary Response A) Offer observations, connections, and questions in response to the text B) Interpret text ideas through varied means D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues in texts 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.17. Points of View in a Democratic Society Identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups 7.20. Science/Technology/Society F) Make predictions about consequences resulting from future discoveries 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills B) Analyze information using various methods D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference

Relation to the Real World In the novel, Bradbury combined several issues of his contemporary society: The burnings of books in Nazi Germany. Stalin's suppression of authors and books in the Soviet Union. The explosion of a nuclear weapon. "I meant all kinds of tyrannies anywhere in the world at any time, right, left, or middle," Bradbury has said. 7th Grade English TEKS 7.11. Literary Response A) Offer observations, connections, and questions in response to the text B) Interpret text ideas through varied means D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues in texts 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.17. Points of View in a Democratic Society Identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups 7.20. Science/Technology/Society A) Compare types and uses of technology in the past and present. F) Make predictions about consequences resulting from future discoveries 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills B) Analyze information using various methods D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference Image taken on May 6,1933, as Nazis ransacked libraries in Berlin; four days later as part of large public burnings of books viewed as "un-German," thousands of books were thrown into a huge bonfire.

Relation to the Real World The author also addresses the concern that the presence of fast cars, loud music, and advertisements creates a lifestyle with too much stimulation where no one has the time to concentrate. He also addresses concerns about censorship at the expense of personal expression. 7th Grade English TEKS 7.12. Characteristics of Genres B) Recognize the distinguishing features of genres 7.11. Literary Response A) Offer observations, connections, and questions in response to the text B) Interpret text ideas through varied means D) Connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues in texts 7th Grade Social Studies TEKS 7.17. Points of View in a Democratic Society Identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups 7.20. Science/Technology/Society A) Compare types and uses of technology in the past and present. F) Make predictions about consequences resulting from future discoveries 7.21. Critical Thinking Skills D) Identify points of view from the historical context and frame of reference

Summary everyone equal, thinks the same way Goals Methods Used Theme everyone equal, thinks the same way force, spying, secret police evils of totalitarianism no war or poverty, only happiness change what people want sacrificing culture for “happiness” absence of things disrup-tive to society book burnings, no personal expression consequences of fast-paced society 1984 Brave New World Fahrenheit 451

Summary The dystopian literature of the period reflected the many concerns that resonated throughout the twentieth century. The concept of a dystopia was introduced to help reveal the potential consequences of a utopia turning against itself.