The Hunger Games Reading Quiz After you finish your reading quiz, please turn it in immediately. MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR! 

A Question to Think About: What things do you think a society would need to accomplish in order to be considered “perfect”? Choose one of these things. Could a society actually enforce this? What might have to happen in order to enforce it?

Utopia: A Perfect Society A utopia is an ideal or perfect society. The term “utopia” comes from the title of a book written by Thomas More in 1516. The word comes from the Greek: οὐ ("not") and τόπος ("place") and means "no place". The English homophone eutopia, derived from the Greek εὖ ("good" or "well") and τόπος ("place"), means "good place". This, due to the identical pronunciation of "utopia" and "eutopia", gives rise to a double meaning. Utopian novels are stories about a Utopia, a perfect society.

Context for Utopia Utopia was written in 1516 by Sir Thomas More during the reign of Henry VIII of England. Utopia is social commentary, meant to contrast Tudor England under Henry VIII with the society of the Utopians. Social commentary was much more dangerous in Tudor England than it is today. This is one reason why More “frames” the narrative as a story he heard from a sailor he met who had supposedly visited Utopia.

Utopia as Social Commentary It is generally agreed that More did not mean to describe a “perfect” society in Utopia, but to use the “strange” traditions of the Utopians to spark discussion and criticism of real contemporary problems. More may not have meant to depict an ideal society; however, over the years the word “utopia” without the capital letter has come to mean “a perfect society” with an added connotation suggesting that such a society is unrealistic. A portrait of Thomas More by Hans Holbein

Utopian Literature as a Genre Influenced by Thomas More’s book Utopia, literature that depicts and idealized or perfect society has been called “utopian literature”. Utopian novels are stories that take place in a Utopia, a “perfect” society. Random Examples of other Utopian Novels: The Blazing World by Maragaret Cavendish (1666) Also the first science fiction novel! Island by Aldous Huxley Another novel by Huxley, but this one explores a society which, while sharing some similarities, is much more positively portrayed than the one in Brave New World. Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach One of the first books written about an ecological utopia, written as part of the emerging environmentalist movement.

From Utopia to Dystopia Dystopia: “An imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives.” From The Meriam Webster Encyclopedia of Literature In contrast to “utopia,” which can be translated “good place,” “dystopia” is translated “bad place.” Dystopian works of fiction often depict societies that claim to be advanced, civilized, and near-perfect, but are instead deeply flawed. Many protagonists in dystopian literature are individuals who begin to question the problematic rules and assumptions that pervade their societies.

Dystopia and The Hunger Games Why is The Hunger Games considered a dystopian novel? Take a moment and write a quick paragraph on the dystopian elements of the Hunger Games that you find most interesting.

Utopia/Dystopia in The Hunger Games How has the society in The Hunger Games tried to achieve a perfect society? Who thinks they are living in a perfect society and who does not? How does the Capitol in The Hunger Games make sure that Panem doesn’t have some of the problems in our society, like war ?

HAVE A GREAT SPRING BREAK! Thursday, March 31 — NO CLASS — Cesar Chavez Holiday Week Nine: April 2 — April 9: LAMC SPRING BREAK Have fun and be safe! *You should begin reading Brave New World. You should read about 5 chapters per week and finish by May 17. When we return: Tuesday, April 12 Topics: What is Literary Theory? Literary Theory: Discuss Formalism/New Criticism Homework Due: Read Kate Chopin’s “The Storm” p. 175-179 Read “Formalism and New Criticism” and “A New Critical Reading of ‘The Storm’” p. 1214-1215