1. Dystopia
An Introduction

3. From Contemporary Literary Criticism
Dystopian literature has been characterized as fiction that presents a negative view of the future of society and humankind.
Utopian works typically sketch a future in which technology improves the everyday life of human beings and advances civilization, while dystopian works offer an opposite view.
The main themes of dystopian literature is oppression and rebellion.

4. Other common themes…
Mastery of nature – to the point that it becomes barren, or turns against humankind.
Technological advances that enslave humans or control their lives.
The mandatory division of people into castes or groups with specialized functions.
A collective loss of memory and history making mankind easier to manipulate psychologically and ultimately leading to dehumanization.

6. The Industrial Revolution, WWI/WWII, growing awareness of environmental damage, rapid progress of technology, popularization of capitalistic trends, and the rise of machines all contributed to the creation of dystopian literature.

7. Additional Characteristics of the Dystopian Genre
Discussions regarding personal freedom
The role of free will
The value of individual resistance to dictatorships
The power of technology to transform people’s lives

8. Continued… Advanced technology compared to real world
Class distinctions between privileged ruling class and the dreary existence of the working class
Loss of individual freedom
Strict conformity among citizens
Repression of intellectuals
In some dystopian societies – an absence of religion
The hero in dystopian lit always questions society although he/she is usually in high-standing within the social system

10. Ways to Focus Your Interpetations
A character’s response to the dystopian society can be understood via characterization.
Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of the character.
Can be revealed through direct and indirect characterization
Direct (tells): writer makes direct statements about character’s personality and tells what the character is like.
Indirect (shows): info is revealed about the character and their personality through the character’s thoughts, words, and actions, along with how others react (including what they think and say) towards them

11. Conflict Conflict can be internal and/or external
Internal conflict: is a struggle that occurs within a character’s own mind (trouble making a decision, dealing with mixed feelings or emotions).
External conflict: is a struggle that occurs between a character and an outside force (another character, a community, society, forces of nature, etc.).
The reader needs to be able to identify and extrapolate the various potential conflicts found in a work of literature.

12. Remember…