1. Dystopian Literature 1

2. Social Commentary
When an author uses rhetorical strategies to provide opinions on issues in a society.
Often seeks to implement or promote change by informing the general populace about a given problem and appealing to people's sense of justice.

3. Catalyst for Change
In science: a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.
In literature: a person or thing that stimulates or sparks an event.

4. Critical Lens
a perspective or point of view through which readers can critically analyze a text.
Reader response
Socio-economic
Historical
Gender
Race
Psychological
Spiritual

5. 10 Dystopian Traits 1. Set in the future.
2. Contains elements of sci-fi and technology.
3. Demonstrates strange similarities with current societal events (social commentary).
4. Strictly defines and enforces social classes. (Mobility is non-existent).
5. Contains few democratic ideals, if any at all.
The first use of the word has been credited to John Stuart Mill in 1868[2], whose knowledge of Greek would suggest that he meant it as a place where things are bad, rather than simply the opposite of Utopia. The Greek prefix 'dys'/'dis' signifies 'ill','bad' or 'abnormal', whereas 'ou' means 'not' (Utopia means 'nowhere', and is a pun on 'Eutopia' meaning 'happy place' - the prefix 'eu' means 'well'). So 'dystopia' and 'utopia' are not exact opposites in the sense that dysphoria and euphoria are opposites. 5

6. Continued
6. Traditional life, such as organized religion, is considered primitive and nonsensical.
7. Penal system lacks due process laws and employs psychological or physical torture
8. Constant surveillance by government or other agencies
9. Often contains a back story of a war, uprising, or some other climactic event which resulted in dramatic changes to society.
10. Often contains a clear message or theme.