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Lesson 1: Introduction
At
the end of this lesson
we will know how we will
tackle reading the novel,
and discussed dystopian
literature.
Key
plot points
Characters
Themes
Issues
dystopia: (n) an
imaginary place or
condition in which
everything is bad
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When we think about the dystopian
novel, what might first come to mind
is George Orwell's Nineteen-EightyFour.
Published in 1949; he prophesied
the advent of a flawless totalitarian
society, in which the individual is of
literally no significance.
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Aldous Huxley's Brave New World
Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange
Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451
Cormack McCarthy’s The Road
Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Oryx and Crake,
The Year of the Flood
Douglas Coupland’s Generation A
Susan Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy
Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy
The
critic Bernard Richards
once said 'dystopias are useful;
they warn us about what might
happen'.
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This seems fair enough; you can finish a
copy of Margaret Atwood's The
Handmaid's Tale and breathe a sigh of
relief, safe in the knowledge that you
don't live in the repressive state of
Gilead in which the sole functions of
women are as sex-objects and babymachines. Even if you happen to be a
man.
The
dystopian novel is a
comforter to the human psyche;
we like to read about death and
corruption, as long as we know
that it can't happen to us. Or do
we?
Could
we all awaken one morning to
find our bank accounts mysteriously
cancelled? The world a changed,
oppressive place? Maybe, and perhaps
it is this that compels us to read
dystopias; they provide a spark of
danger in our otherwise mundane lives.
1)
Nasty Things Happen but
Everything Turns out Right.
This plot is followed in LP Hartley's
1960 novel Facial Justice, in which
the heroine, Jael 97, beats the
Establishment at its own game and
everyone lives happily ever after.
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2) Nasty Things Happen but Despite Everyone's Best Efforts
the Establishment Wins.
An example of this scenario can be seen in Aldous Huxley's
Brave New World of 1932, in which babies are created in
bottles, meaningful relationships are obsolete and in the
end John... no, best not give that away. Suffice it to say, that
the novel's conclusion is suitably depressing.
Most authors of dystopian novels choose this option.
Question
Which of these categories does Never Let Me Go fit into?
 As
with plot, almost all dystopias deal with
the same fundamental concepts. Of these,
the most common include:
o The Status of the Individual
o The Nature of Power
o Communication
Question
Which of these categories does Never Let Me Go fit into?
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In a word - low.
The individual is of little, if
any consequence, the desire
being for uniformity within
society.
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There is some variation here. The
seat of power in a dystopian society
can rest with an individual corrupt
dictator or a corrupt governmental
entity, but the effect is much the
same; the individual is crushed and
freedom curtailed.
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Poor, artificial, stilted; these
are all words that could
apply to communication in a
dystopian novel.

Communication is just
another method of control in
the dystopian society.
A
Dystopian Novel
 Set in a slightly skewed version of
contemporary England, in which people are
produced to provide ‘donations’ to the
general public.
 Follows Kathy H from her childhood at
Hailsham school through to her work as a
carer.
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Groups of 4 – 5.
Read a specific section before each meeting.
Complete one role each for each meeting. You should
complete each role at least once.
Meet and discuss your findings and the section of the novel
you’ve read.
 Discussion Director – Leads the discussion. Asks for
clarification or further detail. Summarises points raised before the
group moves on. Should have a good knowledge of the section.
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Character Specialist – Focuses on U,A,E character
motivations and development.
Themes Master – Focuses on recognising emergent themes
and motifs and how these affect the reader’s
understanding/expectations.
Language Leader – Focuses on aspects of the writer’s style
and how this contributes to understanding and enjoyment.
Narrative Executive – Focuses on key plot points in the
reading, this may include exposition, conflict, turning points or character
epiphany.
 Discussion Director – Leads the discussion. Asks for
clarification or further detail. Summarises points raised before the
group moves on. Should have a good knowledge of the section.

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Character Specialist – Focuses on U,A,E character
motivations and development.
Themes Master – Focuses on recognising emergent themes
and motifs and how these affect the reader’s
understanding/expectations.
Language Leader – Focuses on aspects of the writer’s style
and how this contributes to understanding and enjoyment.
Narrative Executive – Focuses on key plot points in the
reading, this may include exposition, conflict, turning points or character
epiphany.
Section
1: pages 1 - 36
Section 2: pages 37 - 109
Section 3: pages 113 – 153
Section 4: pages 154 – 199
Section 5: pages 203 – 240
Section 6: pages 241 – 282