Characteristics of Dystopian
Literature
Dystopia
• Dys = bad
• Topia = place
What’s the opposite of a dystopia?
Dystopia
In literature, a dystopia is a futuristic, imagined
universe in which oppressive societal control
and the illusion of a perfect society are
maintained through corporate, bureaucratic,
technological, moral, or totalitarian control.
Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case
scenario, make a criticism about a current trend,
societal norm, or political system.
Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Propaganda is used to control the citizens of
society
• Information, independent thought, and
freedom are restricted
Turn to your table
partner and point to an
example of this in The
Hunger Games.
Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the
citizens of the society
Name the
figurehead or
concept that is
worshipped by the
society in Hunger
Games.
Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Citizens are perceived to be under constant
surveillance
Turn to your table
partner and point to an
example of this in The
Hunger Games.
Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Citizens live in fear of the outside world
• The natural world is banished and distrusted
Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Citizens live in a dehumanized state
Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Citizens conform to uniform expectations.
Individuality and dissent are bad.
Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Society is an illusion of a perfect utopian
world.
Listen to each of the following value statements
silently. After taking a few seconds to think about
it, head towards the pod door if you agree with the
statement. Head towards the window if you
disagree. If you have mixed feelings, stay in the
center of the room.
Young adults crave stories of
broken societies because they
are aware that their own world
is falling apart
Teenagers who love dystopian
themes are the ones who don’t
have to face them. Teenagers
wouldn’t enjoy dark fiction if
they lived in a culture where
violent death was a major
concern.
Fear is necessary for society.
Without fear of punishment,
most people would not follow
society’s rules.
Schools are places where teens
are subject to dress codes, have
few free speech rights, are
constantly under surveillance,
where they sit and rise at the
sound of the bell.
Surveillance keeps us safe. The
only people who need to worry
about it are criminals.
Surveillance is a violation of
privacy and personal freedom.