NAMES: Megan Martin and Shelbi Higgins
CREATING A
DYSTOPIA
PREZI STUDY GUIDE
1. What is a DYSTOPIA? A dystopia is an imaginary futuristic world in which
society lives under the oppression and control of a totalitarian
government, a repressive society, a force of technology, or a corrupt
business corporation.
What is a UTOPIA? A utopia is a perfect world where nothing is wrong.
2. What was one of the earliest dystopian novels ever published? The time
machine was one of the earliest dystopian novels ever published.
3. Name two of the classic dystopian novels written between 1930 and
1980:Two of the classic dystopian novels between 1930 and 1980 are
Brave New World and V for Vendetta.
4. Why do you think dystopian literature has been so common throughout
history? I think dystopian literature has been so common throughout
history because people feel the need to criticize communism and
socialism.
5. What novel seemingly opened the floodgates for young-adult dystopian
literature? The Giver opened the floodgates for young adult dystopian
literature.
6. Name four of the young-adult dystopian novels published since the year
2000: Four young adult dystopian novels published since the year 2000
are The Maze Runner, Uglies, The Hunger Games, and Matched.
7. Why do you think dystopian literature is such a popular trend among
today’s young adults? I think dystopian literature is such a popular trend
among young adults today because the young adults like reading about a
perfect world and why it’s not so perfect.
8. Summarize at least two of the common story elements shared by most
dystopian stories: Citizens of the dystopian society live under harsh
control of the government. The story may take place after an apocalyptic
event that ends the world we know and starts a new one.
9. What are the two most common ways dystopias are created in stories?
The two most common events are formed by an adopted new form of
government or an apocalyptic event ends most of society gives rise to a
NAMES: Megan Martin and Shelbi Higgins
new world.
10.
Why do you think fictional utopias always tend to go horribly wrong
and become dystopias? When the government hides things that could
be disturbing to the public, someone could find out and tell the rest of the
community. This could start a rebellion that could cause the government
to step down or fight back.
11.
Why do you think the fictional survivors of an apocalypse always
seem to end up creating dystopian societies? The fictional survivors of
an apocalypse always seem to end up creating dystopian societies
because they are trying to make the world that has fallen come back and
become better than it was before.
12.
Name at least four of the common themes in dystopian literature
The following are four of the common themes in dystopian literature:
 The importance of Knowledge and Truth
 The Danger of a Particular Policy
 The Danger of Allowing One Group to have too Much power
 The importance of free will and individuality
13.
Why does the way in which a fictional dystopia was created affect
the possible themes of the story?
The way in which a fictional dystopia was created affects the possible
themes of the story because if you have a dystopia about technology,
then the theme is most likely about technology.
Why does the way in which a fictional dystopia was created affect the possible
themes of the story?