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Utopia is a name for an ideal community or society, taken
from the title of a book written in 1516 by Sir Thomas More
describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean, possessing
a seemingly perfect socio-politico-legal system. The term has
been used to describe both intentional communities that
attempted to create an ideal society, and fictional societies
portrayed in literature. "Utopia" is sometimes used
pejoratively, in reference to an unrealistic ideal that is
impossible to achieve, and has spawned other concepts,
most prominently dystopia.
This text set is for use in a High School classroom, there are
resources for students to do literature circles, research
projects and research papers.
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§110.31.02 English Language Arts and Reading
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(A) analyze how the genre of texts with similar themes shapes meaning;
(B) analyze the influence of mythic, classical and traditional literature on 20th and 21st century literature;
and
(C) relate the figurative language of a literary work to its historical and cultural setting.
§110.31.05 English Language Arts and Reading
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(A) analyze non-linear plot development (e.g., flashbacks, foreshadowing, sub-plots, parallel plot
structures) and compare it to linear plot development;
(B) analyze how authors develop complex yet believable characters in works of fiction through a range of
literary devices, including character foils;
(C) analyze the way in which a work of fiction is shaped by the narrator's point of view; and
(D) demonstrate familiarity with works by authors from non-English-speaking literary traditions with
emphasis on classical literature.
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§110.31.06 English Language Arts and Reading
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§110.31.08 English Language Arts and Reading : (8)
: Reading/Comprehension of Literary
Text/Literary Nonfiction. Students understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the varied structural
patterns and features of literary nonfiction and provide evidence from text to support their understanding.
Students are expected to analyze how literary essays interweave personal examples and ideas with factual
information to explain, present a perspective, or describe a situation or event.
Reading/Comprehension of
Informational Text/Culture and History. Students analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about the
author's purpose in cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts and provide evidence from the text to
support their understanding. Students are expected to explain the controlling idea and specific purpose of an
expository text and distinguish the most important from the less important details that support the author's
purpose.
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§110.31.12 English Language Arts and Reading
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(A) compare and contrast how events are presented and information is communicated by visual images (e.g., graphic art,
illustrations, news photographs) versus non-visual texts;
(B) analyze how messages in media are conveyed through visual and sound techniques (e.g., editing, reaction shots, sequencing,
background music);
(C) compare and contrast coverage of the same event in various media (e.g., newspapers, television, documentaries, blogs,
Internet); and
(D) evaluate changes in formality and tone within the same medium for specific audiences and purposes.
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§110.31.20 English Language Arts and Reading
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§110.31.21 English Language Arts and Reading
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(A) follow the research plan to compile data from authoritative sources in a manner that identifies the major issues and debates
within the field of inquiry;
(B) organize information gathered from multiple sources to create a variety of graphics and forms (e.g., notes, learning logs); and
(C) paraphrase, summarize, quote, and accurately cite all researched information according to a standard format (e.g., author,
title, page number).
§110.31.22 English Language Arts and Reading
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(A) brainstorm, consult with others, decide upon a topic, and formulate a major research question to address the major research
topic; and
(B) formulate a plan for engaging in research on a complex, multi-faceted topic.
(A) modify the major research question as necessary to refocus the research plan;
(B) evaluate the relevance of information to the topic and determine the reliability, validity, and accuracy of sources (including
Internet sources) by examining their authority and objectivity; and
(C) critique the research process at each step to implement changes as the need occurs and is identified.
§110.31.23 English Language Arts and Reading
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(A) marshals evidence in support of a clear thesis statement and related claims;
(B) provides an analysis for the audience that reflects a logical progression of ideas and a clearly stated point of view;
(C) uses graphics and illustrations to help explain concepts where appropriate;
(D) uses a variety of evaluative tools (e.g., self-made rubrics, peer reviews, teacher and expert evaluations) to examine the
quality of the research; and
(E) uses a style manual (e.g., Modern Language Association, Chicago Manual of Style) to document sources and format written
materials.
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Item: Streissguth,
Thomas. Profiles:
Utopian
Visionaries. Oliver
Press, 1999.
Uses: For a
research project
or any additional
information in the
lesson.
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Annotation: Discusses efforts to create perfect
societies by such individuals as: Ann Lee and
Joseph Meacham and the Shakers, Christian Metz
and the Amana Colonies, George Rapp and the
Harmony Society, Robert Owen and New
Harmony, George Ripley and Brook Farm, John
Humphrey Noyes and Oneida, and Katherine
Tingley and the Point Loma community. –Barnes
and Noble
Basis: Library Journal’s review on Amazon.com says
this books is an informative look at the utopian
visionaries.
Item: Lowry, Lois.
The Giver. Laurel
Leaf, 2002.
 Uses: To use as a
literature circle
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Annotation: In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness
and no unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of
Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man
known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his
utopian world and struggles against the weight of its
hypocrisy. With echoes of Brave New World, in this 1994
Newbery Medal winner, Lowry examines the idea that people
might freely choose to give up their humanity in order to
create a more stable society. Gradually Jonas learns just how
costly this ordered and pain-free society can be, and boldly
decides he cannot pay the price. –Amazon.com
Basis: This book is generally a required reading already, it has
also won the Newbery Medal and has had several great
reviews from companies like Publisher’s Weekly.
Item: Bradbury,
Ray. Fahrenheit
451. Ballantine
Books, 1987.
 Uses: literature
circles, additional
information,
research, in class
reading, or
homework
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Annotation: In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's classic,
frightening vision of the future, firemen don't put out fires-they start them in order to burn books. Bradbury's vividly
painted society holds up the appearance of happiness as
the highest goal--a place where trivial information is good,
and knowledge and ideas are bad. Fire Captain Beatty
explains it this way, "Give the people contests they win by
remembering the words to more popular songs.... Don't give
them slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up
with. That way lies melancholy." –Amazon.com
Basis: This is a book usually read in high school anyway.
Lukemastin.com, a website on utopian literature
recommends this book to read.
Item: More,
Thomas. Utopia.
Filiquarian, 2007.
 Uses: the main
lesson to be read
together in class.
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Annotation: Utopia, written by Sir Thomas More, depicts a
fictional island with its own unique religion and customs. Sir
Thomas More's work introduces readers into the concept of a
perfect society with utopian, or perfect, ideas and beliefs. This
timeless classic, originally written in 1516 and heavily
influenced by Plato's Republic, is often read in schools as a
required reading. –Amazon.com
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Basis: This book is based on Plato’s original concepts and the
book itself created the term “utopia.” It is sometimes a
required reading and is a classic that has stood the test of
time.
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/am
ana/utopia.htm
 Uses: Research on Utopian Societies.
Students would be allowed to choose
between the two websites provided.
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The Amana Colonies. National Register of
Historic Places. April 27, 2009
<http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/a
mana/utopia.htm>
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Annotation: The Amana Colonies were one of
many utopian colonies established on American
soil during the 18th and 19th centuries. There were
hundreds of communal utopian experiments in the
early United States, and the Shakers alone
founded around 20 settlements. While great
differences existed between the various utopian
communities or colonies, each society shared a
common bond in a vision of communal living in a
utopian society.-National Register of Historic
Places
Basis: The National Register of Historic places calls
the Amana Colonies a unique historical site to visit.
http://www.esoter
ic.msu.edu/Verslui
s.html
 Uses: research on
Utopian Societies.
Students would
be allowed to
choose between
the two websites
provided.
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Versluis, Arthur. "Western Esotericism and
The Harmony Society." Michigan State
University. April 27, 2009
<http://www.esoteric.msu.edu/Verslui
s.html>
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Annotation: One of the most remarkable utopian
communities in American history was that of the
Harmonists, founded and led by Johann Georg
Rapp (1757-1847) and his adopted son, Frederick
Rapp (1775-1834). The Harmony Society is to this
day most well known for its worldly success, which
by any standard was phenomenal.-Arthur Versluis,
Michigan State University
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Basis: Arthur Versluis of Michigan State University
calls The Harmony Society an American marvel.
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Item: The
Village. Dir. M.
Knight
Shyamalan.
Perf. Bryce
Dallas Howard
and Joaquin
Phoenix.
Touchstone
Pictures, 2004
Uses: A fun
and visual way
to end the
lesson.
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Annotation: The latest thriller from M. Night Shyamalan is a
carefully crafted, deliberately paced period piece that
creates an atmosphere of unease at the outset and steadily
ratchets up the suspense, culminating in a surprise revelation
that completely upends the story and confounds audience
expectations. It's set in a small, self-contained Pennsylvania
village with all the trappings of 18th-century Colonial
America. The residents have lived there for years, left alone
by mysterious creatures that dwell in the surrounding forest -as long as the villagers don't enter the woods.-Amazon.com
Basis: Futuremovies.co.uk calls The Village a “toast to the
utopian ideals of pre-civil war Americana.”