RWCB Literature Circles
Journal Time!
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 Describe a world that you would absolutely HATE
to live in
 Details to consider:
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Climate
Surroundings
Laws
Kinds of people
Fashion
3-2-1 Bridge

 Use the word “dystopia”
 Think of three words that
come to mind when you hear
that word
 Think of two questions that
come to mind when you hear
that word
 Think of one simile or
metaphor that deals with that
word
What is a dystopia?

 The word “dystopia” refers to an imaginary place or
condition where everything is as bad as humanly possible
 So, dystopian literature refers to a novel about such an
environment
 Examples of Popular Dystopian Novels or Films:
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The Hunger Games
1984
The Giver
Divergent
A Clockwork Orange
Characteristics of a
Dystopia

 Use of propaganda to control society
 Information, independent thought, and freedom are
restricted
 A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of
the society
 Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance
 Citizens have a fear of the outside world
 Citizens live in a dehumanized state
 The natural world is banished and distrusted
 Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality
is bad.
 The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.
Types of Dystopian
Controls

 Corporate
 Bureaucratic
 Technological
 Philosophical/ religious
control
Corporate Control

 Corporate: controlling
society through products,
advertising, and/or the
media
 Example: Wall-E
 Clip:
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=h1BQPViCkU
Bureaucratic Control

 Bureaucratic: controlled in a
governmental sense
 Example: V for Vendetta
 Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=6rRn8kM4-ds
Technological Control

 Technological: controlled by
technology and science
 Example: Gattaca
 Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=ZppWok6SX88
Philosophical/ Religious
Control

 controlled by a philosophical
or religious ideology that is
enforced through a
dictatorship or theocratic
government
 Example: The Giver
 Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=4Fq1yXBJuHo
The Dystopian
Protagonist

 often feels trapped and is
struggling to escape.
 questions the existing social and
political systems.
 believes or feels that something is
terribly wrong with the society in
which he or she lives.
 helps the audience recognizes the
negative aspects of the dystopian
world through his or her
perspective.
Learning More About
Dystopian Novels. . .

 You will be grouped into the following:
 Why is dystopian literature so popular for teens?
 What is the controversy that surrounds dystopian literature
for young adults?
 What is the history behind the dystopian novel?
 Are there connections between dystopias and real life?
 What are the different types of dystopias?
 In your groups, you will be given an article to read, and
from that, you will create a mind map
 You will be presenting these to the rest of the class and
informing them more about the answer to your question
What is a mind map?

 It is an outline of what you
have learned
 A “web” of ideas
 Visually demonstrates the
article and which points you
found to be the most significant
 The main concept (or question)
is in the center of the web