Dystopian Genre/Orwell

Conventions of the Dystopian Genre

English 11

what is dystopian literature?

Dystopian literature is a type of fiction that offers a vision of a potential future where
the author takes an issue from current society and exacerbates the problem. They
tend to offer an exaggeration of our cultural fears or anxieties, positioning us to feel
intrigued by the possibility that the world as we know it could end up in the same way.

Dystopian texts may be written to:

help the reader recognise negative aspects in their own world
raise philosophical or moral questions about humans
serve as a warning against certain political ideologies
position readers to think differently about their society
inspire social action and prevent the horrors they illustrate

Multiple Choice

In the Black Mirror mirror episode, what current societal issue does the author exacerbate?

• Totalitarian Government

• Technology

• Social media/influencer culture

• Cancel Culture

dull, gritty or grim with a heavy focus on decay and loss
large cities that have become devastated by pollution, overpopulated or abandoned
largely artificial with nature banished or distrusted
desolate, barren wastelands
apocalyptic scenarios where the world is in immediate threat of complete and utter
destruction
feature advanced technology controlled by the group or person in power
societies that are still technically together but have started to rot internally

dystopian settings

The environment plays an important role in dystopian fiction. In every dystopian text
there is usually a back story of some kind of disaster that causes societal collapse.
Dystopian settings can be:

Open Ended

Brainstorm: Name a work of dystopian fiction in which the setting fits one of those descriptions.

the Dystopian Protagonist

Is often a social outcast or lower-class
citizen who is disadvantaged by the
system or unable to conform.

Recognises that something is terribly
wrong with the society in which he or she
lives.

Usually feels trapped or restricted by the
rules and regulations.

Starts to question the social and political
systems in place then often tries to change
them.

Sometimes fail in their intention they
themselves end up changing to conform to
society's rules.

Acts as a leader who motivates a group of
citizens to rebel against the government.

Has a primary goal to escape society or
destroy it, or its principals, completely.

Shows courage by putting themselves in
danger, often risking their life to achieve
their goal.

A dystopian protagonist might have one or more of the following characteristics:

Multiple Choice

In the Black Mirror episode, the protagonist-Lacie-falls into which dystopian main character trope?

• She feels trapped and restricted by the rules.

• She is of a lower-class and is disadvantaged by the system.

• She has a goal to escape the society.

• She ends up conforming to society's rules.

common themes

Dystopian stories may centre around one or more of the following themes:

Survival

Rebellion

Oppression

Politics

Class Conflict

Identity

Religion

Economics

Technology

Power

Science

Violence

Corruption

Nature

Freedom

Conformity

Multiple Select

Which of the following could be considered themes in the Black Mirror episode? (multiple)

• conformity

• politics

• religion

• technology

George Orwell

Born in 1903 in Bengal, India
Died 1950 in London, England

Famous for Animal Farm, an allegory for the Russian Revolution and 1984

Along with Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, made the dystopian genre
more widely know.

Warned against imperialism and the dangers of totalitarian govt. after WWII