Dystopian Literature

Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut

What is Dysptopian Literature?

Dystopian literature is a form of speculative fiction, a genre that departs from realism or imitation of everyday reality, that offers a vision of the future. Dystopias are societies in cataclysmic decline, a lot of destruction or violent change, with characters who battle environmental ruin, technological control, and government oppression. Dystopian novels with a didactic message often explore themes like anarchism, oppression, and mass poverty.

What is Dysptopian Literature?

Harrison Bergeron, the story we will be reading, is an example of dystopian literature. It is a story set in the year 2081 and follows the protagonist, a young man who is exceptionally intelligent and athletic but is held back by a government that enforces absolute equality among all citizens. “Harrison Bergeron” is a satirical commentary on extreme egalitarianism and the suppression of individuality, as well as a warning against the dangers of government overreach.

Multiple Choice

What is Dystopian Literature?

• documentary

• fable

• speculative fiction

• historical fiction

Multiple Choice

What is speculative fiction?

• a genre that is realistic

• a genre that departs from realism or imitation of everyday reality

• a genre that departs from realism and everyday reality

Multiple Choice

True or False: dystopian society is one where the protagonist battles environmental ruin, technological control, and government oppression.

• True

• False

Sir Thomas More in 1516 coined the word 'utopia' and used it as the title for his book. A utopia is an ideal society. Dystopian literature came about as a response to utopian literature. Dystopian literature causes the reader to think about current social and political climates and sometimes inspires action.

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Dystopia or Utopia

Environmental Destruction
Government Control
Loss of Individualism
Survival
Technological Control

Characteristics of Dystopia

Multiple Choice

Who coined the term 'utopia'?

• St. Thomas Aquinas

• Sir Thomas More

• Sir Thomas the Great

• St. Thomas the Apostle

Multiple Choice

What is not a characteristic of dystopia?

• Environmental Destruction

• Government Control

• Loss of Individualism

• Citizens are happy

Let's read a dystopian literary story-Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut