Dystopian Fiction

Dystopian fiction is a type of speculative fiction:

• True

• False

Margaret Atwood thinks dystopian fiction is appealing to readers because it...

• Forces us to look back in history.

• Takes problems we already see in our society and casts them into the future, when they have become way worse.

• Paints a highly realistic portrait of our current situation.

• Is complete fantasy with no connection to reality.

Dystopian fiction can be...

• a great form of escapism, because it has no connection to the here-and-now.

• a boring thing your teacher makes you think about for a grade :-)

• a way to educate and warn humanity about the dangers of current social and political structures.

The central theme of dystopian fiction usually falls under one of these five categories:

• 1. Government control

  2. Environmental progress and purity

  3. Beneficial technologu

  4. Ponies!

  5. Freedom

• 1. Governmental freedom

  2. Environmental destruction

  3. Benevolent AI

  4. Thriving society

  5. An emphasis on the indivudual

• 1. Government control

  2. Environmental destruction

  3. Technological control

  4. Survival

  5. Loss of individualism

Government in dystopian fiction is generally...

• corrupt, and wields far too much control.

• fantastic -- optimized for individuals to thrive

• a mix of good and bad elements.

• exactly like our own.

The environment in dystopian fiction tends to be...

• Thriving

• Beautiful

• In trouble / destroyed.

In dystopian literature, society tends to be beneficial to citizens.

• True

• False

Survival is a key theme in dystopian fiction because...

• There are often monsters in dystopian fiction.

• Dystopian fiction generally takes place in the wilderness.

• Citizens are often faced with situations that they must escape from due to strict government control and / or destruction of their environment.

Dystopian fiction highlights the dangers of...

• Conformity

• Individualism

• Community

• Penguins