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Thematic Connections:. Dystopia. DYSTOPIA. A fictional society that is undesirable or frightening Humans lead miserable or fearful lives Usually an allegory – meant to teach or warn society about harmful ideas or traits. PLOT – One of two directions:.
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Thematic Connections: Dystopia
DYSTOPIA A fictional society that is undesirable or frightening Humans lead miserable or fearful lives Usually an allegory – meant to teach or warn society about harmful ideas or traits
PLOT – One of two directions: • Terrible things happen to the characters: • Characters escape their fate • Characters “win” • Terrible things happen to the characters: • Characters meet an untimely end • Establishment “wins”
Structure Three Acts ACT I ACT III ACT II
ACT I • Exposition • Rules of Society • Characters • Event to introduce conflict (rising action) • Something occurs that is “different”, goes against the norm
ACT II • Rising Action • Main character attempts either • Escape • Change • Climax • Characters attempts to fulfill dream and establishment’s attempts to thwart him reach the point where one side must “win”
ACT III • Falling Action/ Resolution • Aftermath of climax • Theme derived from resolution • Successful escape or change = Positive Theme • Unsuccessful = Negative Theme
Characters Archetypes of Dystopian Literature
Powerful Citizen • Representatives of those in control • The “Establishment” of “The Man”
Typical Citizen • Happy with how things are • May be • Fiercely patriotic • Aware of flaws, but passive • Completely unaware
Disenfranchised • Feels deprived by society • Desires to escape or change • May begin novel loving society • Key event occurs that results in an “eye opening” • May posses some trait or characteristic seen as a “flaw” by others in society that allows for change
Point of View Narrative Style
From the inside • Almost always told from the “inside” • Member of the society itself • Or a newcomer adopted by the society
Individual vs. Establishment • The individual is worth nothing • Seen as parts of the whole • Only as valuable as their contribution to the society • Easily expendable
Singular Power • One person, or one organization, holds all the power • Power is retained through control of • Communication • Media • Education • Culture • military
Distraction • Popular culture is used to distract society • Allowing/encouraging • Consumerism • Drug/alcohol use • Mass media consumption
Scapegoat • The establishment finds and uses a scapegoat to deflect blame • A foreign enemy • A disenfranchised group • A symbol of the old ways