Dystopian Literature A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control. UTOPIA: Described by Saint Thomas Moore as a perfect society. Utopian Example: Garden of Eden DYStopian is the opposite of this. The Purpose: Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system. CAN YOU THINK OF ANY DYSTOPIAN LITERATURE? DYSTOPIAN LITERATURE THE DYSTOPIAN PROTAGONIST ...feels trapped... ...struggling to Escape… ...questions current social/political system… ...helps us realize negative impact through their perspective…. ...behaves/feels there is something wrong with society... DYSTOPIAN SOCIETY: You Know It! ● Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society. (The Capital replays uprisings to show devastation in Hunger Games) ● Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted. (The Aptitude Test in Divergent, you don’t decide) ● A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society. (WICKED in The Maze Runner) ● Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance. (In the Maze in The Maze Runner) ● Citizens have a fear of the outside world. (Won’t leave districts in Hunger Games) ● Citizens live in a dehumanized state. (Factionless in Divergent) ● The natural world is banished and distrusted. (The Maze/The Arena/The Palace/Stimulations) ● Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad. (Katniss/Tris/America/Thomas) ● The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world. (President Snow in The Capital) Interested In This Genre? Best Books for Teens: Dystopian Works Cited "Dystopians: Definitions and Characteristics." Read Write Think. 2006. Web. 04 Feb. 16..