What is the "content" of Dystopian Fiction?

1. Characteristics of Dystopian
Literature

2. Dystopia
• Dys = bad
• Topia = place
What’s the opposite of a dystopia?

3. Dystopia
In literature, a dystopia is 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.
Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case
scenario, make a criticism about a current trend,
societal norm, or political system.

4. Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Propaganda is used to control the citizens of
society
• Information, independent thought, and
freedom are restricted

5. Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the
citizens of the society

6. Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Citizens are perceived to be under constant
surveillance

7. Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Citizens live in fear of the outside world
• The natural world is banished and distrusted

8. Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Citizens live in a dehumanized state

9. Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Citizens conform to uniform expectations.
Individuality and dissent are bad.

10. Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Society is an illusion of a perfect utopian
world.

11. Read each of the following value statements
silently. After taking a few seconds to think about
it…
Do you agree with the statement?
Why?

12. Young adults crave stories of
broken societies because they
are aware that their own world
is falling apart

13. Teenagers who love dystopian
themes are the ones who don’t
have to face them. Teenagers
wouldn’t enjoy dark fiction if
they lived in a culture where
violent death was a major
concern.

14. Fear is necessary for society.
Without fear of punishment,
most people would not follow
society’s rules.

15. Schools are places where teens
are subject to dress codes, have
few free speech rights, are
constantly under surveillance,
where they sit and rise at the
sound of the bell.

16. Surveillance keeps us safe. The
only people who need to worry
about it are criminals.

17. Surveillance is a violation of
privacy and personal freedom.