Utopia vs Dystopia Utopia Definition A perfect society

Utopia vs. Dystopia

Utopia • Definition: • A perfect society • An ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects • Opposite of a dystopia

Dystopia • Definition: • An imaginary place or state in which the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror. • “dys”=Greek for bad, • “topos” = Greek for place • Opposite of a utopia

Dystopia • Often describes a society that starts off as a utopia or thinks it is a utopia but turns into an oppressive, miserable, dysfunctional state. • Can serve as a cautionary tale or warning to modern day society

Common Characteristics of a Dystopian Society • Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted. • Citizens may seem to be under constant surveillance. • Citizens have a fear of the outside world. • Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and disagreement are bad. • The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.

The Dystopian Protagonist • Often feels trapped and is struggling to escape. • Questions the existing social and political systems. • Believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives. • Helps the audience recognize the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective.

Examples of Dystopian Literature • • • The Hunger Games Trilogy The Maze Runner Series The Matched Trilogy Divergent Others?