H4 P2 W8 utopia & dystopia

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

What do I expect of you?

• Do your work!
• Try to speak as much English as possible. 
• Be mindful, respectful & communicate!
• Be on time: more than 5 minutes = too late. 
• Raise your hand if you have a question and be silent during explanations of me/student. 
• Phones are in your bags, bags are on the floor.
• No eating or drinking in the classroom (gum included), water is allowed. 

Read your book

disclaimer: as of next week, I expect you to have read at least 50% of your book

learning goals

I know the similarities and differences between a utopia and a dystopia

I can recognise the characteristics of dystopian fiction

Homework

Think of a film or series that you have seen recently.

Write a review with at least 4 paragraphs (introduction, 2 body paragraphs and conclusion). Make sure to be informative as well as persuasive without giving away too many spoilers. Mention at least plot, characters and theme in your review.

Peer review

Exchange your review with a classmate and check each other's work. Pay attention to structure and content.

Would you watch the film/series based on this review? Why (not)?

Utopias and Dystopias

Thomas More’s “Utopia”

• A story about travel to an ideal society
  

• Not the first but the definition of the genre
  

• A commentary on society
  

• .....

• Eutopia
  
• Topos = place
  
• Eu = good
  
• “the perfect society” →

• ....

• Outopia
  
• Topos = place
  
• Ou = not
  
• “does not exist”/“nowhere”
  

A Meaningful pun

Dystopia 

dys=bad + topos=place

watch the following video

Decide if it is a utopia or a dystopia.

What are some rules we have in our society or in our school that limit personal freedom in some way?

Why are these rules in place? When is it okay to limit personal freedom for the benefit of society?

Techniques used in dystopian literature 

During the following video take notes on:

- The techniques mentioned

- A historical moment when looking for a utopia has turned into a dystopia

- Other techniques, you see in the video, that define dystopian literature. For example, isolation etc.

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Dystopian society in fiction

• Citizens' lives are closely controlled by a government or corporation by means of technology, religion or ideology.
•  The truth about the world is kept from most members of society
• Citizens must conform to the rules. Individuality is a bad thing. 
• Citizens are dehumanized.
• The society presents the illusion of a utopia to its citizens.
• The main character in dystopian works is one of the few to see the truth.

Dystopian fiction criticizes

Technology

Ideology

Religion

The Seven Deadly Sins

Is the book you're reading an example of a dystopia or utopia?