Utopias and Dystopias

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

Utopias and Dystopias

Purpose of this lesson

• This lesson is an introduction to "The Handmaid's Tale"

At the end of this lesson, you will understand:

• the similarities and differences between a utopia and a dystopia
• the characteristics of dystopian fiction
• why "The Handmaid's Tale" is dystopian

What does the word "Utopia" mean to you?

What does the word "dystopia" mean to you?

Thomas More’s “Utopia”

• Lawyer, sheriff, statesman
  
• Friend of Erasmus
  
• 1516 publishes 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

Recognizable

A utopia cannot be completely different from our society, it must resemble it, and appear to be a progression from or alternative version of our current society.

Write a one-sentence description of your own personal utopia

watch the following video

Decide if it is a utopia or a dystopia.

Is a utopia-for-all possible? Explain

Dystopia 

dys=bad + topos=place

New class rules

1. No one will be allowed to talk in class at all without my permission. In fact, talking will be very limited from now on

2. You will instead communicate via an online chat. ONLY in the computer lab. I will have access to everything you say in your chats. No other form of communication will be allowed in class unless it is with me or is conducted with my permission 

3. The class will be divided into 3 groups based on grades. There will be no communication allowed outside of these groups in class.

4. We will no longer talk about the past. We will be free from the burden of thinking about the past. We will only concentrate on the present and future

5. You may not discuss your family, interests or cultural background. Our classroom culture is more important.

6. Talking about Politics is absolutely forbidden!

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What similarities do you see between the rules posted on the board and the movie clips?

How would you feel if rules like these were really implemented? How would these rules affect the classroom atmosphere?

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.

Name Dystopian books, films, games, tv shows you are aware of.

Dystopian fiction criticizes

Technology

Ideology

Religion

The Seven Deadly Sins

What were the dystopian works you know criticizing?

Margaret Atwood

Birth Date : November 18, 1939 (age 80)

Education: Radcliffe College, Victoria College, Harvard University

Place of Birth: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 

Setting

• The near future
• Republic of Gilead -> a Christian totalitarian society that has replaced the United States
• A city in what used to be New England

 “You often hear in North America, "It can't happen here," but it happened quite early on. The Puritans banished people who didn't agree with them, so we would be rather smug to assume that the seeds are not there. That's why I set the book in Cambridge.”​

Characters

• Offred​
  
• Moira​ 
  
• The Commander​ 
  
• The Commander’s Wife​ 
  
• Luke​ 
  
• The Daughter​ 
  
• Janine​ 
  
• Ofglen​
  
• Aunts Lucy, Elizabeth, Sara, Lydia, Helena​ 
  
• Rita and Cora​ 
  
• Nick​
  

Reading Schedule

Monday	Read until
Aug 31	Ch. V (p. 73)
Sep 7	Ch VIII (p. 113)
Sep 14	Ch X (p. 153)
Sep 21	Ch XII (p. 203)
Sep 28	Ch XIV (p. 272)
Oct 5	Finish book