4- Fictions & realities: Dystopias

What is the connection between the reality we live in and the fictions we read, watch, imagine, or hear about?

Is our reality informed by these fictions? Are these fictions informed by our reality?

Have you heard of any these novels? What is it / are they about?

 In pairs: to speak 5 minutes with your partner and try to answer these questions:


Can you explain the plot briefly ? What is typically dystopian in it ?


Now work on your worksheet:

Let's give a final answer to these questions:


A.              What are dystopias ?

B.              What do they warn us and not warn us about ? 

C.               What is the use of the author’s final rhetorical questions ?

D.              Therefore, is the aim of the document to inform us only ? 


--> GOING FURTHER : use the script of the video (p 2) to organise the information given.


A.              What does “the blueprint for all dystopias” consist in ?


B.              List the main topics dealt with in these iconic dystopias. 


·                  H. G. Wells’s “The Time Machine” (1895) → _________________________________________

·                  Jack London’s “The Iron Heel” (1907) → ____________________________________________

·                  Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” (1932) →  _______________________________________

·                  Yevgeny Zamyatin’s “We” (1924) → ________________________________________________

·                  George Orwell’s “1984” (1949) →  _________________________________________________

·                  Sinclair Lewis’s “It Can’t Happen Here” (1935) →  _____________________________________




Now let's read, discuss, and write a bit!




What is a Dystopia?

A dystopia is a hypothetical or imaginary society, often found in science fiction and fantasy literature.  They are characterized by elements that are opposite to those associated with utopia (utopias are  places of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions).  A dystopia is, therefore, a place in which humanity is dehumanized and people live fearful lives.  Furthermore, governing these societies are totalitarian regimes and often are faced with severe environmental catastrophes.  Common elements of dystopias may vary from environmental to political and social issues to politics, religion, psychology, spirituality, or technology that may become present in the future.

-- souce: https://libraryguides.mdc.edu/c.php?g=957851&p=6914808
This definition was written using the Oxford English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, The Free Online Dictionary, and Dictionary.com.