Transcript Dystopian Literature: A Study and Comparison of

Corrie Dunshee
 What dystopian elements are portrayed and how are
they used in The Hunger Games?
 How are dystopian elements portrayed or used in
Divergent?
 How are The Hunger Games and Divergent similar?
 What is the new dystopian genre?
 “Literature written for young people ages 11 to 18 and
books marketed as ‘young adult’ by a publisher” (4)
 Traditionally identified as “problem novels” and
coming-of-age novels
 Comes from the POV of a teenager; reflects
interpretation of events and people
 The protagonist’s actions and decisions are major
factors in the plot’s outcome
 The events and problems in the plot are related to
teenagers, and the dialogue reflects their speech
 Depiction of a future place, based on technology and
describe planned environments, whose people live in
fearful, wretched conditions (69)
 Warns against the potential negative consequences of
complete utopianism (3)
 People Divided into Groups
 Platonic or Romantic Relationship
 Media Manipulation and Propaganda
 Measures to Cover Up Flaws and Lies in a Society
 People Divided into Groups
 Platonic or Romantic Relationship
 Pressure to Conform
 Measures to Cover Up Flaws and Lies in Society
 16-year-old female narrators
 People Divided into Groups
 Platonic or Romantic Relationship
 Measures to Cover up Flaws and Lies in Society
 1930s – 60s: Fear of the State (controlling governments
and loss of freedoms)
 Grownup ones are grimmer
 1984/Brave New World: detail the consequences of
political authoritarianism and feckless hedonism
 Show readers how terrible things will become if
deplorable behavior goes unchecked
 Young Adult Explosion: Romance (tough heroines and
anti-conformist)
 Centered more on young adult audience
 About what is happening right this minute
 More hand-to-hand combat
 Experience of growing up under nearly continuous adult
supervision
 Same purpose: warn about dangers of some current trend
 Dr. Kelly Sassi
 Dr. Amy Rupiper Taggart
 You
 Bach, Jacqueline, Laura Hensley Choate, and Bruce Parker: “Young Adult
Literature and Professional Development.” Theory into Practice 50.3
(2011): 198-205. Web.
 Booker, M.K. Dystopian Literature: A Theory and Research Guide. Westport:
Greenwood, 1994. Print.
 Bushman, John H., and Kay Parks Haas. “Young Adult Literature: A Brief
History.” Using Young Adult Literature in the English Classroom: 3rd
edition. Columbus: Merrill Prentice Hall, 2001. 263-273. Print.
 Claeys, Gregory. “News from Somewhere: Enhanced Sociability and the
Composite Definition of Utopia and Dystopia.” History 98.330 (2013):
145-173. Web.
 Dima-laza, Stăncuţa R. “A Dystopian Society or the Moral Decay of Humanity.”
Societate Şi Politică 5.1 (2011): 41-54. Web.
 Hayn, Judith A., Jeffrey S. Kaplan, and Amanda Nolen. “Young Adult Literature
Research in the 21st Century.” Theory into Practice 50.3 (2011): 176-181.
Web.
 Koss, Melanie D., and William H. Teale. “What’s Happening in YA Literature?
Trends in Books for Adolescents.” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy
52.7 (2009): 563-572. Web.
 Miller, Laura. “Fresh Hell: What’s behind the boom in dystopian fiction for
young readers?” The New Yorker. (2010). Web.
 Scholes, Justin and Jon Ostenson. “Understanding the Appeal of Dystopian
Young Adult Fiction.” The Alan Review (2013): 11-20. Print.
 Tomlinson, Carl M., and Carol Lynch-Brown. Essentials of Young Adult
Literature: Second Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2010. Print.
 Zdilla, Gail. “The Appeal of Young Adult Literature in Late Adolescence:
College Freshman Read YAL.” Young Adult Literature and Adolescent
Identity Across Cultures and Classrooms: Contexts for the Literary Lives
of Teens. Ed. Janet Alsup. New York: Routledge, 2010. 191-203. Print.
 Minott-Ahl, Nicola. Dystopia in Vanity Fair: The Nightmare of Modern London.
Web. 11 Dec. 2013.
 The Hunger Games: Dystopian Timeline From ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four to Now.
Huffington Post. 23 Mar. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.
 Utopia and Dystopia. 11 Dec. 2013