1984

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do you know about dystopian fiction? List examples of books, TV shows, movies, or video games in this genre. What characteristics, conflicts, and images are common elements of dystopian fiction?

Teaching Suggestion: If your students are unlikely to know the definition of dystopian fiction, you might omit the first part of this question and offer a definition instead; consider listing a few examples of your own as a springboard if your students struggle to generate examples. Students might benefit from sharing their examples with one another in a small-group or whole-class discussion, as this will offer them a sense of how diverse and widespread dystopian fiction really is. Student input regarding common elements may create the opportunity to introduce a connected theme like Totalitarian Power Diminishes Individuality.

• This library guide from Miami Dade College defines dystopian fiction and offers annotated examples.
• This guide from Flagler College lists many examples of dystopian literature; examples can be accessed by decade or by country of origin.