AnthemAnthem- Genre/Topics/ - Genre/Topics/ ConceptsConcepts

Dystopian NovelDystopian Novel Plot line=horrific experiences happen to characters and Plot line=horrific experiences happen to characters and

they either escape or establishment winsthey either escape or establishment wins Structure- usually in three “Acts”Structure- usually in three “Acts”

• Act I- Exposition =establish parameters of society and Act I- Exposition =establish parameters of society and introduction to characters- usually some precipitous introduction to characters- usually some precipitous event occurs at the end of Act I that introduces a event occurs at the end of Act I that introduces a central conflict and starts the rising actioncentral conflict and starts the rising action

• Act II- Rising Action= follows character’s attempts to Act II- Rising Action= follows character’s attempts to escape or change society. Climax occurs at the point escape or change society. Climax occurs at the point that character’s attempts to fulfill a desire and that character’s attempts to fulfill a desire and society's attempts to thwart him/her come to an society's attempts to thwart him/her come to an impasse - one or the other must winimpasse - one or the other must win

• Act III- Falling action= the theme is derived from the Act III- Falling action= the theme is derived from the resolution. Is escape or change a success or failure? resolution. Is escape or change a success or failure?

Dystopian Characters include…Dystopian Characters include… Representative of controlling powerRepresentative of controlling power

Representative of “typical “ citizen who is oblivious to or happy Representative of “typical “ citizen who is oblivious to or happy with society’s flawswith society’s flaws• Staunchly patriotic- who could be dissatisfied?Staunchly patriotic- who could be dissatisfied?• Naïve or take for granted that life is just the way it isNaïve or take for granted that life is just the way it is• Passive or philosophical- are aware of flaws, but see no Passive or philosophical- are aware of flaws, but see no

need to or no point in changeneed to or no point in change

Representative of disenfranchised- desire of escape or changeRepresentative of disenfranchised- desire of escape or change• Initially love or hold high position in the society- event(s) Initially love or hold high position in the society- event(s)

precipitate a change in beliefprecipitate a change in belief• Initially hate society because of events prior to beginning of Initially hate society because of events prior to beginning of

novel or for some personal “quirk” or “defect” which deems novel or for some personal “quirk” or “defect” which deems him/her an outcast. Feels powerless to effect changehim/her an outcast. Feels powerless to effect change

NOTE: the narrative view (whether first person or other) NOTE: the narrative view (whether first person or other) almost always comes from the inside, e.g. a member of the almost always comes from the inside, e.g. a member of the society or someone who enters and is adopted by the society or someone who enters and is adopted by the society. Makes sense that an outsider might not be able to society. Makes sense that an outsider might not be able to offer us a convincing evaluation of the dystopia.offer us a convincing evaluation of the dystopia.

Common Thematic or Philosophical Common Thematic or Philosophical Traits of the Dystopian NovelTraits of the Dystopian Novel

Individual is worth Individual is worth no moreno more than his value to the political than his value to the political machine.machine.

Power can exist in a single dictator or in larger governmental Power can exist in a single dictator or in larger governmental organization.organization.

Military control may be a factor, but so too are more subtle Military control may be a factor, but so too are more subtle forms of social control.forms of social control.

Major forms of control may include, but are not limited to…Major forms of control may include, but are not limited to…• Popular culture-Popular culture- distractions like drugs or alcohol, distractions like drugs or alcohol,

promiscuity, rampant consumerism are encouragedpromiscuity, rampant consumerism are encouraged• Emotional, mental or psychological-Emotional, mental or psychological- 24 -hour 24 -hour

surveillance, assault of auditory and visual images, surveillance, assault of auditory and visual images, intervention in marriage and intimacyintervention in marriage and intimacy

• PhysicalPhysical- restrictions in movement, government rations- restrictions in movement, government rations• EducationEducation- schools brainwash perpetuating loyalty to - schools brainwash perpetuating loyalty to

controlling power controlling power • Mass media and communication-Mass media and communication- dissemination of dissemination of

propaganda, manipulation of time and history, a scapegoat propaganda, manipulation of time and history, a scapegoat to deflect blame for suffering and turmoil- e.g. a foreign to deflect blame for suffering and turmoil- e.g. a foreign enemy, the rebellious or disenfranchised outcasts, a enemy, the rebellious or disenfranchised outcasts, a dissenting political voicedissenting political voice

CollectivismCollectivism

““The subjugation of the individual to the The subjugation of the individual to the group- whether to a race, class, or state- group- whether to a race, class, or state- does not matter” (Rand).does not matter” (Rand).

Worth is determined by service to the Worth is determined by service to the government or the massesgovernment or the masses

Promotes selflessness- or lack of self. Promotes selflessness- or lack of self. People are interchangeable; self- assertion People are interchangeable; self- assertion forbiddenforbidden

Denies humanityDenies humanity

IndividualismIndividualism “…“…regards man-every man- as an regards man-every man- as an

independent sovereign entity who possesses independent sovereign entity who possesses an inalienable right to his own life, a right an inalienable right to his own life, a right derived from his nature as a rational human” derived from his nature as a rational human” (Rand).(Rand).

Doesn’t mean we do whatever we feel like Doesn’t mean we do whatever we feel like doing- it means we all have the same rights.doing- it means we all have the same rights.

Promotes egoism- the ego- “or concern for Promotes egoism- the ego- “or concern for one’s own interests” (Rand). The SELF is the one’s own interests” (Rand). The SELF is the proper beneficiary of one’s desires and proper beneficiary of one’s desires and actions.actions.

Freewill vs. DeterminismFreewill vs. Determinism

Freewill contends that people make up Freewill contends that people make up their own minds and choose their own their own minds and choose their own decisions, directions based on the values decisions, directions based on the values they adopt.they adopt.

Determinism contends that people are in Determinism contends that people are in the grip of forces beyond their control the grip of forces beyond their control and what they believe and value is the and what they believe and value is the result of outside forces (other people, result of outside forces (other people, economy, gender, family, race… for economy, gender, family, race… for example).example).