About the Unit
As human beings, it is in our nature to continually seek to create a better world, to make our existence as close to perfect as can be. But what is perfection? What makes a perfect world? The eradication of disease? Old age? Death? Pain? Suffering? Choices? Who would enjoy this perfect society? Everyone? A select few? Are human beings essentially greedy, selfish people? What would we have to give up in order to create a perfect world? Is it even possible to please everyone? Would every human own his/her own definition of Utopia? Throughout history we have seen various civilizations attempt to create perfect societies: Rome, China, Nazi Germany, The Soviet Union, North Korea. Even the United States attempts to create a perfect society through democracy. The question is, what happens when we attempt to create a perfect society? Is a utopian society even possible? Dystopian literature attempts to answer this question; each novel portrays a world looking to create a perfect society, a utopia. But, each attempt is foiled by human nature, each attempt is distorted by our own humanity. Having read Fahrenheit 451, the additional novels we shall read in literature circles are all dystopian in nature: Divergent by Veronica Ross, Red Rising by Pierce Brown, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, and Matched by Ally Condie.
Is it possible to create a perfect society? What might that society look like? Who would benefit? What might be lost in this attempt to create the perfect utopian society? What problems and issues might you encounter in trying to create this society? How close can human beings get to perfection? To Utopia? Should we even try? What is the cost? What are the benefits? Is a Utopian society even possible?
Throughout this unit, we shall read, share, and reflect upon several dystopian novels. What makes each novel dystopian? How is each society seeking perfection? What has happened in each attempt to create a perfect society? What common problems arise? What unique problems arise? What can we learn from these novels?
Is it possible to create a perfect society? What might that society look like? Who would benefit? What might be lost in this attempt to create the perfect utopian society? What problems and issues might you encounter in trying to create this society? How close can human beings get to perfection? To Utopia? Should we even try? What is the cost? What are the benefits? Is a Utopian society even possible?
Throughout this unit, we shall read, share, and reflect upon several dystopian novels. What makes each novel dystopian? How is each society seeking perfection? What has happened in each attempt to create a perfect society? What common problems arise? What unique problems arise? What can we learn from these novels?