Name______

Science Fiction Review/Study Guide

Science Fiction CHARACTERISTICS

What makes a book or story Science Fictional?

  • is usually set in the future or is set during or after a large disaster
  • is often set in a dystopic instead of utopic society
  • has some true, scientific basis
  • seems realistic
  • takes a current problem of society and predicts what it will be like in the future
  • shows impact of real or imagined science/technology on society
  • has a controlling, strong government

Science Fiction THEMES

What kinds of situations do readers typically read about in Science Fictional books?

  1. Characters searching for other worlds/societies/places for fun, exploration, or necessity
  2. Characters rebelling against society’s rules
  3. FuturisticScience and Technology impacting characters in the future (usually in a negative way)
  4. Acorporation, government, dictator, or form of technology using mind control tochange the mentality of citizens (literally or figuratively) in order to make them “the same”
  5. Happiness v. Pleasure-citizens using technology to mistakenly achieve “happiness” when they are really just feeling pleasure
  6. Anti-Technology-citizens having to survive in a society where little technology exists

DYSTOPIA:a society that is “ruled” by a controlling force that oppresses and dehumanizes its citizens; it is usually is the result of a utopic society “gone wrong” or having “failed” in its attempt to be a perfect place

CHARACTERISTICS OF A DYSTOPIC SOCIETY

(What makes a society a “dystopic” society?)

  1. Propaganda is used to control citizens
  2. Freedom, independent thought, and information are restricted
  3. A figure or idea is worshipped by the citizens of the society
  4. Citizens are under constant supervision by the government
  5. Citizens have a fear of the outside world
  6. Citizens are dehumanized (stripped of human characteristics)
  7. Citizens conform to the same expectations; individuality is BAD!

CHARACTERISTICS OF A DYSTOPIC PROTAGONIST

(How the main character in a dystopic novel typically behaves)

  1. Often feels trapped and struggles to escape the society.
  2. Feels that he/she is different from the rest of the members of society
  3. Questions the existing government or political systems and laws
  4. Believes or suddenly realizes that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he/she lives
  5. Helps the reader recognize the negative aspects of the “perfect” world (even though it may seem perfect to others in the society)

6. Usually ends up rebelling against the society in some way

Short Story Title / Characteristics / Themes / Dystopia? / Dystopic Prot?
“The Pedestrian”
“Speech Sounds”
“The Preserving Machine”