Introduction

Negative utopian literature, or Dystopian literature, is a powerful form of political satire. The following is a guide to sites dedicated to three books and authors of Dystopian literature. You will find analyses of the novels as well as biographies of the authors. Click on the Guidesheet link at the bottom of the page, print out the Web page, then use the links below to guide your expedition.

The Internet Resources

• Biography of George Orwell - A picture and brief description of the life of Orwell.

   

• 1984: Metaphor Analysis - This site gives an overview of several of the metaphors from the book, including rats, music, and dreams.

   

• 1984: Theme Analysis - This is a brief essay about the historical context and implications of the novel. In discussing the themes of the work, it raises questions about the possibility of this Dystopian society actually coming into existence.

   

• Ray Bradbury's Biography - Complete with pictures.

   

• Short Summary of Fahrenheit 451 - Overview of the plot, along with links to character descriptions, analyses and a sample test.

   

• About Aldous Huxley - A brief biography with a picture.

   

• Short Summary of Brave New World - This summary includes links to related topics, such as Neo-Pavlovian conditioning, and a glossary of terms used in the book.

   

• Brave New World: Theme Analysis - This analysis goes beyond mere plot summary and looks at the issues raised in the novel and the different elements that allow Huxley's imaginary society to function.

Guidesheet