Discerning The Facade

Worksheet Description

This worksheet engages students in the thematic exploration of utopian literature. It presents a definition of utopia as an ideal society where safety and happiness are the norm, but acknowledges the intrinsic challenges such societies face. The task set forth prompts students to delve into the paradox of utopias by examining how elements of dystopia often lurk beneath the surface. Students are given a choice of seminal utopian works, including “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. LeGuin, “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley, “News from Nowhere” by William Morris, and “A Modern Utopia” by H.G. Wells, to analyze the components that construct a utopia: the detailed setting, the outsider perspective, and the skepticism towards societal issues.

The assignment is twofold: to scrutinize how the book exemplifies utopian elements and to discern whether the society’s utopian facade is sustained or dismantled as a dystopia as the narrative progresses. This critical examination encourages students to consider broader societal implications within fictional works and reflect on the complexities of crafting a perfect society within the realm of literature and beyond.