1984 Quiz & Part One; Dystopian Fiction Project
After taking a quiz on Part One of 1984, let's discuss the significance of the following:
Dystopian Fiction Project
Use the writing prompts from class to create your own dystopian story. Length is up to you, but remember that a good story has a beginning, middle, and end. Character is important, so you'll want to develop your character enough for us readers to care about him or her. Setting becomes an important aspect in any science fiction or fantasy story like this. Settings seem more real when they are described with specific details and verisimilitude. The shorter the story, the closer to the climax you will want to begin.
Other advice/resources:
The Writing Cafe: The Dystopian Society
5 Tips to Writing a Dystopian Story
It's a Bad, Bad World: Writeworld
What Makes a Good YA Dystopian Novel?
Some writing tips:
- What function does Syme play in the novel thus far? Compare/contrast him with Winston.
- How does a government change culture by censoring (or omitting) classical literature, such as Shakespeare, Chaucer, Milton, Byron, etc. Examine your own education. How well do you know these authors and their works?
- How is our culture similar/different from the line on page 53: "There will be no thought, as we understand it now. Orthodoxy (authorized or generally accepted theory, doctrine, or practice) means not thinking--not needing to think."
- What does Winston mean when he writes: "if there is hope, it lies in the proles"?
- Explain: "Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious."
- Explain: "Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows."
- Examine pg. 102, "It was at night..." What might be your prediction about the characters in this book?
- Why is writing a "dangerous act"?
Dystopian Fiction Project
Use the writing prompts from class to create your own dystopian story. Length is up to you, but remember that a good story has a beginning, middle, and end. Character is important, so you'll want to develop your character enough for us readers to care about him or her. Setting becomes an important aspect in any science fiction or fantasy story like this. Settings seem more real when they are described with specific details and verisimilitude. The shorter the story, the closer to the climax you will want to begin.
Other advice/resources:
The Writing Cafe: The Dystopian Society
5 Tips to Writing a Dystopian Story
It's a Bad, Bad World: Writeworld
What Makes a Good YA Dystopian Novel?
Some writing tips:
- No matter what, when you get stuck (and you will) remember to step into the shoes of your protagonist. What does she see, what does he think, what does she want, etc.?
- Skip to the next scene. If you don't know what to write yet, skip it and come back later. Write the stuff you know you want to see. Fill in the other stuff later.
- Take time to read. Often reading or taking a walk or doing something else for a minute can jar your creative juices to continue spilling when needed.
- Work through your writer's block. Writers block doesn't exist. It's just you not making decisions or not wanting to write. Make the decision to write.
- This is a draft. It's not ready to be published. Relax and tell a good story!
- Freewrite. Brainstorm. Use the skills we've taught you.
- Get back on the "horse"--if you stop writing, go back to it. Persistence is important! Keep writing and the story will arrive--just maybe in a lot of pieces and fragments. It's okay to have a story come out like a jigsaw puzzle that will need to be assembled later. Get the words down, then worry about how it all fits together!
HOMEWORK: Please continue reading 1984. If you're behind, please try to catch up. Read up to page 147 (chp v.) for Thursday.
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