BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley (1932)
Define the notion of utopia. Give a brief outline of its history going back to 1516 when Thomas Moore wrote his Utopia. Whence the title of Huxley’s novel?
Describe how the society of Brave New World is divided into five different castes. How are they different from each other? How does this system work? What is its purpose?
How is technology used to control the World State members? How does Huxley use Ford and the idea of assembly line to advance his themes?
Discuss the relation between the sexes in the World State. How do men and women interact? Who seems to have more power in social situations?
Discuss the two female characters – Linda and Lenina. What is their role in the novel?
Describe Bernard and Lenina’s brief excursion to one of the Savage Reservations. What happens during the trip? How is it significant? Do you think Huxley is suggesting that reverting to a more primitive way of life is a viable solution?
The confrontation between Mond and John, which forms the heart of the novel, represents a conversation between two diametrically opposed characters. What are Mustapha Mond’s arguments against freedom? Is there any validity to them? Do you think there is a “winner” in this debate?
Although they were raised very differently, Bernard Marx and John the Savage are both dissatisfied with the society of the brave new world. What qualities do these characters have in common? How are they different? Compare their strengths and weaknesses.
Discuss Huxley's use of satire to make his point in the novel. Choose either the scene describing the Solidarity Service that Bernard attends or John's visit to the feelies as the focus for your argument.
Most people living in this utopian society seem quite happy ("Everybody's happy nowadays," according to the hypnopaedic suggestion). What do you think about this kind of happiness? In what specific ways has the promise of happiness not been achieved in the brave new world? Discuss the relationship between truth and happiness, and the use of soma?
by George Orwell (1949)
Define the notion of dystopia. Give a brief outline of its history. Whence the title of Orwell’s novel?
Discuss the social hierarchies of 1984. Describe which class the following characters represent and cite three defining features of each class that distinguishes it from the others. O’Brien (Inner Party), Winston (Outer Party), the old man in the pub (prole).
How is technology used by the government to thwart all attempts at freedom and independence?
Describe the relations between the sexes in Oceania.
Throughout the novel, Winston pursues reality or “the truth.” Give three examples from the text where Winston is seeking the truth. In the end, does Winston find what he seeks? Why does knowing that 2 + 2 = 4 is true mean freedom?
What is meant by the Party slogan “who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past”? Give at least two examples from the book where the Party controls the past.
Oceania seems to be in a constant state of war against one enemy or another. What are the benefits of war and how is it used to control the population of Oceania?
The act of writing features prominently in the book, and is depicted as especially important to Winston. What purpose do you think it serves and what does writing symbolize overall? Why is control over language itself so important for the rulers of Oceania? Give examples.
Why does the Party cling to power?
Define “doublespeak” and “doublethink”. Provide examples from the novel.
In Oceania popular culture is described in this way: Here were produced rubbishy newspapers, containing almost nothing except sport, crime, and astrology, sensational five-cent novelettes, films oozing with sex, and sentimental songs which were composed entirely by mechanical means on a special kind of kaleidoscope known as a versificator. Do you think popular culture in our society could be described in this way? What is the function of this sort of “empty” entertainment in the novel and in modern society? Do you think we might consider social media as a less threatening equivalent of Big Brother?
EXTRA QUESTION: Apart from direct adaptations of both novels, many contemporary movies have been inspired by their gloomy visions of humanity in the future. Compile a filmography of those movies explain why you have chosen them.