Initial Response: Jackson, Dick, and Atwood brilliantly incorporate the conflict of Person vs. Society, but which one does it better?
In one to two paragraphs, argue which of the Unit 5 authors best portrays the conflict of Man vs. Society and HOW (you might like to do some more research on The Handmaid’s Tale to write about Atwood). This is a great practice for your upcoming Position Paper.
Share a modern-day piece of literature (new story, article, video, movie, novel, etc.) that supports your response and is a direct connection to the story you choose. Be sure to post the link to your modern piece of literature and explain how it connects to your chosen author/story.
Finish your post by asking a question of your peers that promotes critical thinking on this subject.
Topic One: Literature Resources for this unit:
The readings in this unit focus on the literary device of Conflict. Conflict is the driving force of all good literature. Nowhere does conflict appear more originally and desperately than in Dystopian (relating to a society in which there is an illusion of a perfect/futuristic society) stories. Below, you will find two chillingly vivid classic tales of conflict by Jackson and Dick.
Shirley Jackson’s chilling dystopian story, “The Lottery,” is rife with conflict. As a cautionary tale, “The Lottery” is just as effective in modern times as in 1948, and set the stage for popular literature such as Hunger Games and The Handmaid’s Tale.
Jackson, S. (1948). The lottery, The New Yorker. Link to the full text in The New Yorker.
Philip K. Dick authored 121 short stories and 44 novels before he died at the age of 53. Many films are based on his work, such as Blade Runner and Minority Report. His most famous alternate-history novel is a current series on Amazon, titled The Man in the High Castle.
Dick, P. (1953/2017). The hanging stranger. American Literature.com. Link to the full text here.
When Margaret Atwood authored The Handmaid’s Tale in 1985, she might not have imagined it would have extended popularity for decades. Currently, it is a top-rated series on HBO and the novel is again on the New York Times bestseller list. As with most dystopian novels, it focuses on a society that is changed for what appears to be the betterment of its people.
In dystopian handmaid’s tale, a warning for a new generation not to take rights for granted. (2017, April 25). PBS News Hour.
Watch Video
In dystopian ‘Handmaid’s Tale,’ a warning for a new generation not to take rights for granted
Duration: 7:11
User: n/a – Added: 4/25/17
YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36TR0ESbhTE
