The Class: Dystopian Literature

This 12th grade elective focuses on reading and studying texts that are considered dystopian and function as critiques of our current historical moment. Students write, discuss, and research the ways in which the dystopian genre functions as a comment on social and cultural trends, and how these critiques are connected to racism, gender discrimination, class polarization, and reliance on technology in our world today. Students are asked to determine what these narratives reveal about human nature and values, and how the dystopian genre works to address and define these values.

The Task: Write 50-Word Dystopian Stories

After reading a collection of 50-word dystopian stories, the students each wrote a 50-word dystopian story. “We talked about brevity and how these short pieces are complete stories,” says English Teacher Angie Yuan.  “We also talked about what makes these 50-word stories successful: each one includes the juxtaposition of a very small, intimate moment with a bigger idea.”

The students were required to critique an aspect of society, to emphasize imagery and sensory details, and to make sure the title of their story adds another layer of meaning to the piece. During the editing process, the students picked their strongest word and their weakest word and replaced their weakest word.

The Outcomes

Through writing these stories, students further explored the components of dystopian stories. “The students thought that there should be tension between the big idea and how it affects the character,” said Angie. “And while one definition of dystopian literature is about how it criticizes society, we also talked about how these stories reflect hope and the human spirit. In these 50-word stories, the students really look what it means to be human, connecting apocalyptic worlds with the human spirit on a small scale.”

Below are seven of the 50-word dystopian stories written by students in this class. 

Campbell Soup, by Komathi A.

The LandFill was endless. Among the towering mountains, a group scavenges. There! A man kicks over some scrap, uncovering a dusty can. Heart thumping, he pried it open to reveal sour-smelling brown slop. Slurping down the contents, he hesitates. He should share it with the others. 

He finishes it alone.

Ant Farm, by Yasmine A.

Artificial light seeped through a hole in Gerald’s burrow, waking him up. He was going to experience the Above Ground for the first time today. He worried what the sun might feel like on his skin and how the brightness might pain his eyes through the tinted antitoxin glass that protected the Under Ground.

How to Get into Harvard, by Pascale C.

How would it feel to slip through the bars of those revered gates? She had heard the dining was good and the literature even better. The pages of the yellowed book cut her cold finger as she sat in the centuries-old ivy-covered library. Books burn best in a nuclear winter.

The Beginning Stages of Metamorphosis, by Sinclaire H.

Today, Johanne painted a girl. The child bounded down a hill and donned a cobalt dress; butterflies scattered across the thin, wrinkly paper. 

Once dried, Johanne soundlessly lifted her hand, waiting for Him to traipse over, cold shoes echoing through the cement walls. 

“Alas, another self-portrait. We wanted still life.”

A Fever Dream, by Claire M.

The sky was blue today; a saturated cerulean with a menagerie of clouds. Sunlight leaked into the depths of her skin. She stared keenly, a miniscule detail in an endless universe. 

Sounds of flames drenched the daylight. She sits up, surrounded by war.

Run away? Never. Still caged like wolves.

Zoo Animals, by Cesar S.

The child enjoyed visiting zoos, looking at all the animals in their pretty little habitats. 

Ten years later, waking up tired, she started reminiscing on how she didn’t realize how small the habitats were. Spending the rest of her life cuddled up in her own habitat, curious eyes watching her.

Off to Work! by René Q.

A sea of commuters floods all nine lanes of Venice Boulevard. Conserving every last drop of gasoline, John shuts off the engine. Benzene and noise pollution greet him a good morning as he rolls down the window. He takes a deep breath and sighs carbon dioxide. Just business as usual.

Read more Show Your Work articles.