Page 1: Dystopian Literature Analysis

This page introduces an English exam focused on utopia and dystopia themes. The first part involves a language mediation task based on a German article about the TV series "A Handmaid's Tale".

Definition: A dystopia is a fictional society characterized by great suffering or injustice, typically one that is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic.

The article describes the setting of "A Handmaid's Tale":

• Near-future United States renamed as the Republic of Gilead
• Theocratic male-dominated government
• Severe restrictions on women's rights and freedoms
• Environmental toxins causing widespread infertility
• Fertile women forced into servitude as "handmaids"

Highlight: The series warns that societal changes can occur rapidly and fundamentally, transforming a familiar world into a dystopian nightmare.

The exam requires students to summarize this information in an email to their English teacher, demonstrating their understanding of dystopian themes and their ability to convey information across languages.

Page 2: The Circle - Corporate Dystopia

This page presents an excerpt from Dave Eggers' novel "The Circle", exploring themes of corporate control and surveillance in a dystopian setting.

Key elements of the excerpt:

• Mandatory health screenings for employees
• Biweekly wellness check-ups and diet consultations
• Comprehensive data collection and centralization
• Advanced health monitoring technology

Example: The silver bracelet health monitor represents the company's intrusive data collection practices, blurring the line between employee well-being and privacy invasion.

The passage highlights the company's seemingly benevolent intentions, which mask a more sinister level of control over employees' lives. This exemplifies a common theme in dystopian literature: the gradual erosion of privacy and autonomy under the guise of progress and care.

Vocabulary: Vital signs - measurements of the body's most basic functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature.

The exam asks students to analyze this text, likely focusing on identifying dystopian elements and discussing the implications of such technological advancements on individual freedom and privacy.