Utopia

Utopia

• Genre: Fiction; political satire; utopian literature
• Originally Published: Lexile 1390L; 1516
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
• Structure/Length: Approximately 163 pages; approximately 4 hours and 10 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Utopia is a work of political and social satire that presents a fictional island society called Utopia, where communal living, equality, and rational governance are central principles. The central conflict is the societal and political structure of Utopia itself, which More uses to critique the political and social realities of his time. The narrative is presented as a series of dialogues and letters, offering a critique of 16th-century European society and exploring ideas about governance, education, and justice.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of political criticism and societal satire

Thomas More, Author

• Bio: Born 1478; deceased 1535; English lawyer, philosopher, and statesman; known for his role as Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII; was a scholar and humanist who wrote extensively on theology, politics, and education; his steadfast refusal to endorse King Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon led to his execution and martyrdom
• Other Works: A Dialogue Concerning Heresies (1528); A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation (1534)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Origins of Social Problems and Their Solutions
• The Relationship Between Individual Freedoms and the Common Good
• The Pernicious Effects of Private Property

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the cultural, political, and ideological contexts of the text that influenced More’s work.
• Discuss paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Origins of Social Problems and Their Solutions, The Relationship Between Individual Freedoms and the Common Good, and The Pernicious Effects of Private Property.
• Explore the concept of utopia to strengthen critical thinking by designing an ideal community, including its political structure, legal system, and other aspects.
• Evaluate various aspects of the text in structured essay responses on the Utopian religion, the structure of the book, and other topics.