Fahrenheit 451 - Science Fiction Terms

A genre of literature and film. Science Fiction usually includes some combination of the following: Time/Space travel, Advanced Technology, Aliens, Futuristic Setting or Alternate History, Dystopian Society, Formal and Logical System of Rules.

A futuristic or imagined universe in which a seemingly-perfect society is controlled by a government, religion, or technology that oppresses or limits individual freedoms.

The act of limiting or restricting information.

Removing material so that no one can access it.

A book that has been targeted for removal due to perceived inappropriate subject matter. Top reasons are 1. Sexually Explicit 2. Contains Offensive Language 3. Unsuited to any age group

A character that is directly affected by the central conflict in a story and changes significantly as a result of this conflict

In literature, conflict describes the main obstacle that the characters have to face or overcome. Three main types of conflict are: Person vs. Person; Person vs. Him/Herself; Person vs. Nature

A system of government in which all citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives.

A literary device that describes words or actions that are the opposite of what was expected, usually with a humorous or tragic effect.

A literary term for an object or person that represents a larger object, person, or idea. Example: The American Flag is a symbol of patriotism. A red light is a symbol meaning “stop.”

A short, simple story that demonstrates a moral or lesson.

A literary device where the action stops and the narrative moves suddenly back in time to events that happened previously.

A character with the opposite personality of the protagonist. Foils are used to highlight the other character’s personality.

An event or person that causes change.

The normal or regular way things are.

A place, state, or condition of being that is ideally perfect in terms of laws, politics, customs, and social conditions. From the Greek ou (no) + topos (place). In science fiction literature, utopian societies are usually just an illusion, masking a dystopian society underneath.

Words with strong positive or negative connotations used to appeal to an audience’s emotions.

The art of logical reasoning. A Logos argument relies on evidence–facts, statistics, data–to prove or persuade. Logos arguments make a speaker appear prepared and informed about their subject, which in turn enhances their Ethos.

The underlying sentiment that informs the shared beliefs, customs, or practices of a group or society. An Ethos argument relies on appealing to the common values of a group to persuade OR using the reputation of the speaker as a selling point.

The quality or power of life experiences, literature, music, or other artistic forms of expression to arouse pity or compassion in an audience. A Pathos argument relies on appealing to one’s emotions or needs.

The art of making others believe or act as you want them to through appeals to reason (logos), emotion (pathos), or authority (ethos).

The implied meaning of a word or phrase. Some words have stronger connotations than others. For example, the word “nerd” has a stronger connotation than the word “ smart.”

False or misleading information that is spread to promote an opinion or idea.

The author’s reason for writing. The most common purposes are to Persuade, to Inform, or to Entertain.