categorisation

[liesl]

Though i am only in my second year of an english literature degree at university it has become time to decide on a topic for my dissertation next year. My first thought is dystopian literature, exploring Orwell, Huxley, Wells and Atwood and their use of political information (or something like that, nothing is fine tuned yet).

I am however stuck when it comes to shaping my second topic idea (as my 'safety net') but began toying with the idea of exploring texts which employ animals and their way of life to reflect and comment upon present society, e.g. Animal Farm, Watership Down, Animals of Farthing Wood?.

My problem is the categorisation of these texts, how could i describe the employing of animals to reflect upon society into a simple topic term like 'dystopian literature'?? (and also if anyone wishes to suggest texts which fit this idea of animals and society then please feel free to comment). Thanks! :)

[Logos]

Dystopian lit is a great choice but if you were going to use animal-themed works you could go with "animals as allegory to the human condition" or somesuch. Melville's Moby Dick (http://www.online-literature.com/melville/mobydick/) could be another work to use.

[mtpspur]

Wind in the Willows might be a fun contrast using animals in relation to the human condition.

[mousemouse]

Hmm I think it could be OK to categorise them as "modern fabels" (maybe) since they are stories where anmals are used as allegories to human behavior. They mostly seem to have some moral issue as well.
Another book for you could be "Not Wanted on the Voyage" by Timothy Findley. It's a rewriting of Noah's Arch, and it has a talking cat in it (or at least it's a cat that is one of the main characters along with the people. It has everything for a student of literature. Great book.

[cuppajoe_9]

Orxy and Crake by Margaret Atwood might be an interesting one: fictional, genetically engineered animals as an alegory for human behavior and it's a dystopian novel. You might want to approach that one with caution, however, as the animals are somewhat incidental, and the novel is really depressing and quite disturbing. And not particularly good. Maybe this wasn't a very good idea.

[liesl]

i intend to perhaps touch upon oryx and crake within my topic of dystopian literature..but will be mostly focussed upon Atwood's other dystopian text The Handmaid's Tale and the subject of different techniques of social control.