Dictionary of Literary Themes and Motifs

The Dictionary of Literary Themes and Motifs gives a straight-forward while descriptive explanation of the word "utopia" and its evolution over time, this entry alone spanning twenty-one pages. As a dictionary, its information is unbiased and relatively direct, naming facts, dates, and instances, describing various interpretations and perspectives rather than actually supporting one over another. The entry begins by explaining the origins of the word and the basic guidelines for what makes something "utopian," then continues to describe the philosophy's beginnings with the ancient Greeks in 380 B.C.E., following the general changes in the ideas up through the twentieth century. Because it is a literary dictionary, the information given is based on the numerous works that have been written and published throughout history regarding the "perfect society" and the debatable canons of utopias. In this way, the source was also very useful in that it provides a great deal of ideas for other potential resources to look into, particularly as primary resources, and names a variety of notable philosophers and works for each time period, including a range from Zeno's Politeia (300 B.C.E.) to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and Island (1962).

"Utopia." Dictionary of Literary Themes and Motifs: L-Z. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1988.