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Utopia & Utopian Literature

Sir Thomas More

In CliffsNotes on Utopia & Utopian Literature, discover the Utopian movement that Thomas More helped usher in with his complex Utopia. Explore brief discussions on works such as Plato's Republic, Sir Francis Bacon's The New Atlantis, and H.G. Wells's A Modern Utopia. In an in-depth look at More's Utopia., three characters debate how 16th-century society can be improved — from the city level to the community to the individual — to eliminate corruption and inequities of life.

Book Summary for Utopia

Sir Thomas More Biography

Life of Sir Thomas More

Other Works of Thomas More

About Utopia and Utopian Literature

Historical Background

The Utopian Theme

Utopian Literature Before More

Utopian Literature After More

Anti-Utopias

Established Utopian Communities

Publication Data for More's Utopia

Summary and Analysis for Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel

Setting the Stage

Opening of the Discussion

The Meeting at Cardinal Morton's House

Hypothetical Meeting of the French Council

The Council for Financial Affairs

More Versus Hythloday on Public Service

Summary and Analysis for Book II: The Discourse on Utopia

Geographical Features of Utopia

Country Life

The Cities

Officials

Occupations

Population Control

Markets

Community Life

Travel

The Economy

Learning

Philosophy

Slavery

Euthanasia

Marriage and Divorce

Laws

Treaties and Alliances

War

Religion

Peroration

More's Concluding Observation

Read the Original Text for Utopia

Introduction

Section 1: Discourses of Raphael Hythloday, of the Best State of a Commonwealth

Section 2: Of Their Towns, Particularly of Amaurot

Section 3: Of Their Magistrates

Section 4: Of Their Trades, and Manner of Life

Section 5: Of Their Traffic

Section 6: Of the Travelling of the Utopians

Section 7: Of Their Slaves, and of Their Marriages

Section 8: Of Their Military Discipline

Section 9: Of the Religions of the Utopians

Critical Essays

The Composition of Utopia

Study and Homework Help

Quiz

Essay Questions

Cite this Literature Note

Take the Quiz What year was Utopia published?
  1. 1516
  2. 1616
  3. 1716
  4. 1816
Quiz
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