Post-Apocalyptic Literature

Post-Apocalyptic Literature: Etymology and Concept

Table of Contents

Etymology of “Post-Apocalyptic” in Literature

The term “post-apocalyptic” in Post-Apocalyptic Literature is a compound word with Latin and Greek roots. “Post” is derived from the Latin word meaning “after” or “subsequent.” “Apocalyptic” stems from the Greek word “apokalypsis,” meaning “unveiling” or “revelation.” In a literary context, “post-apocalyptic” refers to works set in a period after a catastrophic event—often a global disaster—that drastically alters society and the environment. The term encompasses a broad range of subgenres, from bleak dystopias to stories of survival and resilience. The etymology of the term underscores the dual nature of the post-apocalyptic genre, as it explores both the destruction and potential for renewal inherent in the aftermath of catastrophe.

Concept of Post-Apocalyptic Literature

Aspect	Description
Setting	A world significantly transformed by a catastrophic event (e.g., war, plague, natural disaster).
Themes	Survival, societal collapse, loss, resilience, hope, rebuilding, the human condition.
Characters	Often survivors struggling to adapt to a new reality, facing physical and psychological challenges.
Plot	Typically centered on the characters’ efforts to survive, find meaning, and possibly rebuild a new society.
Subgenres	Dystopia, survival horror, post-apocalyptic science fiction, eco-fiction.

Post-Apocalyptic Literature: Theorists, Works and Arguments

I. Frank Kermode

Work: The Sense of an Ending (1967)
Argument: Post-apocalyptic narratives reflect a universal human fascination with endings and the desire to impose order on chaos.

II. James Berger

Work: After the End: Representations of Post-Apocalypse (1999)
Argument: Post-apocalyptic fiction serves as a cultural critique, exploring anxieties about modernity, technology, and environmental destruction.

III. Teresa Heffernan

Work: Post-Apocalyptic Culture: Modernism, Postmodernism, and the Twentieth-Century Novel (2008)
Argument: Post-apocalyptic literature reflects a shift from modernist anxieties about the collapse of civilization to postmodern concerns with fragmentation and the loss of meaning.

IV. Matthew Schneider-Mayerson

Work: An Ecocritical Dictionary (2010)
Argument: Post-apocalyptic fiction often functions as environmental allegory, warning about the consequences of ecological damage and unsustainable practices.

V. Ursula K. Heise

Work: Sense of Place and Sense of Planet: The Environmental Imagination of the Global (2008)
Argument: Post-apocalyptic narratives can foster a sense of global ecological awareness and responsibility.

VI. Timothy Morton

Work: Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology after the End of the World (2013)
Argument: Post-apocalyptic fiction can help us grapple with the concept of “hyperobjects” (e.g., climate change), phenomena so vast and complex that they defy traditional understanding.

Post-Apocalyptic Literature: Principles

Principle	Description	Example(s)
Catastrophic Event	The narrative begins after a large-scale disaster that has drastically altered the world.	The Road by Cormac McCarthy, A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.
Survival and Adaptation	Characters struggle to survive in a harsh and unfamiliar environment, often facing physical and psychological challenges.	The Stand by Stephen King, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Social Collapse and Reconstruction	The breakdown of societal norms and institutions leads to new forms of social organization, or attempts to rebuild the old.	Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Loss and Trauma	Characters grapple with the loss of loved ones, homes, and familiar ways of life.	The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Hope and Resilience	Despite the bleak circumstances, the narrative often explores the enduring human spirit and the possibility of renewal.	Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, Wool by Hugh Howey
Moral and Philosophical Questions	The post-apocalyptic setting allows for exploration of fundamental questions about human nature, morality, and the meaning of life.	The Children of Men by P.D. James, The Postman by David Brin
Environmental Commentary	The genre often critiques human actions that have led to environmental degradation and explores the consequences of ecological collapse.	The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi, The Wall by John Lanchester

Post-Apocalyptic Literature: How to Use in Critiques

Identify the Post-Apocalyptic Elements:

Setting: Is the story set in a world significantly altered by a catastrophic event? What are the key characteristics of this world?
Characters: Are the characters survivors struggling to adapt to a new reality? What challenges do they face?
Plot: Does the plot revolve around survival, rebuilding, or exploring the consequences of the disaster?

Themes: Does the story explore themes like loss, hope, resilience, social collapse, or environmental destruction?

Connect to Post-Apocalyptic Tropes and Conventions:

Does the story use familiar post-apocalyptic tropes (e.g., scavenger societies, mutated creatures, abandoned cities)?

Does it subvert or challenge any of these conventions?
How does it contribute to or deviate from the broader post-apocalyptic tradition?

Analyze the Social and Political Commentary:

Does the story critique current social, political, or environmental issues?
What warnings or messages does it convey about the potential consequences of our actions?
Does it offer any solutions or alternative visions for the future?

Examine the Representation of Human Nature:

How does the story portray human behavior in extreme circumstances?
Does it emphasize the potential for good or evil in humanity?

What does it suggest about the nature of hope, resilience, and the will to survive?

Explore the Literary and Cultural Significance:

How does the story contribute to the broader literary and cultural conversation about apocalypse and disaster?

Does it offer any unique insights or perspectives?
What impact does it have on readers, and why does it resonate with them?

Example:

In Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, the post-apocalyptic setting of a desolate and ash-covered world serves as a backdrop for exploring the themes of survival, loss, and the enduring bond between a father and son. The novel’s bleakness and starkness can be seen as a commentary on the potential consequences of environmental destruction and the fragility of human civilization. The characters’ unwavering determination to survive, even in the face of overwhelming despair, speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.

By analyzing these elements, we can gain a deeper understanding of The Road as a powerful post-apocalyptic narrative that grapples with fundamental questions about human nature and the meaning of life in the face of unimaginable catastrophe.

Post-Apocalyptic Literature: Criticism Against It

I. Repetitive Tropes and Clichés

Overuse of familiar tropes like zombie outbreaks, nuclear holocausts, and dystopian governments.

Lack of originality and innovation in plotlines and character development.

II. Exploitation of Trauma and Suffering

Gratuitous violence and depictions of human suffering for shock value.

Insensitivity towards real-world traumas and tragedies.

III. Pessimism and Nihilism

Overemphasis on bleakness, despair, and the futility of hope.

Lack of positive or uplifting messages about the human spirit.

IV. Lack of Diversity and Representation

Predominance of white, male protagonists and a lack of diverse perspectives.

Stereotypical portrayals of marginalized groups.

V. Escapism and Wish-Fulfillment

Appeal to fantasies of societal collapse and starting over.

Avoidance of confronting real-world problems and challenges.

VI. Commercialization and Mass Production

Over-saturation of the market with formulaic post-apocalyptic stories.

Focus on profit over artistic merit and social commentary.

VII. Simplification of Complex Issues

Reduction of complex social, political, and environmental problems to simplistic narratives.

Failure to offer nuanced or meaningful solutions to real-world problems.

Post-Apocalyptic Literature: Suggested Readings

Books:

Atwood, Margaret. Oryx and Crake. Anchor Books, 2004.
Butler, Octavia E. Parable of the Sower. Four Walls Eight Windows, 1993.

McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. Alfred A. Knopf, 2006.
Miller, Walter M. Jr. A Canticle for Leibowitz. Lippincott, 1959.
St. John Mandel, Emily. Station Eleven. Alfred A. Knopf, 2014.

Articles:

Connor Pitetti. “Uses of the End of the World: Apocalypse and Postapocalypse as Narrative Modes.” Science Fiction Studies, vol. 44, no. 3, 2017, pp. 437–54. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.5621/sciefictstud.44.3.0437. Accessed 21 July 2024.
Carden, James, and Jacob Heilbrunn. “Post Apocalyptic.” The National Interest, no. 135, 2015, pp. 9–18. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44028351. Accessed 21 July 2024.
Walter, Martin. “Landscapes of Loss: The Semantics of Empty Spaces in Contemporary Post-Apocalyptic Fiction.” Empty Spaces: Perspectives on Emptiness in Modern History: Perspectives on Emptiness in Modern History, edited by Courtney J. Campbell et al., University of London Press, 2019, pp. 133–50. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvp2n2r8.13. Accessed 21 July 2024.

Miller, Jim. “Post-Apocalyptic Hoping: Octavia Butler’s Dystopian/Utopian Vision.” Science Fiction Studies, vol. 25, no. 2, 1998, pp. 336–60. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4240705. Accessed 21 July 2024.