The Dispossessed
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13
Themes
All Themes Freedom The Failure of Utopian Ideals Humility and Moderation vs. Ego and Excess Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity The People vs. the State
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Shevek Takver Rulag Bedap Sabul – Atro Chifoilisk Kimoe Beshun Mitis Efor Vea Doem Oiie Tuio Maedda Keng Ketho
Terms
All Terms Urrasti Anarresti Pravic Iotic Odonians Propertarian Syndic Decad Holum Cetian Terrans Hainish DivLab PDC Archist A-Io/Ioti Thu/Thuvian Ansible
Symbols
All Symbols The Wall
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allegory Dialect Dramatic Irony Ethos Flashbacks Foil Foreshadowing Genre Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Motifs Pathos Personification Satire Setting Similes Situational Irony Stream of Consciousness Style Tone
Download PDF
Download Teacher Edition
The LitCharts.com logo.
Sign In Sign up for A+
The LitCharts.com logo.
AI Tools
  • Ask LitCharts AI
  • Discussion Question Generator
  • Essay Prompt Generator
  • Quiz Question Generator
Guides Guides
  • Literature Guides
  • Poetry Guides
  • Shakespeare Translations
  • Literary Terms
Sign In Sign up for A+ Sign up

The Dispossessed

by

Ursula K. Le Guin

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
  • Chapter 13
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Freedom Theme Icon
    Freedom
  • The Failure of Utopian Ideals Theme Icon
    The Failure of Utopian Ideals
  • Humility and Moderation vs. Ego and Excess Theme Icon
    Humility and Moderation vs. Ego and Excess
  • Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity Theme Icon
    Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity
  • The People vs. the State Theme Icon
    The People vs. the State
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Shevek
  • Takver
  • Rulag
  • Bedap
  • Sabul –
  • Atro
  • Chifoilisk
  • Kimoe
  • Beshun
  • Mitis
  • Efor
  • Vea Doem Oiie
  • Tuio Maedda
  • Keng
  • Ketho
Terms
  • All Terms
  • Urrasti
  • Anarresti
  • Pravic
  • Iotic
  • Odonians
  • Propertarian
  • Syndic
  • Decad
  • Holum
  • Cetian
  • Terrans
  • Hainish
  • DivLab
  • PDC
  • Archist
  • A-Io/Ioti
  • Thu/Thuvian
  • Ansible
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Wall Symbol Icon
    The Wall
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allegory
  • Dialect
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Ethos
  • Flashbacks
  • Foil
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Motifs
  • Pathos
  • Personification
  • Satire
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Stream of Consciousness
  • Style
  • Tone
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)
Previous
The Wall

The Dispossessed Literary Devices

Next
Allegory
Previous
The Wall
Previous
The Wall
Next
Allegory
Next
Allegory

Company
About Us Our Story Jobs
Support
Help Center Contact Us
Connect
Facebook Twitter
Legal
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Privacy Request
Home About Contact Help
Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved
Terms Privacy Privacy Request
The LitCharts.com logo.
Save time. Stress less.
Sign up!
  • AI Tools for on-demand study help and teaching prep.
  • Quote explanations, with page numbers, for over 49,636 quotes.
  • PDF downloads of all 2,228 LitCharts guides.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
The LitCharts.com logo.
Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account
You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to request a guide
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Get your answer with a free account
You’ll also get tons of other helpful features, including free quizzes and saving guides.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Last step: complete your free account
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account.
You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to access notes and highlights
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Saving guides requires a free LitCharts account
Easily access your saved guides anytime.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to save guides
Already have an account? Sign in