The Dispossessed

by

Ursula K. Le Guin

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Dispossessed makes teaching easy.
A-Io is the capitalist state on Urras, and their people are the Ioti.
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The Dispossessed PDF

A-Io/Ioti Term Timeline in The Dispossessed

The timeline below shows where the term A-Io/Ioti appears in The Dispossessed. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
Freedom Theme Icon
Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity Theme Icon
The People vs. the State Theme Icon
...has gathered at the breach in the wall. The foreman replies in “slow and limited Iotic” that the mob is simply protesting the passenger who is scheduled to leave today. The... (full context)
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Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity Theme Icon
...him. He looks up at the stranger beside him, who is speaking to him in Iotic—a foreign language, but one the passenger can understand. While the stranger fumbles with the straps... (full context)
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Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity Theme Icon
...at all—and then turns to him holding a large needle. Shevek tells the doctor, in Iotic, that he does not want the shot. The doctor insists that Shevek needs a measles... (full context)
Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity Theme Icon
The People vs. the State Theme Icon
The President of the Senate of the Nation of A-Io makes a speech, toasting a “new era of brotherhood between the Twin Planets,” and citing... (full context)
Chapter 2
Humility and Moderation vs. Ego and Excess Theme Icon
Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity Theme Icon
...during a famine in the nation of Thu, and prostitutes in the wealthy state of A-Io lying on the beach all day while they wait for the members of the “propertied... (full context)
Chapter 3
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Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity Theme Icon
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...Pae insist that Shevek is a guest, and Chifoilisk chimes in to note that the Ioti Government “foots the bill” anyway. Chifoilisk stares at Shevek with an expression that Shevek cannot... (full context)
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Humility and Moderation vs. Ego and Excess Theme Icon
Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity Theme Icon
The People vs. the State Theme Icon
...Pae explains that censorship in Thu means that only government-approved things get printed, whereas in A-Io, where there is complete freedom of the press, people can say anything they want in... (full context)
Freedom Theme Icon
The Failure of Utopian Ideals Theme Icon
The People vs. the State Theme Icon
...ago in which they called themselves Odonians. Shevek asks if any anarchist groups exist in A-Io, but Pae denies it. Shevek suddenly thinks of the wall surrounding the Port of Anarres,... (full context)
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Though the large cities of A-Io are too distant to be seen in a day, Shevek does get to explore Nio... (full context)
Chapter 5
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...socialists, just like the Anarresti. Shevek argues that Thu is centralized, though, even moreso than A-Io, and they have a money economy to boot. Chifoilisk invites Shevek to come to Thu... (full context)
The People vs. the State Theme Icon
Chifoilisk warns Shevek against Pae, who is a “loyal, ambitious agent of the Ioti government,” and who reports regularly to the Department of National Security concerning Shevek and Chifoilisk.... (full context)
Freedom Theme Icon
The Failure of Utopian Ideals Theme Icon
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Shevek counters Chifoilisk’s warnings that he is a “child among thieves” and a victim of Ioti profiteering by revealing that he came to bargain with the Ioti, in order to get... (full context)
Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity Theme Icon
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...Shevek tells him that he hasn’t, Chifoilisk urges him not to, unless he wants the Ioti government to take it for their own. Chifoilisk quotes Odo, stating that “where there’s property... (full context)
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...come to Thu once he is finally able to see what is going on in A-Io, warning him that he has “picked the wrong people to try to make brothers of.”... (full context)
The Failure of Utopian Ideals Theme Icon
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...fellow guests at the parties, they agree with him. Shevek begins to wonder why the Ioti government is letting him speak about peace between Urras and Anarres so freely—he talks “pure... (full context)
Chapter 6
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...a letter back from Urras—occasionally from Atro, and sometimes even from other scientists in both A-Io and Thu. The letters bolster Shevek’s spirits when they arrive, but his happiness fades shortly... (full context)
The Failure of Utopian Ideals Theme Icon
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...Shevek’s notes are written in code. Shevek tells him that they have been written in Iotic. He tells Bedap that no one on Anarres can understand what he is researching, and... (full context)
Chapter 7
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...actual revolution taking place on Urras, but is saddened by the news that comes days later—A-Io is sending troops to quell the revolution and support the Benbili dictator’s return to power. (full context)
Chapter 9
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...itself. On Urras, however, this act of rebellion is a luxury. Being a physicist in A-Io serves the State, rather than mankind, society, or truth, as he had hoped to do... (full context)
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Shevek resolves to no longer do physics for the good of the Ioti state, and wonders if they will let him go home if he stops working. As... (full context)
The Failure of Utopian Ideals Theme Icon
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...not be able to show Shevek the rest of Urras with all the unrest abroad: Ioti and Thuvian forces have clashed in Benbili, and are now fighting. Pae updates Shevek with... (full context)
The Failure of Utopian Ideals Theme Icon
Individualism and Isolation vs. Collectivism and Solidarity Theme Icon
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...him on the war in Benbili—it has become “a large-scale operation.” When Shevek asks if Ioti approve of the war, Atro replies that it doesn’t matter—A-Io is fighting for its status... (full context)
Chapter 11
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...Ambassador’s office. The Ambassador, Keng, apologizes for the fact that the two must speak in Iotic—the only common tongue they share, though it is foreign to both of them. Keng informs... (full context)
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...the Terran embassy is to the Council of World Governments and not the nation of A-Io, Keng says, Shevek brings no risk or burden upon the Terrans by seeking refuge with... (full context)
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...experiment,” and wants Shevek to tell her more about it. Furthermore, she wonders why the Ioti government, knowing such unrest exists just under their noses on their own planet, would bring... (full context)
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...to threaten Terra and Hain with “the annihilation of space.” Shevek explains that what the Ioti government ultimately wants is instantaneous transferal of matter across space, or transilience. With the help... (full context)
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...tells her that he wants to give her his theory to save it from becoming Ioti property. He hopes that she will broadcast the equations and give them to physicists all... (full context)
Chapter 13
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...he got some good news, and Shevek confirms that he did. He tells Ketho, in Ioti—the only tongue they share—that the landing tomorrow will be “exciting,” attended by friends and enemies... (full context)