History Literature / Flatland

* CallASmeerpARabbit: The {{Living Polyhedron}}s that inhabit Flatland are called "human beings."

** Lineland is a very primitive monarchy, where all power and influence is determined by proximity to to an autocratic king--who is actually [[SmallNameBigEgo just a humble line on a line]]. Because he only exists in one dimension, the King of Lineland is [[AdiposeRex incapable of even basic movement]], but he's too drunk on his own ego to realize how little his "authority" really matters.

* InWhichATropeIsDescribed: All the chapter titles. The second chapter is titled "Of the Climate and Houses in Flatland".
** Trope, in that the book is supposed to be the Square's description of his country and people.

* SinisterGeometry: Averted; Flatlanders value perfect geometric symmetry as a sign of high breeding and intelligence.
** From a spectator point of view, however, Flatlander society in the indie film is shown to be rather cruel and sinister.

* SmallSecludedWorld: Pointland.

* [[TheWarOnStraw Strawman]]: The Flatland priests and government officials' view of a world not being flat.

* WorldBuilding: Over half the book is this.

* PoesLaw: Abbott's presentation of the sexism and classism of Flatland was intended to be satirical, but that can be lost on modern readers.

''[[http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/~banchoff/Flatland/ Flatland: A Romance Of Many Dimensions]]'' is an 1884 satirical novella by Edwin A. Abbott. The story takes place in a two-dimensional world made up of polygons, and is narrated by a square. Named [[StevenUlyssesPerhero A. Square]][[note]]Originally "A Square", the indefinite article evolving to a first initial in later printings[[/note]]. It's also a scathing dissection of Victorian class structures, of biological racism and eugenics, and of misogyny.

''[[http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/~banchoff/Flatland/ Flatland: A Romance Of Many Dimensions]]'' is a 1884 satirical novella by Edwin A. Abbott. The story takes place in a two-dimensional world made up of polygons, and is narrated by a square. Named [[StevenUlyssesPerhero A. Square]][[note]]Originally "A Square", the indefinite article evolving to a first initial in later printings[[/note]]. It's also a scathing dissection of Victorian class structures, of biological racism and eugenics, and of misogyny.

** "The Planiverse: Computer Contact with a Two-Dimensional World" by A. K. Dewdney. A SpiritualSequel that focuses on [[WorldBuilding creating a believable 2-D world with its own physics, biology and culture]].
** "Flatterland: Like Flatland, Only More So" by Ian Stewart. Follows another one of A Square's descendents and her ventures with an [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext interdimensional Space Hopper]]. Sacrifices plot and social commentary for higher math theories and {{pun}}s.

Adaptations include a 1965 animated short (''Flatland''), a 2007 animated feature film (''Flatland'', aka ''Flatland: The Film''), and, confusingly, another 2007 animated film, this one a short (''Flatland: TheMovie''). The story is also summarized by Carl Sagan as part of ''Cosmos''.

Adaptations include a 1965 animated short (''Flatland''), a 2007 animated feature film (''Flatland'', aka ''Flatland: The Film''), and, confusingly, another 2007 animated film, this one a short (''Flatland: TheMovie'').