But name recognition alone will only get you so far, and you will have a challenge or two to overcome in teaching this novel.

Sophisticated New World

To begin with, your students may have a difficult time unraveling the higher-level elements of Brave New World. The themes, allegories (of which there are plenty!), and symbols are challenging to understand without knowing the events and players of the 1930s that Huxley is referencing. 

A (very) basic initial introduction to who, what, where, and when can help a lot. After a quick and cursory mapping of some of Huxley’s most prominent allusions, students will need some reminders along the way. Shmoop has many U.S. History Learning Guides that pertain to this era, which are quick and easy reads, and can serve as those reminding resources for students along the way.