Explore the ethical dilemma presented in Le Guin’s short story “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” in this video from the American Masters film Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin. The short story provides rich material for students to discuss what they would be willing to overlook to create a “nearly” perfect society. Is something “right” if it benefits the majority of people, or does it need to benefit all people? What if you have to choose between two options that both have negative outcomes for some? Support materials include discussion questions, vocabulary, and an exploration of the famous ethical dilemma “the trolley problem.”

Best known for her science fiction and “Earthsea” fantasy series, celebrated author Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (1929–2018) wrote 21 novels, 11 volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, 12 children’s books, six volumes of poetry and four of translation during her life. American Masters presents the first documentary film exploring the remarkable life and legacy of the prolific and versatile author. Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin tells the intimate coming-of-age story of the Portland, Oregon, housewife and mother of three who forever transformed American literature by bringing science fiction into the literary mainstream. Through her influential work, Le Guin opened doors for generations of younger writers like Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Michael Chabon, and David Mitchell — all of whom appear in the film — to explore fantastic elements in their writing.