1984 George Orwell

George Orwell alias Eric Blair --Born July 25th 1903--Studied at Eton, England’s top school at the time.--Afterwards became a probationer in the burmesePolice.--His life in the police force was recorded in many ofhis works. He was unhappy there.--He changed his name to a pseudonym Geore (St.of England) Orwell (river in England). Wanted toprotect his family name in case of failure.--In less than 20 years wrote more than 700 articlesalong with many books.--Orwell became a true socialist.--5 months before Spanish Civil War he joined ananarchist militia.--Orwell was convinced that the British Empire wasevil.--Wrote “Animal Farm” in 1944, his first success.--Distraught with society and his wife’s death, hemoved to an uncivilized island and wrote “1984”.--Died Jan 21, 1950 ------------------------------------------------------------------------The themes in “1984” reflect the disgust Orwell hadwith authority, government, society, and war.

--19th century was obsessed with the idea of an utopianSociety.

--20th century events quickly showed a dark future. (war,reveloutions,etc....)

--These events led to the “anti-utopian” novel. Commonlyshown as a criticism of the time these novels showed how mancan destroy himself as well as others.

-- Four aspects of an anti-utopian society are shown in 1984 concerning,

alienationlovehumanitysociety

• Create your own “Society o’ Fun” project• • For this assignment you are to create an imaginary society in which you• are the ruler. You must fully elaborate on every aspect of this society.• Please include such aspects as environment, political order, lifestyle, etc...... Fill in your• answers completely below.• • Name of Country:• Name of its capital and major cities:• list 5• • • Images of Life:• Write down two complete paragraphs descriptions of what one might• witness in your country. Living conditions, people, environment,• transportation,• general scenery, etc.........• • Political and Social Order:• Write down in two paragraphs the political and social order of your• country. This would include the common language, government and it’s• divisions, social classes, etc.......

Laws List five rules in your country that people must follow.

List two common punishments for these crimes.

Daily Life Write two full paragraphs describing the daily life of a common person in your society.

What do they do for a living, fun,etc....... ?Do they have any fears like crime, war, etc......... ?

Part 1 Chpts 1&2 --The chapter opens with Winston entering his apartmentcomplex. The walls are covered with posters of Big-Brother.--On top of the ministry of truth is the party’s slogan…..“WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH”.--Winston begins to write in a diary. This is a highly illegal act.--Winston displays a deep hatred for his society.--He recalls a man at work named O’Brien. Winston wonders ifhe hates the party as well.--He then thinks of a young dark-haired girl with whom hedespises.--The “two-minutes” hate is a very violent rally aimed againstGoldstein and his followers. --Winston goes to help a neighbor in the complex. Her childrenare very upset because they can’t go and see the hanging thatevening.--He fears his diary will be discovered and he will be tried forthought-crime.

Part 1 Chpts 1&2 --The chapter opens with Winston entering his apartmentcomplex. The walls are covered with posters of Big-Brother.

--On top of the ministry of truth is the party’s slogan…..“WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH”.

--Winston begins to write in a diary. This is a highly illegal act.

--Winston displays a deep hatred for his society.

--He recalls a man at work named O’Brien. Winston wonders ifhe hates the party as well.

--He then thinks of a young dark-haired girl with whom hedespises.

--The “two-minutes” hate is a very violent rally aimed againstGoldstein and his followers.

--Winston goes to help a neighbor in the complex. Her childrenare very upset because they can’t go and see the hanging thatevening.

--He fears his diary will be discovered and he will be tried forthought-crime.

points to ponder:------------------------------------------------------------------------What might be the primary driving force behind the plot of this book?

What are the primary devices Big Brother uses to control the people?

What might be the most effective?

Describe the main character.

Why might Winston hate the young girl?

Examine the reasons as to why Winston may keep a diary.

Look at the following events in history. Imagine you had the power to go backand change them. Look at the events and see what aspects you could change. Then write what might be the outcome if the aspects were changed. Finally write the long-term effects of your change. How would the changes affect the future? Pick two of the events below

aspects: outcome long-term effects The ConstitutionInvention of the Internet The Civil WarInvention of Cell Phones

Elaborate on one event in history of your choice.

Total answers = 3

part one chapters 3-5 --The chapter opens up with Winston remembering hispast in a dream-like trance. Somehow he remembershis mother being sacrificed for him.

--Winston participates in a mandatory exercise calledthe “Physical Jerks”.

--Winston remembers many enemies although the partyonly claims Eurasia.

--Winston’s job is to rewrite history in order to suit theplan of the party. Changing even the existence ofpeople was nothing new.

--Syme is busy shrinking the language “newspeak”--Winston describes how necessities are frequentlymissing from stores.

--Parsons brags how his daughters turned in people tothought police.

Points to Ponder:What is the battle going on in Winston’s mind?

What statement might Orwell be saying about the mediathrough the novel?

Describe how “Newspeak” is a method of control overthe people.

How does Big Brother control people by making them an “unperson” ?

Why is changing the course of history beneficial to BigBrother?

chpts 6-8 part one

--Winston remembers how his wife hated anything that hadto deal with intimacy.

--Big Brother was trying to kill the sex drive only within theparty. (songs, slogans, leagues, etc...)

--Winston believes hope lies within the Proles.

--The great purges condemned many, the confessions werelies. --Winston wanders into a Prole section.

--The Lottery was a big event for the Proles. For many itwas a reason to live. Was the big prize really paid off?

--Winston enters a pub to find what life was like before therevolution. He never receives a clear answer.

--Charrington, a man who works in an antique store, showshim an old room which Winston finds quite interesting.

--As Winston leaves he sees the dark haired girl andimagines bashing her skull in.

--Winston thinks of the torture one goes through when one iscaught. Most would rather die.

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Points to Ponder: -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why are the proles the only group that can defeat BigBrother? Why can’t they? What qualities are not rewarded by the party? Why is this? What type of relationship is Winston longing for? --What might the author be trying to say about the role of media in public manipulation and control? --Part one sets the physical tone. (Setting, characters,political state, etc.....) Winston understands that completecontrol is set by the destruction of privacy, sex, andlanguage.

Look at the following comments below. Support or argue each statement below with five sentences. Your answer must be clear and effective. All answers must relate to the novel “1984”.

1.This book should be read by every thinking American.

2. This book doesn’t deserve its popularity. Now it’s time for you to quiz the class on any section of part one. Think of five questions that you believe will stump your classmates.

part two chapts 1-4--Winston receives a note from Julia.

--They arrange to meet in a crowd at Victory Square and in more secluded places later.

--Being in the country was safe, although spies and microphonescould be found.

--Winston calls their love a political act.

--Winston believed certain acts were hopeless.

--Julia believed that the individual could never be defeated.

--Winston rents Charrington’s room so Julia may meet him there.

--Julia steals many items that are forbidden by Big Brother.

--A huge rat scares Winston.

Points to Ponder:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Examine Julia’s personality. What is it like? What is her attitude towards Big Brother and society?

Compare and Contrast the personalities of Julia and Winston.

Examine the change in Winston’s personality since meeting Julia. How is this a good thing? Why might this be bad?

What might be another reason Winston loves being with Julia?

What does Julia teach Winston?

What do you predict might happen in the future to this couple?

part two chpt 5 - 10--Preparations for hate week begin immediately.

--Life has become slightly tolerable for Winston.

--Winston discusses how easy it is for ignorant people to swallow information.

--Winston remembers stealing chocolate from his sister and thenrunning away. When he returns, his mother was gone.

--Winston and Julia go to see O’Brian. They soon become members of the brotherhood.

--At the hate rally, the enemy is changed to East Asia. Goldstien is blamed for this sabotage.

--A large push to change the history books begins immediately.Goldstien’s Book

--war is meaningful, way of life, doesn’t matter if it is real or not

--continuous war needed for a constant production of goods

--Ocenaia must remain a bubble, otherwise lies will be discovered

--other philosophies are the same

--print=manipulate public opinion

--television=invades private life

--There has always been a class distinction. Low Middle High

--party owns everything

--All pent-up emotions from leading a scrutinized life are brought out in the 2 min hate.

--black/white=doublethink Always argue with your enemy that black is white. Black is white if the party tells you it is. You must believe that black is white and forget that the past has told you anything different.

--Winston and Julia are caught by a telescreen hiddenbehind the painting.

--Charrington turns out to be a member of the ThoughtPolice.

Points to Ponder:

How does Orwell show that Julia and Winston symbolize everyday people with everyday dreams?

Describe how the party keeps control over the population?

What does Winston understand? What does he not understand?

Winston still only knows how, but not why. Winston understands the means but not the ends.

part III chpt 1

--Winston is placed in a prison with many criminals.Common criminals behave different than Party criminals.

--Ampleforth is brought in for leaving the word “God” in apoem.

--Parsons is brought in for talking in his sleep. His daughter

turned him in.

--A starving man would rather his family die than be taken to

“room 101”.

--O’Brien enters with guards. Winston is hit in the elbows.

Points to Ponder:

The telescreen is behind the picture and the paperweightgets smashed. This symbolizes the hidden torture andsmashed future.

What do the actions of Parsons’ children show about the control of Big Brother?

What do the actions of the starving man show? Why did Big Brother throw him in with the other prisoners?

What is Big Brother’s primary form of control in this section?

Part 3-- Winston, to avoid pain, confesses to false accusations.

--O’Brian uses electrical shocks to make Winston admit 4 is 5.

--O’Brian tells Winston he has no ability to forget the past.

--O’Brian tells him that people come here to be cured.

--The party wants to “change” their enemies.

--The party frequently kills their prisoners after they are clean.

--The party is only interested in power and securing it.

--When a human being is free, it can be defeated. When a humansubmits to Big Brother, he or she finds happiness.

--How do you assert power over another? By making that personsuffer.

--To further destroy Winston, O’Brian shows him his physical state.

--Winston grows stronger.

--Winston slowly describes his change as “following the current”.

--Winston still hates big brother.

--O’Brian comes to bring Winston to “Room 101”

--Rats are chosen to be used against Winston in Room 101.

--Winston wishes his torture to be brought upon Julia.

--Julia and Winston no longer speak like they did. They both betrayed each other.

--Winston cheers for Big Brother, he is now completely changed.

Points to Ponder

Describe the first stages of Winston’s transformation. What is Big Brother trying to do?

Why does the party want power?

Describe the final stages of Winston’s transformation. What is Big Brother trying to do?

What is the final part of Winston’s transformation?The final part of Winston to go is his heart and spirit. The strongestattributes of people. Room 101 destroys these attributes.

What is the purpose of chapter 6? Are you satisfied with the ending? Why?

--The author’s purpose in presenting chapter 6 is to show the completet ransformation of Winston. It brings about a sense of completion in his struggle. Winston losses.