GEORGE ORWELL’S
DYSTOPIAN NOVEL
1984
Reading assignment / Due dates for reading, study questions, and vocabulary / Test datesPart One (page 1-104)
Part Two (page 105- 224)
Part Three (125- 297)
Student Name:
British Literature
Mrs. Hersker
PRE-READING Activity—in your assigned group, discuss each topic. Then, record your thoughts below. You might be asked to write a detailed response to any one topic in your English journal.
1. Is it a better government that has more control or less control over its population?
2. The Parliament of Britain has a camera on every corner of every major city and town to ensure safety and minimize criminal acts. And it’s worked! Great Britain has one of the lowest crime rates in the whole world. However, at any given moment, law-abiding citizens are watched, scrutinized, and examined. Would you be comfortable with this? Do you think extensive camera surveillance is a good idea or bad idea? Explain.
3. A privacy lawsuit within the Lower Merion School District was recently settled. Students received school-issued laptops, and signed appropriate usage contracts, since the computer is considered school district property while remaining the responsibility of the student. Unknown to the students, district administrators could “tap in” to the computer at any time through a camera device in order to ensure the students were not using the school computer for “illegal” reasons. One student in particular was bragging about selling prescription drugs in school and abusing them at home. The district “tapped in” to his computer while he was at home. They found that he was abusing skittles in front of his computer. The family sued for violation of privacy. Which side do you take? Explain.
4. Cell phones and GPS units operate using towers and satellites that receive and send signals (directions, help, etc.) to devices on the ground. At any point in time, a person operating these satellites can “tap in” to you while you drive and determine your exact location. Is this a good thing or bad thing? Explain.
5. Lawmakers and officials are currently reasoning a new law that would allow the random use of cell phone records along with GPS units to determine if people are texting, talking, or browsing the web while driving. If caught, tickets, points, fines, suspensions, jail time could result. Fair or unfair? Explain.
Build Background Information 1984
1. Author: Eric Arthur Blair (George Orwell)
a. Published novel in 1948
b. Orwell was ill with tuberculosis while writing the novel. He later died from this disease in 1950.
c. Orwell said about his novel: “I am not pleased with the book, but I am not absolutely dissatisfied…I think it is a good idea, but the execution would have been better if I had not written it under the influence of TB.”
2. The Conditions that Existed in the World, and are Behind Orwell’s Vision for his Novel
a. Orwell was inspired to write his novel as a warning against the twin evils of Nazism and Stalinism.
b. Dictatorships—Defeat of Germany’s Adolf Hitler, Italy’s Benito Mussolini. Success of Spain’s Francisco Franco, and Soviet Union’s Joseph Stalin
Ø Specific parallels to Stalin: Big Brother’s physical appearance, forced confessions, executions, “liquidations”; Stalin’s reign of terror resulted in between 8 and 13 million deaths.
Ø Other parallels to Stalin and Hitler: Extreme nationalism, emphasis on public displays of patriotism, food shortages/rationing, censorship of media, forced-labor camps, spying, secret police, constant war/threat of war, youth league (based on Hitler Youth)
Ø He wrote 1984 as a warning against the twin evils of Nazism and Stalinism.
c. Cold War—the victors of WWII turned on each other immediately and were no longer allies.
Ø The U.S. and Britain on one side (Oceania) the Soviet Union (Eurasia) and China (Eastasia) on the other side.
d. Brainwashing—Used by Chinese Communists and during the Korean War; Involved a two-step process (first was the confession and the second step was re-education)
3. Utopian/Dystopian literature—unlike utopian literature, which depicts a society as it ought to be, the anti-utopian novel presents society as it should not be. Dystopian novels are openly critical of existing societies and contain warnings about where these societies are heading.
a. Attack against totalitarianism—A centralized and dictatorial government system in which a single party, without opposition, rules over political, economic, social, and cultural life.
4. Irony and Satire
a) 1984 is filled with irony—things are opposite of what they seem, sometimes lies can be the truth
Ø Ministry of Truth—information is re-written or erased
Ø Ministry of Peace—military matters
Ø Ministry of Love—law and order are dispensed
Ø Ministry of Plenty—economic matters are managed
b) Satire— Irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or exaggeration is used to expose or denounce the faults of humanity, institution, or society. Satire involves both moral judgment and a desire to improve a belief or tradition.
c) Orwell’s satirical messages to the reader…
Ø People are disinterested in concepts such as integrity, freedom, and individual consciousness.
Ø Fear and hatred can motivate and unite people far better than love and loyalty.
Ø The world is drifting towards totalitarianism.
Ø People do no question justice, morality or the motives of our leaders.
GEORGE ORWELL—
In His Own Words
On the purpose of 1984:
“…I do not believe that the kind of society I describe necessarily will arrive, but I believe (allowing of course for the fact that the book is a satire) that something resembling it could arrive. I believe also that totalitarian ideas have taken root in the minds of intellectuals everywhere, and I have tried to draw these ideas out to their logical consequences. The scene of the book is laid in Britain in order to emphasize that the English-speaking races are not innately better than anyone else and that totalitarianism, if not fought against, could triumph anywhere.”
On modern dictatorships and human nature:
“The terrifying thing about modern dictatorships is that they are something entirely unprecedented. Their end cannot be foreseen. In the past every tyranny was sooner or later overthrown, or at least resisted, because of ‘human nature,’ which as a matter of course desired liberty. Be we cannot be at all certain that ‘human nature’ is constant. It may be just as possible to produce a breed of men who do not wish for liberty as to produce a breed of hornless cows. The Inquisition failed, but then the Inquisition had not the resources of the modern state. The radio, press-censorship, standardized education, and the secret police have altered everything. Mass-suggestion is a science of the last twenty years, and we do not know how successful it will be.”
On writing:
“What I have most wanted throughout the past ten years is to make political writing into an art. My starting point is always a feeling of partisanship, a sense of injustice. When I sit down to write a book, I do not say to myself, ‘I am going to produce a work of art.’ I write it because there is some lie that I want to expose, some fact to which I want to draw attention, and my initial concern is to get a hearing. But I could not do the work of writing a book, or even a long magazine article, if it were not also an aesthetic experience.”
1984 Student Notes
1984 Setting: Post World War II, 1984, in the city of London, located on Airstrip One (England). Throughout the novel, there is a selectively told back story of a war and revolution, which resulted in the current dystopian society.
Main Character: Winston Smith, age 39. As the dystopian protagonist, he questions the society he lives in.
Ø Winston’s name comes from the famous WWII era English Prime Minister, Winston Churchill
Ø Smith happens to be the most common last name in Great Britain, and emphasizes conformity of the citizens and lack of individuality.
Secondary Characters: Julia—the dark-haired girl, Parsons, Syme, Mr. Charrington and O’Brien.
Political World Geography:
Ø Oceania—includes North and South America, British Isles, Australia and South Africa
Ø Eastasia—includes China, Japan, Manchuria, Mongolia and Tibet
Ø Eurasia—includes Russia, Europe, Western Asia
Oceania’s Government Structure: Oceania is ruled by The Party. The citizens are controlled by a political belief system called English Socialism (INSOC), with a figurehead leader called Big Brother.
Ø The Inner-Party: These members possess absolute power.
Ø The Outer-Party: Middle-class members of society are carefully scrutinized and controlled.
Ø Proletariats: Are not Party members. Loosely regulated by the Thought Police. Not considered a threat to the Party. Standard of living among lower and middle class is extremely poor.
Government Ministries:
Ø Ministry of Truth—information is re-written or erased
Ø Ministry of Peace—military matters
Ø Ministry of Love—law and order are dispensed
Ø Ministry of Plenty—economic matters are managed
Propaganda techniques used by INSOC to control the citizens:
1. Doublethink and Newspeak
2. Party slogans and posters
o “Big Brother is watching you.”
o “War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength.”
o “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”
3. Victory brand items (cigarettes, gin, coffee)
4. Newspeak is the language of Oceania, limits thoughts by eliminating words
5. 2-Minutes Hate, changing enemy and constant war, Goldstein the enemy of the state
Surveillance techniques used to control Outer-Party members
6
The Jr. Spies
Telescreeens and hidden microphones
Thought Police
Police Patrols
Helicopter patrols
Attendance at the community center
Workplace monitoring
Marriages are arranged and approved by the Party
6
The following study questions will assist you in determining the most important concepts from each chapter. In addition to these study questions, you will have vocabulary assignments, quizzes, and essays.
1. Before you read, preview each study question, so you know what to look for during reading.
2. Next, read the chapter carefully.
3. Stop reading when you think you have found an answer to a study question. Note the page number and copy key phrases and sentences from the novel in your response to the study question.
4. Continue reading until the end of the chapter.
5. This is a difficult novel; therefore, if you are struggling to understand the plot, you may consult an online study guide in addition to completing all of the reading. Reading Spark Notes alone will not be sufficient; you must also read the novel.
BOOK I: CHAPTER 1
1. How are the phrases War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength contradictions? What is their purpose so far in the novel?
2. How does Winston feel towards women—particularly the young, pretty ones?
3. Who is Goldstein? Who is Big Brother?
4. What does Winston write in his diary as he recalls the Two Minutes Hate?
5. What happens to those who commit Thoughtcrime? Why the shot in the back of the neck?
6. Is thoughtcrime the ultimate control by any governmental force? Explain.
BOOK I: CHAPTER 2
7. Explain what happens at the Parson’s house. What does this tell you about children and their parents?
8. What is Winston afraid of in terms of writing in his diary?
9. Do you think Winston is alone in his thoughts? Is he a psychopath…or an actual genius?
RESPOND to the following for BOOK I: CHAPTERS 3—4
10. Explain Winston’s dream of his mother. Why do you think these memories, including the one of the old man, are coming out now?
11. Is being alone in your thoughts—being the only one who believes something—more frightening than torture or death? Explain.
12. What is Winston’s job? How does this relate to Doublethink?
BOOK I: CHAPTER 5
13. How does our Essential Question of “words” relate to Syme? What is he so proud of?
14. Explain your opinion on the Parson’s girl.
BOOK I: CHAPTER 6
15. When Winston picks up his diary again, what is he writing about? How does he react?
16. What is the purpose of Big Brother taking away sexual intimacy?
RESPOND:
17. Consider the chocolate ration. Do you believe the falsifying of information happens today? In what contexts?
18. Who are the Proles? Are we (middle to low class) the Proles?
19. Would Winston be better off if he never knew this information—similar to our Essential Question?
RESPOND to the following for BOOK I: CHAPTERS 7—8
20. How is Winston so sure that Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford were not criminals against Big Brother? Why do you think Big Brother has them in the Chestnut Street Café?
21. Why is the conversation between Winston and the old Prole man very disappointing for Winston.
22. Is Winston a very, very brave man…or a very, very foolish man? Explain your thoughts.
23. Which Essential Question do you think best applies to Book 1 of 1984? Explain.
24. What is so special about the coral paperweight that Winston buys?
25. What are your predictions for the next section of the novel? Explain.
26. Find 3 quotes that you find interesting within BOOK I: CHAPTERS 7 and 8.
QUOTE / THOUGHTDoublethink
The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them....To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies — all this is essentially necessary. Even in using the word doublethink requires the use of doublethink. For by using the word one admits that one is tampering with reality; by a fresh act of doublethink one erases this knowledge; and so on indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the truth. ______
1. Ministry of Truth—really concerned with lies.