Name: ______________________________________
PAP English II / Period ____
March 3, 2016
1984 Guided Annotations: Book One (8 chapters)
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As we did with The Catcher in the Rye, here are chapter-by-chapter guided annotations to help with your
comprehension and analysis of the novel. **In addition to the “required” annotations, there are many
other notable aspects in the text which you should be open to considering and marking. These include:
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Colors (symbolism?)
Weather (rain, fog, sun, cold?)
Irony (Opposites are everywhere! Situational and dramatic irony?)
Quotes (memorable or striking to you?)
Character Names/Descriptions (connotations?)
Historical Connections (Orwell commenting on history / totalitarian regimes?)
“Note” means to mark the relevant section of text (highlight or underline) AND make a margin note. As
reading is assigned, put the due dates next to the chapters.
CHAPTER I
1. Name at least three items that appear to be used to spy on people like Winston or used to make them
feel afraid.
2. Note the four ministries (branches of government) and their functions.
3. Note what might seem frightening about the Ministry of Love.
4. Note text that shows Winston is aware of the fact that it is wrong to have a diary.
5. Note the opinion Winston has of O’Brien when he looks at O’Brien’s face.
6. Note information about Emanuel Goldstein.
7. Note what is on Winston’s mind during the Two Minutes Hate.
8. Note the meaning of thoughtcrime.
9. Find five other Newspeak words mentioned in Chapter 1 and what they likely mean.
CHAPTER II
1. Note what Winston written all over his diary.
2. Note the title Winston is supposed to use to address people like “Mrs.” Parsons.
3. Note what hits Winston on the head as he leaves Mrs. Parsons’ home.
4. Note how Big Brother’s government treats children.
5. Note the meaning of a “child hero.”
6. Note the dream that Winston has, which includes O’Brien.
CHAPTER III
1. Note where Winston’s mother is located during his dream of her.
2. Note the time are office workers like Winston are ordered to get up in the mornings.
3. Note what the name of the place, once called England or Britain, is now called in Oceania.
CHAPTER IV
1. Note the purpose and function of memory holes.
2. Note Winston’s primary task in the Records Department of the Ministry of Truth.
3. Note information about Comrade Withers.
4. Note what Winston believes happens to people once they are arrested.
5. Note why, as Winston creates Comrade Ogilvy, his mind keeps wandering to Comrade Tillotson.
CHAPTER V
1. Note the specific task is Syme currently committed to completing.
2. Note what Winston feels certain will eventually happen to Syme.
3. Note what Parsons suggests probably happened to the man who was followed by his seven-year-old.
4. Note what outer party members like Winston wear to work.
5. Note what Winston is thinking about just before the moment that he notices the girl with dark hair
staring at him.
CHAPTER VI
1. Note what term or phrase Winston uses to describe make-up that women use.
2. Note the purpose of the Junior Anti-Sex League.
3. Note what personality trait of Katherine’s bothers Winston the most.
4. Note which two women this chapter focuses upon.
5. Note at least four things used by the Party to control the lifestyle of women.
6. Note what shocking discovery Winston makes about the prole woman as he gets closer to her.
CHAPTER VII
1. Note Winston’s thoughts about hope for rebellion.
2. Note what the mob of prole women were shouting about.
3. Note what Winston feels the Party really knows about the proles.
4. Note what causes Winston to periodically notice his ulcer.
5. Note information about Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford.
6. Note how much time has passed between when Winston last remembered having the photograph
and the present.
7. Note how Winston defines freedom at the end of the chapter.
CHAPTER VIII
1. Note what destroys a group of houses as Winston walks down a street.
2. Note why Winston chooses to speak to the old man at the pub.
3. Note what the old man tells Winston about people pushing him off the sidewalk when he was young.
4. Note what Winston had bought in the past from the same junk shop he goes to after leaving the pub.
5. Note what Winston is prepared to tell people if asked why he went to this junk shop.
6. Besides its antique style, note what else is shocking to Winston about the room above the junk shop.
7. Note what Winston considers buying before he buys the coral.
8. Note why Winston thinks that the girl with dark hair may be a member of the Thought Police.
9. As the chapter closes, note Winston’s thoughts about O’Brien.