1984
By: George Orwell
Name: _____________________
Period: _____
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ONE
1. What are the three party slogans? What do you think they mean?
2. What are the four Ministries of the party, what does each one manage?
3. What is thoughtcrime? Why could this concept be appealing to a government?
4. What is doublethink? How does doublethink satisfy the needs of the party?
5. What does Goldstein look like? What is the significance of his features? What principles does he espouse?
6. What is the significance of Big Brother? What does he look like, what contradictory feelings does he invoke?
7. What is the purpose of Two Minutes Hate? Why does it work so well? What does it tell us about the psychology of
Oceana?
8. What part of the Parson’s family scares Winston the most? Why?
9.
Name several ways the government is able to detect thoughtcrime?
10. Compete the quote, “Whoever controls the past, __________________________________.” What does this mean?
11. Why is Winston’s job so important?
12. Why is Syme’s job so important?
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13. Who is more likely to live until 40, Winston, Parsons or Syme? Why?
14. Who was Winston’s wife? What was wrong with her/their relationship?
15. How does the state feel about marriage and family?
16. Winston says he doesn’t understand why the Party wanted to kill the sex instinct—what are your theories? Why have
a porno section of Minitrue if they sneer at sex?
17. Who are the Proles? How much of Oceana’s population are Proles?
18. Why is it important for the Party to have a class of Proles?
19. What 2 contradictory things does the Party teach about the Proles?
20. Rereading the history in the textbook, what seems accurate AND inaccurate about its rendition of the early 20th
century?
21. How does the Party control history? Why?
22. Who does Winston see at the Chestnut Tree Café? What reputation does this establishment have? What is wrong
with the people he sees there?
23. What is Winston’s concept of Freedom?
24. What does Winston buy after he leaves the bar? How is this object symbolic? How is the color of the object also
important?
25. Who is Winston writing his diary for? Throughout all of part One, what does Winston say about this person?
26. How is escape from this world almost totally impossible?
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27. What types of things does Winston dream about? Why is sleeping so dangerous? What do you think is significant
about these dreams?
28. What does Winston think about the dark-haired girl? Why?
29. The name Winston means “from a friendly country.” “Smith” is a common last name. From these names, can you
suggest a possible irony? Also consider another famous “Winston” at the time.
Appendix: Newspeak
1. What is the principle purpose of Newspeak?
2. Describe:
Vocabulary A
Vocabulary B
Vocabulary C
3. Where do you see concepts of Newspeak used in today’s society?
Two
1. What kind of effect does the “letter” from the dark haired girl have on Winston, in particular on his view of life now?
2. Do you think Winston should trust the dark haired girl?
3. Initially, how do the outdoors make Winston feel?
4. Why does Winston have no desire to lie to Julia?
5. Julia’s life, like her society, is one of contradiction, how does Julia embody a dual existence.
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6. What is Winston’s view of purity/goodness, why do you suppose he feels this way?
7. According to Winston what has society done to pure emotion?
8. How is the act of making love a political act?
9. What reasons does Julia give for why the state doesn’t want sex?
10. What is Julia’s theory on breaking the rules?
11. What does Winston mean when he says “We are the dead”?
12. By the conclusion of section III we have a clear idea of who Julia and Winston are. In what ways are they alike? In
what ways are they different? (look at view of society, age, rebellion etc…).
13. Briefly describe the effect Mr. Charrington’s room has on Julia and Winston. What does Winston realize about their
choice to come here, do you agree with his prediction?
14. What one thing seems to disturb Winston’s sense of peace here?
15. What effect does the affair seem to have on Winston’s physical appearance? What do you think is the reason for these
changes?
16. Whose theory about the Brotherhood and the wars are you inclined to believe more Winston’s or Julia’s? Why?
17. How are Julia and Winston’s ideology on “history” distinctly different? Why? Who do you agree with, why?
18. Who does O’Brien allude to but not mention? What effect does this comment have on Winston?
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19. Why is Winston drawn to O’Brien? Do you think he should trust him?
20. What distinct difference does Winston notice about the Proles and the Party members based on what he remembers
from his mother?
21. What does Winston mean by “we are not humans”?
22. What promise to Julia and Winston make to each other? Why is this pact so important to Winston, by keeping this
promise how does it keep them human?
23. Julia tells Winston that even though the Party can torture a person and make him say anything, they cannot make him
believe it. Do you agree with her? Why/ why not?
24. What are Winston and Julia prepared to do for the Brotherhood? What one thing do they refuse to do? What do you
think of the things they are willing to do? Would you do such things, why/why not? What about their society makes
Winston willing to do such things?
25. What religious symbolism occurs during the scene with O’Brien?
26. During Hate Week what does Winston witness to give him proof of the Brotherhood’s sabotage? How do the people of
Oceana respond, why do they respond this way?
27. Why are the three superpowers always at war according to the Brotherhood handbook?
28. How does is the slogan “War is Peace” logical according to the Party?
29. How can “Ignorance be Strength? How can intelligence be a weakness?
30. How has Insoc stopped class warfare?
31. Why did the invention of print make it easier to manipulate public opinion? In our society where information is all over,
is this concept applicable?
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32. Even though the information from the book really isn’t anything new to Winston, what effect does this knowledge have
on him? What does he mean by “Sanity is not statistical”?
33. Why is the prole woman more beautiful than Julia?
34. How are Winston and Julia betrayed?
35. Explore the symbolic significance of:
the paperweight:
the song the Prole woman sings:
the nursery rhyme about the bells:
The picture of St. Clements:
Three
1. What difference is there between the different types of prisoners in Miniluv?
2. What connection does Winston make about what O’Brien said to him earlier and in his dream?
3. How is Ampleforth guilty of thoughtcrime?
4. How does Parson’s feel about being imprisoned? What feelings does he have towards his daughter for turning him in?
5. What do you think Room 101 is?
6. What is ironic and significant about O’Brien’s response to Winston saying “They got you too!”?
7. How do the tortures of Winston evolve the longer he is in the Ministry of Love?
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8. What is “wrong” with Winston? How must he be cured? What must Winston learn?
9. How does Winston’s torturer try to build trust with him? Why does he tell Winston what Winston is thinking
10. What is more important than to be loved according to Winston?
11. Why are there no martyrs in Oceana?
12. How is the Party different from past governments?
13. What does O’Brien mean when he says “you do not exist”?
14. Earlier Winston said he understood how the party does what it does, what is the answer to why?
15. How does the party control matter? Is there any reality outside the human skull?
16. Look up the term solipsism. How does this apply to the story?
17. What kind of world is the Party creating?
18. What image does O’Brien say symbolizes the Party’s desires?
19. What is the only shred of humanity Winston has left before Room 101?
20. What is Winston’s definition of freedom before Room 101?
21. What is symbolic about the chess game Winston plays at the Chestnut Tree Café?
22. What happened to Julia? What could the scar on the side of her head indicate?
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23. What is ironic about the Chestnut Tree Café?
24. How does Winston ultimately feel about Big Brother?