Section One
1. Who is the main character? Briefly describe the main character.
2. What is the setting of the novel? Give the country and the city.
3. What are the three slogans of the Party? Write them the way they are shown in the novel.
4. What does the caption on the posters say?
5. Name each of the Ministries and explain its function. Also include the Newspeak
name for each ministry. How is paradox involved with the description of the government
ministries?
6. What date does the main character record?
7. Describe the two people the main character sees just before the Two Minutes Hate.
Tell what he thinks of each of these people.
8. Explain the importance of Emmanuel Goldstein. Also describe the way his image looks.
9. What are some techniques used on the telescreen to encourage the Party members’ hatred of
Goldstein? What is the source of the power behind the hatred that the viewers feel?
10. Explain the importance of Big Brother. Also describe the way his image looks.
11. What crime does the main character commit? How does he do this? What is the punishment?
12. What is the telescreen and how is it used?
13. Describe thoughtcrime and give an example.
14. Explain the significance of Winston’s dream in the saloon of a ship.
15. Why does the Party never acknowledge when it changes from fighting Eurasia to Eastasia?
16. What are the “physical jerks?”
17. What does Winston remember about the past?
17. Find the party slogan about the past and write it here. What do you think it means?
18. When does Winston think he first heard the word “Ingsoc?” What does it stand for in Old
Speak?
19. What happens to the rewritten news articles after Winston puts them into the pneumatic tube?
20. Winston thinks that what he does is not forgery. What does he think it is?
21. What is Winston’s greatest pleasure in his life, and why is it so?
22. Describe the aim of Newspeak and how it works.
23. Who is Syme and what is he working on?
24. What is Syme’s observation about Winston’s appreciation of Newspeak?
25. Winston is at lunch when the message on the telescreen relates the good news about
increases in production, including that the chocolate ration has been raised to twenty
grams a week. What is Winston thinking as he hears this message?
26. What is facecrime? Give an example.
27. Who is looking at Winston during lunch? How does this affect him?
28. What is the aim of the Party with regard to male-female relationships and sex?
29. What is the Party’s policy on marriage, divorce, and children?
30. Why are Katharine and Winston separated?
31. “Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they
cannot become conscious.” Explain this quote.
32. How were the Proles treated before and after the revolution?
33. “Proles and animals are free.” Explain how the Proles have more freedom than Party members.
34. Describe the proof Winston once had that confirmed the Party’s falsification of information and
power.
35. Who does Winston believe he is writing to in his diary?
36. “Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else follows.”
What does Winston mean by this?
37. What is “ownlife?”
38. What is a “steamer?”
39. Describe the junk shop proprietor.
40. What item has Winston previously bought at the junk shop? What does he purchase in this
chapter?
41. What is the poem that the junk shop proprietor begins teaching Winston about?
1984 Questions: Part 2
1. During Winston and Julia’s meeting in the country, why is Winston still worried about
getting in trouble even though he is not near any telescreens?
2. Why does Julia say she decided she was attracted to Winston?
3. Why is Julia such an active member of the Anti-Sex League even though she has had sex
with multiple Party members?
4. Why does Winston consider having sex with Julia to be a political act?
5. How old is Julia and where does she live?
6. Julia doesn’t believe in the Brotherhood. What is her philosophy about living under Party
rule?
7. Julia explains a connection between chastity and political orthodoxy. What is it?
8. What shocking action does Winston regret not doing?
9. What is Mr. Charrington’s reaction when Winston asks to rent the room above his shop for a
love affair?
10. Who is the red-armed woman?
11. What is a versificator?
12. What does Julia bring in her tool bag to the room?
13. How does Julia transform herself during her visit to the room?
14. What does Winston mean when he says to Julia, “You’re only a rebel from the waist
downwards.”?
15. Describe Winston’s nightmare that is triggered by Julia’s reference to the rats.
16. How is the paperweight a metaphor for Julia and Winston’s relationship?
17. What happened to Syme?
18. Describe three preparations for Hate Week. Include at least one violent one that is most
likely engineered by the Party.
19. How does Winston’s health improve during his affair with Julia?
20. What is Julia’s reaction about Winston’s proof that the party alters history and implicates
innocent people?
21. Who does Winston finally run into and what invitation does he receive? What document
does this person intend to share with Winston?
22. How did Winston behave toward his mother and sister and what happened to them?
23. What does Winston mean when he says, “The proles had stayed human.”
24. What does Winston tell Julia the real betrayal will be when they are caught?
25. How does Winston say they can beat the Party?
26. Describe the meeting between O’Brien, Julia, and Winston at O’Brien’s apartment.
27. What is “the Book?”
28. What does O’Brien know that surprises Winston?
1984 Part 3: Questions
1. Where is Winston? Describe the setting of chapter 1.
2. Who does Winston think the “wreck of a woman” could be and why?
3. Why does Winston think this place could be “the place where there is no darkness?”
4. Who is Ampleforth and why is he here?
5. Why is Parsons here? What crime did he commit and who reported him? Ironically, how does
he feel about being caught and the possible punishment?
6. What is the reaction of the “chinless man” when he learns he is going to Room 101. What do
you think happens in this room?
7. How does O’Brien reply to Winston when he says, “They’ve got you too!”? What does this mean
for his character?
8. What does Winston confess to?
9. What does O’Brien say is the matter with Winston? What two examples does he give for this
problem?
10. Where does O’Brien say reality truly exists?
11. How does O’Brien say Winston will become sane?
12. Why are prisoners brought to the Ministry of Love if not to confess?
13. What has happened to Julia?
14. What are the three stages of Winston’s reintegration?
15. Who actually wrote the “Book?”
16. According to O’Brien, why does the Party maintain itself in power?
17. How does the Party differ from prior oligarchies?
Be able to define or explain the significance of the following terms, places, or things:
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Doublethink
Crimestop
Artsem
Blackwhite
Facecrime
Thoughtcrime
Ownlife
Memory hole
Miniluv, Minipax, Minitrue , Miniplenty
Steamer
Telescreen
Versificator
Unperson
Youth League
Junior Anti-Sex League
Physical jerks
Ingsoc
Airstrip One, Oceania, Eastasia, Eurasia, Malabar Front
Victory Mansions
Big Brother
The Brotherhood
Emmanuel Goldstein
The Golden Country
Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford
Ampleforth
Inner Party, Outer Party
Newspeak and Oldspeak
Room 101
Sexcrime
Two Minutes Hate
Hate Week
The place where there is no darkness
Goodthinkful
The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism
Thought Police
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Katharine
Red-armed prole woman
Dust
Singing thrush
Winston’s diary
Glass paperweight
1984 Study Guide