1984 by George Orwell Book One
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Chapter I begins with the clock clock chiming 13. This 1. The story begins
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manner of time repeats itself throughout Section One. How does this rendition of time contribute to the mood of the novel? Why does does Winston Winston hesita hesitate te to to write write in in the the journal journal?? How does his initial foray reflect his true emotions/thought? What What is is the the Two Two Minu Minute tess Hate Hate?? Who Who is is Gol Gold dste stein? in? Who Who is O'Br 'Brien? ien? How is is the gove governm rnment ent port portray rayed? ed? What What is is the significance of Big Brother? List List the diffe different rent ministrie ministriess and tell tell why why their their names names are ironic. How does does Wins Winston ton's 's writi writing ng of "DO "DOWN WN WITH WITH BIG BIG BROTHER" BROTHER" contrast with his initial scribbling in the beginning? Who are the Thoug Thought ht Poli Police ce and and what what is Thoughtcrime?
Chapter II 1. 2. 3. 4.
How are are the the actio actions ns of the the child childre ren n descri described bed by by Winston? How is Pars Parsons ons descri described bed?? Why does does Winst Winston on have have disgust for him? What What is the the messag messagee Winsto Winston n hears hears in a drea dream? m? What is meant by "no darkness?" Why does does Wins Winston ton attr attribu ibute te this this to to O'Brie O'Brien? n?
Chapter III 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
What is the the signif significanc icancee of Winston's Winston's dream dream about about his his mother and sister being down in a deep "saloon"? What What is the the symbo symbolis lism m in the the dark dark haired haired girl girl "throwing aside her uniform" in his dream? What What is revea revealed led about about Wins Winston ton's 's job? job? What What does does he know know about about the past? past? What What does does the the tele telescr screen een do do that that is is unusu unusual al?? What What does the exercise instructor ask Winston to do? What What is INGS INGSOC OC?? What What is Double Doublethi think? nk?
Chapter IV 1. 2. 3.
This part deals deals primarily primarily with Winston's Winston's job. What, What, exactly, does his job require him to do? Why does does he take take great great deli delight ght in his his job? job? What does it mean mean by the the double doublethink think:: "Who "Who contr controls ols the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." (actually part III, pg 32, but relevant here)
Chapter V 1. 2.
pg46, pg46, last last parag paragraphraph--How -How is Languag Languagee an instrumen instrumentt of control? control? of identity? identity? What What is orth orthod odox oxy y?
What does Parsons Parsons represent represent?? How is his family, family, and the stories he tells about them indicative of this? Why does does the the dark-ha dark-haired ired girl re-surfa re-surface ce at the end of of Part V? What does she represent represent for Winston? Winston?
Chapter VI 1.
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This part is entirely entirely about the sexual sexual act. act. How does Winston describe his encounter with a prole prostitute? What What is the Part Party' y'ss stance stance on sexua sexuall relati relations ons?? Who is/was is/was Winston's Winston's wife? wife? What caused caused the the breakbreakup of the marriage? How does Winston's Winston's descripti description on of sex with his wife and with the prostitute differ? compare? On page page 59, 59, Winston Winston offers offers a definitio definition n of the allure allure sex has for him. What does he he say it is? What does this mean?
Chapter VII 1.
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This part concerns concerns the proles proles and and promi prominent nent party members. What does Winston write write which resides in the proles? What What are the the prole proless compar compared ed to in in this this sectio section? n? How are they "free?" How is this contradicted? Who are are Jones, Jones, Aaron Aaronson son,, and Ruthe Rutherfo rford rd (pg (pg 65)? How are they a contrast to the proles? Whom Whom does does Winsto Winston n finall finally y realiz realizee his diar diary y is written for?
Chapter VIII 1.
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This part is a pivota pivotall part part for for Winst Winston. on. Why is he he in in the Proles' section section of town? What risk does he run by being there? There There are many many 'rul 'rules' es' not not writte written n down. down. What What are are a few of these rules, and what are the consequences for breaking them? What question question does Winston Winston try try to get the the old old man man to answer? Why do do Winsto Winston's n's feet feet take take him him to the the antiq antique ue shop? shop? What is the significance of the coral embedded in glass? Winston's Winston's introduct introduction ion to to the the room room above above the the shop shop is the climax of the first Section. Section. What does the room symbolize and how does it become Winston's obsessions? The dark dark haire haired d girl girl re-s re-surf urface aces. s. What What are are the the dangerous implications of her presence in the prole section immediately after Winston leaves the antique shop? Why do you think she pretends not to to notice Winston? More of the the unwri unwritten tten rules rules emerge emerge at the the end end of part VIII. What are these rules? rules? What is the place of "no darkness?" Why is it significant significant that this this answer appear in this part?
Book Two Chapter I 3. 1.
The dark haired girl is seen again. What is Winston's initial reaction at first sight of her? How does this change as soon as he sees her fall? 2. How does Winston's attitude toward the girl change from the time he receives the note until after he actually reads it? Why does he put himself through such torture just to read it? 3. What is the message on the note? 4. After he reads the note, Winston tries desperately to find the girl again. What are his fears, and which is his biggest fear? Why would he feel this way? 5. The dark-haired girl 'takes charge' of the relationship firing up between Winston and herself. What is the plan for them to meet (give both plans)? Why might she be the 'brains' of the couple? 6. What do their actions tell you about the unwritten 'rules' of the party? 7. Describe the actual place the two finally are supposed to reach for a liaison. How is its description different from the description of the rest of London? Chapter II
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Chapter V 1.
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How does the tone of the novel change in this chapter? How does Winston change as he walks through the woods? When the two finally meet, why is Winston unable to accept a relationship with the girl? Why does he wait to learn anything about her? What type of girl is Julia? She identifies Winston as someone who does not 'belong.' What does she mean by this? How does she herself fit this appellation? On pages 103-104, Winston and Julia listen to a thrush sing. Why does this particular occurrence cause the passionate reaction in Winston? What do you think he means when he claims to want Julia to have slept with thousands of men? about the party? Why would their act be labeled a "political act" on page 105?
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What reasons does Winston give for renting the room. Since Julia agreed with such eagerness, does she concur with Winston's decision? What does the room represent to the two of them? Winston describes his disappointment, even the verge of hatred, when Julia tells him she cannot make it one
pg 130. What is Winston's "expected message" in your own words? O'brien coughs to get Winston's attention. Does the following dialogue seem genuine or acted on O'brien's part to you? Does the conversation have the intended meanding Winston attributes to it? Explain. Could this chapter foreshadow some future events? What? What is the "Thought crime" committed in this chapter? pg 132. List the three steps Winston claims to make. To what end is he going? How does O'brien behave towards Winston? Do you think he acts deliberately, as Winston does, to convey some meaning? Explain.
Chapter VII
Chapter IV 1.
Pg 124. Winston calls the room a paradise. He comments on the antiquity of it all. How is the room a paradise for him? How does Winston's life improve in standards as his affair with Julia continues? Why? What is Hate Week? Describe some of the preparations for Hate Week. What evidence is given in this chapter to suggest that the war is not real? Pg 127-128. Winston is disturbed by Julia's lack of enthusiasm when she discovers she is wrong about the war and the 'true' enemy. How does her reaction demonstrate a "Victory" of the Party? What does Winston mean when he calls Julia "a rebel from the waist down?" How does the following explanation reinforce the last part of question 5?
Chapter VI
Chapter III How does Winston view Julia in the aftermath of their passion? Why is he unable to get back the "innocence?" How does the Party overshadow their relationship? What is the "Golden Country?" What feelings towards Katharine does Winston reveal in this chapter, especially at the edge of the chalk-cliffs?
afternoon. (page 116) How is Winston's definition of love changing as his affair with Julia continues? Julia gets some make-up. Winston is astounded when he first sees her. Why do you think he called her more "feminine?" Do you think he is changing his opinion of her as a statement of rebellion? Is he "falling in love?" Why would the coffee and real sugar be such cherished luxuries to Winston and Julia? How do Winston's and Julia's actions reinforce their own disdain for the Party? What fear of Winston's is revealed in this chapter?
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Winston spends a great deal explaining his last memories of his mother. What setting does this occur? Why would Winston believe that he had killed his mother? How would you describe the state of the Party's control over the populace at this earlier time in Winston's life? pg 137. What does the statement "The proles are human beings. We are not human," mean?
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Even though Winston and Julia know that they will ultimately get caught, they still want to continue the affair. Neither seem to fear the confession, nor the subsequetn execution by gunshot. What does Winston identify as the ultimate defeat at the hands of the Party?
Chapter VIII 1.
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This is a very important chapter in the novel. Winston and Julia both pay a visit to O'Brien. What had they "done...at last?" Give some examples of how the Inner Party members have 'forbidden' privileges denied to lower Party members such as Winston and Julia. What hope is revealed to Winston on page141-142? When O'Brien asks his questions, it is described as thought ist wre routin, or "a sort of catechism." What does this imply about the litany of the questions? How does the oppositoin to Big Brother remain at large? Pg 146. Reread the segment concerning Winston's briefcase. How do the actions of O'Brien, (and also the explicit instructions surrounding it) mimic those of the Party?
Chapter IX 1.
What happens on day 6 of Hate Week? How does the Party pull this off? 2. What are the titles of the chapters of "The Book" Winston reads? Where else do these titles exist? 3. Pg 153. Winston reads a lengthy portion of chapter 3. The war is given a definition. How is it defined? How does it relate to the "average man?" What does this suggest about the actual war in which Oceania is engaged? 4. Why does Orwell include detailed passages from Goldstein’s Book in 1984? 5. Notice that Orwell repeats the first paragraph of The Book on p. 152 and p. 166. Why would Orwell repeat himself in that way? What is the purpose? 6. What three classes of people have always existed? (p. 152) 7. In What ways have these three classes changed? (p. 152) 8. What is the purpose of war in the world of 1984? 9. What are the two aims of the Party? 10. What are the two problems with which the Party is concerned? 11. Why do all three superpowers forbit their citizens from associating with foreigners? 12. The governments of the three superpowers are alike in essence even though their forms of government have different names. Identify these similarities and explain why they exist? 13. What is the real "war" (p. 164) fought in each of the three governments? Your answer will explain the party slogan, "War is Peace." 14. What are the aims of the three groups? (p. 166-167) 15. What changes in the pattern occurred in the nineteenth century?
16. How did socialism change in the twentieth century? 17. Why are the rulers in the twentieth century better at maintaining power than earlier tyrants? 18. What are the four ways an elite group falls from power? (p. 170-171) 19. How does the Inner Party make certain it will not fall from power? (p. 171-172) 20. How is a person’s class determined in the 1984 world? 21. What is doublethink and what is its purpose to the ruling class? 22. Why is the mutability of the past important to the ruling class? 23. Why will this ruling class live on while earlier tyrants fell? 24. What other significant points do you notice? Chapter X 1. 2.
What understanding does Winston gain about the common people? What is the significance of the glass paperweight here?
Book Three Chapter I 1. 2.
Where is Winston? How is he treated there and why? Which of Winston’s acquaintances is in the same place and why? 3. What happens between the starving man and the chinless man? 4. What effect to the words "Room 101" have on the skull-faced man? 5. Who truly is O’Brien? What do he and Charrington have in common? Chapter II 1. 2. 3.
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What sort of treatment does Winston receive on p. 198-200? What is O’Brien attempting to teach Winston? (p.201-207) On p. 209—211, O’Brien explains how the Inner Party avoids the mistakes of past totalitarian governments. State in your own words what O’Brien means. What effect does the (painless) shock treatment have on Winston? (p. 212-213) What questions does Winston ask O’Brien and what are the responses?
Chapter III 1.
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According to O’Brien, what are the three stages in Winston’s re-integration, and which stage is he aobut to enter? Who wrote Goldstein’s book? Is what the book says true? (Notice the answer in its entirety, p. 215-216)
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Why does the Inner Party seek power and how does this reason differ from the reasons of the Soviet Communists under Stalin and the Nazis? 4. Explain the slogan, "Freedon is Slavery." 5. How does one person assert their power over another? 6. How will Oceania differ from all traditional utopias? (p. 220) 7. Why does Winston feel he is morally superior to O’Brien and how does O’Brien prove that Winston is wrong? 8. How does Winston’s physical appearance affect him? 9. What good thing can Winston say about himself at the end of this chapter? 10. How does Winston feel about O’Brien? Why? 11. What final question does Winston ask O’Brien? (p. 225-226) 12. How is the Inner Party’s philosophy different from the Controller Mond’s philosophy in Brave New World? Chapter IV 1.
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How has Winston’s environment changed? What does he do with his time? How does he show his obedience to the Inner Party? How does Winston show that he is not entirely true to Big Brother? How does Winston feel about Big Brother?
Chapter V 1.
What happens in Room 101 and how does this "cure" Winston?
Chapter VI 1. 2.
What is the setting? What is Winston’s job? (Look up "sinecure" if you don’t know it) 3. How did his meeting with Julia go? 4. How is it evident that Winston really is a different person? 5. What is happening in the last two paragraphs of the book?
