English III: British Literature
1984, by George Orwell
Tuesday and Wednesday, 5/14-15/13: Answer part 1, chapter 5-6 questions.
Chapter 5
1. Infer why the Party prefers citizens to refer to each other as “comrade” rather than “friend.”
Comrade evokes a feeling of a co-worker or acquaintance, rather than the emotional attachment of
friends.
2. Contrast Syme’s opinion of public hangings to Winston’s.
Syme enjoys and describes the awful details of public hangings. Winston shies away from the hangings
and seems to find them too violent.
3. Demonstrate how Newspeak hopes to eradicate thoughtcrime.
By deleting most words, Newspeak hopes to eradicate thoughtcrime. Newspeak eliminates words which
could allow anti-government thoughts, as well as any words which allow creativity.
4. Infer how INGSOC uses language as a form of propaganda.
Instead of allowing language to take its natural course, Insoc eliminates, creates, and controls’ citizens’
vocabulary. Narrowing language so much allows the government to manipulate language into a form of
propaganda.
5. SKIP
6. SKIP
7. Evaluate how Parsons’ children’s actions reflect their society’s attitudes toward differences.
The children followed the man because he wore different shoes. People in their society are trained to spot
differences and look on them as flaws or problems that must be eliminated.
8. Tell how citizens react to any government news about rations or production, and explain why it is an
odd reaction.
Citizens react positively and cheer any government news on rations and production, even if the ration or
production is less than it previously was. Citizens do not seem to remember that the previous ration or
production is less than it previously was. Citizens do not seem to remember that the previous ration or
production was higher than the new number announced by the government.
9. Summarize why Winston believes some citizens will be vaporized and others will not be.
Winston believes that more intelligent citizens such as Syme, O’Brien, and Mrs. Parsons will be
vaporized, while less intelligent citizens who do not think on their own, such as Parsons, will not be
vaporized.
10. Give an example of facecrime.
Any facial expression, whether it is intentional or subconscious, that portrays emotions could be
considered facecrime.
Chapter 6
1. Analyze Winston’s belief that your worst enemy is your own nervous system.
Winston means that one must completely control his/her entire body at all times to avoid being accused of
facecrime or thoughtcrime. Expressions, spasms, or tics could be misconstrued as illegal activities.
2. Generalize differences between the Party women and the prole women.
The Party women wear overalls without any makeup, perfume or jewelry. Party women are also taught to
hate sex as a pleasurable activity and view it only as procreation to create new Party members. Prole
women dress as females and wear makeup and perfume. They also engage in sex for pleasure and for
prostitution.
3. Explain why the Party does not allow people who are physically attracted to each other to marry.
In an effort to discourage sex as an enjoyable activity of self-expression, the Party does not allow people
who are attracted to each other to marry.
4. Describe Winston’s relationship with his wife, Katharine.
Katharine echoed all of the Party slogans and beliefs, including having sex only to create more Party
members. She and Winston did not love each other and separated years ago.
5. Examine why Winston believes that a real love affair is an “almost unthinkable event.”
Since citizens keep each other at a distance, it is very difficult to get to know someone enough to fall in
love with them. The Party’s attitude toward sex and physical affection also prevents deep relationships
from occurring.
6. Explain Winston’s belief that, “The sexual act, successfully performed, was rebellion. Desire was
thoughtcrime.”
To engage in enjoyable sex with a partner of his/her own free will requires citizens to break out of the
emotional bondage placed on them by the Party. To have thoughts of one’s own, apart from the Party’s
beliefs, equals thoughtcrime.