Reading Guide Questions on 1984
Part One:
1.
What three groups make up Oceania and what is the function of each? To which
does Winston belong?
2.
What is the Two Minutes Hate? What do Winston and O’Brien do once during
this time?
3.
Explain doublethink. In what way does the political alliance between Oceania
and Eurasia involve doublethink?
4.
How do you think Winston’s memories of his mother influence Winston as an
adult?
5.
One of the themes of 1984 is that language is a powerful tool for determining how
people view the world. How is this theme illustrated by the use of Newspeak?
Part Two:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
In what way does Winston’s relationship with Julia restore him as a human being?
What clues indicate that Winston and Julia will be arrested? Who turned them in?
In what way does the woman who sings and hangs diapers change Winston’s
perception of the proles?
How does Orwell use the paperweight as a symbol in 1984?
One of the themes of 1984 is that knowledge of the past is essential for evaluating
the present. How is this theme illustrated by the sudden political change that
occurred during Hate Week?
Part Three:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is the reason for Ampleforth’s and Parson’s arrest? What do these arrests
suggest about personal security in the society of 1984?
Explain how Winston betrays Julia.
What does the exchange between the chinless man and the skull-faced man
suggest about human nature? How is Winston’s betrayal of Julia similar?
One of the themes of 1984 is that people can be forced to give up their beliefs and
even their feelings if their survival is threatened? How is the theme illustrated by
Winston’s and Julia’s meeting after their respective “cures?”
Identify elements of the 1984 society that parallel with our own. Explain whether
or not you think that a society like that in 1984 could exist.
The characters listed below play a significant part in 1984. Provide a brief description of
each as you read and understand why they are important.
Winston
__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
O’Brien
__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Katherine
__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Syme __________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Goldstein
__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Parsons
__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Julia
__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Ampleforth
__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Rutherford
__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Charrington
__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Sample Responses, Part I
NOT A GOOD ANSWER
2.
It is a time when people can get their anger out. They glance
at each other.
A GOOD ANSWER
What is the Two Minutes Hate? What do Winston and O’Brien do once during
this time?
2.
The Two Minutes Hate is a time of day where, for two
minutes, everyone has a chance to express their anger for the
enemies of Oceania. They watch a video of their enemy and
are worked into a frenzy of anger toward them. It is a means
of population control used to allow the people to get out their
frustrations so they will not express anger toward their
government. In the scene in Part One, Winston is not really
participating in the Two Minutes Hate and as he looks around
the room, he shares a quick glance with O’Brien which leads
him to think that O’Brien feels the way he does about the
Party.
5.
Newspeak is destroying the language by making it
impossible for people to accurately express their feelings,
participate in thought crime, or effectively persuade others to
rise up against the Party. They will no longer be able to
describe or have intelligent conversations. The language will
be so dumbed down that the people will be entirely incapable
of independent thoughts or beliefs.