1984
Fishbowl Discussion Questions
1. The world within which Winston lives is replete with contradictions. For example a, major tenet of the
Party's philosophy is that War is Peace. Similarly, the Ministry of Love serves as, what we would consider, a
department of war. What role do these contradictions serve on a grand scale? Discuss other contradictions
inherent in the Party's philosophy. What role does contradiction serve within the framework of Doublethink?
How does Doublethink satisfy the needs of The Party?
2. Discuss Winston as a heroic figure. What qualities does he posses that could define him as one?
3. Describe the role that O'Brien plays in Winston's life. Why do you think that initially, Winston is drawn to
O'Brien? Why does he implicitly trust him, despite the enormous dangers involved?
4. Early on in the novel, we learn of Winston's belief in the proles as a liberating force. What accounts for
Winston's almost blind faith in the proles? What are some of the characteristics of the proles that, in
Winston's eyes, make them the ultimate means for overthrowing Big Brother?
5. From her first appearance as "the dark-haired girl," through to the end of the novel, Julia is a key figure
in 1984. Trace the path of Julia in relation to Winston's life; in what ways does she influence him? Did you
trust her, initially? Overall, do you feel she had a positive or negative impact upon him?
6. Following his capture in Mr. Charrington's spare room, Winston undergoes a process of "philosophical
cleansing" and re-education against which he valiantly, but unsuccessfully fights. Discuss Winston's
"capitulation" at the hands of O'Brien. How is Winston brought to "love Big Brother?" In sacrificing Julia, how
has Winston, in essence, signaled his own end?
7. In the final analysis, how accurate was Orwell in his vision of the future? In what ways does our
contemporary society compare to his idea of society in 1984? Are there examples in which he was correct?
What is most opposite? Do you see a potential for aspects of Orwell's "vision" to come true?
Catcher in the Rye
Fishbowl Discussion Questions
1. Discuss Holden's observations about the carousel's gold ring at the end of the novel. What is the
significance of the ring? What do his observations reveal about his state of maturity? In what way has his
character changed—or developed—by the end of the story?
2. Do Holden's encounters with adult hypocrisy ring true to you? Or are they more a reflection of his own
deteriorating mental stability? Or both?
3. Holden seems to be reaching out for genuine intimacy in his encounters. Is he himself capable of
intimacy? Are any of the other characters capable of providing it? In fact, what is intimacy—sexual and/or
non-sexual?
4. What role does Phoebe play in the novel?
5. What is the significance of the title—especially the fact that Holden gets Robert Burns's poem wrong?