“Big Brother is watching.”
“Down with Big Brother.”
George Orwell (1903-1949)
• George Orwell was the pen
name of Eric Blair.
• Born in British India in 1903.
• He lived in poverty.
• Worked as a policeman in
Burma and saw cruelty.
• Later, went to England to live
as a writer.
• Famous for Animal Farm
and Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Politics
• “In our age, there is no such thing as ‘keeping
out of politics’. All issues are political issues,
and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions,
folly, hatred, and schizophrenia.” – George
Orwell
• Politics is power – it relates to the
governance of a country or state, including its
individuals.
• List as many types of political systems as you
can (i.e. Democracy):
Democracy, Oligarchy, Monarchy, Aristocracy,
Socialism, Communism, Fascism, Totalitarianism.
The Political Spectrum
• The political spectrum is a system for
classifying political systems and ideologies.
• “The Left” is considered Liberal – the desire to
change society; progressive.
• “The Right” is considered Conservative – the
desire to keep society the same or return to
“traditional values”.
• This originated from the time of the French
Revolution, where the aristocracy would sit to
the right and the commoners would sit to the
left.
Orwell on Politics:
• Orwell was a socialist and supported the poor and the
weak.
• Socialism is the redistribution of resources (property,
wealth) by the government on behalf of the people.
• **The Great Depression: 1929-World War II**
• Orwell fought for the Socialists during the Spanish Civil
War against the Fascists.
• Ultimately, Orwell grew disillusioned and distrustful of
all political groups of the time.
• Although some political leaders – such Stalin – claimed
to be Socialist, or to favor the weak, they used their
power for their own benefit (as seen in Animal Farm).
Politics & Language
• Orwell lived during the
time of Totalitarianism.
• Totalitarians
consolidated their power
through a number of
means:
• -- Violence: Secret Police
and Terror.
• -- Language: Propaganda
and Misinformation.
1984
• Although the totalitarians were seemingly defeated
in World War II (Hitler and Mussolini), in the late
1940’s Stalin’s Soviet Union and Communist China
displayed many of the traits of totalitarianism.
• Further, Great Britain and the United States
demonstrated some similar traits of totalitarianism.
• In 1949, Orwell wondered what the world would be
like in the year 1984 …
Nineteen Eighty-Four
• In 1984, the world is controlled by three warring
police states under totalitarianism:
• -- Oceania (Great Britain and the United States)
• -- Eurasia (The former Soviet Union and Europe)
• -- Eastasia (China and the Far East)
Big Brother
• Big Brother is the seemingly
omnipotent, omniscient, and
omnipresent dictator of
Oceania in 1984.
• “The Party” uses: secret police
(Thought Police), surveillance
(“Big Brother is watching you”),
torture, propaganda (the 2minutes of Hate, Hateweek),
misinformation (doublethink),
and corrupted language
(Newspeak) to control all
aspects of one’s life.
Literary Devices
• Orwell uses a number of literary devices to tell his
nightmarish version of the future:
• Irony
• Appeals (Ethos, Pathos, Logos)
• Symbolism
• Mood/Atmosphere and Setting
• Tone
• Imagery
• Point of View
• Allusions
• Genre
Dialectic Journal
• Like Active Reading, a dialectic journal is a means to
interact and engage a complex text.
• Related to Annotation.
• Using 2-column notes, copy significant quotes from
the text (words, phrases, passages) on the left and
respond to the right. Include page numbers for
quotes.
• Respond to words, phrases, and passages that are
significant (reveals something about the author,
subject, or audience) and provide only the most
insightful commentary.
• DJ can be used later to write an analysis essay.
Part One Vocabulary
• 1. Interminable (Adj.)
• 2. Nebulous (Adj.)
• 3. Sanguine (Adj.)
• 4. Inscrutable (Adj.)
• 5. Reproach (N.)
• 6. Repudiate (V.)
• 7. Statuesque (Adj.)
• 8. Proletarian (N.)
• 9. Rectify (V.)
• 10. Superseded (V.)
• 11. Saboteurs (N.)
• 12. Strident (Adj.)
• 13. Vapid (Adj.)
• 14. Impregnable (Adj.)
• 15. Defection (V.)
• 16. Ideology (N.)
• 17. Indoctrinate (V.)
• 18. Relics (N.)
• 19. Lackey (N.)
• 20. Nostalgia (N.)
Part One Vocabulary
• 1. Interminable-never ending,
ceaseless
• 2. nebulous-vague, unclear
• 12. strident-grating, nerve-wracking
• 13. vapid-dull, lacking in zest
• 3. sanguine-ruddy, reddish
• 14. impregnable-not capable of being
conquered
• 4. inscrutable-mysterious
• 15. defection-to leave one cause or
belief to take up another
• 5. reproach-disapproval
• 6. repudiate-refuse to acknowledge or
accept
• 7. statuesque-tall and shapely
• 8. proletarian-a member of the
working class; an industrial worker
• 16. ideology-a group of ideas and
beliefs that are held by a political or
social group
• 17. indoctrinate-to teach the beliefs of
a specific group
• 9. rectify-correct, fix
• 18. relics-souvenirs; items used to
remember the past
• 10. superseded-replaced
• 19. lackey-servant
• 11. saboteurs-people who sabotage; • 20. nostalgia-a warm emotional feeling
for a time that has passed
those who deliberately destroy things
belonging to their enemies.
Literary Analysis #1: 1984
• Choose one important passage or chapter from
1984 and perform a literary analysis – identify two
or more literary elements and explain how each
contributes to a central theme(s) in the novel.
• Elements to consider: Irony, Appeals (Ethos, Pathos,
Logos), Symbolism, Mood/Atmosphere/Setting,
Tone, Imagery, Point of View, Allusions and Genre.
• The analysis should be 4-6 paragraphs and contain:
an introduction to the topic/novel; a strong thesis
statement; clear topic sentences; details;
quotes/evidence from the novel; thorough
explanations of points; and a succinct conclusion.
• If typed, used MLA format.
Part Two Vocabulary
• 1. Contrived (V.)
• 2. Queue (N.)
• 3. Abreast (Adj.)
• 4. Alighted (Adj.)
• 5. Daunted (Adj.)
• 6. Denounce (V.)
• 7. Incredulity (N.)
• 8. Obeisance (N.)
• 9. Virtuosity (N.)
• 10. Enunciating (Adj.)
• 11. Infallible (Adj.)
• 12. Inquisitive (Adj.)
• 13. Effigy (N.)
• 14. Embellishing (Adj.)
• 15. Avert (V.)
• 16. Despise (V.)
• 17. Feeble (Adj.)
• 18. Inert (Adj.)
• 19. Pilfering (Adj.)
• 20. Remonstrance (N.)
Part Two Vocabulary
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1. Contrived-planned
2. Queue-a line of people
3. Abreast-side-by-side
4. Alighted-perched
5. Daunted-intimidated
6. Denounce-to publicly
accuse someone of
wrongdoing
7. Incredulity-disbelief
8. Obeisance-respect
9. Virtuosity-extraordinary
skill
10. Enunciating-speaking
very clearly and concisely
• 11. Infallible-incapable of
making a mistake
• 12. Inquisitive-curious
• 13. Effigy-a representation of
a person who is hated
• 14. Embellishing-adding
details to
• 15. Avert-to turn away
• 16. Despise-to hate with a
passion
• 17. Feeble-weak, frail
• 18. Inert-sluggish, not active
• 19. Pilfering-stealing
• 20. Remonstrance-protest
Part Three Vocabulary
• 1. Demeanor (N.)
• 2. Emaciation (N.)
• 3. Forbearance (N.)
• 4. Insidious (Adj.)
• 5. Lethargy (N.)
• 6. Perturbed (Adj.)
• 7. Sanctimonious (Adj.)
• 8. Admonished (Adj.)
• 9. Cauterized (Adj.)
• 10. Disquieting (Adj.)
• 11. Sporadically (Adv.)
• 12. Vile (Adj.)
• 13. Capitulated (Adj.)
• 14. Frivolity (N.)
• 15. Infer (V.)
• 16. Contemptible (Adj.)
• 17. Evade (V.)
• 18. Fallacy (N.)
• 19. Insurrection (N.)
• 20. Malleable (Adj.)
Part Three Vocabulary
• 1. Demeanor-conduct
•
• 2. Emaciation-the state of being •
extremely thin, almost to the
point of starvation
•
• 3. Forbearance-patience
• 4. Insidious-sly
•
• 5. Lethargy-the state of being
lazy, slow, or drowsy
•
• 6. Perturbed-upset
•
• 7. Sanctimonious-hypocritically
pious
•
• 8. Admonished-reprimanded •
• 9. Cauterized-burned to
prevent infection
•
• 10. Disquieting-unsettling,
disturbing
•
11. Sporadically-occasionally
12. Vile-foul; physically
repulsive
13. Capitulated-stopped
resisting
14. Frivolity-a trivial act that
lacks seriousness
15. Infer-guess or suggest
16. Contemptible-deserving to
be despised
17. Evade-avoid
18. Fallacy-a false or mistaken
idea
19. Insurrection-an act of
revolting against authority
20. Malleable-capable of being
shaped
Future World Project
• Written in 1949, the novel 1984 is George
Orwell’s projection of the future world.
• In groups of 3-4 students, imagine what the
world will look like in the year 2050. You will
present your vision to the class.
• Your projection of the future should be based
on trends and evidence based in the present
and also the past (history often repeats itself).
• Use evidence gathered from multiple sources
(at least four) to defend your group’s position.
Future World Project
• Groups will be graded based on:
• 1. Content – Information regarding the future world must be
supported by reasoning and evidence from the present
and/or past. More than three sources must be cited.
• 2. Visual Aid – Groups must incorporate a visual aid – poster,
Power Point, video, graphs, etc. – to help the audience
understand the information presented.
• 3. Presentation – The presentation must be 3-5 minutes in
length. Students will also be graded on eye contact, (voice)
projection, and posture/comfort level.
• 4. Teamwork – All students must participate equally in the
project. All students are expected to speak during the
presentation and no one student should be dominating the
project.
1984 Individual Projects
• 1. Write a 2-3 page sequel or prequel to Nineteen EightyFour. Include narrative and dialogue.
• 2. Write a 10-line Found Poem based around an important
theme/concept in Nineteen Eighty-Four.
• 3. Create an artful collage of important quotes from
Nineteen Eighty-Four. It must include at least five quotes
and color and/or illustrations.
• 4. Create a Graphic Novel version of an important scene
from Nineteen Eighty-Four. It must include at least four
panels, color, dialogue, and action.
• 5. Create an artful poster (at least 4’ X 2’) illustrating
important characters, settings or themes from Nineteen
Eighty-Four. Also include color/detail and at least one
important quote.