Name _________________________________________ Block _______
1984
1984
PART O N E
Chapter One
Vocabulary
decisive - final, conclusive
faltered - stumbled, hesitated
interminable - neverending, ceaseless
meagerness – thinness
nebulous - vagu.e, unclear
orthodoxy - those who follow the traditional or usual way of doing something
sanguine - ruddy, reddish
simultaneously - at the same time
tableaux - a series of staged scenes
1.
What atmosphere or mood is established in the descriptions given in the first two
paragraphs?
Oceania is definitely not a happy place to live; in fact, the description is depressing. The images are primarily
negative: "cold," "gritty dust," "old rag," "Hate Week," "ulcer," etc.
2.
In the second paragraph, what important items of information do we learn about the society
in which Winston Smith lives? What do we learn of Winston's physical discomfort?
The lack of things we take for granted in life, like a regular and abundant supply of electricity, causes the
daily aggravations that wear a person down. The knowledge that an older, tougher, larger, sibling-type
individual keeps his eyes on citizens constantly must be debilitating to anyone trying to be free or alone.
The government sponsors a regularly scheduled "Hate Week," controlling and reinforcing the citizens'
anger. The phrase "BigBrother Is Watching You." is emphasized by the enormous picture with its moving
eyes tacked to the wall on each landing. We also learn that Winston has an ulcerous sore above his
right ankle, which adds to his discomfort.
3.
Once Winston is inside his flat, what item is identified, and what is its significance?
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4.
Large posters of Big Brother are all over the city, and we see for the first time the term
"INGSOC." Turn to the Appendix on page 246 and in the first couple of sentences, find
out to what INGSOC refers.
INGSOC standsfor "English Socialism."
What do the two words mean to you?
5.
On page 6, what disturbing feature do we learn the telescreen possesses?
6.
What do we learn of the two types of police?
Police Patrol –
Thought Police –
7.
What is the stark contrast between the Ministry of Truth building and its
surrounding? What does it point out about this society?-
8.
The three Party slogans on the side of the building are paradoxes. Explain why.
9.
Oceania has four ministries that run the government. Identify what each is responsible for.
• The Ministry of Truth –
•
The Ministry of Peace –
• The Ministry of Love –
•
The Ministry of Plenty -
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10.
There is an irony in all these names and what they do. Point out the irony in the names. Do
you find any of this irony humorous?
11. Winston secretly begins to write in the diary he is starting. Why is this action not "illegal"?
What consequences could it have, however?
12. Why do you suppose this government would frown on the writing of a diary?
13.
As Winston sits before the blank diary page, we are told his ulcerous sore "had begun itching
unbearably." For what could this ulcerous sore be an objective correlative?
We infer that for some time, Winston has been vaguely discontent, but at this point, his intellectual and
emotional unhappiness seem to have become more acute, just as the itch of his sore has; however "[he] dared
not scratch it, because...it always became inflamed." The actions he is about to take will cause more pain than
mere itching and inflammation, though.
14.
Winston begins to write about the films he had seen the night before. He relates the horrific incidents
that took place on the screen and the audience's amused responses, apparently without them being
aware of the horror of the incidents or the inappropriateness of their responses.
A. Why do you suppose that he and the audience are not sickened by the horror of
what they see?
B. The only victim remotely identified in the film is the middle-aged woman sitting
with the boy in the boat. How is she identified? Given the time period, 1949, why
might this identification be significant?
C. One of the proles reacts negatively to the exposing of children to this kind of violence.
Why does Winston believe nothing will happen to her?
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15.
Winston realizes that he felt the necessity to begin writing the diary because of the Hate
Week incident and two people who were there. What was it about O'Brien and the girl that
caused Smith to notice them?
The twenty-seven-year-old female, despite the fact that she wears the scarlet sash of the Anti-Sex
League, very much appeals to Winston on a level of which he is only dimly aware. He "disliked all
women, and especiall y the young and pretty ones." Orwell here lets us know that Juila has entered
his mind on two levels: hatred and acknowledgement of her sensuality. O'Brien's features suggest that
he, too, might not follow the Party line, or his features suggest a least some degree of awareness or
intelligence, like "an eighteenth century nobleman" whose "political orthodoxy was not perfect."
16.
The arch enemy of Oceania is Emmanuel Goldstein, once a leading figure in the
Party, "almost on a level with Big Brother himself," but now the Party's much
reviled enemy. Goldstein is modeled after Leon Trotsky, a Jewish intellectual and
leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, whom Stalin demonized and finally had hunted
down and killed. Why do you suppose the rulers of Oceania make Goldstein the
creator of every crime, conspiracy, and act of sabotage that occurs in the country?
(HINT: Remember our unit on propaganda.)
17.
Orwell writes:
"The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but
that it was impossible to avoid joining in. Within thirty seconds any pretense was always
unnecessary. A hideous ecstasy of fear and vindictiveness, a desire to kill, to torture, to smash
faces in with a sledge hammer, seemed to flow through the whole group of people like an
electric current, turning one even against one's will into a grimacing, screaming lunatic."
Does this description remind you of anything you have seen on television, or in the movies?
What is significant about Winston's reaction?
18.
The "hate session" images fade from that of the despised Goldstein, to the beloved and fatherly
image of Big Brother. As the Party's slogans are superimposed, the viewers rhythmically chant
"B-B."
A. What is Winston's reaction?
B. How do you suppose a Party member might explain the three paradoxical Party slogans?
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19. What passes between O'Brien and Smith, and what does this suggest to Winston?
20.
Winston realizes that in writing "DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER" in his diary, he has committed
a thoughtcrime that will be severely punished when, not if, it is discovered. What is his conclusion,
though, as he goes to answer the knock on his door?
II
Vocabulary
entail - include
obscure - difficult to understand
uniformity - sameness; a state in which everything is exactly the same
1.
The narrator explains that the neighbor's flat is dingy, but in a different way than Winston's. Inside, there
was the usual boiled-cabbage smell, common to the whole building. What is the point of the numerous
mentions of the prevalence of the boiled-cabbage smell?
In addition to reinforcing the idea of the dingy, drab lives the people live, the persistent smell of boiled cabbage
emphasizes the scarcity of foods other than what the staple seems to be cabbage.
2.
What is the point of view of the narration?
3.
What makes the neighbor's children and all children in his society so frightening to Winston?
4.
Having caught O'Brien's eye, Winston reflects that he was not even sure "...whether O'Brien was a
friend or enemy. Nor did it even seem to matter greatly. There was a link of understanding between
them that was more important than affection or partisanship." What does this thinking reveal about
Winston's emotional needs?
He needs to feel intimately connected and understood by at least one person, even if that person might be an enemy.
This emphasizes the alienation and isolation that individuals in l984's society feel.
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5.
While watching the telescreen, how does Winston know that bad news is coming?
6.
After mentioning the constant surveillance under which the people live, Winston says that there
is nothing of your own except for what one small thing? What is ironic about the phrase, "the
mutability of the past"?
7.
Can people like Winston's neighbor, who has completely accepted the Party thinking, be free in
those cubic centimeters? Explain.
8.
Overwhelmed by the size of the Ministry of Truth building and by the size and strength of the
Party, Winston sees opposition as futile, yet, what is his conclusion about "human heritage" and
dying? Find two quotes.
Quote #1
Quote #2
Ill
Vocabulary
annihilate - destroy completely
furtive - sneaky, sly
genially - kindly
inscrutable - mysterious
reproach - disapproval
repudiate - refuse to acknowledge or accept
statuesque - tall and shapely
tube - subway
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1.
What do we learn of Winston's memory of his mother?
2.
Toward the end of this chapter, Winston describes "doublethink." How does the
Party use doublethink?
3.
What chilling occurrence happens during the morning exercises?
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