Nineteen Eighty-Four
Orwell’s Dystopia
Revision PowerPoint
Literary Significance
One of the most influential political novels
of our century
 Added vocabulary to our everyday speech
 Fascinating plot and vivid characters
 Although the year 1984 has passed, the
questions Orwell leaves us with remain
relevant today
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Historical Background
Written in 1949 – Orwell dying of
tuberculosis – wanted to perfect political
writing as art.
 WWII ends in 1945 – Orwell still left with
questions. Personal experiences that he
had (Imperial Army in Burma, fighting in
Spain against General Franco) led him to
mistrust politics except for Socialism.
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A definition of Socialism
“A system based on public ownership of
the means of production and distribution of
wealth”.
 People have the power/governments work
for the people
 More even distribution of wealth
 INGSOC is meant to stand for English
Socialism – does it?
 Karl Marx if you want to know more
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More Historical Background
Great parallels between the text and
Stalin’s history. Clearly the inspiration for
Big Brother.
 Russian Socialist Revolution (1917) –
Lenin becomes leader (Bolshevik Party).
 At first, great reform including five-year
plans for economy, collectivisation of
farms, nationalisation of industry, liberation
of thought and art.
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More Historical Background cont’d.
Intellectuals around the world inspired by
Bolshevism.
 Lenin dies in 1924, Stalin becomes leader.
He is charismatic, but tyrannical.
 Stalin purges party intellectuals to get rid
of competition.
 Key opponent was Trotsky – represented
by Goldstein.
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Even More Historical Background
Stalin’s opponents forced into exile
 Stalin begins the KGB – crucial to
retaining his power, much like the Thought
Police
 Clearly, Orwell is envisaging a world that
has continued along this path. Real
Socialism (supported by Orwell) has been
subverted.
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Themes
Dangers of Totalitarianism
 The Attack on Privacy
 The Control of Language
 The Destruction of History
 The Attack on Sex
 The Value of Memory
 The Appreciation on the Past
 The Fallibility of the Human Mind
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Symbols/Motif
Urban decay (motif)
 Big Brother
 Paperweight/rhyme
 “The Place Where there is no Darkness”
 Red-armed prole woman
 Winston’s diary
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Analysis of Major Characters
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Remember that other than themes,
character analyses are among you more
common essay questions.
Winston Smith
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Late 30s, lonely, in poor
health, separated
Alienated by his
awareness/intellectual
Rebels - diary/Julia
Sexually frustrated
Needs to understand the
past
Afraid of rats
Is broken in the end
"But it was all right,
everything was all
right, the struggle
was finished. He
had won the victory
over himself. He
loved Big Brother."
pg 300
Julia
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Young, beautiful, sensual
Devious – plans trysts
and pretends well
Small scale rebellion
Not intellectual
Longs to be feminine
O’Brien says she gives
up easily
Loses her sensuality at
the end
"she only questioned the
teachings of the Party
when they in some
way touched upon her
own life. Often she
was ready to accept
the official mythology,
simply because the
difference between
truth and falsehood
did not seem
important to her." pg
154
O’Brien
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Complex/paradoxical
Burly and imposing,
wears glasses and
adjusts them –
“refined”
Tormentor/saviour
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''Do you remember
writing in your diary
…'that it did not matter
whether I was a friend
or an enemy, since I
was at least a person
who understood you
and could be talked to?
You were right. I enjoy
talking to you. Your
mind appeals to me. It
resembles my own
mind except that you
happen to be insane.'
pg. 271
Minor Characters of Interest
Syme – represents the Party’s unwillingness to
allow unique minds to exist. He is vaporised.
“One of these days, thought Winston with sudden
deep conviction, Syme will be vaporized. He is
too intelligent… The Party does not like such
people”.
 Parsons – a typically orthodox man. His
imprisonment at the end reinforces the injustice
of the system
“…one of those completely unquestioning, devoted
drudges on whom…the stability of the Party
depended." —pg 22
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Clever Things to Discuss
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Newspeak – use in your essay and discuss as a
method of mind control
Proles – Winston/Orwell thinks they might be the
only hope
Past artefacts and Winston’s obsession
Expression of energy through 2 mins hate
Telescreens
Winston’s memories and dreams
What do Winston and Julia get out of their
relationship with each other?
More Clever Things….
Children are evil – new generation
 The inherent contradiction of party slogans
 Tease out the relationship between
Winston and O’Brien
 Goldstein’s book – true or false?
 Winston’s betrayal of Julia – the last of his
humanity?
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Key Quotes
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU
Key Quotes cont’d
“Thoughtcrime does not entail death:
thoughtcrime is death." —pg 27
 “Who controls the past …controls the
future: who controls the present controls
the past." —pg 32
 “If there was hope, it must lie in the
proles..” – pg 60
 “We are the dead”.
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Study Tips
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Form a group. Each of you writes or researches
as many essay topics as possible. Then discuss
how you would answer them. Write practices
and send them to your teacher.
Ask your teacher for discussion/essay topics
Re-read the book!
Learn Newspeak – the language of this book is
really important
Learn key quotes
Create a timeline of events