1984 Study Guide

What is the protagonist's name?

Winston Smith

How is the protagonist dressed?

dressed in blue overalls uniform (the party's uniform)

Who are the thought police?

people who work for the govt and monitor actions of people

What device do the thought police use to monitor individuals' actions?

telescreen

Where does Winston work?

Records Department in the Ministry of Truth

What are the three slogans of the party? What are ironic about these statements?

1. War is Peace

2. Freedom is Slavery

3. Ignorance is Strength

Ironic bc all exact opposites of what they are called

Name 4 Ministries and what they control

1. Ministry of Truth: controls news, entertainment, education, fine arts

2. Ministry of Peace: controls/deals with war

3. Ministry of Love: deals with law and order and torture

4. Ministry of Plenty: deals with economic affairs

What activity does Winston partaken in which could be punishable by death in Chapter 1?

opening a diary

What does Winston write about in his diary?

a movie he saw, where a bomb was dropped on innocent women and children… the crowd started laughing when blown up

Why is Winston attracted to O'Brien? What does he hope?

he is a high position in his department and hopes they both don't like the party or O'Brien's political orthodoxy wasn't perfect… made eye contact and knew they believed in the same thing

Who is Emmanuel Goldstein?

the enemy of the people, had flashed onto the tele screen during the two minutes of hate and had been one of the leading party figures in the past, almost on same level as big brother

What is the name where people see movies?

The Flix

Describe Two Minutes of Hate

Goldstein abused big brother, denouncing party's dictatorship, demanding peace with Eurasia, people screaming at Goldstein and kicking hailing Big Brother

Who is Big Brother?

dear haired man, 40's, black mustache, handsome, full of power

What is thoughtcrime? What happens to perpetrators of it?

thinking things against the party, there is no trial you just disappear forever

Describe the society of 1984 as it is suggested by Chapter 1

dystopian, police monitor every move/thought, have to agree with the party, telescreens

Summary of Chapter 1 Part 1

Who is Mrs. Parsons?

wife of a neighbor on the same floor as him; woman of about 30 but looking much older with dust in the creases of her face

Describe the Parson children. What are their interests?

leave the house a mess; hockey sticks, boxing gloves, a burst football etc laying around; dress up as spies with toy guns; they want to see the hanging/begging to; love party

Why does Winston say, "It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children?"

there were "child hero's" that has overheard some remark and turned them into the thought police; she was worried could say something bad to thought police

Why does Winston believe he is already dead?

he is writing his thoughts and how he feels in a diary, which is against rules; if thought police find it he will be vaporized

Summary of Chapter 2 part 1

What do we know about what happened to Winston's mother in chapter 3?

she disappeared when he was about 10 or 11

What is Winston doing in front of the telescreen?

winston was exercising in front of the telescreen from an instructor watching their every move

Summary of Chapter 3 part 1

What does Winston do exactly as a career?

changes old news too match what the govt wants, so it matches what they say

What is Ampleforth's forte?

juggling withy rhymes and meters

What Ministry does Winston work for?

ministry of truth

Describe newspeak

shortens/abbreviations; limits peoples ability to express emotions; one word for everything

Summary of Chapter 4 part 1

Syme is not a friend, but rather a -----------. Why is this significant?

comrade; its very uncommon to. have close friends

What kind of lunch is served to the workers?

metal pannikin of pink/grey stew, bread, cube of cheese, mug of milkiness coffee, succhome tablet

What do Syme and Winston discuss?

11th edition newspeak dictionary

What will the new word for bad be when the new dictionary is finished?

ungood

Why will Syme be vaporized, according to Winston?

he is too intelligent, sees too clearly, speaks too plainly, too smart

Who is Parsons?

Winstons neighbor at victory mansions, little boy grown-like, meat head, very into party

What is the favorite line repeated by the ministry of plenty? What is ironic about this line?

"our new, happy life"

war is looked at as peaceful

Why is Winston nervous towards the end of chapter 5? Who is looking at him?

girl with dark hair is looking at him; thinks she is a thought criminal. and can read him; worried abt this

What is "facecrime"?

to wear an improper expression showing disgust against the party

Summary of Chapter 5 part 1

Besides writing in his diary, how does Winston break party rules?

he goes and has relations with a prostitute

What is wrong with Winston's wife? Whats could he not tolerate?

sher is very dedicated to the party; never truly loved him; "duty to the party"

Summary of Chapter 6 part 1

What does Winston write about the Proles? Why does he feel this way?

"The hope lies in the proles"; they make up 85% of population and have most freedom; have ability to do something

Who are the proles?

working class; most-freedom; no telescreens

How does the party control history?

they change history into fake history to make e people believe what they want them to believe; they are never wrong

Summary of Chapter 7 part 1

What ism ownlife? How does the concept of ownlife connect with the rest of the novel?

meaning individualism and eccentricity; people can't have it

Who does hope lie with according to Winston? Why?

proles; can overcome party

What is a steamer?

rocket bomb

About what does Winston question the old man in the pub? What is Winston trying to determine?

did rich people treat him inferior before the revolution; more freedom now or then?

What does Winston buy?

coral embedded in glass; paperweight

Why is Winston afraid? Who does he see?

sees girl with dark hair, afraid she is spying on him/part of thought police

Summary of Chapter 8 Part 1

What is on the secret message that Winston receives at work?

"I love you"

How does he feel after he receives the note?

He is so shocked that he cannot focus on his work. He wants to find a way to contact her before its too late that she thinks he is ignoring her.

What suspenseful event is taking shape by the end of chapter one part two?

They are at victory square watching prisoners go by in trucks with hay (big rally). She tells him to take off Sunday afternoon and gives him directions somewhere.

Summary of Chapter 1 Part 2

Why is the country just as dangerous as the city in terms of big brother?

There is a danger of concealed microphones; patrols at railway stations

Why was Julia attracted to Winston, according to what she confides?

she notices he doesn't belong and he is against the party

Why does Winston say "I hate purity, I hate goodness?" What exactly does he mean?

he hates the party an the likes to commit crimes against the party; widespread rebellion

Summary Chapter 2 Part 2

Where does Julia live?

in a hotel with 30 girls

Where does Julia work?

ministry of truth fiction department but apart of junior anti-sex league

What does "goodthinkful" mean?

"naturally unorthodox"; incapable of thinking a bad thought

Who is Katherine?

Winstons wife; loves party

What new insights do we gain into the Party from Julia in Chapter 3 Part 2?

sexual privatization induced hysteria was more important bc it would give ppl too much feelings

Summary Chapter 3 Part 2

Who is Mr. Charrington?

the shop owner and person whose room Winston is renting from; older man; hardly anyone comes to his shop; eventually turns against Winston; member of thought police

What does Julia bring with her when she meets Winston in Mr. Carrington's shop?

real sugar, proper white loaf of bread, pot of jam, tin of milk, packet of tea, kilo of coffee

What is Winston particularly disgusted with?

Rats

What does the paperweight seem to symbolize?

freedom, a world he wishes to get inside of

Summary Chapter 4 Part 2

What happened to Syme?

vaporized

What is Hate week?

week to celebrate two minutes of hate and big brother

How has Winston changed since beginning his love affair with Julia?

he actually has feelings for her rather than just a political act against the gov't

Orwell tells us that in some ways Julia is. more astute than Winston. Give an example

winston is so caught up in the history and Julia believes it doesn't matter

In what ways is Winston more astute than Julia?

Winston overthinks, Julia just goes along

Summary Chapter 5 Part 2

Who catches Winston and Julia communicating?

O'Brien

Why is Winston excited about talking to O'Brien?

he knows O'brien believes what he believes; hope for the rebellion

What foreboding feeling does he have?

feeling there is an underground rebellion; the brotherhood

Summary Chapter 6 Part 2

What happened to Winston's father?

disappeared

Why does Winston feel responsible for his mother's death? To what do you attribute his horrible actions?

he always took their food and was so mean to them even when his little sister was dying

What happened to his mother and sister?

they disappeared when he came back home

How do Julia and Winston feel they will remain "human" even under torture?

if they love each other no one can take that away… the gov't can't control their thoughts

Summary Chapter 7 Part 2

Where are Julia and Winston in Chapter 8 Part 2? Why is this significant?

O'Brien's home; bc joining group against party… the brotherhood

How does the Inner Party lifestyle differ from the lifestyle of party members such as Julia and Winston?

way more nice; can turn off tele screen for 30 min at a time; more privacy; way nicer things/food

What does Winston admit?

he hates and is against the party

What group do Winston and Julia join? Who is the leader? Who tells them what to do?

the brotherhood; Goldstein; O'brien

Summary Chapter 8 Part 2