1984 Essay Quiz

In a 1-page essay (minimum length) compare 1984 to A BRAVE NEW WORLD by either theme, character, or symbol.  Make sure you have detailed examples to back up your ideas.

You will be graded on the following:

1) Opening paragraph with thesis statement, order of development and a hook.  (10 points)

2) Body paragraphs that reinforce and prove thesis and give detailed examples (specific scenes, quotes, moments for the book) and analysis those examples in relation to thesis.  (30 points)

3) Conclusion that restates in a new way what you proved in the paper and leaves the reader with something further to think about.  You might try and return to your hook in the ending.  (10 points)

TANNER

1. Write an essay in which you explore HOW (examples) and WHY (what your examples prove) Orwell uses symbolism in 1984.

2.  Some feel that 1984 had much relevance at the time that it was written, but now has very little relevance.  Write an essay in which you agree or disagree with the idea that the novel is no longer significant to our society.  Although this prompt requires you to comment and bring in examples for the modern world, the bulk of the essay should focus on the novel itself.

3. Write an essay in which you explain whether or not Winston is a hero.  Explain your answer with a thorough definition of what a hero is and specific examples that demonstrate how Winston does or does not match the definition.

4. 1984 is a cautionary tale.  Write an essay in which you thoroughly explain what Orwell is cautioning us against.

5. The novel, indirectly and perhaps without the author even intending it, makes some powerful statements about the roles (or potential roles) of women in society.  Write an essay in which you explore the role of women in the novel and what the significance of your observations might be.

Homework: Part 3 Chapter 1.

Schedule:
4/17 Book 2 Chapter 5
4/18 Book 2 Chapters 6-7
4/19 Book 2 Chapter 8
4/20 Book 2 Chapter 9
4/23 Book 2 Chapter 9
4/24 Book 2 Chapter 9
4/25 Book 2 Chapter 10
4/27 Test over Part 2
4/30 Book 3 Chapter 1
5/1 Book 3 Chapter 2
5/2 Book 3 Chapter 2
5/4 Book 3 Chapter 3
5/7 Book 3 Chapter 4
5/8 Book 3 Chapter 5
5/9 Book 3 Chapter 6
5/11 - Review
5/14 - FINAL

 Book III QUESTIONS

1. Why are the political prisoners more terrified than the common criminals?

2. Why was Ampleforth in prison?

3. What role does Winston think O’Brien has been playing?

4. According to O’Brien, why is Winston being tortured?

5. According to O’Brien, why does the Party want power?

6. Where does O’Brien think reality exists?

7. What does Winston see when he looks in the mirror?

8. At the end of Chapter III, what has Winston NOT done that O’Brien wants him to do?

9. What is in Room 101?

10. When and in what way does Winston betray Julia? Why is it significant?
.
11. Why does O’Brien say prisoners are brought to the Ministry of Love?

12. Was the Party successful in “getting inside” Winston?

13. How do Winston and Julia now feel about one another?

14. How does Winston ultimately feel about Big Brother?

15. What “victory over himself” has Winston won?  Do you think it’s a real victory?

16. What do you think the major theme of 1984 is?  Why?

Wednesday

We need to finish Book 2 today, and discuss the important of Part 2.

First - go HERE

Monday

Today, we need to put the words of the day on the board, and read chapter 9.

Hopefully, we can get through chapter 9 today or tomorrow.

Study Questions Part 2 chapters 5-6


1)  Who has vanished?
2)  Describe the preparations for Hate Week?  In what ways does the Inner Party excel in building spirit?
3) Julia and Winston have some differences?  Explain them.
4) What finally convinces Winston that O'Brien is a member of the Brotherhood?


5) Outline a comparison between 1984 and another dystopia novel that you have read by either themes, characters, slogans or symbols.  Next Monday, you will have an in-class essay assignment on this comparison.  It'll be worth 50 points.

Book Two, Chapter 8—10 

1. Contrast the living quarters and style of the Inner Party members with those of the Outer Party members and proles. 

2. How does O’Brien test Julia and Winston? 

3. What information does O’Brien give them about the Brotherhood? 

4. How will O’Brien get The Book to Winston? 

Book Two, Chapter 9

1. Why does Orwell include detailed passages from Goldstein’s Book in 1984? 

2. What three classes of people have always existed?

3. In What ways have these three classes changed? 

4. What is the purpose of war in the world of 1984? 

5. What are the two aims of the Party? 

6. What are the two problems with which the Party is concerned? 

7. Why do all three superpowers forbid their citizens from associating with foreigners? 

8. The governments of the three superpowers are alike in essence even though their forms of government have different names. Identify these similarities and explain why they exist? 

9.. What is the real "war" fought in each of the three governments? Your answer will explain the party slogan, "War is Peace." 

10. What are the aims of the three groups? 

11. What changes in the pattern occurred in the nineteenth century? 

12. How did socialism change in the twentieth century? 

13. Why are the rulers in the twentieth century better at maintaining power than earlier tyrants? 

14. What are the four ways an elite group falls from power? 

15. How does the Inner Party make certain it will not fall from power? 

16. How is a person’s class determined in the 1984 world? 

17. What is doublethink and what is its purpose to the ruling class? 

18. Why is the mutability of the past important to the ruling class?

Book Two, Chapter 10

1. What understanding does Winston gain about the common people?

2. What is the significance of the glass paperweight here?

Wednesday

Today we need to read chapters 6-7 and look up new vocabulary words.

Expropriate
niggle
simian
execrate
assimilate
febrile
titular
fatuous
stagnate
disseminate
stratify

1984 Reading Schedule

4/17 Book 2 Chapter 5
4/18 Book 2 Chapters 6-7
4/19 Book 2 Chapter 8
4/20 Book 2 Chapter 9
4/23 Book 2 Chapter 9
4/24 Book 2 Chapter 9
4/25 Book 2 Chapter 10
4/27 Test over Part 2
4/30 Book 3 Chapter 1
5/1 Book 3 Chapter 2
5/2 Book 3 Chapter 2
5/4 Book 3 Chapter 3
5/7 Book 3 Chapter 4
5/8 Book 3 Chapter 5
5/9 Book 3 Chapter 6
5/11 Projects
5/14 Review
5/15 Review
5/16 TEST

Monday

1984


Book Two, Chapter 1

How does Winston react to the note from Julia before he reads it?
How does Winston react to the note after he reads it?
Where do they manage to talk for the first time?
Where do they plan to meet?
What do Winston and Julia do before they part?

Book Two, Chapter 2

Why is Winston ill at ease once he is alone with Julia?
What does Julia bring with her that she has obtained on the black market?
What are Julia’s ideas about the Party?
What familiar sign does Winston find?
What is the significance of the thrush music?
What does Winston mean when he says that he loves Julia all the more because she has had scores of sexual encounters?

Book Two, Chapter 3

How and where do Julia and Winston meet?
What is Julia’s job?
What is her background?
What is her attitude toward the Party?
Describe the quote “ With Julia, everything came back to her own sexuality. As soon as this was touched upon in any way she was capable of great acuteness”. What does Winston think about Julia?
Why does the Party think the sexual impulse as well as the familial love dangerous?

Book Two, Chapter 4

How does Winston react to the singing Prole woman?
What pleasures of the senses are mentioned in this chapter? What is Orwell’s point in mentioning them?
What is Winston’s reaction to rats? Julia’s reaction?
Winston is interested in the church bells that once played in the city even though he is not religious. What do church bells mean to him?
Winston sees the coral paperweight as a symbol of what? 

1)  Who has vanished?
2)  Describe the preparations for Hate Week?  In what ways does the Inner Party excel in building spirit?
3) Julia and Winston have some differences?  Explain them.
4) What finally convinces Winston that O'Brien is a member of the Brotherhood?


5) Begin to outline a comparison between 1984 and another dystopia novel that you have read by either themes, characters, slogans or symbols.


OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this book students will be able to

1) Define Negative Utopia and discuss how 1984 fits the definition.
2) Define motif, give 3-5 examples of motifs in the book and be able to explain their significance (a few motifs to think about include rebellion, songs, slogans, sex, rebellion)
3) Be able to explain the significance of the following themes:  The meaning of freedom; The responsibility of the Individual in Society, Dehumanization as a method of control, isolation, social class disparity, and the abuse of power
4) Define dystopia and apply it to the novel
5) Keep a list of ironies (at least ten found in the book)
6) Make a list of all the characters with description and discussion of the meaning behind their names
7) Examine the following symbols: Big Brother, The Party Slogans, The Four Ministries, the paperweight, the golden country, Emmanuel Goldstein, James, Aaronson, Rutherford, Chestnut Tree Café, Doublethink, Newspeak Dictionary, Winston’s Diary, Junkshop, songs, Proles
8) Explain the purpose of Newspeak
9) Describe how Big Brother controls its citizens
10) Describe the setting
11) Name the four ministries and what they control
12) Compare/Contrast Winston and Julia
13) Research current privacy-related issues and debates affection society and connect with 1984.
14) Keep a list of Newspeak Words
15) Discuss the meaning of room 101.
16) List the ideas in Goldstein’s book.
17) Outline the plot according to the six elements of plot
18) Discuss the three movements in the book and summarize what happens in each.
19) List the types of conflict involved in the novel.
20) Discuss the meaning of various quotes discussed in class.
21) List five to ten examples of foreshadow.
22) Answer study questions are you read.  

 

 

Unit Learning goal

Students will demonstrate an understanding of one or more themes from 1984 by creating a video/performance (readers theater or dramatic interpretation) overview of the novel, which focuses on how that theme works; the video/performance will also include a discussion of why the theme is important. 

Tuesday

Today we will put words of the day on the board, finish chapter 8 of 1984 and then answer the following study questions:

Book One, Chapters 5-7

1. What is the problem with obtaining razor blades?

2. What is revealed about Inner Party philosophy in the discussion between Winston and Syme?

3. Why does Winston feel that Syme will be vaporized?

4. Parsons brags about his children for doing what?

5. What is the significance of the telescreen announcement?

6. What are Winston’s feelings about the present time after he hears the cheerful announcement on the telescreen?

7. Winston predicts that certain people will be vaporized and that certain people will never be vaporized. Who? Why?

8. What is the purpose of marriage in the state?

9. What do Winston’s memories about visiting a prostitute reveal about his attitudes towards sex in Oceania?

10. How does Winston view the proles?

11. How are the proles controlled (prole control)?

12. What lies/half-truths does the Party teach about history?

13. Winston suspects that the Party lies about progress made since the war. What Party claims does he doubt?

14. What is the story of Aaronson, Jones and Rutherford?

15. Why is this story so meaningful for Winston?

16. What is Winston’s unanswered question?

Book One, Chapter 8

1. Why does Winston go off on his own? What activities is he missing out on?

2. What is life like in the proles’ end of London?

3. What does Winston think about after his conversation with the old man in the pub?

4. What does Winston discover at Mr. Charrington’s shop?

5. What is Mr. Charrington like?

6. What does Winston think when he sees the dark-haired girl outside Mr. Charrington’s shop?

7. How does one’s own body betray a person?

8. Why does Winston wonder about church bells ringing in London?

1984

Today we are going to talk about your essays, look at chapters 6-7.  First - words of the day.