Reading Guide Questions on 1984



Reading Guide Questions on 1984

Part One:

1. What three groups make up Oceania and what is the function of each? To which does Winston belong?

2. What is the Two Minutes Hate? What do Winston and O’Brien do once during

this time?

3. Explain doublethink. In what way does the political alliance between Oceania and Eurasia involve doublethink?

4. How do you think Winston’s memories of his mother influence Winston as an adult?

5. One of the themes of 1984 is that language is a powerful tool for determining how people view the world. How is this theme illustrated by the use of Newspeak?

Part Two:

1. In what way does Winston’s relationship with Julia restore him as a human being?

2. What clues indicate that Winston and Julia will be arrested? Who turned them in?

3. In what way does the woman who sings and hangs diapers change Winston’s perception of the proles?

4. How does Orwell use the paperweight as a symbol in 1984?

5. One of the themes of 1984 is that knowledge of the past is essential for evaluating the present. How is this theme illustrated by the sudden political change that occurred during Hate Week?

Part Three:

1. What is the reason for Ampleforth’s and Parson’s arrest? What do these arrests suggest about personal security in the society of 1984?

2. Explain how Winston betrays Julia.

3. What does the exchange between the chinless man and the skull-faced man suggest about human nature? How is Winston’s betrayal of Julia similar?

4. One of the themes of 1984 is that people can be forced to give up their beliefs and even their feelings if their survival is threatened? How is the theme illustrated by Winston’s and Julia’s meeting after their respective “cures?”

5. Identify elements of the 1984 society that parallel with our own. Explain whether or not you think that a society like that in 1984 could exist.

The characters listed below play a significant part in 1984. Provide a brief description of each as you read and understand why they are important.

Winston __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

O’Brien __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Katherine __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Syme __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Goldstein __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Parsons __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Julia __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Ampleforth __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Rutherford __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Charrington __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Sample Responses, Part I

NOT A GOOD ANSWER

2. It is a time when people can get their anger out. They glance at each other.

A GOOD ANSWER

What is the Two Minutes Hate? What do Winston and O’Brien do once during

this time?

2. The Two Minutes Hate is a time of day where, for two minutes, everyone has a chance to express their anger for the enemies of Oceania. They watch a video of their enemy and are worked into a frenzy of anger toward them. It is a means of population control used to allow the people to get out their frustrations so they will not express anger toward their government. In the scene in Part One, Winston is not really participating in the Two Minutes Hate and as he looks around the room, he shares a quick glance with O’Brien which leads him to think that O’Brien feels the way he does about the Party.

5. Newspeak is destroying the language by making it impossible for people to accurately express their feelings, participate in thought crime, or effectively persuade others to rise up against the Party. They will no longer be able to describe or have intelligent conversations. The language will be so dumbed down that the people will be entirely incapable of independent thoughts or beliefs.

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