1984 [Study Questions] – Flashcards
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What is a telescreen? What is the purpose?
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television and security camera-like devices used by the dictator of Oceania to prevent anyone in his realm from forming conspiracies with others against the government. These large screens were so sensitive that they could detect your heartbeat.
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What is Newspeak?
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the official language of Oceania that had been perfected by the government and is used by Party members
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What are the four Ministries?
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The Ministry of Truth (Minitrue); The Ministry of Peace (Minipax); The Ministry of Love (Miniluv); The Ministry of Plenty (Miniplenty)
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What are the slogans of the Party?
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WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
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Why is Mrs. Parsons afraid of her own children?
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she was afraid of what they would do "for hardly a week passed in which Times did not carry a paragraph describing how some eavesdropping "child hero" had overheard some compromising remark and denounced his parents to the Thought Police"
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What does the Party do with the past? What part does Winston play?
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The Party changes the past to meet any current situation in order to ensure constant correct predictions by the government, manipulate the existence of eliminated or dangerous rebels and to increase support for all military decisions. Winston is a catalyst in the reaction as he is part of the department responsible for rewriting the news of the past. He makes changes to all speeches and estimates so they agree with results.
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What is a memory hole?
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a large oblong slit protected by a wire grating, for the disposal of waste paper; used only for when one knew that any document was due for destruction or when a piece of scrap paper was lying about (a shredder/incinerator)
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Who is Syme? What does he enjoy doing?
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a worker at the Ministry and the closest thing that Winston has to a friend. he enjoys hos work as a writer of the Newspeak dictionary
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Why does Winston think Syme will be vaporized eventually?
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because Syme is too aware of what is going on...he is too smart
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What is the Junior Anti-Sex League?
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an organization of people who are against sex, they practice celibacy
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Why does Winston believe that hope for the future lies in the proles?
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because they are not controlled by the Party,they do not follow what the Party wants and the Party doesn't concern itself with them
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Who were Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford?
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the original leaders of the revolution (OG of the Revolution)
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What is "ownlife"?
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a Newspeak term meaning to individualism and eccentricity (to live independently)
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What does Winston hope to accomplish by talking to the old prole at the bar?
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he hopes to learn more about what really happened in the past
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Who is the "girl with the dark hair"? Why is Winston bothered by her?
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a coworker of Winston who follows him. he is bothered by this because he is concerned she is a party spy or thought crime spy.
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What message did Julia give to Winston?
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she gave him a note saying I Love You
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How did Julia's message make Winston feel?
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at first he was too shocked to do anything. Later on he found it difficult to focus, feeling like a fire was burning in his stomach. He was excited about meeting the girl, but anxious. 108
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Where did Julia and Winston meet the first time?
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They met in Victory Square, near the monument.
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Why do you think Winston likes (or loves) Julia?
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I think Winston likes Julia because he and her share similar qualities. Both Winston and Julia are willing to go against Party rules in order to live their life to the fullest.
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What sorts of surprises does Julia bring to Winston? Where do you think she gets these things?
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Julia brings him real sugar, a loaf of white bread, a pot of jam, a tin of milk, and real coffee and tea. I think she may get these things from the inner party.
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How is the room over Mr. Charrington's different from Winston's apartment? What is on thing about it that Winston doesn't like?
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One thing that is different is that the room doesn't have a telescreen. It is more private and simple than Winston's home. He does not like the fact that there are rats in the apartment.
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As Winston's ability to experience emotions comes back, what does he begin remembering?
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He starts remembering his mom and sister. He remembers the time she had chocolate and gave some to him telling him to share, but he did not want to. He also remembers always being hungry.
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Describe Hate Week. What is its purpose?
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Hate Week was a week where posters and art work were displayed. Talks and sessions were given all aimed at getting the proles to hate the enemy.
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List the changes apparent in Winston since he met Julia.
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Winston dropped his habit of drinking gin, he grew fatter, his ulcer had subsided, and his fits of coughing each morning stopped. He no longer had a desire to shout at the telescreen and life seemed tolerable.
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Who is more concerned about the future, Julia or Winston? Explain your answer.
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Winston. Winston is worried about what is going to happen to them and believes that for all they know they are already dead- having no freedom of choice. Julia is ready to live life to its fullest, breaking the rules and enjoying it.
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With whom do Julia and Winston meet? Why?
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They meet Mr. O' Brien to learn more about a conspiracy party and secret organization that fights the Party.
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What are the three great superstates? The three social classes?
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Superstates- Eurasia, Oceania, Eastasia Social Classes- High, Middle, and Low
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Explain doublethink, blackwhite, and crimestop.
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-doublethink- the power to hold two completely separate beliefs and believe that both are true -blackwhite-the ability to accept whatever truth the party puts in your mind -crimestop- not being able to think about dangerous thoughts
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What ultimate secret has Winston still not learned?
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Winston has not learned why the party does what they do.
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What is learned about Mr. Charrington? Were you surprised?
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Mr. Charrington is a member of the thought police. I knew something was not right with Mr. Charrington but I never suspected him to be part of the thought police.
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Why are the political prisoners more terrified than the common criminals?
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They are more afraid because they are generally treated worse than the common criminals. The party wants to make sure they stay on the party's side.
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Why was Ampleforth in prison?
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He refused to take the word God out of one of his poems because it was the only word that rhymed.
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What role does Winston think O'Brien has been playing?
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Winston thinks he has been the head of Winston's torture.
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According to O'Brien, why is Winston being tortured?
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Winston is being tortured so O'Brien can cure him of his thinking.
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According to O'Brien, why does the Party want power?
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The party wants power for their own benefit and desire.
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Where does O'Brien think reality exists?
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he thinks it exists in the human mind
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What does Winston see when he looks in the mirror?
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He sees a skinny, grey colored skeleton with no teeth and bald head.
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At the end of section III, what has Winston NOT done that O'Brien wants him to do?
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He has not betrayed Julia and admit that he loves the party.
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What is in Room 101?
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In room 101, every person's worst nightmare or fear exists.
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What happens in Room 101? Why is it significant?
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Every person's worst fear comes true. It is significant because this is how the party gets confessions out of each person.
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Was the Party successful in "getting inside" Winston?
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Yes, they got him to believe that two plus two equals five.
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How do Winston and Julia now feel about one another?
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They do not feel a connection anymore. There is tension and almost a hatred between them.
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What "victory over himself" has Winston won? Do you think it's really a victory?
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Winston is able to hold his own opinions. I do believe this is a victory considering the party's immense power over his life.
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What do you think will happen to Winston next? Why?
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I think Winston will be let go because the party knows that Winston has already lost what he cares about Julia and the desire to rebel. Letting him go will be torture enough.
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Explain in your own words what you believe the major theme of 1984 to be.
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I believe the major theme is the destruction of a dictator or totalitarian government. Although Winston and others tried to rebel, nothing could defeat the government.
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Winston
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A minor member of the ruling Party in near-future London, Winston Smith is a thin, frail, contemplative, intellectual, and fatalistic thirty-nine-year-old. Winston hates the totalitarian control and enforced repression that are characteristic of his government. He harbors revolutionary dreams.
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O'Brien
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A mysterious, powerful, and sophisticated member of the Inner Party whom Winston believes is also a member of the Brotherhood, the legendary group of anti-Party rebels.
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Syme
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An intelligent, outgoing man who works with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. Syme specializes in language. As the novel opens, he is working on a new edition of the Newspeak dictionary. Winston believes Syme is too intelligent to stay in the Party's favor.
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Tom Parsons
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A fat, obnoxious, and dull Party member who lives near Winston and works at the Ministry of Truth. He has a dull wife and a group of suspicious, ill-mannered children who are members of the Junior Spies.
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Charrington
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An old man who runs a secondhand store in the prole district. Kindly and encouraging, Mr. Charrington seems to share Winston's interest in the past. He also seems to support Winston's rebellion against the Party and his relationship with Julia, since he rents Winston a room without a telescreen in which to carry out his affair. But Mr. Charrington is not as he seems. He is a member of the Thought Police.
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Julia
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Winston's lover, a beautiful dark-haired girl working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. Julia enjoys sex, and claims to have had affairs with many Party members. Julia is pragmatic and optimistic. Her rebellion against the Party is small and personal, for her own enjoyment, in contrast to Winston's ideological motivation.
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Victory Gin(Parts One ; Three)
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Winston turns to vices as a means of escape and self-medication. In Winston's case, it's alcohol and cigarettes. He drinks gin to sedate his paranoia, like that time he downs a shot or two before finally writing in his journal. He smokes cigarettes for a similar reason: to calm himself down. These common vices help Winston check his doubts and paranoia at the door. Irony is present here because Winston's "vices" aren't personal decisions, nor are they small acts of individuality or rebellion. Rather, his vices have been assigned to him.
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"The Bells of St. Clements" (Parts One ; Three)
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remnants of the past that, because of the Party's control, no longer have any basis in "reality." By surrounding Oceanians with propaganda, party doctrine and contradictory "facts," the people of Oceania no longer have a past. Their memories aren't even reliable because, after all, what would you think if you distinctly recall X, but X is nowhere to be found in dictionaries or historical documents.
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The Paperweight (Parts One ; Two)
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remnants of the past that, because of the Party's control, no longer have any basis in "reality." By surrounding Oceanians with propaganda, party doctrine and contradictory "facts," the people of Oceania no longer have a past. Their memories aren't even reliable because, after all, what would you think if you distinctly recall X, but X is nowhere to be found in dictionaries or historical documents. some remnants of the past do remain, and the "useless" paperweight fascinates Winston. He buys it as an attempt to reconnect with the past. when the Thought Police come to lead Winston and Julia away, the glass paperweight is shattered on the ground. It's almost as if Winston's chances at recovering the past are shattered, too.
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The Prole Woman (Part Two)
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Winston sees this woman as a symbol of freedom. That the proles will become cognizant of their plight and rebel against the Party. After all, Winston reasons, the Proles constitute the only group capable of success because of their sheer size (85% of Oceania population). Unfortunately, as Winston the proles aren't smart enough to get their act together. Winston and Julia also acknowledge the Prole woman as a symbol of reproductive virility, and thereby, hope for the future. They see her as "beautiful" because of her wideness, largeness, and toughness - all indicating her ability to give birth to future generations of rebels intent on overtaking the Party's rule.
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Dream of O'Brien (Part 1, chapter 2, page 24). What does this dream reveal about Winston's character?
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FORESHADOWING
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Dream of mother and sister (Part 1, chapter 3, pages 29-30). What does this dream reveal about Winston?
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FLASHBACK
