1984

=__**//1984//**__ by George Orwell=

Campbell B. H Ali T. Katie H. Becca B. Cassidy C. Steve S.*
 * Amazing Group Members:**

Discussion Time: **Clarifying Questions: -**Why do you think it is considered a classic? -Do you think this situation might have occurred had the Axis powers won WWII? -Were the different characters and institutions that we never met real or inventions of the Party in an attempt of indoctrination? (Big Brother, Goldstein, the Brotherhood) -What did you think about the ending of the book? -What section of the book was the most appealing? -How important are relationships in the book? -What do you think is the factor that separates Winston from the rest of the population? What drives him to look for The Brotherhood? -Is this form of government positive or negative? Does it protect the people or hurt them more? -Where is this world headed? What does the future hold for them? Will Big Brother rule forever? -Does The Brotherhood actually exist or is it just a faction of the government to control anyone who might have opposing thoughts? -How does perception vs. reality play a role in this book? What are actual events, what is reality, what are things that have actually occurred vs. things that the government fabricates to control the people? Does it actually matter in the end? -Do you think Irony was overused in the book?
 * Friday January 8th 4B 11:09-12:39
 * -Why did you choose this book?**

**Characters: -**Winston Smith -The Party -Julia (weak?) -Big Brother? -O'Brien (compassionate?) -Emmanuel Goldstein (existent?) -Charrington the Shopkeeper -The Brotherhood (how significant?) -The Proles -Inner Party -Outer Party**

Narration: -The Narrator is a bystander (not Winston's voice)

Setting: -**London, England (Airstrip One) in 1984. The setting is a post atomic war society with intense government control and no individual freedoms.

**Themes/Motifs: -Psychological Manipulation/Brain Wash (does this make Winston a weak character?) -Physical Manipulation -History -Refinement (language, population) -Future vs. present vs. past -The Search for Truth -Political upheaval and rebellion**
 * -INGSOC

Style of Writing: -**News Speak** -**Insert of Book Passage -Lack of Relationship (early)

**Significant Passages: -"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." -"In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it. It was inevitable that they should make that claim sooner or later: the logic of their position demanded it. Not merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality was tacitly denied by their philosophy." (83) -"And when memory failed and written records were falsified—when that happened, the claim of the Party to have improved the conditions of human life had got to be accepted, because there did not exist, and never again could exist, any standard against which it could be tested." (97) -"We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness" (27) -"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows." (84) " //'Oranges and lemons,' say the bells of St Clement's, 'You owe me three farthings,' say the bells of St Martin's, 'When will you pay me?' say the bells Old Bailey, 'When I grow rich,' say the bells of Shoreditch.//" -"'How does one man assert his power over another, Winston?' ... 'By making him suffer,' he said."
 * -"War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength" (16).

**Discussion protocols: **Outside Resources:** - Campbell Belisle Haley
 * -bring and share a comment about a passage


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New York Times Review of 1984: An interesting review I found from the New York Times written in 1949 http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/articles/col-nyt1984.htm -Campbell B. H.



http://incredimazing.com/page/1984_Book_Covers_Compilation -Ali Totta

This is an interesting article relating modern day surveillance to the authoritarian rule of the Party in 1984. http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/articles/col-cnngo.htm -Becca Bell

I found this link very interesting. It may portray the book in a whole new way then when you first read it. [] -Cassidy Cleaves

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/big_brother/ The British show Big Brother refers to the concept of Big Brother from 1984. This reference is made because there are cameras everywhere, paralleling the fact that in 1984 there is no privacy and are constantly being watched. While it is not based off of the book, the show is interesting to watch because it shows how being under constant supervision can change people. -Katie

This book is available as an audio download from the YHS Library. Ask Ms. Hamilton or Mrs. Young for more information.


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