2025-2026 British Literature : March 2026

Read chapters 1-2. Answer the study questions below and look up new vocabulary words.

Study Questions - BOOK 1

Book One, Chapters 1-2

1. What bothers Winston?

2. What is wrong with his society?

3. What are the three slogans of the Inner Party?

4. What are the four ministries?

5. What items are written in italics?

6. How does the Two Minute Hate work?

7. What happens to Winston during the chant?

8. What happens between O’Brien and Winston?

9. During the film (p. 11), how did the audience react?

10. What is "thoughtcrime"?

11. What are the Thought Police?

12. Who are the Parsons and what do they represent?

13. How do the Parsons’ children behave?

14. What is Winston's dream about O’Brien?

15. What is announced on the news?

NEW VOCABULARY

Contrived

Conceivable

Scrutinize

Nebulous

Specious

Vindictiveness

Deride

Inscrutable

Palimpest

Multifarious

Today we are going to discuss an overview of 1984. You will then have some time to put your essays on note cards and begin to practice saying them out loud. We will have you present these on Wednesday and Thursday.

Study Questions - BOOK 1

Book One, Chapters 1-2

1. What bothers Winston?

2. What is wrong with his society?

3. What are the three slogans of the Inner Party?

4. What are the four ministries?

5. What items are written in italics?

6. How does the Two Minute Hate work?

7. What happens to Winston during the chant?

8. What happens between O’Brien and Winston?

9. During the film (p. 11), how did the audience react?

10. What is "thoughtcrime"?

11. What are the Thought Police?

12. Who are the Parsons and what do they represent?

13. How do the Parsons’ children behave?

14. What is Winston's dream about O’Brien?

15. What is announced on the news?

Book One, Chapters 3-4

1. What is Winston’s dream about his mother? How does he feel about himself in that dream?

2. What is his dream about the "Golden Country"?

3. What does he remember about the big events of the past? Bombs? Past Wars?

4. Explain the Party slogan, "Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past."

5. What does he know about the legends concerning Big Brother?

6. Describe Winston’s job.

7. How is the past controlled?

8. What special literature, music, and entertainment is produced for the proletariat (proles)?

9. How does Winston feel about his work? What sort of "creativity" is involved?

10. What is the significance of Comrade Ogilvy?

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?

NEW VOCABULARY

Contrived

Conceivable

Scrutinize

Nebulous

Specious

Vindictiveness

Deride

Inscrutable

Palimpest

Multifarious

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.

Scale/Rubric relating to learning goal:

4 – The student can create a video/performance on more than one theme and connect them using scenes from the novel and including a discussion on why the themes are important both to the novel and to society.

3 – The student can create a video/performance (readers theatre or dramatic interpretation) overview of the novel, which focuses on how that theme works and include a discussion of why the theme is important.

2 – With help from the instructor the student is able to create a video/performance (readers theatre or dramatic interpretation) overview of the novel, which focuses on how that theme works and include a discussion of why the theme is important.

1 – Even with help from the instructor the student is unable to create a video/performance (readers theatre or dramatic interpretation) overview of the novel, which focuses on how that theme works and include a discussion of why the theme is important.