Reading Questions

"Epilogue" and "Principles of Newspeak"top

1. If 1984 is not a prophecy what is it?
2. Name one utopian (negative or positive) novel besides 1984.
3. What do negative utopias represent?
4. How does the United States use "double think"?
5. Identify (specify uses of) each vocabulary in Oceania.
6. What is the main purpose of newspeak?

ONE i-ONE iv top

1. Where does Winston work? What does he do?
2. Identify: minitrue, minipax, miniluv, miniplenty
3. What was Winston's first act of rebellion?
4. Why does Oceania have a 2-minute hate?
5. What passed between O'Brien and Winston?
6. Give one event that foreshadows Winston will be caught for is doubleplusungood thinking.
7. Who was comrade Ogilvy?

finish ONE top

1. How does Syme & razor blades help define Winston's character?
2. Why might Syme be vaporized?
3. Which of the 3 men Winston hears talking at lunch is more devoted to Big Brother? Why?
4. What proves lack of memory among the party?
5. How had the state gotten rid of the family?
6. What are proles?
7. What purpose did the white-haired, old, man serve?
8. What does the antique shop offer Winston?

TWO i-TWO iv top

1. What was the dark-haired girl's message?
2. How did Winston solve the problems confronting him in getting in touch with the dark-haired girl?
3. What caused the commotion in Victory Square?
4. Where did Julia get her first gift for Winston?
5. Where was the second meeting planned (time together-not passing in the street)?
6. What is "talking by installments"?
7. How did Julia view life?

TWO v-TWO "ignorance…" top

1. What changes have taken place in Winston's life as compared to our first view of him?
2. What is the brotherhood?
3. Being with Julia, Winston discovered that understanding what the party was doing was so important. What understanding did Julia not have about the same thing?
4. Where did Winston first speak with O'Brien?
5. What memories did Winston's dream bring up?
6. What admissions did Winston make to O'Brien?
7. What great difficulties were contained in being a member of the brotherhood?
8. What caused the great flurry of activity at the ministry of truth during hate week?
9. What is "the book"?

TWO "ignorance…"-THREE i top

1. Explain the class struggle in 'Ignorance is strength."
2. What devices did the state have for enforcing total control?
3. What is Big Brother?
4. What is double think?
5. What thoughts did the woman hanging clothes in the yard cause Winston to have?
6. How had Winston and Julia been spied on?
7. Describe Winston's cell.
8. What crime did Winston's first cell mate commit? His second?
9. What appears to be the ultimate torture?

THREE ii-finish top

1. What methods of forcing confessions are used in the Ministry of Love?
2. What is O'Brien's job?
3. Give one of Winston's "hallucinations" about the past?
4. Why are people brought to the ministry of love?
5. Why does the party cling to power?
6. What is the picture of the future according to O'Brien?
7. What demonstrates the ultimate breakdown of Winston's rebellion?
8. How did Winston train himself to crimestop?
9. What sent Winston to Room 101? What is his ultimate terror?
10. Why did Winston and Julia not carry on their relationship after meeting again?
11. What is the last sentence of 1984?