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1984 Book Club Questions for Discussion

Imagine a world choked by ever-present eyes, where truth bends to the will of the powerful and fitting in is the only way to survive. This isn’t science fiction – it’s the chilling reality of Oceania in George Orwell’s “1984.”

Turn the pages of this haunting masterpiece and enter a society ruled by the omnipresent Big Brother. Here, the Party controls everything – from your thoughts to your history .

Individuality is a relic of the past, replaced by a relentless push for conformity.

Orwell’s prophetic vision, written decades ago, feels frighteningly relevant in today’s world.

But there’s hope.

By embarking on a thought-provoking journey through “1984,” we can explore the blurry line between reality and fiction. We can grapple with fundamental questions of freedom, privacy, and the dangers of unchecked power.

Are you ready to join the resistance?

Let’s delve into the world of “1984” with a series of discussion questions that will challenge your perspective and ignite your imagination.

1984 Discussion Questions

• George Orwell uses the setting of a dystopian future in 1984 to create a bleak and oppressive environment where the Party exercises complete control over its citizens. By portraying London as a city in Oceania, ruled by an authoritarian regime and constantly at war, Orwell highlights the sad state of the near future. What’s your take on the setting allowing Orwell to explore the impact of totalitarianism on individual freedom, privacy, and the manipulation of truth?
• Winston Smith’s rebellion against the Party in the book is driven by his desire for individual freedom and autonomy. He questions the Party’s authority and seeks to find personal fulfillment and a sense of identity outside the constraints imposed by the Party. His rebellion takes the form of independent thought via writing a diary, and engaging in a forbidden love affair with Julia. Discuss how Orwell presented the human need for self-expression and resistance against oppressive systems via the character of Winston.
• Newspeak is a language created by the Party to limit thought and control the average human expression of ideas. It aims to narrow the range of possible ideas and eliminate words that could be used for dissent or rebellion. Orwell explores the power of language to shape thought and manipulate perception. Newspeak demonstrates how controlling language can restrict freedom of thought and limit people’s ability to challenge the Party’s ideology. Based on this context, discuss how language and communication have played a central role in this novel.
• In the novel, the Party discourages love and intimacy, as it distracts individuals from their loyalty to the Party and undermines its authority. Winston and Julia’s relationship challenges this by seeking personal happiness and human connection outside the Party’s reach. What’s your take on this love affair being an act of defiance, demonstrating the innate human desire for love and companionship?
• Mr. Charrington initially appears to be a harmless prole shopkeeper with an interest in the past, providing Winston with a sense of hope for a space free from the Party’s surveillance. However, it is eventually revealed that Mr. Charrington is a member of the Thought Police. Analyze the character of Mr. Charrington and discuss how his true identity as a member of the Thought Police adds to the theme of constant surveillance and eventual betrayal in the novel.
• Initially, Winston views O’Brien as a potential ally and member of the anti-Party Brotherhood. His position as an Inner Party member ,and his interactions with Winston create a sense of trust and hope for the latter. However, it is later revealed that O’Brien is, in fact, a loyal supporter of the Party and serves as Winston’s interrogator, in the Ministry of Love. Discuss how this character represents the deceptive nature of the Party simultaneously demonstrating the extent to which the Party can go to crush any form of dissent and maintain its power.
• Although Julia resists engaging in political discussions and keeps her focus on personal pleasure, her relationship with Winston is enough to incriminate her as a thought criminal. Her arrest and subsequent torture symbolize the Party’s ability to strip away individuality and suppress any form of rebellion, no matter how small or personal it may be. Do you think Julia’s downfall exemplifies the failure of an individual to defy totalitarian power in its wake?
• Winston understands that his individual actions alone cannot topple the Party and bring about its downfall. He acknowledges the immense power and surveillance capabilities of the Party, making him aware of the futility of his own resistance. However, Winston’s deep-seated hatred for the Party and his resentment of its oppressive regime push him to rebel despite the slim chances of success. I personally think Winston ended up being a rebel without a cause because he already knew that he would fail. What’s your opinion on this?
• Winston’s physical ailments, such as the varicose ulcer and coughing fits, serve as symbolic representations of the deteriorating state of London under Party rule. Just as Winston’s ulcer constantly itches, the society in which he lives is plagued by oppression, control, and a sense of discomfort. The ulcer becomes a physical manifestation of the discontent and suffering experienced by individuals under the Party’s regime. Similarly, his coughing ailment mirrors the metaphorical suffocation and suppression felt by the people of London, unable to express themselves freely or challenge the Party’s authority. What’s your take on my metaphorical representation in this case?
• The language combined with the concept of Doublethink was designed by the Party to strip individuality from communication and limit the range of thought. By making Newspeak the official language of Oceania and continuously reducing its vocabulary, the Party restricts the expression of ideas to only Party-approved concepts. The purpose of Newspeak is to eliminate the possibility of having recognizable and articulate thoughts that are not already approved by the Party. Do you think such insane control of thought and consciousness is actually possible, or it’s just a fad? Also, are we soon moving into a state where situations mentioned in 1984 are actually possible?

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• Discussion Questions

1984 by George Orwell

• Publication Date: April 1, 1983
• Genres: Science Fiction
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Plume
• ISBN-10: 0452262933
• ISBN-13: 9780452262935
• About the Book
• Reading Guide (PDF)

George Orwell

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• Birthday: June 25, 1903

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By George Orwell

1984 Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the 1984 discussion questions

A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick and one of the BBC's 100 Novels that Shaped the World 

“Orwell saw, to his credit, that the act of falsifying reality is only secondarily a way of changing perceptions. It is, above all, a way of asserting power.”— The New Yorker 

“1984 is a profound, terrifying, and wholly fascinating book. It is a fantasy of the political future, and like any such fantasy, serves its author as a magnifying device for an examination of the present.”— Lionel Trilling

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1984 Discussion Questions by Chapter

Discussion prompts range from basic to challenging. The printable PDF version includes key excerpts for analysis. Download the resource folder for the printable handouts, editable file, and model answer key.

1984 Part 1:

Chapter 1 discussion questions:.

• Why does Winston suspect that O’Brien might be an ally? How might Winston discover the truth about O’Brien’s views without raising suspicion?
• What is the purpose of the telescreen? Can you make any connections to our lives today?
• Describe the view of London in 1984 . Make sure to include the Ministry of Truth Building.
• What is the Two Minutes Hate? Can you infer and explain the purpose behind it?
• Can you guess at the meaning behind the Party slogan “IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH”?
• The woman in the Fiction Department maintains the “novel-writing machines.” Would you care if you learned that a book you loved was written by AI (artificial intelligence)?
• Why do some people feel compelled to keep diaries? Why do you think Winston Smith decides to start a diary in spite of the risks?
• Chapter 1 makes clear that Winston Smith has a problem with women. To what can we attribute his misogyny (hatred of women)?

Chapter 2 Discussion Questions:

• What is ironic (the opposite of what is expected or appropriate) about the name of Winston’s building? Can you think of similar examples of irony that you have observed?
• “It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children” (24). Why are people in 1984 afraid of their own children?
• How would you characterize Winston Smith based on what you know so far? Does he fit the conventional image of a heroic figure?
• What might be the significance of the Party slogan “FREEDOM IS SLAVERY”?

Chapter 3 Discussion Questions:

• Winston Smith dreams some vivid dreams. What has he dreamt about so far? Do you place any special importance on the meaning of your dreams? Explain.
• What are some things about the past that Winston can remember? What does he mean in thinking that “his memory was not satisfactorily under control” (34)?
• Explain the principle of “doublethink” in your own words.
• The Party states that “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past” (34). Do you agree? Can you control the past?

Chapter 4 Discussion Questions:

• What does Winston Smith do for a living? Describe daily life in the Ministry of Truth.
• What qualities make Winston good at his job?
• How does the Ministry of Truth create fake photographs in the novel? How does this compare to the creation of fake photographs today?
• “Winston’s greatest pleasure in life was in his work” (43). How can this be true when Winston knows that everything he works on is a heap of lies?
• What are the many responsibilities of the Ministry of Truth? Why does the Party dedicate seemingly endless resources to the agency? Why is it so important?
• How does an understanding of the Ministry of Truth illuminate the meaning of the Party slogan “IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH”?
• Language naturally evolves and changes over time and space. Why do you think the Party aims to accelerate the process through the implementation of Newspeak?
• What would be the worst aspect of life in 1984 for you?

Chapter 5 Discussion Questions:

• Why does the Ministry of Truth provide hard alcohol to its workers? (This seems especially illogical given that several of the departments use dangerous machinery.)
• What are some of the sensory details (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) that make the ministry cafeteria so disgusting and unpleasant?
• What makes Mr. Parsons proud of his children? Do you think his pride is justified?
• Do you think that everyone else in the ministry cafeteria believes the telescreen announcement about chocolate that Winston knows to be false? Why or why not?
• Even though Syme is on the cutting edge of Newspeak and Party orthodoxy, Winston predicts that Syme will be “vaporized.” Why?
• The cafeteria is a matter of life or death for Winston. What are the perils with which he must contend? (Make sure to include a description of facecrime .)
• According to Syme, “The proles are not human beings” (52). Describe the social hierarchy (levels) portrayed in 1984 ? How does this social order compare to our society?
• Why do you think people like Syme and the Parsons children enjoy the public executions? Why are many people drawn to witness macabre, dreadful incidents (e.g., car wrecks)?

Chapter 6 Discussion Questions:

• “Your worst enemy, he reflected was your own nervous system.” What does Winston mean?
• Winston and Katherine were a poor match. How do you think they came to be married?
• Winston feels compelled to write about the episode with the prostitute even though thinking about it causes him intense distress. What do we learn about him from this recollection?
• Winston wears blue overalls because he is a member of the Outer Party. How do you think the society decides who belongs to the Inner Party, the Outer Party, and the proles?

Chapter 7 Discussion Questions:

• Would you rather be a prole or a member of the Outer Party? Explain your choice.
• Do you think Winston will meet Big Brother by the end of the novel? Why or why not?
• What do you think is the whole story behind the promotion, arrest, release, and subsequent execution of Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford?
• Winston deals with the Party’s lies every day, so why does the appearance of the photograph of the Party leaders make such an impression on him?
• Do you agree that any hope for a revolution lies with the proles? Why or why not?
• Winston reflects on how his life experience is different from what the Party portrays in telescreens, newspapers, and flicks. Does this discrepancy correlate to what we experience in our lives? (Think about what you see in commercials, social media, movies, etc.)
• “Capitalism: an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.” (Oxford) What view do the history books of Oceania take of capitalism? What is your view on the virtues and/or evils of capitalism?

Chapter 8 Discussion Questions:

• Why does the Party discourage personal connections but also discourage alone time?
• What is it about the little, old-fashioned apartment that so strongly appeals to Winston? Have you ever felt an instant connection to an unfamiliar place?
• Why do you think Winston’s attempt to get answers from the old man in the pub fails?
• Agree, disagree, or qualify: “Winston Smith is a likeable protagonist.”
• Winston knows the risks of unorthodox behavior. Why does he risk so much just to wander around the slums and talk to proles? What is the motive behind his behavior?
• The Party uses the lottery to distract and cheat the proles of Oceania. What do you think? Are lotteries harmless fun or an insidious tax on the foolish and unfortunate?
• You will hear more about the nursery rhyme “Oranges and Lemons” as the story progresses. Give a wild guess about the reason behind including this silly rhyme.
• At the end of the chapter, Winston is waiting for the Thought Police to come and take him. What do you think will happen?

1984 Part 2:

1984 Discussion Questions for Socratic seminar (Part 2 of the novel)

• How do Winston and the woman with the dark hair manage to communicate? What are other ways that people might communicate without alerting the Thought Police?
• How can we explain the sudden and total reversal of Winston’s feelings toward the woman with the dark hair? Have you ever experienced such a reversal?
• What can we say about the woman with the dark hair based on the story so far? What clues give insight to her character?
• Reread the section where the blond man invites Winston to sit at his table. How can we explain the frequency and intensity of Winston’s violent fantasies?
• Identify three examples of figurative language (metaphor, simile, idiom, personification, etc.) from the novel so far. Explain each.
• Winston is with a crowd in Victory Square when he sees a convoy of Eurasian prisoners. What clues can the reader gather from the spectacle?
• Make a prediction regarding the woman with the dark hair. Is Winston wrong to trust her?
• Why do you think the government is more controlling of Party members than proles?
• How does Julia cultivate her image of perfect Party orthodoxy?
• Why does Winston like the idea that Julia has had many lovers? (Hint: The very end of the chapter gives insight.)
• Identify two examples of figurative language (metaphor, simile, idiom, personification…) from Part 2: Chapter II and explain each.
• What are the techniques that Julia and Winston use to avoid detection while they continue their relationship? Are they being clever or foolish?
• Why would Winston tell Julia about the time he thought about murdering his wife?
• Explain this principle: “If you kept the small rules you could break the big ones” (129).
• If Julia hates the Party, why does she think that any attempt at organized revolt is stupid?
• Julia and Winston disagree on the appropriate way to live life in 1984 . What are their respective views? Which character makes more sense to you?
• Why do you think the Party ensures that novels and songs are generated by machines and ministry departments rather than individuals?
• Describe Winston’s reaction to the rat in the apartment. Do you have any aversions or even phobias that go beyond a rational avoidance?
• Julia once explained that a good meeting place might be used two times at the most. Why do you think she is willing to break this rule when it comes to the secret apartment?
• What do you think is the whole story behind Julia’s acquisition of the contraband goodies?
• What is the deal with the nursery rhyme? Why does it keep popping up in the story?
• How do you think the society in 1984 came to be? What would have to happen for England to come under the control of such an inhumane, authoritarian government?
• What is behind Winston’s fascination with the prole woman who does laundry in the alley?
• Winston recalls yet another dream in Part 2: Chapter IV. Can you decipher any meaning behind this vague dream? What is going on with Winston’s dreams in general?
• Based on what we know about people being “vaporized,” what are some possible reasons behind the disappearance of Syme?
• Do you find it suspicious that rocket bomb attacks and distant explosions become more frequent as the people prepare for Hate Week? What might explain this coincidence?
• Which of Julia and Winston’s plans to escape the Party’s tyranny makes the most sense? Can you offer an idea that they have not considered?
• Winston regrets not keeping the photograph of Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford. Julia thinks he was right when he threw it away years ago. What do you think?
• What might be the meaning of the nonsensical Party slogan “WAR IS PEACE”?
• Do you think Julia is right about the war being an elaborate fraud? Why or why not?
• Why does Winston find Julia’s approach to rebellion inadequate? What kind of rebellion does he desire?
• What clues tell you that life is quite different for members of the Inner Party?
• What is important about O’Brien referencing Syme when he talks to Winston?
• Winston will go to visit O’Brien’s apartment. Make a prediction about what will transpire.
• Winston dreams about the mother and child that were killed in the movie he saw. Why does Orwell want the reader to know that the woman is Jewish? Why does that matter?
• Why is it that at the age of thirty-nine Winston suddenly has a clear memory of himself as a child and the circumstances surrounding the disappearances of his parents and sister?
• Does Winston’s recollection of his actions as a boy make you despise him or pity him? Do you think grown-up Winston should feel guilt about how he acted when he was eleven?
• Winston never describes his youth in the Reclamation Center or how he became a member of the Outer Party. What might have happened in these “missing chapters” of his life?
• Winston says that his mother’s love possessed “a kind of nobility” (164). She had no title of nobility (duchess, princess, etc.), so what does he mean?
• Julia believes that even if you are tortured in the Ministry of Love the Party “can’t get inside you” or alter your “inner heart” (166). Do you agree?
• Why is it that the proles are human and Party members are not according to Winston?
• What more do we learn from this chapter regarding the lifestyle of Inner Party members?
• What is it about O’Brien that inspires such admiration from Winston?
• Why do you think O’Brien basically ignores Julia during the meeting?
• The Brotherhood promises nothing but misery and death. Why do they join? Would you?
• How does the Brotherhood function and endure? What does the Brotherhood expect of its members, and why are O’Brien’s examples so extreme?
• How does Orwell characterize Winston as cowardly in some ways and courageous in others? What impact does Part 2: Chapter 8 have on the characterization of Winston?
• Again with this nursery rhyme!? Now O’Brien is reciting it! What is the meaning of this?
• After a key revelation, it is a good point to update predictions. What do you predict now?

Chapter 9 Discussion Questions:

• Why is Goldstein’s book so important to Winston if it tells him nothing new?
• How do the people react to the sudden changing of the enemy from Eurasia to Eastasia? What do you think is behind this seemingly ill-timed change?
• How can a society with no laws be fixated on thoughtcrime , police, and crimestop ?
• Why are poverty, fear, hunger, low technology, and ignorance desirable to the Party?
• Explain the history of class conflict and social upheaval as described in Goldstein’s book. How has the latest power structure been able to stop the cycle of revolution?
• The war cannot be won or lost, and nothing is threatened or gained by the nations involved. What is the point? Why doesn’t one (or all) of the countries simply stop participating?
• There are about 195 countries in the world today. (The exact number is a politically charged issue.) Do you think that one day there will be far fewer nations as imagined in 1984 ?
• Goldstein writes about crimestop , “reality control,” “mental cheating,” and doublethink . Explain in your words the habits of thought that are required of a citizen in Winston’s society.

Chapter 10 Discussion Questions:

• Why do you think Julia and Winston make no desperate, last-minute attempt to escape?
• What effect or impression is created by the echoing of Julia and Winston’s statements?
• What clues suggest that Winston and Julia slept twelve hours longer than they intended?
• Do you think there is hidden meaning in the lyrics of the “Only an ‘Opless Fancy” song, or does it just add a bit of colorful detail? Explain.
• Winston has been caught in the trap, but how? When was the conspiracy set in motion? How much of Winston’s story was a set-up? Who was involved?
• This chapter mentions fruits, flowers, birds, and turnips, but none of these are present. Explain some of the symbolism or figurative language used in Part 2: Chapter X.
• Why does Winston feel a “mystical reverence” for the prole woman who does laundry?
• What do you think will happen in Part 3? Give a wild, off-the wall prediction and a more serious prediction based on your understanding of the novel.

1984 Part 3:

• Why do prole and Party prisoners act so differently when they are in the same holding cell?
• If you were in Winston’s position in the first holding cell, would you hope to be sent to the known misery of the labor camps or the dreadful unknown of the Ministry of Love?
• What is significant about prisoner Bumstead trying to give the other man a piece of bread?
• What psychological tortures do we observe in the Ministry of Love so far?
• Winston promptly abandons any resolve and determines that “in the face of pain there are no heroes…” (239). What do you think?
• In what ways are Mr. Ampleforth and Mr. Parsons opposites? What can we conclude from the fact that they end up in the same situation?
• How does Orwell create suspense and mystery surrounding Room 101?
• George Orwell’s Ministry of Love has provided nightmare fuel for generations of readers. What are the details and devices that create the horror in our imaginations?
• How is it that O’Brien possesses the same newspaper photograph of Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford that the Ministry of Truth destroyed? What conclusions might we draw?
• Winston suggests that the psychological torture “broke him down more completely than the boots and fists” (242). Explain how the ministry uses different forms of abuse in conjunction.
• In this chapter Winston uses the words “protector,” “friendship,” and even “love” to describe his feelings toward O’Brien. How can we explain this?
• “Everyone knows what is in Room 101” (260). Do you? What are some possibilities?
• Why doesn’t O’Brien say that the Brotherhood is real in answer to Winston’s question? According to his logic, if the Party says it is real than it is real. Why leave Winston in doubt?
• How are O’Brien’s definitions of reality and sanity different than Winston’s?
• Do you think it is possible to break and re-shape someone’s mind as portrayed in 1984 ?
• Why must the Ministry of Love make Winston a willing and enthusiastic Party member if they are only going to erase him from existence and memory?
• Were you surprised to learn that O’Brien wrote The Book ? Why or why not?
• What point is O’Brien making in showing Winston the ruin of his body?
• O’Brien and Winston agree that Winston has not yet betrayed Juila. How can this be if Winston has already told them everything she did and more?
• O’Brien does not foresee a future without rebellious “stains” like Winston. In fact, he says it is important and necessary that there always be “heretics” to persecute? Why?
• O’Brien believes that his only value is as a disposable part of something powerful and everlasting. What do you think? Is it important to belong to something bigger than yourself?
• According to O’Brien, “Slavery is freedom.” Is there a type of freedom that comes with being a “slave” to a cause, belief system, or institution? Explain your views.
• Do you think Winston is right about the human spirit? Will it foil the Party’s plans?
• In this chapter, Winston receives more humane treatment and even some small comforts. How can we explain this development in view of the Party’s goals?
• Should Winston believe that he has been under additional surveillance for seven years? If this is so, why have the Thought Police allowed Winston’s unorthodoxy to go so far?
• What role does the Golden Country play in Winston’s mind? Do you have a “happy place” in your imagination? Is it a real place or an invented place? What does it represent to you?
• In what ways is Winston failing to meet O’Brien’s requirements?
• How do you think O’Brien discovered Winston’s fear of rats? Do you share O’Brien’s belief that everyone has an “unendurable” fear in the back of their mind?
• Why do “guests” in Room 101 receive so much personal attention from the Ministry if Love? (This recognition of individuality seems contrary to the principles of Ingsoc.)
• Did the final torture make your skin crawl? What literary devices and/or language details does Orwell use to create the horror in the mind of the reader?
• Did Room 101 meet your expectations? Why or why not?
• Describe Winston’s new job. Why do you think the Party gives him such a cushy position?
• Why is Winston so confident that he can talk to Juila with impunity (no punishment)?
• Neither Winston nor Julia desires to revive their relationship. Why is this so?
• What is crimestop ? What details in the final chapter suggest that Winston has mastered it?
• Why does Winston conclude that his memory of playing games with his mother is false?
• Give some examples of Winston’s thoughts and/or dreams foretelling the events of his life. Do you think Winston is prescient, or is there something else going on in his psyche?
• What is the connection between the daily chess challenge, the war, and Big Brother?
• Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford, Goldstein himself, Syme, and now Winston spend time in the Chestnut Tree Café. What is the meaning behind this recurring element? How does the song “Under the Spreading Chestnut tree” connect?

Download 1984 Discussion Questions by Chapter for the PDF handouts, editable format, and model answer key. Print pages as shown or customize to suit your goals. Includes 1984 discussion questions and answers for Parts 1-3

The complete unit includes a discussion set for each reading (5 discussion sets rather than questions for each chapter).

Tags: Socratic seminar, discussion prompts, 1984 discussion questions for students, PDF handout, questions and answers, answer key, classroom

94 pages • 3 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Introduction

Before Reading

Reading Context

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

After Reading

Discussion/Analysis Prompt

Essay Questions

Exam Questions

Exam Answer Key

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Part 1, Chapter 1

Reading Check

1. In what nation (one of three world powers) is Airstrip One located?

2. Who is the leader of the Party?

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is a telescreen?

2. In Part 1, Chapter 1, what rule does Winston break despite the risk of the death penalty?

Paired Resource

“Facebook’s ‘Two Minutes Hate’” by Hélène de Lauzun

• Commentary from The European Conservative on an exception to Facebook’s hate speech policies
• This author explicitly compares Facebook’s Russia/Ukraine-related exception to its hate speech policies to Oceania’s “Two Minutes Hate.” Is this comparison an apt one? Why or why not?

Part 1, Chapters 2-4

1. Who comes to Winston’s door in Part 1, Chapter 2?

2. What does Winston do in front of the telescreen in Part 1, Chapter 3?

1. In Part 1, Chapter 3, what evidence does Winston recall from childhood that makes him think that Oceania has not always been at war?

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'1984' Study Guide

Everything you need to know about Orwell's influential novel

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• B.A., English, Rutgers University

George Orwell's 1984 is such an influential novel that you needn't have read it to notice its effect. With its chilling examination of totalitarian regimes, 1984 changed the language we use to discuss those very regimes. Popular terms like "Big Brother," "Orwellian," or "Newspeak" were all originated by Orwell in 1984 .

The novel was Orwell’s attempt to highlight what he saw as an existential threat posed by authoritarian leaders like Joseph Stalin . It remains a vital commentary on the techniques of brutal totalitarian regimes and only becomes more prescient and applicable as technology catches up with its nightmarish vision.

Fast Facts: 1984

• Author: George Orwell
• Publisher: Secker and Warburg
• Year Published: 1949
• Genre: Science fiction
• Type of Work: Novel
• Original Language: English
• Themes: Totalitarianism, destruction of the self, control of information
• Characters: Winston Smith, Julia, O’Brien, Syme, Mr. Charrington
• Notable Adaptations: A film adaptation released in 1984 starred John Hurt as Winston and Richard Burton, in his last role, as O’Brien.
• Fun Fact: Because of his socialist politics and connections to the Communist Party, Orwell himself was under government surveillance for years.

Plot Summary

Winston Smith lives in what is known as Airstrip One, formerly Britain, a province of a large nation-state known as Oceania. Posters everywhere declare BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, and Thought Police could be anywhere, watching for signs of Thoughtcrime. Smith works at the Ministry of Truth changing historical texts to match the current propaganda being distributed by the government.

Winston longs to rebel, but confines his rebellion to keeping a forbidden journal, which he writes in a corner of his apartment hidden from the two-way television screen on his wall.

At work, Winston meets a woman named Julia and begins a forbidden love affair, meeting her in a room he rents above a shop in the midst of the non-party population, known as proles. At work, Winston suspects that his superior, a man named O’Brien, is involved with a resistance movement called The Brotherhood, led by a mysterious man named Emmanuel Goldstein. Winston’s suspicions are confirmed when O’Brien invites him and Julia to join The Brotherhood, but this turns out to be a ruse and the pair are arrested.

Winston is brutally tortured. He slowly gives up all outward resistance, but preserves what he believes is an inner core of his true self symbolized by his feelings for Julia. In the end he is confronted by his worst fear, a terror of rats, and betrays Julia by begging his torturers to do it to her instead. Broken, Winston is returned to public life a true believer.

Major Characters

Winston Smith. A 39-year old man who works for the Ministry of Truth. Winston romanticizes the lives of the non-Party proles and indulges in daydreams in which they rise up and spark a revolution. Winston rebels in his private thoughts and in small actions that seem relatively safe, like his journal-keeping. His torture and destruction at the end of the novel is tragic because of the sheer lack of necessity; Winston was being manipulated from the very beginning and never posed any true threat.

Julia. Similarly to Winston, Julia is outwardly a dutiful Party member, but inwardly seeks to rebel. Unlike Winston, Julia’s motivations for rebellion stem from her own desires; she wishes to pursue pleasure and leisure.

O’Brien. Literally everything the reader is told about O’Brien in the first half of the story is revealed to be untrue. He is Winston’s superior at the Ministry of Truth, but he is also a member of the Thought Police. O’Brien therefore represents the Party perfectly: He is changeable as needed, weaponizes information or the lack of it, and ultimately serves solely to perpetuate power and snuff out resistance of any kind.

Syme. A colleague of Winston’s, working on a Newspeak dictionary. Winston perceives Syme’s intelligence and predicts that he will disappear as a result of it, a prediction that quickly comes true.

Mr. Charrington. A kindly old man who helps Winston rebel, and is later revealed as a member of the Thought Police.

Major Themes

Totalitarianism. Orwell argues that in a one-party political state where all other parties are outlawed, perpetuation of power becomes the sole purpose of the State. Towards this end, a totalitarian state will restrict freedom increasingly until the only freedom that remains is freedom of private thought—and the State will then attempt to restrict this as well.

Control of Information. Orwell argues in the novel that the lack of access to information and the corruption of information makes meaningful resistance to the Party impossible. Orwell foresaw the rise of "fake news" decades before it was named.

Destruction of the Self. The ultimate goal of all totalitarian regimes in Orwell’s opinion. Only by replacing individual desires with a template created by the State can true control be asserted.

Literary Style

Orwell writes in plain, largely unadorned language and a neutral tone, which evokes the crushing despair and dullness of Winston’s existence. He also ties the point of view tightly to Winston, forcing the reader to accept what Winston tells them much as Winston accepts what he is told, all of which is ultimately revealed as a lie. Explore the style, themes, and more with discussion questions .

About the Author

Born in 1903 in India, George Orwell was an incredibly influential writer, best-known for his novels Animal Farm and 1984 , as well as essays on various topics covering politics, history, and social justice.

Many of the concepts Orwell introduced in his writing have become part of pop culture, such as the phrase "Big Brother is Watching You" and the use of the descriptor Orwellian to indicate an oppressive surveillance state.

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• '1984' Quiz
• 'Animal Farm' Questions for Study and Discussion
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• 'The Odyssey' Overview
• 'Frankenstein' Overview
• 'The Outsiders' Overview
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• Aug 2, 2022

Book Club Discussion Questions: 1984 by George Orwell

For those of you that haven't or couldn't attend book club lately, we'll be publishing the previous months' discussion questions here. I hope eventually to post discussion questions for all of the books we've covered since I took over a couple of years ago and beyond, all the way to the beginning over a decade and a half ago. It will take a while. Until then, we will be posting discussion questions on a weekly basis. Here are the questions from a 2007 title, 1984. We hope these questions spark discussions of your own.

by George Orwell

In 1984, London is a grim city in the totalitarian state of Oceania where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston Smith is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called The Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be. --Book jacket.

Discussion Questions

What is important about the title of 1984 ?

What are the conflicts in 1984 ? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) are in this novel?

How does George Orwell reveal character in 1984 ?

What are some themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?

What are some symbols in 1984 ? How do they relate to the plot and characters?

Is Winston consistent in his actions? Is he a fully developed character? How? Why?

Do you find the characters likable? Would you want to meet the characters?

Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?

What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?

How does this novel relate to dystopian literature? Is Winston a strong character?

How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else? In any other time?

What is the role of women in the text? Is love relevant? Are relationships meaningful?

Why is 1984 controversial? Why has it been banned?

How does 1984 relate to contemporary politics/society?

Would you recommend this novel to a friend?

Why do you think words like Big Brother and Newspeak have entered into our everyday lexicon?

What, if anything, scares you about the future Orwell describes? Why or why not?

How is "doublethink" used in the novel? Do you think it could or is used in our current society?

Do you think it's important that Oceana is constantly at war with someone? What point do you think Orwell is trying to make?

How does the age difference between Julia and Winston affect how they view the actions of Big Brother and the government? Do you see differences like this in your own life?

How is technology used by Big Brother and the Party? Does it remind you of any current technological issues?

If you were in Room 101, what would be waiting for you?

What is the significance of the name Ministry of Love?

How is sexual repression used to oppress the people of Oceana? Are there examples of this kind of oppression in the real world?

How are characters brainwashed in the novel? Do you think this sort of brainwashing can happen in real life?

What warnings can we take from Orwell's novel?

Questions courtesy of ThoughtCo.com

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By George Orwell

George Orwell opens his stunning novel '1984' novel by telling the reader that the “clocks were striking thirteen”. If this isn’t an opening line for the ages, I don’t know what is.

• Insightful critique of totalitarianism.
• Engaging and thought-provoking storyline.
• Relevant exploration of power and control.
• Depressingly bleak and pessimistic tone.
• Somewhat dated language and concepts.
• Slow pacing in certain sections.

Bottom Line

" 1984 " remains a profoundly impactful and thought-provoking novel, offering a chilling critique of totalitarianism and the dangers of unchecked power. Despite its bleak tone and sometimes dated language, the compelling narrative and enduring relevance of its themes make it a must-read for anyone interested in political and social commentary. Orwell's masterful portrayal of a dystopian future serves as a powerful warning about the potential consequences of sacrificing freedom for security.

Rating [book_review_rating]

Continue down for the complete review to 1984

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

As new entrants into the world of 1984,  we are immediately introduced to the character of Winston Smith , a small, rough-skinned, sickly member of the Outer Party. He’s just arrived at his dreary apartment from work where he’s greeted by the blaring noise of his telescreen , a permanent installation in his home that works twofold. He watches it, and it watches him.

I found it disconcertingly easy to imagine, in our modern world, technology is utilized in such an all-encompassing, and eventually normalized fashion. The residents of London, Airstrip One , Oceania, are used to constant surveillance. It is how most of them have lived their whole lives and the majority would advocate for its continuous.

The totalitarian regime that reigns over Winston’s vile, cold and dirty futurist London, controls everything, right down to the thoughts in its citizen’s heads. At least, that’s what it would like. Luckily for we the readers, Winston Smith is not like the other party members, those he deems as mindless, brainwashed fools, devoted mind and body to the Party, Big Brother (the dictatorial figure/mascot of the regime who may or may not actually exist) and the principles of INGSOC (English Socialism). Through Winston’s perspective, we are allowed to experience his irritation, fury, and exasperation with the other Party members and the proles who live in the slums outside the city center.  

Daily Terrors in Winston Smith’s World

While explaining the terror he exists in, day in and day out, Winston takes comfort in the fact that the small space within his head is his own . That is until the Thought Police catch up with him. Everything else, what he does, says, and how he appears, is bent to the will of the Party.  

The first part of 1984 (which is divided into three sections) is an incredible achievement of world-building. Orwell sucks the reader right into the horrors of Winston’s world by moving through the minutia of his life. Winston is responsible for the re-writing of history, it is by his hand, (and he admits, likely hundreds of others) that newspaper articles are rephrased, remade, and created in order to cast the government in the best light possible.  

Perhaps the most chilling and shocking aspect of 1984 is the way that somethings, although noted by Winston as wrong and disturbing, have become commonplace. The rewriting of history is only one example. Winston lives in constant fear that someday, maybe that afternoon, or five years from now, he and Julia (a young woman with whom he begins an affair) are going to be “vaporized”. Death weighs heavily on Winston’s world and as a reader, I found myself experiencing some of that fear as well. Winston’s life, as he takes more risks, becomes at once rife with paranoia and incredibly, more commonly filled with moments of peace.  

The Drama of Very Human Characters

As a human being, Orwell writes Winston Smith believably. So much so I found myself having arguments with his character as he tried to come to terms with changes (such as when Oceania changed the superpower it was at war with) or when he was relishing in the knowledge the O’Brien was, in fact, a member of the resistance. It is easy enough, I found, to search for the same grains of hope Winston did within the second part of 1984.  

If I had to choose one moment from the novel that I know will stick with me, it is the scene in the room above Mr. Charrington ’s shop in which Julia and Winston are musing over their shared, doomed fate. They say to one another “We are the dead” and in mimicry of their conversion, Mr. Charrington (who is revealed to be a spy for the Thought Police) calls out from behind a photo, “You are the dead”. Utterly chilling, even now, recalling that moment I find myself experiencing something of what these two characters felt.  

It is the culmination of the previous two parts of 1984  in which Winston waits to be caught, captured, and tortured. Now, he and Julie both know and the reader knows, that this is the end. He is surely going to be dragged off to the Ministry of Love and tortured to death. Perhaps he’ll be released on a temporary basis, as other “criminals” have been. But, there is no getting away from the Party. It sees, hears, and knows all. At this moment, it caught up to Winston Smith. All his vague hopes for the future vanish.  

The Concluding Pages of 1984

The last section of 1984 felt like looking behind the curtain. There was a great deal of satisfaction finally knowing what goes on within the Ministry of Love and it was just as horrifying as I imagined. They engage in all forms of torture, mental and physical.  

When I first read the section in which Winston is forced to confront his greatest fear in Room 101 I found myself surprised by how complex, knowledgeable, and conniving the Party was in its research into Winston’s life and weak points. Thinking back on it now, it couldn’t have been any other way. Of course, O’Brien was working as a double agent, of course, the Party knew all along what Winston and Julie were doing and planning, and of course, in the end, they got what they wanted—for Winston to love Big Brother.  

1984 Book Review: George Orwell's Stunning Novel

Book Title: 1984

Book Description: 1984, is a dystopian novel that tells the story of Winston Smith and warns of the dangers of a totalitarian government that rules through fear, surveillance,  propaganda and brainwashing.

Book Author: George Orwell

Book Edition: Signet Classics Edition

Book Format: Paperback

Publisher - Organization: Secker & Warburg

Date published: June 8, 1949

Illustrator: Paul Rivoche

ISBN: 0451524934

Number Of Pages: 328

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• Lasting Effect on Reader

1984 Review

1984 is a book that you’re going to remember. From its opening lines to the various revelations about the Party and it’s means of governing its citizens a reader is met with constant twists and turns. Each one is more disturbing than the one before it. You would not be wrong if while reading  1984 you found yourself drawing comparisons between contemporary/historical society and the world that Winston Smith lives in. This book is just as relevant today as it was when Orwell finished it in 1948. One reading does not do this novel justice. On the second, third, or even fourth time that one learns about Emmanuel Goldstein, Big Brother, the Ministries, and every other memorable element of the book, more is revealed.

• A plot that keeps the reader guessing–incredibly engaging
• Original, yet relatable characters
• Disturbingly relevant
• Big Brother verges on a caricature
• Readers are left hanging without a definite conclusion to the novel
• Misogynistic undertones that go unaddressed

Step into the dystopian world of George Orwell's 1984! Are you ready to test your knowledge of Big Brother, Newspeak, and Oceania? Take the challenge now and prove your mastery of Orwell's 1984!

What happens to Winston at the end of the novel?

Who does Winston believe has the power to overthrow the Party?

What does Winston write in his secret journal?

What does "Ingsoc" stand for?

What is the role of the Thought Police in 1984?

What is the significance of the song “Under the spreading chestnut tree”?

What is the name of the Party's leader in 1984?

What does Winston secretly purchase from the antique shop?

What is the primary function of the Ministry of Plenty?

What is the main purpose of the Ministry of Love?

What is the slogan of the Party?

What does Winston see when he looks into the mirror at the end of the novel?

How does the Party deal with dissenters?

What does O'Brien use to torture Winston in Room 101?

What does the character of O'Brien represent in the novel?

What is the main purpose of the Ministry of Truth?

What is the significance of the phrase "2 + 2 = 5" in the novel?

What is the purpose of the Two Minutes Hate?

How does Winston feel when he first meets Julia?

What is the name of the resistance group Winston believes in?

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About Emma Baldwin

Emma Baldwin, a graduate of East Carolina University, has a deep-rooted passion for literature. She serves as a key contributor to the Book Analysis team with years of experience.

I just finished reading 1984 by George Orwell. It is my first reading (I’m 76), and all I could think about was today’s sociological and political events. It was scary being so foreboding in 2022 having been published in 1949! At times I had to stop reading. My heart hurt; my mind grew fearful; my sense of reality began to melt! Read it! I plan to read it again!

Thanks for the comment Linda!

It’s remarkable how Orwell’s work, conceived in 1949, echoes so loudly in today’s world, stirring fear, concern, and reflection.

It’s definitely worth reading it again.

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George Orwell is remembered today for his social criticism, controversial beliefs, and his novels ' Animal Farm ' and '1984'.

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Nineteen Eighty-four

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Nineteen Eighty-four , novel by English author George Orwell published in 1949 as a warning against totalitarianism . The novel’s chilling dystopia made a deep impression on readers, and Orwell’s ideas entered mainstream culture in a way achieved by very few books. The book’s title and many of its concepts, such as Big Brother and the Thought Police, are instantly recognized and understood, often as bywords for modern social and political abuses.

The book is set in 1984 in Oceania, one of three perpetually warring totalitarian states (the other two are Eurasia and Eastasia). Oceania is governed by the all-controlling Party, which has brainwashed the population into unthinking obedience to its leader, Big Brother. The Party has created a propagandistic language known as Newspeak , which is designed to limit free thought and promote the Party’s doctrines . Its words include doublethink (belief in contradictory ideas simultaneously), which is reflected in the Party’s slogans: “War is peace,” “Freedom is slavery,” and “Ignorance is strength.” The Party maintains control through the Thought Police and continual surveillance.

The book’s hero, Winston Smith , is a minor party functionary living in a London that is still shattered by a nuclear war that took place not long after World War II . He belongs to the Outer Party, and his job is to rewrite history in the Ministry of Truth, bringing it in line with current political thinking. However, Winston’s longing for truth and decency leads him to secretly rebel against the government. He embarks on a forbidden affair with Julia, a like-minded woman, and they rent a room in a neighborhood populated by Proles (short for proletariats ). Winston also becomes increasingly interested in the Brotherhood, a group of dissenters. Unbeknownst to Winston and Julia, however, they are being watched closely. Ubiquitous posters throughout the city warn residents that “Big Brother is watching you.”

When Winston is approached by O’Brien—an official of the Inner Party who appears to be a secret member of the Brotherhood—the trap is set. O’Brien is actually a spy for the Party, on the lookout for “thought-criminals,” and Winston and Julia are eventually caught and sent to the Ministry of Love for a violent reeducation. The ensuing imprisonment , torture , and reeducation of Winston are intended not merely to break him physically or make him submit but to root out his independence and destroy his dignity and humanity. In Room 101, where prisoners are forced into submission by exposure to their worst nightmares, Winston panics as a cage of rats is attached to his head. He yells out for his tormentors to “Do it to Julia!” and states that he does not care what happens to her. With this betrayal, Winston is released. He later encounters Julia, and neither is interested in the other. Instead, Winston loves Big Brother.

Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-four as a warning after years of brooding on the twin menaces of Nazism and Stalinism . Its depiction of a state where daring to think differently is rewarded with torture, where people are monitored every second of the day, and where party propaganda trumps free speech and thought is a sobering reminder of the evils of unaccountable governments. Winston is the symbol of the values of civilized life, and his defeat is a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of such values in the midst of all-powerful states.

Five questions about the Criminal Justice Program’s judicial bench book

The pretrial phase of any criminal case is critical. But the laws, rules, procedures and norms involved in this pivotal moment are not often clear or consistent, which presents challenges for judges. Aiming to synthesize and clarify the dozens of studies that elucidate various aspects of the pretrial process, UCLA School of Law’s Criminal Justice Program produced a pretrial bench book for judges in California. Earlier this year, the Judicial Council of California distributed the book – quite possibly the first of its kind that combines law and research in such a practical format – to all judges in the state.

Titled “ California Pretrial Release Considerations: A Bench Book for California Superior Court Judges ,” the book was written by retired Judge Sherrill Ellsworth of the Riverside County Superior Court; Alicia Virani, the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Director of the Criminal Justice Program; and Isabelle Geczy, who was the program’s pretrial justice fellow.

“Given the potentially life-altering consequences of pretrial decision-making, it is imperative that judges have all the tools they need to make lawful decisions based in research and not fear,” Virani says. Here, she explains why the book is important and how it will make an impact.

1. What is the bench book?

The bench book is a resource for California Superior Court judges. The first section contains California law related to pretrial release decisions. The second section provides a synthesis of the latest research on five different issue areas related to pretrial decision making: (1) Public Safety, (2) Flight Risk, (3) Bail Affordability, (4) Pretrial Release Conditions, and (5) Risk Assessment Instruments.

2. Why is the bench book needed?

Over the past decade, much has changed in our understanding of how best to decide whether to detain someone pretrial. We now have more reliable data and research about the impact of pretrial reforms and how best to support people to refrain from re-arrest and ensure their return to court during the pretrial phase of their case. Studies of pretrial reforms across the country show that reforming the money bail system or increasing pretrial release do not compromise public safety. Judges with busy dockets may not always have the time to read and digest these studies or understand how they can be used to inform their pretrial release calculations in tandem with the law. With this situation in mind, we synthesized the research to make it easily accessible. Our hope is that this will help judges make informed decisions regarding pretrial release.

3. You address common myths in the bench book about pretrial release. Can you explain one of them and why you chose to include this section?

There is a pervasive myth that if people pay some amount of money to secure their release, this will give them “skin in the game” and increase the likelihood that they will show up in court on the appointed day. However, studies of bail funds that pay money bail on behalf of arrested individuals disprove this notion. It turns out, for example, that simply creating a system to text people reminders of the date and time of their next court appearance ensures a very high appearance rate, even for people who have not paid their own bail. In Alameda County, California, the appearance rate for those released on their own recognizance went from 47% to 87% after the county implemented a court reminder system using verified phone numbers. Since judges have to consider a person’s risk of non-appearance, this type of research can help them understand that the majority of individuals will return to court given the right processes. In this way, we hope to encourage judges to make more well-informed pretrial release decisions.

4. How do all people involved in the legal process – judges, lawyers, or people seeking pretrial release – stand to benefit from the bench book?

Nationally, 70% of individuals in jails are being held there prior to trial. Forty-three percent of people held pretrial are Black. Most people who are in custody pretrial are there not because they have been found to pose a threat but only because they cannot afford bail. It is well documented that pretrial incarceration creates adverse consequences not only for the individual incarcerated but also for their families and communities. People held pretrial are at risk of losing their housing, employment, and benefits. They are more likely to end up rearrested on other charges in the future. And pretrial incarceration can also lead to family separation. In the preface to our bench book, retired Judge Alldredge of Tulare County emphasizes the need to make decisions regarding pretrial detention that are rooted in careful research. He describes the courage that it takes to follow the law governing pretrial release and to not bend to fear or public pressure. This type of careful decision-making can help to avoid the adverse consequences that so many people in our state suffer simply because they cannot afford to pay their way out of jail.

5. Is this bench book the first step in a bigger process for reform? What does that look like?

Through research I conducted with students in my Pretrial Justice Clinic , in collaboration with UC Berkeley Law’s Policy Advocacy Clinic, we found that In re Humphrey , the recent California Supreme Court decision declaring unaffordable cash bail unconstitutional, has not had the effect we thought it would. Since most people in California in pretrial detention are indigent, it was assumed that the Humphrey decision would have led to a higher proportion of people being released pretrial. However, this has not happened. So, this bench book is one tool in a larger set of efforts to help legal actors comply with the mandate of the Humphrey decision. I also hope that other states will look to this bench guide as a model and develop similar tools for their judiciary.

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