Tuesday, April 30, 2013

ch.1-2 1984

Book Two, Chapter 1

How does Winston react to the note from Julia before he reads it?
He immediately thinks it's something bad and along the lines of either getting tortured or being told to commit suicide.
How does Winston react to the note after he reads it?
He doesn't know what to think because he hardly knows her.
Where do they manage to talk for the first time?
One of the lunch tables
Where do they plan to meet?
The Golden Country
What do Winston and Julia do before they part?
They hold hands... AWWW!

Book Two, Chapter 2

Why is Winston ill at ease once he is alone with Julia?
Because his self confidence is crushed by how beautiful she is
What does Julia bring with her that she has obtained on the black market?
Chocolate
What are Julia’s ideas about the Party?
She dislikes them with a great amount of hate, but knows that she has to obey them to stay alive.
What familiar sign does Winston find?
A hill and trail that reminds him of the Golden Country.
What is the significance of the thrush music?
It makes Winston's dream come true
What does Winston mean when he says that he loves Julia all the more because she has had scores of sexual encounters?
He likes her rebellious spirit since having sex for fun is a rebellious act in this world.

8 1984

1. Why does Winston go off on his own? What activities is he missing out on?
Because people aren't supposed to be alone and he's a rebel. The community center
2. What is life like in the proles’ end of London?
Very ghetto with rocket's exploding at random.
3. What does Winston think about after his conversation with the old man in the pub?
He thinks that he wasted his time with the old man
4. What does Winston discover at Mr. Charrington’s shop?
A pair of glasses
5. What is Mr. Charrington like?
A nice old guy
6. What does Winston think when he sees the dark-haired girl outside Mr. Charrington’s shop?
He thinks that she is spying on him.
7. How does one’s own body betray a person?
The human body freezes up at the worst times.
8. Why does Winston wonder about church bells ringing in London?
Because he slightly remembers them and thinks that he hasn't heard bells ringing  for a long time.

5-7 1984

1. What is the problem with obtaining razor blades?
They aren't being made/ distributed anymore.
2. What is revealed about Inner Party philosophy in the discussion between Winston and Syme?
By reducing the amount of words people can speak they control more complex thoughts like rebellion.
3. Why does Winston feel that Syme will be vaporized?
Because he is too smart for his own good.
4. Parsons brags about his children for doing what?
Snitching.
5. What is the significance of the telescreen announcement?
To show how controlled the population is by Big Brother.
6. What are Winston’s feelings about the present time after he hears the cheerful announcement on the telescreen?
He knows that it is an untrue statement.
7. Winston predicts that certain people will be vaporized and that certain people will never be vaporized. Who? Why?
Winston: Because he keeps a diary.
Syme: Because he is too smart for his own good.
Julia: Winston believes that she is one of the thought police so she is safe from vaporization.
O'Brian: He thinks the same as Winston.
Mr. Parsons: Is never turned in because of how much he supports big brother.
Mrs. Parsons: Her own kids turn her in.
8. What is the purpose of marriage in the state?
To produce children... that is all.
9. What do Winston’s memories about visiting a prostitute reveal about his attitudes towards sex in Oceania?
He likes sex, but all of his experiences have been terrible.
10. How does Winston view the proles?
They are a powerful force that could destroy Big Brother but cannot because of how low their intelligence is.
11. How are the proles controlled (prole control)?
Work, Entertainment, and isolation
12. What lies/half-truths does the Party teach about history?
That Big Brother was around nearly half a century earlier than it actually was.
13. Winston suspects that the Party lies about progress made since the war. What Party claims does he doubt?
That the population is being treated better than they were at the beginning of the war.
14. What is the story of Aaronson, Jones and Rutherford?
Previous leaders of the revolution that were convicted, released, and then executed.
15. Why is this story so meaningful for Winston?
Because he found a picture of the three men while they were serving under Big Brother.
16. What is Winston’s unanswered question?
He doesn't know why

Monday, April 29, 2013

3-4 1984

1. What is Winston’s dream about his mother? How does he feel about himself in that dream?
He is above the water watching his mother and baby sister underwater. He wished he had a little more appreciation towards them when he was a young boy.
2. What is his dream about the "Golden Country"?
That he is being approached by a dark haired girl which he is not attracted to.
3. What does he remember about the big events of the past? Bombs? Past Wars?
He remembers the beginning of the war.
4. Explain the Party slogan, "Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past."
Whoever controls what happens in the past can predict the future by "estimating" what will happen. Eventually the future will become the past and they will have control over that too.
5. What does he know about the legends concerning Big Brother?
That he is younger than he actually may be.
6. Describe Winston’s job.
Winston's job is to rewrite the past with whatever Big Brother tells to write.
7. How is the past controlled?
By causing mass confusion through the media producing numerous different stories.
8. What special literature, music, and entertainment is produced for the proletariat (proles)?
Sports, Astrology, Sex films, and crime
9. How does Winston feel about his work? What sort of "creativity" is involved?
He likes the ability to create history. It's like he is creating his own history book.
10. What is the significance of Comrade Ogilvy?
He is a fictional person who now exists.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

1-2 1984

1. What bothers Winston?
Being watched by Big Brother, the ulcer on his ankle, and the girl he thinks is apart of the thought police
2. What is wrong with his society?
You're almost constantly being monitored by Big Brother
3. What are the three slogans of the Inner Party?
Freedom is Slavery
War is Peace
Ignorance is Strength
4. What are the four ministries?
Peace
Love
Truth
Plenty
5. What items are written in italics?
Winston's Diary
6. How does the Two Minute Hate work?
It's like a pep rally that you are forced to attend. You spend two minutes being brainwashed into hating the enemies.
7. What happens to Winston during the chant?
He turns into a chanting madman
8. What happens between O’Brien and Winston?
They catch each others eyes and share the same feeling that they do not believe in the two minutes hate or even Big Brother
9. During the film (p. 11), how did the audience react?
They became deranged and obsessed with Big Brother
10. What is "thoughtcrime"?
The crime performed by thinking anything bad against Big Brother
11. What are the Thought Police?
A group of people who arrest anyone that thinks something degrading towards Big Brother
12. Who are the Parsons and what do they represent?
A family with obnoxious children. The future of the thought police.
13. How do the Parsons’ children behave?
Like brats
14. What is Winston's dream about O’Brien?
That O'Brian said to Winston they would "meet in a place where there is no darkness"
15. What is announced on the news? (p. 25)
That they had won a battle but the chocolate rations were reduced