1984 reader response questions

5/21/2018 1984 Reader Response Questions

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Part One: Chapter One1. What was the uniform of the Party?2. What hovered, snooped into people's windows, and darted away?3. One lived under the assumption that every sound you made was

!!!!!!!!!!, and, e"#ept in dar$ness, every movement!!!!!!!!!!.

%. Where did Winston &mith wor$?. What was the offi#ial lan(ua(e of O#eania?). *sin( the offi#ial lan(ua(e, state the four +inistries:. -: -he teles#reen saw Winston write in his diary and flashed a red

warnin( on the s#reen: Writin( is /eath.0. Who was the audien#e for Winston's writin(?. -: n Winston's ournal entry, people were $illed.14. n what department did Winston wor$?11. Winston's disli$e of the (irl who wor$ed in the i#tion /epartment was

5ased on tan(i5le en#ounters with her where she disa(reed with hisopinion twi#e.

12.-: Winston didn't $now mu#h a5out the details of O'6rien's o5.13.Who was the earliest defiler of the Party's purity?1%.-: -he under(round networ$ of #onspirators referred to those who

sided with the enemy of the &tate.1./urin( the -wo +inute 7ate, whi#h person or entity did Winston not

hate? 89 oldstein 69 the -hou(ht Poli#e C9 the (irl with the s#arlet

sash /9 6i( 6rother ;9 O-7;>.

1.&tate two te"tual synonyms with vaporied.24.Chapter one ended with the -hou(ht Poli#e (ivin( Winston &mith a

smart ine#tion, reali(nin( him with 6i( 6rother 5eliefs.

Part One: Chapter -wo

21.>epairs at @i#tory +ansions 89 were swift 69 had to 5e san#tioned 5ya #ommittee C9 were lo((ed in a ournal 5y +rs. Parsons /9 wereperformed in the order in whi#h tyey were entered on a spreadsheet.

22.What #lo((ed +rs. Parsons's pipe?


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23.Who shouted oldstein at Winston? 89 the 5oy 69 the mother C9 thesister /9 -om

2%.6riefly e"plain symptons of unorthodo"y.2.What were on 5oth sides of a #oin?

2).


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fumes of vi#tory (in in the #anteen were hidden and suppressed 5ythe metali# smell of steamy stew.

%)./ou5leplus(ood was (iven as an e"ample of a super suffi#ient 89noun 69 ver5 C9 dire#t o5e#t /9 adver5 or ;9 ade#tive.

%.When will the revolution 5e #omplete? ;"plain.%0.


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).Why wouldjus primae noctisnot 5e mentioned in a te"t5oo$ for#hildren?

)0.-he Party proudly pro#laimed that what per#ent of proles wereliterate?

).What happened to the ori(inal leaders of the >evolution?4.ive three names that were e"amples of #orpses waitin( to 5e sent5a#$ to the (rave.

1.-he new=found audien#e for Winston's diary was who?2.What was the Party's final and most essential #ommand?3.Paraphrase Winston's final ournal entry a5out freedom.

Part One: Chapter ;i(ht

%.What was #onsidered dan(erous? 89 a taste for solitude 69

e##entri#ity C9 individualism /9 ownlife ;9 all of the a5ove.;"plain #rea$in( #amaraderie oiled 5y (in.).What o##urred when Winston too$ an unusual route home, travellin(

throu(h a prole nei(h5orhood? 89 -he proles saw his uniform ands#attered. 69 Proles s#attered 5e#ause of a Party 5om5.

.-he proles paid serious attention to what pu5li# event?0.Whi#h +inistry fa5ri#ated none"istent persons as winners of 5i(

pries?.What event in the 5ar #aused the uneasiness toward Winston to

disappear?04.-: When Winston returned with two more 5eers, the old man 5e(anuotin( from history 5oo$s.

01.What two attri5utes did the old man as#ri5e to youth?02.-: -he old man returned from the restroom to dis#over that &mith

had 5een arrested for thou(htuery.03.What feelin( ran throu(h Winston when he stood outside the shop

where he'd 5ou(ht his diary?0%. f uestioned why he was in the shop, what e"#use whould Winston

have (iven?

0.Why did Winston 5uy the #oral antiue Ba (lass paper wei(ht9?0).What o5e#t was missin( from the room upstairs?0.-: t was hard to 5uy a 5oo$ printed 5efore 1)4?00.Who was Charrin(ton?0.-hat Winston had never really heard #hur#h 5ells rin(in( meant what

a5out those 5uildin(s?4.-: 8fter seein( the firl from the i#tion /epartment, Winston

dis#arded the #oral (lass.1.-: Winston $illed the (irl from the i#tion /epartment and

esta5lished an ali5i at the Community Center.2.-he pla#e where there is no dar$ness was where?


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Part -wo: Chapter One

3.Whi#h did not o##ur? 89 -he note from the fallen (irl was read twi#e.69 Winston had two possi5ilities for the (irl's affiliations. C9 -he

e"#han(e was made durin( a (li#h in the teles#reen. /9 -he note wasread after a #al#ulated lapse of time.

%.Whi#h did o##ur? 89 Winston put the note in the pneumati# tu5e. 69Parsons was odor=free. C9 -he (irl said, -han$s #omradeD /9 8ll ofWinston's wor$ needed #lose s#rutiny. ;9 Winston and the (irl madeeye #onta#t.

.-: Winston had wolf in the #anteen.).-: When playin( #hess, one had to wear an arm 5and whi#h read

n(so# in relation to #hess../es#ri5e post#ards in 8irstrip One.0.When for three dreadful days she did not appear at all, what did

Winston ima(ine?.Whi#h person o5stru#ted Winston from sittin( with the (irl? 89

8mpleforth 69 Wilsher C9 the 5eetleli$e man /9 the enormous prole144. What were the prisoners wearin(?141. Whi#h did not o##ur in @i#tory &uare? 89 manual #onta#t with

the (irl 69 eye #onta#t with the (irl C9 so#ial #onta#t /9 #rowd #onta#t

Part -wo: Chapter -wo

142. 8t the natural #learin(, it was evident that they 5oth had what#ommon worry or suspi#ion?

143. Whi#h #olor did Orwell not yet use? 89 yellow sunshine 69s#arlet sash C9 5rown eyes /9 (reeness of the leaves ;9 red mouth

14%. -: When Eulia removed her s#arlet sash of the Eunior 8nti=&e"Fea(ue, Winston un5uttoned her 5louse, $issed her #heerful lus#iouslips, and pursued the memory of free se" in the shade of se#ret forestshadows.

14. What simile was used to pla#e Eulia's #oarse remar$s a5out thenner Party into a natural response?

14). -hat Eulia enoyed se" unders#ored what important trait, a $eyfor#e essential to 5ustin( the Party to pie#es?

14. ;"plain: -his time there was no diffi#ulty.140. 6ased on the metaphor at #hapter's end, what one word

summaried their inter#ourse? 89 sedu#tion 69 thunder C9 s#rimma(e/9 sedition

Part -wo: Chapter -hree


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14. Whi#h was not an e"ample of Eulia's pra#ti#al #unnin(? 895low her nose 69 one hour rendevous C9 depart at intervals /9remove twi(s ;9 lip #ontrol

114. What made their fa#es white?

111. n the name of !!!!!!!!!!, an a#t or GPartyH dis(uise as afront, Eulia persuaded Winston to enroll in part=time !!!!!!!!!!wor$. 1%1

112. Whi#h was not true a5out Eulia? 89 &he was disinterested inParty do#trine. 69 &he had wor$ed in Pornose#. C9 7er (randmotherinstilled a re5el instin#t in her. /9 7er le"i#on was fundamentally voidof


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12. Whose name was a5sent from the list of the mem5ers of theChess Committee?

120. Whi#h department made atro#ity pamphlets for 7ate Wee$?12. What lie was promul(ated a5out the ori(ins of the ro#$et

5om5s?134. What #han(e was not amon(st those that Winston underwent?89 veri#ose ul#er su5sided 69 leaner shape C9 (in ha5it #urtailed /9teles#reen intera#tion #han(ed

131. What was the newly implied metaphor for the room?132. Who seemed (lad of the opportunity to tal$?133. -: +r. Charrin(ton's rhymes were re#alled only in fra(ments.13%. What parado"i#al words, seemin(ly #ontradi#tory terms, typified

the dual feelin(s Eulia and Winston had a5out their situation?13. -hat the (overnment mi(ht 5e laun#hin( ro#$et 5om5s on its

own people was #ommuni#ated from whom to whom?13). What a5out Eulia fri(htened him BWinston9 a little?13. -: Winston and Eulia were perfe#t soul partners 5e#ause they

shared a #ontempt for the falsifi#ation of history.130. When Winston said, 'Jou're only a re5el from the waist

downwards,' what did he mean?13. -: Eulia was offended when she realied Winston had put her

in the #ate(ory of people who were non=thin$in( twits who swallowedeverythin( at fa#e value.

Part -wo: Chapter &i"

1%4. Whi#h did not o##ur? 89 O'6rien #onta#ted Winston and (avehim his home address. 69 Winston spo$e truthfully a5out not havin(seen the tenth edition of the


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1%%. Whi#h idiomati# e"pression typified Winston with re(ard tofood? 89 ive an in#h, ta$e a mile. 69 8 stit#h in time saves nine. C97ear no evilK spea$ no evilK see no evil. /9 -o ea#h his own. ;9 What(oes around #omes around.

1%. -: Winston's mother a##used Winston of eatin( li$e a 5a5ymon$ey.1%). 8fter snat#hin( and eatin( his sister's #ho#olate, what feelin(

did Winston have?1%. -: Winston had another dream wherein his mother drowned.1%0. Who said '8ll #hildren are swines'?1%. What terri5le thin( did the Party do? 89 'persuade you that

mere impulses, mere feelin(s, were of no a##ount and 69 ro5 you ofall power over the material world

14. Why did Winston have a new perspe#tive and appre#iation for

the proles?11. What new method of 5eatin( the Party did Winston realie

when dis#ussin( 5etrayal with Eulia?12. What happened in the +inistry of Fove?

Part -wo: Chapter ;i(ht

13. Whi#h o##urred last? 89 O'6rien turned off the teles#reen. 69Winston was impressed with O'6rien's home. C9 Eulia enoyed tal$in(

into the spea$write. /9 O'6rien listened to Winston lie.1%. -he initial toast was proposed to whom?1. Why would Winston spea$ lon(er with O'6rien?1). -: Eulia answered honestly in response to whether she #ould

live without Winston.1. What was O'6rien's response to Winston's '


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1)%. Why had Winston not read any part of the bookin si" days?1). What was the #rowd rea#tion when the tar(et of hate swit#hed

from ;urasia to ;astasia? 89 -he freny #ontinued e"a#tly as 5efore.69 -he two thousand ;urasian war #riminals were slau(htered

anyway. C9 -he smart #hildren uestioned the spea$er. /9 Parsonsrealied the fi#$le folly of Party politi#s and oined the 6rotherhood.1)). 6rief 5lame for the swit#h from ;urasia to ;astasia was #ast

upon whom?1). -: Winston partoo$ in the fa5ri#ation of history, ma$in( it loo$

li$e ;urasia had never 5een an enemy.1)0. -: 8fter arrivin( at Charrin(ton's shop, Winston had se" with

Eulia 5efore 5e(innin( the book.

The Book, Chapter One

1). Comment on the aims of the three #lasses.

The Book, Chapter -hree

14. n war, if your side #ommitted reprisals a(ainst prisoners, itwas !!!!!!!!!!.

11. f #ommitted a(ainst your side, it was an !!!!!!!!!!.12. -he three superpowers are #onstantly stru((lin( for what?13. 8 hierar#hi#al so#iety was only possi5le on a 5asis of

!!!!!!!!!! and !!!!!!!!!!.1%. Whi#h was not true? 89 8n nner Party mem5er 5elieved that

O#eania would master the entire world. 69 n eadin( #hapter one after se".

The Book, Chapter One

104. f one only #han(ed the name of one's master, he pro5a5ly5elon(ed to whi#h #lass? 89 7i(h 69 +iddle C9 Fow /9 *nder(round

101. What was a #y#li#al pro#ess?102. What was the unaltera5le law of human life?


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103. On#e the rulin( power was overthrown, a fresh !!!!!!!!!!was ui#$ly esta5lished.

10%. ;a#h variant of &o#ialism perpetuated what?10. What type of produ#tion altered the need for #lass distin#tion?

10). 6y the 1%4's, all the main #urrents of politi#al thou(ht were!!!!!!!!!!.10. Cardinal to the new aristo#ra#y was to !!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!.100. -: n(so# was opposed to the a5olition of private property.10. -: n(so# en#oura(ed the arti#ulation of dis#ontent.14. 6i( 6rother was at the !!!!!!!!!! of the pyramid.11. What #ame ust 5eneath 6i( 6rother?12. Who ran$ed ust a5ove the proles?13. 8 (ifted proletarian would most li$ely en#ounter what fate?

1%. -: -he Party perpetuated itself 5y 5loodK that is, a son of thenner Party would automati#ally inherit the private property of thefather, thus maintainin( #lass ran$ as a rulin( mem5er.

1. &tate two attitudes crimestopwould suel#h.1). What


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240. 8ll the dirty o5s were done 5y 89 the politi#ians 69 the politi#alsC9 the party /9 the female prisoners

24. *ninterested #ontempt was displayed 5y whom and towardwhom?

214. -hat Winston felt no love for Eulia meant what?211. 7ow mi(ht 8pmleforth have avoided in#ar#eration? 89 CapeCod 69 oom 141. /9 in(ers were 5ro$en.

21%. Whi#h o##urred? 89 O'6rien told another (uard where to hitWinston. 69 Winston's other el5ow was offerred to spare Eulia. C9

Contortions #aused Party (rief. /9 Winston's uestion a5out pain wasanswered.

Part -hree: Chapter -wo

21. Confession was a !!!!!!!!!!, thou(h the torture was!!!!!!!!!!.

21). -: -he first food fed to )4 was a sa#$ of potatoes.21. What 5eat 5oots for 5rea$in( one down?

210. Whi#h statement did O'6rien not ma$e? 89 Jou have #ontrolledyour sanity. 69 >eality is not e"ternal. C9 Who #ontrols the present#ontrols the past. /9 Jou are mentally deran(ed.

21. What fa#t, a##ordin( to O'6rien, must Winston relearn?224. O'6rien tortured Winston to the ed(e of !!!!!!!!!!.221. One was #ured, or sane, when one did what?222. n the +inistry of Fove, one was $illed under what

#ir#umstan#es?223. -: 8fter suffi#ient torture and e"perimentation, Winston

e"perien#ed partial purity for a fleetin( moment.

22%. Whi#h was not an answer to Winston's uestions? 89 Eulia5etrayed Winston and was #onverted. 69 6i( 6rother will always e"ist.C9 -he e"isten#e of the 6rotherhood will 5e a riddle. /9 >oom 141 is6i( 6rother's home.

Part -hree: Chapter -hree

22. Who #olla5orated in writin( oldstein's 5oo$?22). What was O'6rien's view of a proletarian re5ellion?

22. What, a##ordin( to O'6rien, ou(ht to 5e the startin( point ofthou(ht for Winston?


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220. Whi#h tenant was $ey to n(so#? 89 the few, the stron(, themany. 69 -he masses needed 5a5y sittin(. C9 8 sele#t few did evilthat (ood mi(ht #ome. /9 Par#el freedom to proles.

22. O'6rien used doublespeakwith what topi#? 89 power 69

philosophy C9 >e#reation /9 Paradise234. One does not esta5lish a !!!!!!!!!! in order to safe(uard a!!!!!!!!!!. 200

231. ;"plain reedom is &lavery.232. Whi#h did O'6rien not #ommuni#ate? 89 O#eania is the world.

69 Power is a means to an end. C9 >eality is inside the s$ull. /9 -heearth is the #enter of the universe.

233. 7ow would the new #iviliation differ from the old? 89 morehedonism 69 more friendship C9 more pain /9 more self=esteem

23%. ma(inin( a pi#ture of the future involved what ima(e? 89 a 5oot

stampin( on a human fa#e 69 a fist in the air C9 hand#uffed proleshu((in( 6i( 6rother /9 6i( 6rother 5lowin( fire at a hereti#.

23. 8fter e"aminin( himself in the mirror, what was Winston'srea#tion?

23). -hat the +inistry of Fove had not altered Winston's feelin(stoward Eulia meant what?

Part -hree: Chapter our

23. Whi#h was not true a5out Winston? 89 7e had (ood dreamsa5out O'6rien. 69 Winston deli(hted in feelin( renewed stren(th. C97e e"er#ised re(ularly. /9 7e smo$ed a pa#$ a day.

230. Whi#h was true a5out Winston? 89 7e was a5le to re(ur(itatethe Party line without a hi(h de(ree of 5elieva5ility. 69 oin( with theflow of the Party stream was still a5horent to him. C9 7e had nodesire for #onversation or distra#tion. /9 7e hardly $new why he everre5elled.

23. -o instin#tively dispose of a falla#y of thou(ht was #alled what?2%4. -: 8thleti#ism of the mind involved a deli#ate use of n(so#

lo(i# Bintelli(en#e9 and a 5lind spot Bstupidity9 toward the #rudestlo(i#al errors.

2%1. Winston's reverie of Eulia and outspo$en #ry indi#ated whata5out Winston's inner state?

2%2. Winston #on#luded all of the followin( e"#ept: 89 &e#rets must5e 5uried deep in the un#ons#ious, never emer(in( into thou(ht ordreams. 69 One #an #arry hatred, 5ut one needed to 5e dis#onne#tedfrom it. C9 -o die hatin( the Party was a Party @i#tory.

2%3. >oom 141 was reserved for what? 89 edu#ation and learnin( 69

understandin( and #apitulatin( C9 a##eptan#e and love


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Part -hree: Chapter ive

2%%. 7ow did O'6rien for#e Winston to 5etray Eulia?

Part -hree: Chapter &i"

2%. Whi#h was not true? 89 Winston's #on#entration and fo#us wereless than 5efore. 69 7e was popular at the Chestnut -ree CafL. C9 7emade more money from a less si(nifi#ant o5. /9 -he smell of (in wasmi"ed in his mind with the smell of rats.

2%). Whi#h was true? 89 Winston #heered wholeheartedly forO#eania's latest vi#tory. 69 Winston's mother fired the 5ullet that $illedWinston. C9 Winston and Eulia were re$indlin( their love. /9 Winston#ould not fully love 6i( 6rother 5e#ause se#ret love for Eulia rested atthe 5ase of his spine.

2%. 7ow #ould Winston have saved himself from self=willed e"ileand death?

Book Club Discussion Questions

1. The world within which Winston lives is replete with contradictions. Forexample a, major tenet of the Party's philosophy is that War is Peace. Similarly,

the Ministry of ove serves as, what we wo!ld consider, a department of war.What role do these contradictions serve on a "rand scale# $isc!ss othercontradictions inherent in the Party's philosophy. What role does contradictionserve within the framewor% of $o!&lethin%# ow does $o!&lethin% satisfy theneeds of The Party#

(. )n the afterword, the commentator descri&es 1*+ as -a warnin".- )ndeed,thro!"ho!t the text, rwell plants &oth s!&tle and overt warnin"s to the reader.What do yo! thin% are some of the lar"er iss!es at hand here#

/. $escri&e the role that '0rien plays in Winston's life. Why do yo! thin% that

initially, Winston is drawn to '0rien# Why does he implicitly tr!st him, despitethe enormo!s dan"ers involved#

. $isc!ss the si"nificance and nat!re of Winston's dreams. $econstr!ct thedream wherein '0rien claims that they -shall meet in a place where there is nodar%ness- pa"e ((2, and the dream in which Winston's mother and sisterdisappear pa"e (32. What are the !nderpinnin"s of these dreams# Whatdeeper meanin"s do they hold# Why do yo! thin% the a!thor devotes as m!chtime as he does to Winston's dreams#

4. $isc!ss Winston as a heroic fi"!re. What 5!alities does he posses thatco!ld define him as one#


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3. 6ompare and contrast some of the other characters in Winston's world7Parsons, Syme, '0rien. ow does Winston view each one# ow do they differfrom Winston# What opinion do yo! thin% each one has of Winston#

8. n pa"es 1891+, Winston reflects on the omnipresence of The Party7 -e

tho!"ht of the telescreen with its never9sleepin" ear. They co!ld spy !pon yo!ni"ht and day, &!t if yo! %ept yo!r head yo! co!ld still o!twit them:.Facts atany rate, co!ld not &e %ept hidden. They co!ld &e trac%ed down &y in5!iry,they co!ld &e s5!ee;ed o!t of yo! &y tort!re. 0!t if the o&ject was not to stayalive, &!t to stay h!man, what difference did it !ltimately ma%e#- What, inessence, is Winston sayin" a&o!t the lone individ!al in relation to The State#$oes this contention remain tr!e thro!"ho!t the novel#

+. in what ways does she infl!ence him# $id yo! tr!st her,initially# verall, do yo! feel she had a positive or ne"ative impact !pon him#

1?. @fter his first formal meetin" with '0rien, Winston receives a &oo%,ostensi&ly written &y


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what ways does o!r contemporary society compare to his idea of society in1*+# @re there examples in which he was correct# What is most opposite# $oyo! see a potential for aspects of rwell's -vision- to come tr!e#

13. $!rin" his final enco!nter with '0rien, Winston ar"!es that, if all else fails,

the inherent nat!re of the individ!al9the -spirit of man-9is stron" eno!"h to!ndermine a society s!ch as that created &y The Party. $o yo! a"ree ordisa"ree with this statement# )s Winston's &elief applica&le to the world we livein today# 6an yo! cite examples in o!r own recent history that s!pport ordismiss Winston's &elief in the resiliency and ri"hteo!sness of the h!manspirit#

18. Prior to meetin" her, Winston fantasi;es a&o!t =!lia in violent, h!miliatin"ways. ater, he descri&es in his diary an enco!nter with a middle9a"ed,toothless prostit!te. ow do yo! acco!nt for these tho!"hts# ow doesWinston's !nderstandin" of women chan"e after his first liaison with =!lia#

1+. Aiven Winston's own ac%nowled"ment that he is !nder constants!rveillance, and that it wo!ld only &e a matter of time &efore the Tho!"htPolice ca!"ht him, no one in his world co!ld &e tr!sted. Prior to his capt!re,which character or characters did yo! envision as &etrayin" Winston# ow didyo! foresee his !ltimate demise# $id yo!, on the contrary, feel that &y somechance he wo!ld overcome the forces ali"ned a"ainst him, and f!lfill his wishto con5!er The Party#

1*. )ma"ine yo!rself as Winston Smith at the &e"innin" of 1*+. What wo!ldyo! do to !ndermine The Party# Dnowin" what yo! %now now, how wo!ld yo!extricate yo!rself from the fate that awaits yo!#

(?. Cefer &ac% to Winston's conversation with the old man at the p!& pa"e 8+2.Why is Winston so determined in his approach to the old man# What isWinston hopin" to learn from him#

1984 reader response questions

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