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George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair)
1984
268 p. Afterword by Erich Fromm. "This is an authorized reprint of a hard cover edition published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc." Signet Classics. New York: New American Library, 1981. ISBN: 0-451-52123-4. Editions.
Pragmatism can lead to a perverse form of authority which attempts to manipulate truth and dehumanizes the people.
ONE
1. 5-20
What is the significant feature of the portrait displaying the caption BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU? (artistic technique that gives the impression that the eyes are directed at the viewer from any angle, 5)
2. 20-27
What is on the wall of Mrs. Parson's apartment? (a large poster of Big Brother, 21)
3. 27-34
What happened to Winston Smith's parents? (purge of the Fifties, 28)
4. 34-43
What is Winston Smith's work? (rewriting history, 36-37)
5. 43-55
What is Syme's expertise? (philology, 43)
6. 55-60
What is the purpose of the Junior Anti-Sex League? (promote celibacy, 57)
7. 60-69
What is the significance of the proles? (potential rebellion and destruction of the Party, 60)
8. 70-87
Where do the proles gather? (pubs, 72)
TWO
1. 88-97
What was written in the note? ("I love you." 90)
2. 98-105
What is the difference in the family structure of Winston Smith's social class and that of the proles? (generally artificial insemination rather than natural, extended families, 98)
3. 105-13
What advice does Julia give Winston? (On their trips to be together, never leave and return to London by the same route. 106)
4. 113-22
Where do Winston and Julia spend their time together? (in a room above Mr. Charrington's shop, 113)
5. 122-29
What happened to Syme? (He ceased to exist: he had never existed. 122-23)
6. 130-32
Who was following Winston? (O'Brien, 130)
7. 132-38
What does Winston think happened to his mother? (He thinks he murdered her. 132-33)
8. 138-47
Why does Winston confide in O'Brien? (Winston imagines O'Brien to be a conspirator against the Party. 139)
9. 148-79
What does Winston carry in the briefcase? (the book, 148)
10. 179-85
Who wrote the book, and what is the title? (Emmanuel Goldstein, The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism. 151-52)
THREE
1. 186-97
Who does Winston hope will rescue him from the Ministry of Love? (O'Brien, 189)
2. 198-215
Who is Winston's interrogator? (O'Brien, 198, 201)
3. 215-26
What does O'Brien say about the Party's interest in power? (The Party seeks power for its own sake. 217)
4. 226-32
What does Winston write? ("FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. TWO AND TWO MAKE FIVE. GOD IS POWER." 228)
5. 232-36
What does Winston consider the worst thing in the world? (rats, 233)
6. 236-45
After Winston is released from the Ministry of Love, how does he spend his time? (drinking Victory Gin, 236)
Appendix: Newspeak
Graduate Readings
Last Revised: October 19, 2004
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