Focus Questions for 1984

• The image of Goldstein and the description of him is really a description of Leon Trotsky, who was one of the founders of the Russian Communist Revolution in 1917. He was later assassinated in Mexico City as a traitor to the revolution.

• The image of Goldstein and the description of him is really a description of Leon Trotsky, who was one of the founders of the Russian Communist Revolution in 1917. He was later assassinated in Mexico City as a traitor to the revolution.

Focus Questions

• What satirical reference is implied in relation to the Junior Spies?

• What satirical reference is implied by the tobacco falling out of the cigarette?

Focus Questions

•How does Winston describe death?

•To whom does Winston dedicate his journal?

Focus Question

•What was ironic about Parsons asking for razor blades?

Focus Question

•How is Parson’s observation about the food an example of doublethink?

Focus Question

• In what section of town does Winston consort with a prostitute?

• What’s Big Brother’s notion regarding sexual intercourse and how are Winston’s actions tragic?

Focus Questions

• How is the setting of the story symbolic about the nature of totalitarianism?

• What is Winston’s function at the Ministry of Truth and why is his job ironic to his situation in life?

• What Newspeak words are used?

IronyFocus Question

• What events occur that are ironic for Winston, Parsons, and Syme?

Focus Question

• Ironically, what do the Proles have that members of the party do not?

• What is symbolic about the Coral that Winston purchases?

Focus Question

• What are Winston’s initial thoughts about the girl from the Fiction Department?

• What is the goal of Big Brother in relation to sexuality?

Focus Question

• What does the note say that Julia gives Winston?

• What is Julia’s role in the Fiction Department?

• To what group does Julia belong?

Focus Question

• Why do the elderly adults on the train appear to be

concerned about the Junior Spies?

Focus Question

• How is Winston and Julia’s affair metaphorical?

• How is their affair a political act?

Focus Question

• Why does Winston hate purity?

• What is artsem, and what is its purpose?

Focus Question

•How does Big Brother use

patriotism to its advantage?

Focus Question

• How do the coffee, sugar, and tea represent a satirical commentary on communism?

Focus Question

• What does Winston realize about the prole woman singing in the alley?

• How has Winston and Julia’s relationship changed since their first encounter?

Focus Question

• How does Winston define freedom?

• What is significant about Ogilvy winning a posthumous medal of honor?

Focus Question

• What’s ironic about Julia’s red sash?

• Why does Julia believe the resistance is not real, and what implications does that have for Winston?

Focus Question

• From what does Winston’s fear of rats arise?

• How was Julia’s statement about Big Brother not “getting inside your mind” ultimately ironic?

Focus Question

•What is Winston surprised to discover when he arrives at O’Brien’s residence?

Focus Question

• What is Goldstein’s theory regarding continuous war?

• How does the notion of continuous war relate to the United States War on Terror?

Focus Question

• Why does Winston believe that if there’s any hope, it resides in the Proles?

• What moment represents the plot’s climax?

Focus Question

• Why does Big Brother repeat everything Winston and Julia say?

• Where is Winston taken, and what’s ironic about the name of the facility?

Focus Question

•How does Parson’s response represent doublethink?

•What doesn’t Winston realize about O’brien?

Focus Question

• What is the purpose of Winston’s torture?

• How do Big Brother’s methods of torture differ from the Nazi’s and the Soviet Union?

Focus Question

• What is the purpose of O’Brien asking Winston what questions he has?

• What is in Room 101 according to O’Brien?

b

Focus Question

• When O’Brien is not torturing Winston, what are Winston’s feelings toward him?

• At what point is a heretic erased?

Focus Question

• According to O’Brien, what is the image of the future?

• What is Winston shocked to learn about Goldstein’s book?

• Existentially, how is Winston the last man?

Focus Question

• What is in Room 101?• Why must Winston go there?

• When does Winston complete his reintegration?

Focus Question

• How is playing chess in the Chestnut Tree Café symbolic in relation to Winston and his main conflict?

• How does Winston’s love for Big Brother represent the resolution of the plot’s main conflict?