Questions - completely lost

[ShesConfused]

Alright, I had to read 1984 for Sophomore year. They gave us a 4 page study guide that's due the first week of school, and I'm not feeling to confident in myself. So if you could help me in anyway possible, I'd gladly appreciate it.


Description of the Author's Style.
[Sample passages showing authors style, pg. #]

Memorable or Significant Quotes and Why.
I think I can handle this one, but your imput could still be helpful.

Significance of the opening scene.

Significance of the closing/final scene.

Major Symbols and their representation.



related works for discussion.
themes for discussion.
other possible titles.



Thanks for all your help in advance!

[The Atheist]

Alright, I had to read 1984 for Sophomore year. They gave us a 4 page study guide that's due the first week of school, and I'm not feeling to confident in myself. So if you could help me in anyway possible, I'd gladly appreciate it.

We'll give it a go.


Description of the Author's Style.
[Sample passages showing authors style, pg. #]

I'm not sure whether you may be looking for a particular word to describe Orwell's style, but the emphasis with Orwell was always on clarity and accuracy. He was forever building pictures with words, or using them carefully to describe events and feeling.

As to examples, the entire book is an example. Take the opening paragraph of the novel - in the space of very few words, Orwell conjures up a complete picture of a bleak, dingy, smelly world which faces Winston.

If you could be a little more specific on what you're after here, I can probably give you more specific answers.


Memorable or Significant Quotes and Why.
I think I can handle this one, but your imput could still be helpful.

Well, the biggie here is "Big Brother is watching". Other than that, just go with whatever impressed you the most. If it stuck in your mind, it's probably a good quote.

Some of my favourites:

"Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled, they cannot become conscious."

"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two equals four. If that is granted, all else follows." Both from W's diary, Chapter 7, Part I.

And obviously the one in my sig line!


Significance of the opening scene.

As noted above, the opening really does give the reader a sharp jolt, arriving in Oceania of 1984. Orwell manages to introduce all of the important components of the story - hope/lack of hope/constant surveillance/filth/drudgery of Outer Party members lives/ill health all in the space of a page and half.

It lets the reader know that this isn't going to be either lightweight or fun. Orwell was a master of creating atmosphere not just with the individual words, but also by relentless narrative, enabling readers an insight into the harrowing life Winston lives.


Significance of the closing/final scene.

Well, it's the end of the story! ;)

The final scene is important, primarily because it's set at the very second that W realises that he was wrong all along and that the Party was right - the final victory against Winston's thoughtcrime, complete annihilation. It's the culmination of the Party's ideal - Winston has not only been completely "cured" of his improper thoughts, he now recognises that those thoughts were indeed improper; that he actually loved BB. Winston, has in effect, re-written his own history, he's blotted out the feelings of hatred just as easily as he himself created Comrade Ogilvy.

It also leaves a tiny opening, in that he's not actually dead at the end of the story, but that was just Orwell refusing to give readers the satisfaction the story deserved - was the bullet metaphorical or lead? Does it matter? In physical terms, I don't see the end as anything other than the relentless progression Orwell had already set - Winston would be allowed to live for an indeterminate period of time, but would stay in the same semi-catatonic state until he stopped breathing.


Major Symbols and their representation.

This is probably the most popular Orwell-themed question - "Discuss Orwell's symbolism"!

The first step is that Orwell was the master of symbolism. How many authors portrayed a message as clear and important as Animal Farm by using animals to get the message across.

Everything in 1984 is symbolic.

The big ones are easy - Orwell had an almost phobic reaction to totalitarianism and he was (in my opinion) convinced that mankind was headed towards an inevitably totalitarian future.

The Party is symbolic of that regime all of apparatus of it is symbolic of that awful future Orwell foresaw.

Or, you can be more creative and pick on some of the lesser symbolic highlights - the ornament Winston buys (the past, memories - try to avoid this one, it's boringly popular), the Chestnut-tree Cafe and song (good discussion on that here (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1452) - personally, I just see it as pure arrogance by the Party, signalling that unpersons go the the Chestnut-tree Cafe, involuntary euthanasia by the state, if you will.), the film Winston recalls is good - symbolic of WWII itself - while the audience reaction is symbolic of the dehumanisation of the enemy.

The way to impress markers in this is to avoid both the obvious and the peculiar. The peculiar tends to suggest a quick trip to a website rather than thinking about it.


related works for discussion.

Of Orwell's work, a great deal is related in some way. Animal Farm is obvious, while equally-important is the essay Politics and the English Language. Other essays also play a part, particularly in Newspeak - English and Leviathan and Why I Write.


themes for discussion.

Totalitarianism, thought control, development of language, resistance.


other possible titles.

The old faithfuls - We, Brave New World. Any dystopian novel.