Oranges and lemons.

[storcaccekr13]

What is the significance of the rhyme about the oranges and lemons and why did Winston want to remember it so badly and why was he so impressed when O'Brien remembered?

[Austispomonti]

The rhyme is mainly just a remembrance of the olden days. How it was before the party, it's one of the few genuine pieces of history they have left to look to.

[Boostie16]

I think that Winston is so interested in learning about the past and the rhyme is part of it that he has almost become obsessed with learning it. He then, is impressed when O'Brien can say the rest of it and it completes the puzzle in his mind. I think also that O'Brien completing it for Winston gives him some piece of mind, letting him know that O'Brien is a safe individual who is on his side.

[swimmer444d]

i think that the poem represents the few memories that people still have of their previous world. i believe that orwell used this poem because it is a simple,innocent, childhood rhyme. it's similar to the old women doing the laundry, it symbolizes that the proles hold onto what memories they can whether its a glass paper weight or a children's rhyme. winston wants to memorize it so badly because it is one of the only things winston can use to piece together the past.