1984 Spring Break Reading Assignment Due 3/17

Part 2 Chapter IX-Part 3 Chapter II (184-260)

70.       What does Chapter 2 of The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism explain (185)?

71.       How were the three superstates formed (185)?

72.       About what do the superstates fight (187)?

73.       Which four territories provide the “bottomless reserve of cheap labor” (187)? What is ironic about the exploited labor (188)?

74.       What is the primary aim of modern warfare (188)?

75.       What cannot “survive in a strictly regimented society” (189)?

76.       “For if leisure and security were enjoyed by all alike, the great mass of human beings who are normally stupefied by poverty would become…”, what (190)? Why would this be a problem?

77.       What would happen if the masses were too comfortable (191)?

78.       What is the purpose to deliberately have a chronic shortage of the necessities of life (191)?

79.       A party member “must have the mentality appropriate to a state of war” meaning what (192)?

80.       What does the word “spurious” (192) mean?

81.       What is “opposed to the most fundamental principles of Ingsoc” (193)? Why?

82.       What are the “two aims of the Party” (193)?

83.       What would happen if citizens were allowed contact with foreigners (196)?

84.       “In Oceania the prevailing philosophy is called Ingsoc, in Eurasia it is called Neo-Bolshevism, and in Eastasia it is called by a Chinese name usually translated as Deathworship…The citizen is not allowed to know anything of the tenets of the other two philosophies, but he is taught to execrate them as barbarous outrages upon morality and common sense. Actually the three philosophies are barely distinguishable…” (196-197). What else could Orwell be referencing besides political ideology?

85.       What does the word “imposture” (199) mean?

86.       “In our own day…” how is the war being waged (199)?

87.       How does “War is Peace” work (199)?

88.       Who instigated revolutions historically? For what reason (202-203)?

89.       What is “totalitarian” (205)?

90.       What are the “four ways in which a ruling group can fall from power” (206)?

91.       What is said about oppression (207)?

92.       What is the problem (207)?

93.       What percentage of the population is the Inner Party? Outer Party? The Proles? How does this relate to the Occupy movement of today? The college educated? Society’s working class?

94.       Why does the Party not concern itself with the Proles but with Party members (210)?

95.       What is expected of Party members (211)?

96.       Explain “Crimestop” (212).

97.       Why is alteration of the past necessary (212)?

98.       What does “Doublethink” mean (214)?

99.       Who is Mr. Charrington (224)?

100.     What happened to Parsons (233)?

101.     “They got me a long time ago” (238)…what is meant by this phrase?

102.     Why is confessing to anything and everything insufficient (242-)?

103.     What is O’Brien saying about reality vs illusion (249)?

104.     What does O’Brien say was the error of the Inquisition (253)?

Part 3 Chapters III-IV (261-297)

105.     According to O’Brien, why does the Party seek power (263)? How does it differ from Winston’s response (262)?

106.     What is “solipsism” (266)?

107.     According to O’Brien what else does the Party have planned for its citizens (267)?

108.     What does Winston believe will defeat the Party (270)?

109.     What brought Winston to tears (273)?

110.     What does it mean to “capitulate” (276)?

111.     What is the purpose to Room 101? What is its significance? How does he attempt to escape (282-)?

112.     Describe Winston’s life… at the Chestnut Tree? What is a “sinecure”? Any other details… (287-)?

113.     What is revealed when Winston sees Julia again (292)?

114.     What does it mean, “He loved Big Brother” (297)? Given the possibilities, why would the author chose this ending?