1984 Reading Questions Chapter Eight
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Guided Reading Questions Responses should be typed in green or blue
.
George Orwell, 1984
Instructions:
Answer the following questions below using full sentences.
Wherever possible, include supporting evidence
from the text. If you are referencing direct quotations, be sure to include a page number.
Part One: Chapter 8
1.
What is meant by the Newspeak term “
ownlife?”
Provide an example
from this chapter to support your answer. In "1984" by George Orwell, "ownlife" in Newspeak refers to individualism and personal independence, considered a threat by the Party. An example is when Winston purchases a diary and writes in it, expressing his own thoughts, an act of rebellion against the Party's control over individual thinking.
2.
While Winston is wandering down a prole neighborhood, he witnesses a
commotion
. What has happened? How do the people react
both during and after the event?
In that scene from "1984," Winston witnesses a woman in a prole neighborhood being beaten by her children for refusing to participate in a community event. The people react passively, showing a sense of desensitization
and fear. During the event, they look away, indifferent to the violence. Afterward, they resume their daily routines without discussing or questioning the incident, illustrating the pervasive control and suppression of individuality in the society.
3.
Describe the prole’s preoccupation with the Lottery
.
In "1984," the proles are preoccupied with the Lottery, a communal event that serves as a form of entertainment and distraction. The Lottery is a symbol of the Party's manipulation, providing the proles with a sense of false hope and diversion from the harsh reality of their lives. The proles focus on the Lottery as a way to escape from the oppressive conditions imposed by the Party, emphasizing the effectiveness of such distractions in maintaining control over the masses.
4.
Why does Winston buy the coral embedded in glass
?
Winston buys the coral embedded in glass as a small, beautiful object that represents a piece of the past, untouched by the Party's control and manipulation. The coral serves as a connection to a time before the Party's dominance, evoking a sense of nostalgia and rebellion against the oppressive regime. It becomes a symbol of Winston's desire for a reality beyond the Party's imposed ideology and a tangible link to a world where personal freedom and individual expression were more prevalent.
5.
According to the narrator, what item
from before the Revolution is
unlikely
to exist
anywhere in Oceania? According to the narrator in "1984," an item from before the Revolution that is unlikely to exist anywhere in Oceania is a real antique paperweight. The Party has systematically destroyed or altered historical artifacts and records to control and manipulate the narrative of the past. The rarity of such items underscores the Party's efforts to eliminate any evidence that contradicts its version of history.
6.
After exiting Mr. Charrington’s shop, who
does Winston see?
After leaving Mr. Charrington's shop in "1984," Winston encounters his colleague Syme on the street. However,
Syme appears to ignore Winston, reinforcing the atmosphere of fear and distrust that permeates the society under Party rule.
7.
Explain the
significance
of the conversation between Winson and the old man at the pub.
The conversation between Winston and the old man at the pub in "1984" holds significance as it reveals the Party's success in manipulating historical narratives. The old man nostalgically reminisces about a time before the Party, mentioning unaltered memories and objects. However, Winston realizes that the Party has distorted history so thoroughly that even genuine recollections have become rare. This interaction highlights the power of the Party in controlling not only the present but also the collective memory of the past, reinforcing the theme of totalitarian control and historical revisionism in the novel.
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