1984 Group at eNotes

The proles are people who don't work for the party. They aren't watched...

Thu, 8 Jan 2009 07:33:18 PST

The proles are people who don't work for the party. They aren't watched as closely, but must still follow the same rules. The get telescreens, and they are watched by the tought police. The best way to put it is they are somewhat of a political tool. That just what I got from it, sorry if I'm not right.

There is not much physical description of Winston in George Orwell's...

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 13:14:03 PST

There is not much physical description of Winston in George Orwell's novel "1984". In the 1984 Signet Classic version of the book, the speaker uses the description, "His hair was very fair, his face naturally sanguine, his skin roughened by coarse soap and blunt razor blades and the cold of the winter that had just ended"(6). Many other physical descriptions of Winston are temporary. One example of this is after he drinks...

By "chant," do you mean the "two minute hate" found...

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 10:00:27 PST

By "chant," do you mean the "two minute hate" found early in the novel?In the two minute hate O'Brien decides to stay Records department until it was over. O'Brien "takes a seat in the same row as Winston" (13). This is significant because earlier in the novel, Winston muses about O'Brien's ability to "disarm" him and make him feel more at ease. This is also significant because Winston "always feels...

What happens to Winston during the chant in "1984"?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 21:06:48 PST

What happens to Winston during the chant in "1984"?

"Proles" is a reference to the term "Proletariat," a...

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 06:50:22 PST

"Proles" is a reference to the term "Proletariat," a term originally used to describe those with no wealth, or the laboring class in Karl Marx's writings. The term was used similarly in the communist Soviet Union under Stalin. In 1984, the term has been appropriately shortened in newspeak to "prole," and is used to describe everyone not part of the ruling class.

What are proles from the book 1984?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 06:22:26 PST

What are proles from the book 1984?

Winston Smith lives in London, the chief city of Airstrip...

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 03:44:49 PST

Winston Smith lives in London, the chief city of Airstrip One (formerly known as England) which is part of the superstate Oceania. The world is divided into three superstates: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. We also get the name of his apartment block: Victory Mansions. Hope it helps!

In what city, province, and super-state does Winston Smith live in...

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 20:28:03 PST

In what city, province, and super-state does Winston Smith live in "1984"?

It's an exact parallel. I suggest to #2 to reread 1984 with current US...

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 13:02:25 PST

It's an exact parallel. I suggest to #2 to reread 1984 with current US headlines in mind, and my full post below. Amendments 4 through 8 of the US Constitution have been gutted by this present administration. That some foreign places may allow such practices is horrible enough; That the the US outsources torture and condones such practices makes us hypocrites as well. How long will it be before the government practices it on US soil? So...

Here are some questions that I got out of a study guide that was created...

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 12:13:34 PST

Here are some questions that I got out of a study guide that was created for teachers. You can add your own in there. If you want to focus on just one question, then you can have students get into groups of 2-3-4? (depending on how big the class is) and have each student answer the question. Then as a group, have them come up with the group's best answer. Then have all of the groups put their final answer up on the...

1984 is about Stalin's oppression. You can't apply it to Guantanamo...

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 10:21:36 PST

1984 is about Stalin's oppression. You can't apply it to Guantanamo Bay's detention center. They are not the same thing. America is defending freedom with Gitmo, The Ministry of Love was protecting an oppressive and brutal regime, not America.

Is Guantanamo Bay similar to The Ministry of Love in 1984?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 03:48:57 PST

What are the similarities and differences between the Ministry of Love in '1984' and the detention center at Guantanamo Bay.

For the last six years, The United States government has been torturing people (waterboarding) who have been jailed without trial in a detention centre which is disconnected from the legal system. Many of these people have committed no crime.

Is this similar to Walter Smith's experiences in The...

In reply to #11: Are we currently facing a potentially greater threat to...

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 03:18:38 PST

In reply to #11: Are we currently facing a potentially greater threat to personal freedom than during Stalinism or Fascism? Theoretically I suppose it is possible, but I think your claim is a bit exaggerated. You could stand outside The Whitehouse, right now, and wave a big banner saying, "Beware the crypto-dictatorship" and shout anything you like about the government and go home and sleep safely in your bed. (Maybe if you...

Where is there a physical despcription of Winston in "1984" by...

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 18:54:07 PST

Where is there a physical despcription of Winston in "1984" by George Orwell?

Discussion Questions

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 12:02:03 PST

I have to lead a discussion on chapters 4-6 in book one and was wondering, what kinds of discussion questions could be asked? It has to last for 15 minutes and involve most kids in my class and the discussion has to use upper level thinking questions.

I would like to ask him a number of questions:--- did you really believe...

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:13:44 PST

I would like to ask him a number of questions:--- did you really believe that you could escape the thought police in the upper room with Julia?--- did you ever suspect that O'Brien wasn't what you hoped he would be?--- how did you deal with Julia's lack of interest in the Brotherhood?--- I know that in a world without love, you must have felt something for Julia; did you ever doubt that it was "love"?--- at what point did you know...

I agree witih #7. Recently, Glenn Beck asked a renowned journalist if...

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:48:44 PST

I agree witih #7. Recently, Glenn Beck asked a renowned journalist if we are living in not "1984", but "Brave New World." The journalist affirmed that we are in "Brave New World" and have surpassed much of "1984." At any rate, allusions are frequently made to these two novels.In "1984" the main character writes in his diary and is guilty of "thought crime." How often do...

Bear in mind that you're receiving answers from a bunch of English...

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:16:52 PST

Bear in mind that you're receiving answers from a bunch of English teachers here, but again, yes, 1984 is definitely worth the read. Not only is it a pivotal piece of literature, but so many of its prevalent themes are particularly significant to our world today. The "1984" that was envisioned by Orwell was not very well reflected during the Reagan years, but today, it seems more alive than ever. Read this book for mind-blowing...

This is an excellent read and very relevant to today in what is...

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:29:11 PST

This is an excellent read and very relevant to today in what is happening with international relations and our own domestic problems. The common theme is that we all live in a state of fear and by living in that state governments can control us and watch our every move. This is exactly what has been happening since 9/11. The Patriot Act was a form of more government regulation in order to capture terrorists. It would be a great idea to...

It is absolutely worth reading, yes. :) It is a classic that is a...

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 21:09:02 PST

It is absolutely worth reading, yes. :) It is a classic that is a must-read! It has political and social significance beyond what I could possibly describe here...