AP 12/English 111/112 Alex Bond

Major Works Data Sheet

Page 1
Title: 1984 Biographical information about the author: George
Orwell is the pen name of Eric Blair, the author of political
Author: George Orwell science allegories like Animal Farm and 1984.

Date of Publication: June 8, 1949

Genre: Dystopian Fiction, Science Fiction

Historical information about the setting of the

novel: 1984 takes place in Airstip One (previously
London, England) in the country of Oceania. This
setting is among a dystopian future in the year 1984.
In this alternate future, Big Brother rules dictatorially
over Oceania and sets forth rules and laws that always
make him just and right. During this time Oceania is
at war with Eastasia and Eurasia, the two other
superpower countries of the world.

Works Cited for ALL sources:

Plot Summary: This is the story of Winston Smith, a government worker in dystopian socialist Oceania in 1984.
Winston is a thoughtcriminal, as the government calls them because of his disbelief in how Big Brother, the leader,
runs the world. Winston and his rebellious thoughts lead to the illegal action of having sex with Julia, another rebel.
After their affair, an illegal action, they are turned in by a friend of Winston's and are condemned and broken down by
O'Brien a chief thought policeman. Winston is eventually broken down and turned into a “good” citizen of Oceania.
 Major Works Data Sheet Page 2

Describe the author’s style: An example that demonstrates the style:

Orwell writes in a very direct and dull manner. His lack He loved Big Brother.
of flourish and pampering greatly illustrates the type of
monotonous, gray life a person in future 1984 Oceania
lives.

Memorable Quotes

Quote (minimum of five) Significance

He loved Big Brother. Winston has finally been converted to a follower of Big
Brother and is now an upstanding citizen.
WAR IS PEACE This propaganda technique of the government shows
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY exactly how powerful they are. This nonsensical slogan is
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH what is burnt into everyone's minds, except Winston's.
Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls Winston writes in his diary that as long as Big Brother
the present controls the past. controls and changes information and facts from the past
history, the future remains the same.
If there was hope, in lie in the proles. Winston's hope toward a bright future leads him to the prole
district where he rents an apartment and takes interest in
Mr. Charrington, leading to his capture.
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot O'Brien's vivid quote about the near future for Winston was
stamping on a human face—forever. used in the breaking down and converting of Winston.

Major Works Data Sheet Page 3

Characters

Name Role in the story Significance Adjectives

Winston Smith Winston is the 39 Winston feels like a loner in He is intellectual, inquisitive, realistic,
year old Oceania because of his hatred and extremely curious.
 protagonist and the feelings toward Big Brother.
point of view from Winston exemplifies a revolt or
which the story is revolution against government.
told.
Julia Julia is Winston's She shows a contrast between Julia is a young, dark-haired girl of 29
companion and Winston's long-term rebellion who, although seems like an
lover. goals against Big Brother upstanding citizen, greatly enjoys sex
compared to her short-term and rebellion.
ones.
Mr. Charrington A undercover Although sincere and Mr. Charrington is nostalgic and
Thought encouraging to Winston at first, interesting as well as conniving and
Policeman who Mr. Charrington turns Winston greedy.
runs a shop in the and Julia in, leading to their
prole district. capture.
 Significant Literary Devices Significance of the opening scene

Allegories, metaphors, and flashbacks are prominent
devices used in 1984. Orwell relates the future dystopia
to that of dictator-ruled Russia during the 1940s. By
relating what has happened in his future world to what
is starting to happen in Russia, Orwell creates an eerie
aura around the government-watched world we live in.
Also, Orwell brilliantly gives the background as to what
has happened in Oceania by using “The Book” to
explain the world's history. In doing so, Orwell is not
dependent on remedial ways of directly saying what
happened.
The opening scene of 1984 reveals a small amount about
Winston Smith, the protagonist, and the world he lives in.
The story wastes no time in revealing the plot and
Winston's true feelings about Big Brother as it describes
his illegal act of writing in a diary. In doing so, Winston
has committed thoughtcrime, an act he does throughout
the novel and leads him into his capture.

Significance of the ending/closing scene

Symbols

The most prominent symbols of 1984 are that of Big Winston sits and thinks about his life now compared to
Brother and Goldstein. Big Brother represents all that is that of before his capture. He realizes his sexual affair
just and good, ironic to his totalitarian nature, while with Julia is repulsive and that “2+2=5”. These thoughts
Goldstein represents what is bad and truly evil in the and his newfound love for Big Brother show that he has
world. Goldstein is used as a symbol in the novel for finally been converted to a good, sound citizen of Oceania.
the Two Minutes Hate in which his revolutionary
motives are frowned upon by the government and the
community. A common thought among critics and
readers is the possibility that Big Brother and Goldstein
are not real people at all, but merely propaganda to the
truly oligarchical government. By using Goldstein, the
government exemplifies how “good” Big Brother actually
is.

Possible Themes

1984 has a wide range of themes and elements that make it the greatly influential novel that it is. At the forefront of
these themes is that of complete and utter totalitarianism. Throughout the work Orwell weaves this story about the
life under totalitarian rule in the very near future. In doing so, he creates this world in which everything and
everybody is controlled by the government, similar to that of the novel's respective time period except to an extent
that creates fear and skepticism in the reader. In illustrating this leeway to which the government has control, Orwell
notifies the audience that this is the future we could be living in if all power resided in the political authorities. The
other
 English 12 AP
Summer Reading Rubric

Charts are complete 1 2 3 4 5

Charts show evidence of careful reading and thinking 1 2 3 4 5

Chosen quotes include page numbers and are significant for each novel 1 2 3 4 5

Major characters and their motivations are well understood 1 2 3 4 5

Information on the chart is accurate for each novel 1 2 3 4 5

Insights about each novel are well supported with evidence 1 2 3 4 5

Summaries are concise and accurate 1 2 3 4 5

Responses are well written with accurate word choice, sentence fluency,
and organization 1 2 3 4 5

Responses are written in complete sentences 1 2 3 4 5

Responses use proper spelling, punctuation and usage 1 2 3 4 5

Responses are neat and easy to read 1 2 3 4 5

Works Cited info is completed; sources are cited within the student
responses. 1 23 4 5

Total points earned:

Total possible points: 60

*Summer Reading grade is equal to the total points earned divided by the total possible points.
**This will count as 20% of the student’s first six weeks’ grade.
Summer reading assignments are due on the first day of school, August 25, 2010.