BY GEORGE ORWELL

1984

1984

1984

Written in 1948Published in 1949

Significance?

1984

Intended as a warning against totalitarian tendencies

It is considered soft science fiction (political science)

Utopia = ideal worldDystopia = negative utopia

1984

Theme topics:

Dehumanization (by government) Isolation and its effects Repression Loneliness Social class disparity Abuse of power

1984

“Political language is designed to makes lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of pure solidity to the wind.”

•~ ORWELL

1984

Power of LanguageDoublespeak – language used to eliminate

words, thereby eliminating thought War is peaceFreedom is slavery Ignorance is strength

1984

Orwell’s rules of language: Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech

which you are used to seeing in print. Never use a long word where a short one will do. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. Never us the passive voice where you can use the

active. Use the everyday English equivalent for foreign

phrases, scientific words , or jargon. Break the rules if following them makes you say

something ridiculous.

Symbolism

A symbol is a person, object or event that suggest more than its literal meaning.

There are many traditional symbols – heart for love, wedding rings for intimacy and commitment, etc.

Symbols widely recognized in a society or culture are called conventional symbols

Characterization

This is the method by which writers create fictional persons

Appearance Actions Words What the author or narrator says about them What other characters say about them and how

other characters react to them

Setting

Setting encompasses the physical and social context in which the actions of the story take place.

Major elements are: time, place, and social environment that frames the characters.

Setting is often used to evoke mood.

Mood

Mood is the atmosphere or feeling created by the author.

Mood is often created and evoked with the setting.

Other devices used are connotation, details, dialogue, imagery, figurative language, foreshadowing, imagery, setting and rhythm.