“Big Brother is watching.”

“Down with Big Brother.”

George Orwell (1903-1949)• George Orwell was the pen

name of Eric Blair.• Born in British India in 1903.• He lived in poverty.• Worked as a policeman in

Burma and saw cruelty. • Later, went to England to live

as a writer. • Famous for Animal Farm

and Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Politics • “In our age, there is no such thing as ‘keeping

out of politics’. All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia.” – George Orwell

• Politics is power – it relates to the governance of a country or state, including its individuals.

• List as many types of political systems as you can (i.e. Democracy):

Democracy, Oligarchy, Monarchy, Aristocracy, Socialism, Communism, Fascism, Totalitarianism.

The Political Spectrum • The political spectrum is a system for

classifying political systems and ideologies.

• “The Left” is considered Liberal – the desire to change society; progressive.

• “The Right” is considered Conservative – the desire to keep society the same or return to “traditional values”.

• This originated from the time of the French Revolution, where the aristocracy would sit to the right and the commoners would sit to the left.

Orwell on Politics: • Orwell was a socialist and supported the poor and the

weak. • Socialism is the redistribution of resources (property,

wealth) by the government on behalf of the people. • **The Great Depression: 1929-World War II** • Orwell fought for the Socialists during the Spanish Civil

War against the Fascists. • Ultimately, Orwell grew disillusioned and distrustful of

all political groups of the time. • Although some political leaders – such Stalin – claimed

to be Socialist, or to favor the weak, they used their power for their own benefit (as seen in Animal Farm).

Politics & Language • Orwell lived during the

time of Totalitarianism. • Totalitarians

consolidated their power through a number of means:

• -- Violence: Secret Police and Terror.

• -- Language: Propaganda and Misinformation.

1984 • Although the totalitarians were seemingly defeated

in World War II (Hitler and Mussolini), in the late 1940’s Stalin’s Soviet Union and Communist China displayed many of the traits of totalitarianism.

• Further, Great Britain and the United States demonstrated some similar traits of totalitarianism.

• In 1949, Orwell wondered what the world would be like in the year 1984 …

Nineteen Eighty-Four • In 1984, the world is controlled by three warring

police states under totalitarianism: • -- Oceania (Great Britain and the United States)• -- Eurasia (The former Soviet Union and Europe) • -- Eastasia (China and the Far East)

Big Brother• Big Brother is the seemingly

omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent dictator of Oceania in 1984.

• “The Party” uses: secret police (Thought Police), surveillance (“Big Brother is watching you”), torture, propaganda (the 2-minutes of Hate, Hateweek), misinformation (doublethink), and corrupted language (Newspeak) to control all aspects of one’s life.

Literary Devices • Orwell uses a number of literary devices to tell his

nightmarish version of the future:• Irony• Appeals (Ethos, Pathos, Logos)• Symbolism • Mood/Atmosphere and Setting • Tone • Imagery • Point of View• Allusions • Genre

Dialectic Journal • Like Active Reading, a dialectic journal is a means to

interact and engage a complex text. • Related to Annotation. • Using 2-column notes, copy significant quotes from

the text (words, phrases, passages) on the left and respond to the right. Include page numbers for quotes.

• Respond to words, phrases, and passages that are significant (reveals something about the author, subject, or audience) and provide only the most insightful commentary.

• DJ can be used later to write an analysis essay.

Part One Vocabulary• 1. Interminable (Adj.)• 2. Nebulous (Adj.)• 3. Sanguine (Adj.)• 4. Inscrutable (Adj.)• 5. Reproach (N.)• 6. Repudiate (V.)• 7. Statuesque (Adj.)• 8. Proletarian (N.)• 9. Rectify (V.)• 10. Superseded (V.)

• 11. Saboteurs (N.)• 12. Strident (Adj.)• 13. Vapid (Adj.)• 14. Impregnable (Adj.)• 15. Defection (V.)• 16. Ideology (N.)• 17. Indoctrinate (V.)• 18. Relics (N.)• 19. Lackey (N.)• 20. Nostalgia (N.)

Part One Vocabulary• 1. Interminable-never ending,

ceaseless

• 2. nebulous-vague, unclear

• 3. sanguine-ruddy, reddish

• 4. inscrutable-mysterious

• 5. reproach-disapproval

• 6. repudiate-refuse to acknowledge or accept

• 7. statuesque-tall and shapely

• 8. proletarian-a member of the working class; an industrial worker

• 9. rectify-correct, fix

• 10. superseded-replaced

• 11. saboteurs-people who sabotage; those who deliberately destroy things belonging to their enemies.

• 12. strident-grating, nerve-wracking

• 13. vapid-dull, lacking in zest

• 14. impregnable-not capable of being conquered

• 15. defection-to leave one cause or belief to take up another

• 16. ideology-a group of ideas and beliefs that are held by a political or social group

• 17. indoctrinate-to teach the beliefs of a specific group

• 18. relics-souvenirs; items used to remember the past

• 19. lackey-servant

• 20. nostalgia-a warm emotional feeling for a time that has passed

Literary Analysis #1: 1984• Choose one important passage or chapter from 1984

and perform a literary analysis – identify two or more literary elements and explain how each contributes to a central theme(s) in the novel.

• Elements to consider: Irony, Appeals (Ethos, Pathos, Logos), Symbolism, Mood/Atmosphere/Setting, Tone, Imagery, Point of View, Allusions and Genre.

• The analysis should be 4-6 paragraphs and contain: an introduction to the topic/novel; a strong thesis statement; clear topic sentences; details; quotes/evidence from the novel; thorough explanations of points; and a succinct conclusion.

• If typed, used MLA format.

Part Two Vocabulary• 1. Contrived (V.)• 2. Queue (N.)• 3. Abreast (Adj.)• 4. Alighted (Adj.)• 5. Daunted (Adj.)• 6. Denounce (V.)• 7. Incredulity (N.)• 8. Obeisance (N.)• 9. Virtuosity (N.)• 10. Enunciating (Adj.)

• 11. Infallible (Adj.)• 12. Inquisitive (Adj.)• 13. Effigy (N.)• 14. Embellishing (Adj.)• 15. Avert (V.)• 16. Despise (V.)• 17. Feeble (Adj.)• 18. Inert (Adj.)• 19. Pilfering (Adj.)• 20. Remonstrance (N.)

Part Two Vocabulary• 1. Contrived-planned• 2. Queue-a line of people• 3. Abreast-side-by-side• 4. Alighted-perched• 5. Daunted-intimidated• 6. Denounce-to publicly accuse

someone of wrongdoing• 7. Incredulity-disbelief• 8. Obeisance-respect• 9. Virtuosity-extraordinary skill• 10. Enunciating-speaking very

clearly and concisely• 11. Infallible-incapable of

making a mistake• 12. Inquisitive-curious• 13. Effigy-a representation of a

person who is hated• 14. Embellishing-adding details

to• 15. Avert-to turn away• 16. Despise-to hate with a

passion• 17. Feeble-weak, frail• 18. Inert-sluggish, not active• 19. Pilfering-stealing• 20. Remonstrance-protest

Part Three Vocabulary• 1. Demeanor (N.)• 2. Emaciation (N.)• 3. Forbearance (N.)• 4. Insidious (Adj.)• 5. Lethargy (N.)• 6. Perturbed (Adj.)• 7. Sanctimonious (Adj.)• 8. Admonished (Adj.)• 9. Cauterized (Adj.)• 10. Disquieting (Adj.)

• 11. Sporadically (Adv.)• 12. Vile (Adj.)• 13. Capitulated (Adj.)• 14. Frivolity (N.)• 15. Infer (V.)• 16. Contemptible (Adj.)• 17. Evade (V.)• 18. Fallacy (N.)• 19. Insurrection (N.)• 20. Malleable (Adj.)

Part Three Vocabulary• 1. Demeanor-conduct• 2. Emaciation-the state of being

extremely thin, almost to the point of starvation

• 3. Forbearance-patience• 4. Insidious-sly• 5. Lethargy-the state of being lazy,

slow, or drowsy• 6. Perturbed-upset• 7. Sanctimonious-hypocritically

pious• 8. Admonished-reprimanded• 9. Cauterized-burned to prevent

infection• 10. Disquieting-unsettling,

disturbing

• 11. Sporadically-occasionally• 12. Vile-foul; physically repulsive• 13. Capitulated-stopped resisting• 14. Frivolity-a trivial act that lacks

seriousness• 15. Infer-guess or suggest• 16. Contemptible-deserving to be

despised• 17. Evade-avoid• 18. Fallacy-a false or mistaken

idea• 19. Insurrection-an act of

revolting against authority• 20. Malleable-capable of being

shaped

Future World Project • Written in 1949, the novel 1984 is George

Orwell’s projection of the future world.• In groups of 3-4 students, imagine what the

world will look like in the year 2050. You will present your vision to the class.

• Your projection of the future should be based on trends and evidence based in the present and also the past (history often repeats itself).

• Use evidence gathered from multiple sources (at least four) to defend your group’s position.

Future World Project • Groups will be graded based on:• 1. Content – Information regarding the future world must be

supported by reasoning and evidence from the present and/or past. More than three sources must be cited.

• 2. Visual Aid – Groups must incorporate a visual aid – poster, Power Point, video, graphs, etc. – to help the audience understand the information presented.

• 3. Presentation – The presentation must be 3-5 minutes in length. Students will also be graded on eye contact, (voice) projection, and posture/comfort level.

• 4. Teamwork – All students must participate equally in the project. All students are expected to speak during the presentation and no one student should be dominating the project.

1984 Individual Projects• 1. Write a 2-3 page sequel or prequel to Nineteen Eighty-

Four. Include narrative and dialogue. • 2. Write a 10-line Found Poem based around an important

theme/concept in Nineteen Eighty-Four. • 3. Create an artful collage of important quotes from

Nineteen Eighty-Four. It must include at least five quotes and color and/or illustrations.

• 4. Create a Graphic Novel version of an important scene from Nineteen Eighty-Four. It must include at least four panels, color, dialogue, and action.

• 5. Create an artful poster (at least 4’ X 2’) illustrating important characters, settings or themes from Nineteen Eighty-Four. Also include color/detail and at least one important quote.