Big Brother’s World
What are the three superstates in the world of 1984?
Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia
Where does Winston work?
The Ministry of Truth
Who is the figurehead of the Party?
Big Brother
What does the telescreen symbolize?
Constant surveillance and lack of privacy
Who is Julia?
A young woman who works in the Fiction Department
What is the capital city of Oceania where Winston lives?
Airstrip One (formerly London)
What is Winston’s job at the Ministry?
He rewrites historical records to fit Party propaganda.
What group enforces loyalty to Big Brother?
The Thought Police
What does the glass paperweight represent to Winston?
Beauty, the past, and something untouched by the Party
Who is O’Brien, and why is Winston intrigued by him?
An Inner Party member whom Winston suspects hates the Party too
What slogan appears on the Ministry of Truth?“
War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.”
What physical condition makes Winston feel weak and ill?
His varicose ulcer
What is “Newspeak”?
The official language designed to eliminate rebellious thought
What does “2 + 2 = 5” symbolize?
The power of the Party to control truth and reality
Who is Syme, and what is his role?
A philologist working on the Newspeak dictionary
Name the four ministries of Oceania.
Truth, Love, Peace, Plenty
What does Winston secretly buy from Mr. Charrington’s shop?
A diary
What does “thoughtcrime” mean?
Thinking anything against the Party
What does “Big Brother is Watching You” signify?
The Party’s total control and psychological manipulation
What happens to people who “disappear”?
They are vaporized. (erased from existence and memory)
Why are contradictions (“doublethink”) necessary for the Party’s control?
They keep citizens from trusting their own reasoning, ensuring loyalty to the Party’s reality.
What memory about his mother haunts Winston?
Her disappearance and his guilt over taking her chocolate ration as a child
What does the Party claim to have invented?
The airplane
How does “doublethink” affect truth in Oceania?
It forces people to accept contradictory beliefs and reject objective truth
How does Winston’s relationship with Parsons reflect Party loyalty?
Parsons is loyal to Big Brother despite being dull and unquestioning, representing ideal Party obedience