Focus Questions for 1984 The image of Goldstein

Focus Questions for 1984

• The image of Goldstein and the description of him is really a description of Leon Trotsky, who was one of the founders of the Russian Communist Revolution in 1917. He was later assassinated in Mexico City as a traitor to the revolution.

Focus Questions • What satirical reference is implied in relation to the Junior Spies? • What satirical reference is implied by the tobacco falling out of the cigarette?

Focus Questions • How does Winston describe death? • To whom does Winston dedicate his journal?

Focus Question • What was ironic about Parsons asking for razor blades?

Focus Question • How is Parson’s observation about the food an example of doublethink?

Focus Question • In what section of town does Winston consort with a prostitute? • What’s Big Brother’s notion regarding sexual intercourse and how are Winston’s actions tragic?

Focus Questions • How is the setting of the story symbolic about the nature of totalitarianism? • What is Winston’s function at the Ministry of Truth and why is his job ironic to his situation in life? • What Newspeak words are used?

Irony Focus Question • What events occur that are ironic for Winston, Parsons, and Syme?

Focus Question • Ironically, what do the Proles have that members of the party do not? • What is symbolic about the Coral that Winston purchases?

Focus Question • What are Winston’s initial thoughts about the girl from the Fiction Department? • What is the goal of Big Brother in relation to sexuality?

Focus Question • What does the note say that Julia gives Winston? • What is Julia’s role in the Fiction Department? • To what group does Julia belong?

Focus Question • Why do the elderly adults on the train appear to be concerned about the Junior Spies?

Focus Question • How is Winston and Julia’s affair metaphorical? • How is their affair a political act?

Focus Question • Why does Winston hate purity? • What is artsem, and what is its purpose?

Focus Question • How does Big Brother use patriotism to its advantage?

Focus Question • How do the coffee, sugar, and tea represent a satirical commentary on communism?

Focus Question • What does Winston realize about the prole woman singing in the alley? • How has Winston and Julia’s relationship changed since their first encounter?

Focus Question • How does Winston define freedom? • What is significant about Ogilvy winning a posthumous medal of honor?

Focus Question • What’s ironic about Julia’s red sash? • Why does Julia believe the resistance is not real, and what implications does that have for Winston?

Focus Question • From what does Winston’s fear of rats arise? • How was Julia’s statement about Big Brother not “getting inside your mind” ultimately ironic?

Focus Question • What is Winston surprised to discover when he arrives at O’Brien’s residence?

Focus Question • What is Goldstein’s theory regarding continuous war? • How does the notion of continuous war relate to the United States War on Terror?

Focus Question • Why does Winston believe that if there’s any hope, it resides in the Proles? • What moment represents the plot’s climax?

Focus Question • Why does Big Brother repeat everything Winston and Julia say? • Where is Winston taken, and what’s ironic about the name of the facility?

Focus Question • How does Parson’s response represent doublethink? • What doesn’t Winston realize about O’brien?

Focus Question • What is the purpose of Winston’s torture? • How do Big Brother’s methods of torture differ from the Nazi’s and the Soviet Union?

Focus Question • What is the purpose of O’Brien asking Winston what questions he has? • What is in Room 101 according to O’Brien?

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Focus Question • When O’Brien is not torturing Winston, what are Winston’s feelings toward him? • At what point is a heretic erased?

Focus Question • According to O’Brien, what is the image of the future? • What is Winston shocked to learn about Goldstein’s book? • Existentially, how is Winston the last man?

Focus Question • What is in Room 101? • Why must Winston go there? • When does Winston complete his reintegration?

Focus Question • How is playing chess in the Chestnut Tree Café symbolic in relation to Winston and his main conflict? • How does Winston’s love for Big Brother represent the resolution of the plot’s main conflict?