What You Need to Know to Begin SMIC, 2011-2012 English 12 Regular George Orwell's 1984 What You Need to Know to Begin SMIC, 2011-2012 English 12 Regular

The Author – George Orwell Chose to live among the lower classes for one year Became a socialist, moved to Spain, was kicked out by Communist Party In 1945, wrote Animal Farm, a political satire Pen name of Eric Blair Born 1903 in India, grew up in England After school, joined civil service Was a sergeant in the police force Saw British imperialism first-hand in India, was appalled at the oppression he witnessed

More About the Author 1984 was written in 1948. At age 47, in early 1950, he died from poor health and exhaustion.

Orwell’s Political Views He considered himself a democratic socialist and was critical of communism He hated intellectuals, lying, cruelty, political authority, and totalitarianism He strongly opposed Stalin and Hitler & was very outspoken during WWII

Author’s purpose Orwell said, “History is written by the winners.” 1984 is a dystopian satire on trends in international politics at the end of WW2. Orwell’s intention was to draw attention to the oppression and cruelty he saw in Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, and even the behavior of some Western countries.

What Orwell Saw . . . Economic depression in the 1930s High unemployment Shortages of money, housing, and food Restrictions on daily life and rations The beginning of the Cold War Countries east of the “iron curtain” were communist Countries west of it were protected by US

Background to 1984 The world of 1984 is based upon two totalitarian dictatorships, Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany. The world of 1984 bears strong resemblances to the Soviet Union, but much of the detail of life comes from Germany.

Big Brother is based on Stalin. The face of a man...with a heavy black moustache and ruggedly handsome features Pg 3, 1984 Orwell experienced the horror of totalitarian rule firsthand, as a member of a radical Socialist-Trotskyite militia.

Like Stalin, Adolph Hitler denied his subjects access to the truth. His Third Reich “can be read as a war against memory – an Orwellian falsification of reality...” (Primo Levi)

Nazi Germany EVER since I have been scrutinizing political events, I have taken a tremendous interest in propagandist activity. I saw that the Socialist-Marxist organizations mastered and applied this instrument with astounding skill. And I soon realized that the correct use of propaganda is a true art which has remained practically unknown to the bourgeois parties. Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler Volume One - A Reckoning

The Setting London, England—aka “Airstrip One” The year 1984 (but really just sometime in the future – if it helps, think 2120) Government=totalitarian dictatorship The Proles: the “subhuman” workers

What’s their world like? All citizens are monitored! 24/7 Telescreens are present in all homes and workplaces. The government is represented by Big Brother, a figure who “sees everything.” Citizens also watch each other. Any small facial gesture or sigh can give away their “thoughtcrime.”

The human need for freedom In the society Orwell imagines, people could not: Love who they want Work where they want Walk where they want Eat what they want Write anything down Weren't allowed to have memories

What is someone willing to risk for freedom?

Things you need to take note of when reading the text: The “new” language. Any term that is unfamiliar to you should be noted down and defined. At the start of the novel most words are defined or explained. Words/terms like: newspeak, minitrue, thoughtcrime, proles, Ministry of Love, Hate Week. Doubleplusgood, duckspeak, Oceania

A few terms from 1984 Doublethink – the ability to believe two contradictory things at the same time Newspeak – the language of Oceania http://www.newspeakdictionary.com/ Ingsoc – Oceania’s form of government Thought crime – thinking anti-party thoughts Inner Party/Outer party – those closest to Big Brother and those on the outside Proles – the lower classes who live in a separate part of the city Oceania – One of the 3 Superstates

The Three Superstates

Slogans of “The Party”

Orwellian? This word comes directly from Orwell’s writing in 1984. It carries a negative connotation and refers to anything involving systematic controlling/monitoring of the individual.

Questions to consider as you read This novel predicted one possible future. Are we closer to 1984 today than we were in 1949? Who is Big Brother? In what ways are we watched and monitored today? What is Orwell’s ultimate message about Societal apathy? The use of fear? Mass manipulation? Isolation and individualism?

Sources: Information in this PPT was gleaned from Mrs. Ma’s previous ppt, misc teacher information (I am sorry that I have not kept complete sources throughout the years), and the following current sources online: http://facweb.northseattle.edu/jclapp/English%20102/Orwell%20%201984/1984%20Presentation.ppt http://mrsrichards.com/handouts/Seniors/Third%20Tri/1984.pdf http://1984bygeorgeorwell.wikispaces.com/file/view/Pam%27s+pp.ppt#332