Born Eric Blair in Motihari, India, in Blair won a scholarship to Eton, England’s foremost public school.

At age 18, he entered British government service in Burma as an officer in the Indian Imperial Police. “1927 – 1933” Patron Saint of England – “Dragons”

By 1936 Orwell was able to support himself through his writing. By 1936 Orwell was able to support himself through his writing. In 1936, he traveled to Spain with his wife Eileen O’Shaughnessy where the Spanish Civil War had broken out. He fought on the side of the “Republicans”. “Spanish Loyalist”

Animal Farm was published in 1945, the same year his wife Animal Farm was published in 1945, the same year his wife Eileen died. In 1949 he marries Sonia Brownell, who had helped him care for his adopted son. On January 21,1950, as he was about to leave for a sanitarium In Switzerland, he had a tubercular hemorrhage & died.

In part, the dark world of 1984 emerged from the hopelessness In part, the dark world of 1984 emerged from the hopelessness of the 1930’s & 1940’s. BIG BROTHER, the Party, & the constant warfare in 1984 were drawn from the fascist oppression that Orwell saw sweeping across Europe. Some critics believe that BIG BROTHER was modeled on the Russian dictator Joseph Stalin. “Stalin” “Mussolini & Hitler”

Winston Smith Julia O’Brien Big Brother

Emmanuel Goldstein is the Party’s scapegoat & arch enemy. Mr. Charrington is apparently the proprietor of a 2 nd hand store. Tom Parsons is Winston’s Neighbor & the Ministry of Truth. Mrs. Parson’s lives with Tom & their children. Winston’s mother appears only in Winston’s dreams & memories. Syme is a friend of Winston’s who also the Ministry of Truth.

Dismissed by the Party as subhuman! Nazi Proles Seen by Winston as only hope! Sing, despite lives of toil! “Politically Oblivious”

Setting refers to the physical landscape in which a literary Setting refers to the physical landscape in which a literary work takes place. The novel 1984 is set in the near future in a world of new alliances. The three “Superstates” are Oce- ania, Eurasia & Eastasia. The immediate action takes place in the part of Oceania called Airstrip One-once known as Eng- land-in a city still called London. The three “Superstates” are constantly engaged in unwinnable wars with each other in shifting alliances. Although Orwell transposed the last two numbers of the Although Orwell transposed the last two numbers of the novel’s intended publication date, 1948, for it’s title, he did not definitely set the action in The novel begins in the spring, traditionally a time of rebirth The novel begins in the spring, traditionally a time of rebirth & love. Yet we are plunged into a dirty, bitter life. London is being ripped apart. There is no personal dignity, no privacy no peace.

The PARTY purposely isolates people Life is bleak & hopeless Winston is starved for human attention

Appearance & Reality are reversed Appearance & Reality are reversed “Language is Perverted” “Language is Perverted” Severe chronic shortages Severe chronic shortages “Believe the Opposite” “Believe the Opposite” History carelessly rewritten History carelessly rewritten Winston can’t distinguish Winston can’t distinguish appearance from reality Winston doubts his own ability Winston doubts his own ability

The PARTY forbids all emotional bonds between individuals bonds between individuals Children betray their parents & Families battle for food & shelter

PARTY spies 24 HRS. a day! ALL expression conforms to PARTY dictates Independent thought punished “Individual Integrity” Winston’s Skepticism Conformity a must! Technology=Tyranny

“No Law… Only Power” The PARTY has no wish to save the world Constant Warfare “Opposition is Impossible”

Although it’s set in the future, 1984 is not fiction. It is a political parable Although it’s set in the future, 1984 is not fiction. It is a political parable narrated in the 3 rd person in the past tense. A parable is a narrative, or story, from which a moral can be drawn. The moral here is that the a- buse of power by a totalitarian regime destroys the individual. The novel is satirical. Satire is a kind of writing that uses wit to ridicule The novel is satirical. Satire is a kind of writing that uses wit to ridicule or criticize the folly of individuals & societies. Orwell's purpose is to warn readers of the need to resist tyranny. Amid the grinding misery, horror, & despair of 1984, Orwell is satirizing the falsification of reality & the manufacture of fake heroes & scapegoats for purpose of political propaganda.

Philologist Vapid Abject Frontispiece Interminable

Concertina Altercation

Queue Nipper Pannikin