Orwell’s 1984 Purpose and Form

AO3 AO3 Show detailed understanding of the ways in which writers' choices of form, structure and language shape meanings Show detailed understanding of the ways in which writers' choices of form, structure and language shape meanings A Grade: A Grade: AO3 exploration and analysis of key aspects of form, structure and language with perceptive evaluation of how they shape meanings AO3 exploration and analysis of key aspects of form, structure and language with perceptive evaluation of how they shape meanings

AO2i: respond with knowledge & understanding to literary texts of different types and periods. AO2i: respond with knowledge & understanding to literary texts of different types and periods. AO5i: Show understanding of the contexts in which the texts are written and understood. AO5i: Show understanding of the contexts in which the texts are written and understood. AO5ii: Evaluate the significance of cultural, historical and other contextual influences upon literary texts and study. AO5ii: Evaluate the significance of cultural, historical and other contextual influences upon literary texts and study.

‘Why I Write’ Aim as a writer has been to make political writing into an art Aim as a writer has been to make political writing into an art ‘ I write because there is some lie that I want to expose, some face to which I want to draw attention, and my initial concern is to get a hearing’ ‘ I write because there is some lie that I want to expose, some face to which I want to draw attention, and my initial concern is to get a hearing’

Aim to tell the truth, as he saw it, to show up the lies and contradictions in public attitudes Aim to tell the truth, as he saw it, to show up the lies and contradictions in public attitudes Writer’s role as moral conscience Writer’s role as moral conscience Sense of the way political systems can suppress individual thought and emotion and of man’s inhumanity to man Sense of the way political systems can suppress individual thought and emotion and of man’s inhumanity to man Obsessed with the lie- ‘there is no such thing as objective truth’ Obsessed with the lie- ‘there is no such thing as objective truth’

He wishes to expose the inhumanity of political oppression and the kind of lie on which that inhumanity can rest He wishes to expose the inhumanity of political oppression and the kind of lie on which that inhumanity can rest Chose to set ideas out in literary form- more convincing Chose to set ideas out in literary form- more convincing Exploring these ideas in living form- testing them against character Exploring these ideas in living form- testing them against character

Form What type of novel is 1984? What type of novel is 1984? Why do you think this? Why do you think this?

Form Combining political purpose with artistic instinct- Animal Farm - Animal Fable Dystopian Novel / Scientific Romance Scientific Romance

Definitions Utopia: A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions. Utopia: A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions. Dystopia: A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control. Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system. Dystopia: A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control. Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system.

Genre : Dystopia Dystopia = a perfect society gone wrong Orwell warns against what could happen in the future based on the atrocities and dictators that gained power in WWII The rise of totalitarian governments The rise of totalitarian governments The use of science and technology to The use of science and technology to regulate or brainwash society The distortion off truth through rhetoric The distortion off truth through rhetoric

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

Types of Dystopian Controls Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through one or more of the following types of controls: Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through one or more of the following types of controls: Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through products, advertising, and/or the media. Examples include Minority Report and Running Man. Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through products, advertising, and/or the media. Examples include Minority Report and Running Man. Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations, and incompetent government officials. Examples in film include Brazil. Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations, and incompetent government officials. Examples in film include Brazil. Technological control: Society is controlled by technology—through computers, robots, and/or scientific means. Examples include The Matrix, The Terminator, and I, Robot. Technological control: Society is controlled by technology—through computers, robots, and/or scientific means. Examples include The Matrix, The Terminator, and I, Robot. Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled by philosophical or religious ideology often enforced through a dictatorship or theocratic government. Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled by philosophical or religious ideology often enforced through a dictatorship or theocratic government.

The Dystopian Protagonist often feels trapped and is struggling to escape. often feels trapped and is struggling to escape. questions the existing social and political systems. questions the existing social and political systems. believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives. believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives. helps the audience recognize the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective. helps the audience recognize the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective.

How does this novel connect with our own society? What is Orwell’s ultimate message about Societal apathy? Societal apathy? The use of fear? The use of fear? Mass manipulation? Mass manipulation? Isolation and individualism? Isolation and individualism?

Scientific Romance Has within it a set of conventions which allow him to put forward his political convictions and explore the psychological developments of a central character Has within it a set of conventions which allow him to put forward his political convictions and explore the psychological developments of a central character Political ideas are humanised Political ideas are humanised Therefore in 1984 : Form and structure depend upon one another

Tables- Homework Work in pairs- compare/explain the ways in which the novel fits into each genre

Comparing the Texts How does the purpose, structure and form of Nineteen Eighty Four’ compare to that of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale?’ How does the purpose, structure and form of Nineteen Eighty Four’ compare to that of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale?’

E.g. Novel-dystopian Novel-written transcript. Choices within the novel form/genre present in the narrative include: Choices within the novel form/genre present in the narrative include: 1. diary entry 1. diary entry 2. dialogue/conversation 2. dialogue/conversation 3. reported speech 3. reported speech 4. letter 4. letter 5. description 5. description 6. interior monologue 6. interior monologue