After reading "Little Brother is Watching" (see attachment) and "If it's Orwellian..." Discuss the following questions. Write down your responses and reflections. 

Questions | Little Brother is Watching

For discussion and reading comprehension:

1. What does Mr. Kirn mean when he says that the invasion of privacy has been “democratized”?
2. How are today’s communication technologies and communicators different from those Orwell imagined in “1984”?
3. Do you agree or disagree with Mr. Kirn that the actions of Tyler Clementi’s roommate are “more disturbing” than those of Orwell’s Big Brother?
4. In what way, according to Mr. Kirn, can the actions of “Little Brother” benefit society?
5. How has today’s technology blurred the lines between what’s public and what’s private?
6. What does Mr. Kirn mean when he says modern technology contributes to the fragmentation of society?

Part One

Chapter I

1. The story begins with the clock chiming 13.  This manner of time repeats itself throughout Section One. How does this rendition of time contribute to the mood of the novel?
2. Why does Winston hesitate to write in the journal? How does his initial foray reflect his true emotions/thought?
3. What is the Two Minutes Hate?
4. Who is Goldstein?
5. Who is O'Brien?
6. How is the government portrayed? What is the significance of Big Brother?
7. List the different ministries and tell why their names are ironic.
8. How does Winston's writing of "DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER" contrast with his initial scribbling in the beginning?
9. Who are the Thought Police and what is Thoughtcrime?

Chapter II

1. How are the actions of the children described by Winston?
2. How is Parsons described?  Why does Winston have disgust for him?
3. What is the message Winston hears in a dream?  What is meant by "no darkness?"
4. Why does Winston attribute this to O'Brien?

Chapter III

1. What is the significance of Winston's dream about his mother and sister being down in a deep "saloon"?
2. What is the symbolism in the dark haired girl "throwing aside her uniform" in his dream?
3. What is revealed about Winston's job?
4. What does he know about the past?
5. What does the telescreen do that is unusual?  What does the exercise instructor ask Winston to do?
6. What is INGSOC? What is Doublethink?

Chapter IV

1. This part deals primarily with Winston's job.  What, exactly, does his job require him to do?
2. Why does he take great delight in his job?
3. What does it mean by the doublethink: "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." (actually part III, pg 32, but relevant here)

Chapter V

1. pg46, last paragraph--How is Language an instrument of control?  of identity?
2. What is orthodoxy?
3. What does Parsons represent?  How is his family, and the stories he tells about them indicative of this?
4. Why does the dark-haired girl re-surface at the end of Part V?  What does she represent for Winston?

Chapter VI

1. This part is entirely about the sexual act.  How does Winston describe his encounter with a prole prostitute?
2. What is the Party's stance on sexual relations?
3. Who is/was Winston's wife?  What caused the break-up of the marriage?
4. How does Winston's description of sex with his wife and with the prostitute differ? compare?
5. On page 59, Winston offers a definition of the allure sex has for him.  What does he say it is?  What does this mean?

Chapter VII

1. This part concerns the proles and prominent party members.  What does Winston write which resides in the proles?
2. What are the proles compared to in this section?  How are they "free?" How is this contradicted?
3. Who are Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford (pg 65)?  How are they a contrast to the proles?
4. Whom does Winston finally realize his diary is written for?

Chapter VIII

1. This part is a pivotal part for Winston.  Why is he in the Proles' section of town?  What risk does he run by being there?
2. There are many 'rules' not written down. What are a few of these rules, and what are the consequences for breaking them?
3. What question does Winston try to get the old man to answer?
4. Why do Winston's feet take him to the antique shop?  What is the significance of the coral embedded in glass?
5. Winston's introduction to the room above the shop is the climax of the first Section.  What does the room symbolize and how does it become Winston's obsessions?
6. The dark haired girl re-surfaces.  What are the dangerous implications of her presence in the prole section immediately after Winston leaves the antique shop?  Why do you think she pretends not to notice Winston?
7. More of the unwritten rules emerge at the end of part VIII.  What are these rules?  What is the place of "no darkness?"  Why is it significant that this answer appear in this part?

Please enter through the west door. 

Please enter through the west door.