George Orwell

1984 is a dystopian novel which follows the life of Winston Smith, a state clerk who is frustrated by the omnipresent eyes of The Party and its disquieting and omnipotent leader, Big Brother.
 Orwell explores the themes of mass media control, government surveillance, totalitarianism and how a dictator can manipulate and control history, thoughts and lives in such a way that no one can escape it. The novel also coined many new words and phrases which regularly appear in popular culture, such as ‘Big Brother’, ‘thoughtcrime’, ‘doublethink’ and ‘Newspeak’.
 The reader contains in-depth analyses of the major themes in 1984.
 
 Teacher's Resources available online: Answer Key - Audioscripts - Summing-up Activities
 
 1984 è un romanzo distopico anti-totalitaristico. Orwell esplora le tematiche del controllo dei mezzi di comunicazione di massa, della vigilanza capillare del Governo sui cittadini e di come esso possa manipolare la storia, le vite e persino i pensieri delle persone. Il romanzo coniò diverse nuove parole ed espressioni, quali ‘Big Brother’, ‘thoughtcrime’, ‘doublethink’ e ‘Newspeak’. Il reader contiene approfondimenti sulle principali tematiche presenti in 1984.

Chapter 1 – Winston Smith

Chapter 2 – Taking risks

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: What influenced Orwell and 1984

Chapter 3 – In love

Chapter 4 – Thoughts of rebellion

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: Main themes of 1984

Chapter 5 – Face to face

Chapter 6 – Room 101

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: Appendix: the principles of Newspeak

Summing-up activities

Glossary

Winston Smith 1 BEFORE READING Chapter 1 1984 is set over 30 years after it was written.What kind of future do you think it features? a. A happy, self-sufficient society living with nature. b. A society of brainless humans controlled by alien beings. c. A society of workers controlled by a totalitarian oligarchy. d. A society of intelligent humans living in a scientifically advanced world. 2 Which aspects are typical of a democratic (D) or a totalitarian (T) government and society? a. There are several parties. b. All decisions are made by the state. c. Uniformity is welcomed. d. Equality is at the basis of justice. e. Wars are avoided at all costs. f. One party dominates. g. Well-being for everybody is promoted. h. Justice is manipulated and follows ad hoc principles. i. Decisions are made by the state and the individuals. j. Differences are appreciated and welcomed. k. A state of war is convenient. l. Well-being is reserved for a restricted group of people. 3 Choose the correct definition and example for the word paradox. What are the other two definitions and examples for? a. Unnecessary use of two expressions with the same meaning. b. Humorous use of an expression that has several meanings or that sounds like another one. c. Statement that seems impossible because it contains two opposite ideas. 1. Deep down, you re really shallow. 2. PIN number 3. You were right, so I left. 6 

1984 Winston Smith Chapter 1 While the clock struck thirteen on a bright cold day in April, Winston Smith quickly entered his block of flats, Victory Mansions, to escape the wind and dust. The hall smelt of boiled cabbage and was as dark and bleak1 as the outside and the surrounding buildings. The sky was a perfect blue, but the only colour seemed to come out of the immense posters that were everywhere: near the useless lift (often broken, now with no electricity due to the savings for Hate Week), opposite every window, in every corner. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU was the caption under the sturdy2 handsome face of a blackhaired and black-moustachioed middle-aged man who pierced you with his eyes from every angle you looked at him. In his blue overalls3   the uniform of the Party that everybody wore   which covered his weak and worn-out4 body, Winston slowly climbed up to his flat only to be welcomed by the emotionless and constant voice coming out of the telescreen. That was the name for the ubiquitous5, flat appliance which broadcast images and sounds from the Party everywhere, day and night. Not only did it inform Party members about every single detail of the Ninth ThreeYear Plan, the production of iron, the number of soldiers and prisoners from the war between Eurasia or Eastasia (apparently, when at war with one of these two powers, Oceania   their country   was at peace with the other), but it also transmitted every sound and picture it picked up to the Thought Police. And that was the real problem. The Thought Police. That s why you had to live assuming6 that you could be heard and seen any moment. Used to this, Winston set his face straight, took a glass of Victory Gin and turned to the window to look at Airstrip One. Had his city 1. bleak: cold and unpleasant. 2. sturdy: strong and solid. 3. overalls: 4. worn-out: extremely tired. 5. ubiquitous: seeming to be in all places. 6. assuming: believing that it is true without question or proof. 7 

Narrativa inglese, livello B2 intermedio, romanzo anti-totalitaristico di Orwell che esplora temi come il controllo statale dei mass media.

1984 - Collana RAINBOWS

Level B2 • Intermediate - Collana RAINBOWS

1984

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