Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
While
reading the novel select one quotation which “strikes” you and write it down.
Include a proper reference to the quotation you select.
Example:
“One of these days, thought Winston with sudden deep conviction, Syme will be
vaporized.” (Orwell, p. 56)
The
reason for selecting a specific quotation should be because it…
Annoys
you…
Angers
you…
Inspires
you…
Frustrates
you…
Makes
you think…
Confuses
you…
Reminds
you…
Etc.
- State
which of the above apply to the selected quotation.
- Tie
the quotation to the story in such a way as to give a bit of background to
it.
- In a
clearly structured paragraph respond to the quotation with an explanation
about why the quotation addresses one of the above concerns. (topic
sentence, developing sentences and concluding sentence)
Example: “One of these days, thought Winston
with sudden deep conviction, Syme will be vaporized.” (Orwell, p. 56) It angers
me to think that Winston lives in a society where he is able to consider that
his friends or even his coworkers might just disappear one day. That they would
disappear for having committed a thought-crime makes the realization of the
absolute control of the totalitarian government even more repugnant. Winston,
through the voice of the narrator, muses on the myriad ways that people in his
society can merely disappear, and then even disappear from all references - as
if they had never existed. I would like to think that if I lived in such a
society that I, too, would be a rebel. I’d like to think that I would join
forces with others to overthrow such an authoritarian regime. But what chance
would I have. If I had grown up in such a regime, how would I know what
political system would better afford the freedom that I so desperately craved?
