Bookreport Name: Date:
Title of the book: 1984………………………………………………………………
Author: George Orwell………………………………………………………………
When was the book first published? 8 June 1949……………………………
Explain the title:
The book 1984 is about a dystopian future set in 1984.That is why this book
has this title. The novel itself was already published in 1949.
Now summarize the story in your own words:
1984 is a dystopian novella by George Orwell published in 1949, which follows
the life of Winston Smith, a low ranking member of ‘the Party’, who is
frustrated by the omnipresent eyes of the party, and its ominous ruler Big
Brother.
‘Big Brother’ controls every aspect of people’s lives. It has invented the
language ‘Newspeak’ in an attempt to completely eliminate political rebellion;
created ‘Throughtcrimes’ to stop people even thinking of things considered
rebellious. The party controls what people read, speak, say and do with the
threat that if they disobey, they will be sent to the dreaded Room 101 as a
looming punishment.
The book’s hero, Winston Smith, is a minor party functionary living in a London
that is still shattered by a nuclear war that took place not long after World War
II. He belongs to the Outer Party, and his job is to rewrite history in the Ministry
of Truth, bringing it in line with current political thinking. However, Winston’s
longing for truth and decency leads him to secretly rebel against the
government. He embarks on a forbidden affair with Julia, a like-minded
woman, and they rent a room in a neighbourhood populated by Proles (short
for proletariats). Winston also becomes increasingly interested in the
Brotherhood, a group of dissenters. Unbeknownst to Winston and Julia,
however, they are being watched closely (ubiquitous posters throughout the
city warn residents that “Big Brother is watching you.”).
When Winston is approached by O’Brien—an official of the Inner Party who
appears to be a secret member of the Brotherhood—the trap is set. O’Brien is
actually a spy for the Party, on the lookout for “thought-criminals,” and Winston
and Julia are eventually caught and sent to the Ministry of Love for a violent
reeducation. The ensuing imprisonment, torture, and reeducation of Winston
are intended not merely to break him physically or make him submit but to root
out his independence and destroy his dignity and humanity. In Room 101,
where prisoners are forced into submission by exposure to their worst
nightmares, Winston panics as a cage of rats is attached to his head. He yells
out for his tormentors to “Do it to Julia!” and states that he does not care what
Title of the book: 1984………………………………………………………………
Author: George Orwell………………………………………………………………
When was the book first published? 8 June 1949……………………………
Explain the title:
The book 1984 is about a dystopian future set in 1984.That is why this book
has this title. The novel itself was already published in 1949.
Now summarize the story in your own words:
1984 is a dystopian novella by George Orwell published in 1949, which follows
the life of Winston Smith, a low ranking member of ‘the Party’, who is
frustrated by the omnipresent eyes of the party, and its ominous ruler Big
Brother.
‘Big Brother’ controls every aspect of people’s lives. It has invented the
language ‘Newspeak’ in an attempt to completely eliminate political rebellion;
created ‘Throughtcrimes’ to stop people even thinking of things considered
rebellious. The party controls what people read, speak, say and do with the
threat that if they disobey, they will be sent to the dreaded Room 101 as a
looming punishment.
The book’s hero, Winston Smith, is a minor party functionary living in a London
that is still shattered by a nuclear war that took place not long after World War
II. He belongs to the Outer Party, and his job is to rewrite history in the Ministry
of Truth, bringing it in line with current political thinking. However, Winston’s
longing for truth and decency leads him to secretly rebel against the
government. He embarks on a forbidden affair with Julia, a like-minded
woman, and they rent a room in a neighbourhood populated by Proles (short
for proletariats). Winston also becomes increasingly interested in the
Brotherhood, a group of dissenters. Unbeknownst to Winston and Julia,
however, they are being watched closely (ubiquitous posters throughout the
city warn residents that “Big Brother is watching you.”).
When Winston is approached by O’Brien—an official of the Inner Party who
appears to be a secret member of the Brotherhood—the trap is set. O’Brien is
actually a spy for the Party, on the lookout for “thought-criminals,” and Winston
and Julia are eventually caught and sent to the Ministry of Love for a violent
reeducation. The ensuing imprisonment, torture, and reeducation of Winston
are intended not merely to break him physically or make him submit but to root
out his independence and destroy his dignity and humanity. In Room 101,
where prisoners are forced into submission by exposure to their worst
nightmares, Winston panics as a cage of rats is attached to his head. He yells
out for his tormentors to “Do it to Julia!” and states that he does not care what
