1. Focus Questions for 1984

3. Who is the protagonist in the story?
Focus Questions
Who is the protagonist in the story?
How is Winston’s opening diary entry existential?
What was ironic about asking for razor blades?

5. Focus Questions
How is the setting of the story symbolic about the nature of totalitarianism?
What is Winston’s function at the Ministry of Truth and why is his job ironic to his situation in life?
What Newspeak words are used?

8. What events occur that are ironic for Winston, Parsons, and Syme?
Irony Focus Question
What events occur that are ironic for Winston, Parsons, and Syme?

10. In what section of town does Winston consort with a prostitute?
Focus Question
In what section of town does Winston consort with a prostitute?
What’s Big Brother’s notion regarding sexual intercourse?

12. Ironically, what do the Proles have that members of the party do not?
Focus Question
Ironically, what do the Proles have that members of the party do not?
What is symbolic about the Coral that Winston purchases?

14. What is the goal of Big Brother in relation to sexuality?
Focus Question
What are Winston’s initial thoughts about the girl from the Fiction Department?
What is the goal of Big Brother in relation to sexuality?

16. What does the note say that Julia gives Winston?
Focus Question
What does the note say that Julia gives Winston?
What is Julia’s role in the Fiction Department?
To what group does Julia belong?

18. How is Winston and Julia’s affair metaphorical?
Focus Question
How is Winston and Julia’s affair metaphorical?
How is their affair a political act?

20. Why does Winston hate purity?
Focus Question
Why does Winston hate purity?
What is artsem, and what is it’s purpose?

22. What does Winston realize about the prole woman singing in the alley?
Focus Question
What does Winston realize about the prole woman singing in the alley?
How has Winston and Julia’s relationship changed since their first encounter?

24. How does Winston define freedom?
Focus Question
How does Winston define freedom?
How is his notion of freedom existential?

26. What is significant about Ogilvy winning a posthumous medal of honor?
Focus Question
What is significant about Ogilvy winning a posthumous medal of honor?
What’s ironic about Julia’s red sash?

28. Focus Question
What is Winston surprised to discover when he arrives at O’Brien’s residence?

30. What is Goldstein’s theory regarding continuous war?
Focus Question
What is Goldstein’s theory regarding continuous war?
What moment represents the plot’s climax?

32. Why does Big Brother repeat everything Winston and Julia say?
Focus Question
Why does Big Brother repeat everything Winston and Julia say?
Where is Winston taken, and what’s ironic about the name of the facility?

34. How does Parson’s response represent doublethink?
Focus Question
How does Parson’s response represent doublethink?
What doesn’t Winston realize about O’brien?

36. What is the purpose of Winston’s torture?
Focus Question
What is the purpose of Winston’s torture?
How do Big Brother’s methods of torture differ from the Nazi’s and the Soviet Union?