George Orwell 1984 - Guide

A brief introduction to this course on 1984. Orwell's great discussed will be analysed using a number of available study tools, including notes, mind-maps, slides and quizzes.

George Orwell - 1984 - Introduction     George Orwell's dystopian novel from 1948 finds increasing resonance in the modern age. Projecting a future where the government has the will to observe and control every citizen, Orwell is seen as having prophecised the ultra-oppressive regimes that have been witnessed since publication.   His concept of the Thought-Police is disturbingly close to East Germany's Stasi and Romania's Securitate, among others. His idea of the two-way Telescreen pre-empts the powers of the CIA, FBI, GCHQ and even the likelihood that some other insidious agent may have access to the camera currently looking at you from above this screen.    As nationalistic agendas increasingly dominate the headlines, Orwells' novel serves as a timely reminder that we should never surrender our freedoms willingly. This book is a warning that we should all heed.   This course is an introduction to Orwell's text. The course contains mindmap information on the author, as well as the context of the work. Flash cards with Key terms are explained to aid comprehension. The plot of the novel is outlined in three sections, just as the text is presented. In a  seperate document, the major characters are discussed and, in another slides analyse the principal themes. The course closes with a quiz to test what you have learned. 

Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) is written in three parts - The 1st concerns the system and the state, the 2nd relates to Winston & Julia and the 3rd is set in the Ministry of Love and the dreaded Room 101

A summary of the main events in George Orwell's dystopian novel, 1984

orwell 1984 plot

Some of the unique language from Orwell's 1984. The world of the novel is shaped by the language of Oceania: Newspeak. This language is an effort to curtail freedoms in the state by eradicating the freedom of expression.

Flash cards showing the many literary inventions created by Orwell for his dystopian masterpiece, 1984

key terms orwell newspeak

A look at the major and minor characters in the novel. Winston Smith seeks freedom. Julia seeks love. O'Brien seeks to trap them both in the all-powerful watch of Big Brother

Brief description of major and minor characters in George Orwell's 1984

major characters 1984 minor characters 1984

Slides which briefly discuss some of the major themes encountered in 1984. Identity, the role of the state, surveillance and appearance v reality are some of the topics which this novel dwells upon.

A brief exploration of some themes in George Orwell's 1984

1984 identity 1984 appearance v reality 1984 themes

A short visual guide to the life and publication dates in Orwell's life. Born Eric Blair in India, Orwell lived a transient life living at points in Spain, France and Burma. His travels fueled his writing a great deal. His England is an outsider's view.

Some Biographical Data for George Orwell

george orwell eric blair biography

Take this quiz to see what you know about George Orwell's 1984. A look back on this short course should help you in any answers that you may miss. Share your results or share the quiz, if you like.

A short quiz to test your knowledge of 1984

george orwell 1984 quiz