1984 Book 1 Chapter 5 Notes

1984 Book 1 Chapter 5 Notes

English 12

Before we get going:

• Make sure you have your book out.

• Make sure you have your annotations handy.

• Make sure you've submitted the annotations for Chapter 5 (V)

Multiple Choice

Chapter 4 (IV) ended with Winston working on creating a fictional human being who is essentially the "ideal" inhabitant of Oceania. What is that fictional character's name?

• Comrade Ogilvy

• Tillotson

• Mr. Parsons

• Syme

Syme

• Works in the Research Department

• Asked Winston if he'd had any razorblades

• Works on the 11th Edition of the Newspeak dictionary

• More about Syme can be found on page 48

Shortage of Supplies in Oceania

• Currently, there is a shortage of razorblades in Oceania

• Nobody knows why or when there will be another shortage of a random item

• Syme claims to have used the same razor for 6 weeks

• Winston is secretly hoarding 2 unused razorblades

Multiple Choice

Where is the only place to get ahold of items in which there is a shortage of?

• The "free" market

• Mr. Parsons

• Buy the from corrupt inner party members

• Steal them from the Proles

Multiple Choice

Which of the following words best describes Syme?

• Dumb

• Boring

• Rebellious

• Cheap

Syme (page 49)

"In an intellectual way, Syme was venomously orthodox. He would talk with a disagreeable gloating satisfaction of helicopter raids on enemy villages, the trial and confessions of thought-criminals, the executions in the cellars of the Ministry of Love. Talking to him was largely a matter of getting him away from such subjects and entangling him, if possible, in the technicalities of Newspeak, on which he was authoritative and interesting."

Syme

• In short, Syme is a "robot" who doesn't disobey Big Brother at all.

• Winston finds him a bore and they end up talking about a recent public hanging.

• Syme says, "I think it spoils it when they tie their feet together. I like to see them kicking. And above all, at the end, the tongue sticking right out, and blue - a quite bright blue."

Multiple Choice

Which part of speech is Syme currently working on in the 11th Edition of the Newspeak Dictionary?

• Nouns

• Verbs

• Pronouns

• Adjectives

Newspeak Dictionary

• Syme claims that this is the "definitive edition"

• Rather than inventing new words, he says that their job is to destroy words. Hundreds of them every single day.

• "The 11th Edition won't contain a single word that will become obsolete before the year 2050."

• Turn to page 51 (I'll read the section about 'good')

Open Ended

Why would a government/leader want to "narrow the range of thought"?

Newspeak

• Syme explains, "...that by the year 2050, at the very latest, not a single human being will be alive who could understand such a conversation as we are having now..."

• The slogans of the party will even change because "freedom is slavery" can't exist if the term and concept of "freedom" has been abolished.

Open Ended

Open to page 53! Why does Winston feel that Syme will be vaporized someday?

Multiple Choice

What is the term Syme explains that refers to "one of those interesting words that have two contradictory meanings. Applied to an opponent, it is abuse; applied to someone you agree with, it is praise."?

• Doublethink

• Newspeak

• Duckspeak

• Vaporspeak

Chestnut Tree Café

• Syme likes to spend time here

• It is a place that isn't illegal to go to, but not a great place to be seen at

• Discredited leaders meet here and Goldstein even spent time here

Mr. Parsons

• Winston's neighbor sits down by them

• He is collecting money for Victory Mansions to decorate and put on a show for Hate Week

• He apologized to Winston about his son "accusing" him of being a traitor

Open Ended

Turn to page 57! Why is Mr. Parsons proud of his daughter? (We discussed the role of children a few days ago)

Open Ended

On the next page (58), why is it interesting that they are celebrating Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to 20 grams per week?

Multiple Choice

Who does Winston make eye contact with in the canteen?

• O'Brien

• Parsons

• The Girl with Dark Hair

• Syme

Turn to the beginning of chapter VI

Get out your annotations - start them as we read!