Orwell’s 1984Orwell’s 1984

Purpose and FormPurpose and Form

AO3 AO3 Show detailed understanding of the ways in Show detailed understanding of the ways in

which writers' choices of which writers' choices of formform, structure and , structure and language shape meaningslanguage shape meanings

A Grade:A Grade: AO3 AO3 exploration and analysisexploration and analysis of key aspects of key aspects

of form, structure and language with of form, structure and language with perceptive perceptive evaluationevaluation of how they shape meanings of how they shape meanings

AO2i: respond with knowledge & AO2i: respond with knowledge & understanding to literary texts of different understanding to literary texts of different types and periods.types and periods.

AO5i: Show understanding of the contexts AO5i: Show understanding of the contexts in which the texts are written and in which the texts are written and understood.understood.

AO5ii: Evaluate the significance of cultural, AO5ii: Evaluate the significance of cultural, historical and other contextual influences historical and other contextual influences upon literary texts and study.upon literary texts and study.

‘‘Why I Write’Why I Write’

Aim as a writer has been to make political Aim as a writer has been to make political writing into an artwriting into an art

‘ ‘ I write because there is some lie that I I write because there is some lie that I want to expose, some face to which I want want to expose, some face to which I want to draw attention, and my initial concern is to draw attention, and my initial concern is to get a hearing’to get a hearing’

Aim to tell the truth, as he saw it, to show up the Aim to tell the truth, as he saw it, to show up the lies and contradictions in public attitudeslies and contradictions in public attitudes

Writer’s role as moral conscienceWriter’s role as moral conscience

Sense of the way political systems can suppress Sense of the way political systems can suppress individual thought and emotion and of man’s individual thought and emotion and of man’s inhumanity to maninhumanity to man

Obsessed with the lie- ‘there is no such thing as Obsessed with the lie- ‘there is no such thing as objective truth’objective truth’

He wishes to expose the inhumanity of He wishes to expose the inhumanity of political oppression and the kind of lie on political oppression and the kind of lie on which that inhumanity can restwhich that inhumanity can rest

Chose to set ideas out in literary form- Chose to set ideas out in literary form- more convincingmore convincing

Exploring these ideas in living form- Exploring these ideas in living form- testing them against charactertesting them against character

FormForm

What What type type of novel is of novel is 1984?1984?

Why do you think this?Why do you think this?

FormForm

Combining political purpose with artistic Combining political purpose with artistic instinct-instinct-

Animal Farm - Animal FableAnimal Farm - Animal Fable

1984 - Dystopian Novel /1984 - Dystopian Novel /

Scientific RomanceScientific Romance

DefinitionsDefinitions Utopia:Utopia: A place, state, or condition that is ideally A place, state, or condition that is ideally

perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions. conditions.

Dystopia:Dystopia: A futuristic, imagined universe in A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control. Dystopias, through an totalitarian control. Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system. political system.

Genre : DystopiaGenre : Dystopia

Dystopia = a perfect society gone wrongDystopia = a perfect society gone wrong

Orwell warns against what could happenOrwell warns against what could happenin the future based on the atrocities andin the future based on the atrocities and

dictators that gained power in WWIIdictators that gained power in WWII

The rise of totalitarian governmentsThe rise of totalitarian governments

The use of science and technology toThe use of science and technology toregulate or brainwash societyregulate or brainwash society

The distortion off truth through rhetoricThe distortion off truth through rhetoric

What Orwell Saw .. .. ..What Orwell Saw .. .. ..

Economic depression in the 1930sEconomic depression in the 1930s High unemploymentHigh unemployment Shortages of money, housing, and foodShortages of money, housing, and food Restrictions on daily life and rationsRestrictions on daily life and rationsThe beginning of the Cold WarThe beginning of the Cold War Countries east of “iron curtain” wereCountries east of “iron curtain” werecommunistcommunist Countries west of it were protected by USCountries west of it were protected by US

Types of Dystopian Controls Types of Dystopian Controls Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control

and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through one or more of and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through one or more of the following types of controls: the following types of controls:

• • Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through products, advertising, and/or the media. Examples include products, advertising, and/or the media. Examples include Minority Report Minority Report and and Running ManRunning Man. .

• • Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations, and incompetent through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations, and incompetent government officials. Examples in film include government officials. Examples in film include BrazilBrazil. .

• • Technological control: Society is controlled by technology—through Technological control: Society is controlled by technology—through computers, robots, and/or scientific means. Examples include computers, robots, and/or scientific means. Examples include The MatrixThe Matrix, , The TerminatorThe Terminator, and , and I, RobotI, Robot. .

• • Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled by philosophical or Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled by philosophical or religious ideology often enforced through a dictatorship or theocratic religious ideology often enforced through a dictatorship or theocratic government. government.

The Dystopian Protagonist The Dystopian Protagonist

often feels trapped and is struggling to escape. often feels trapped and is struggling to escape.

questions the existing social and political systems. questions the existing social and political systems.

believes or feels that something is terribly wrong believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives. with the society in which he or she lives.

helps the audience recognize the negative helps the audience recognize the negative

aspects of the dystopian world through his or her aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective. perspective.

How does this novel connect with our ownHow does this novel connect with our ownsociety?society?

What is Orwell’s ultimate message aboutWhat is Orwell’s ultimate message about

Societal apathy?Societal apathy? The use of fear?The use of fear?

Mass manipulation?Mass manipulation? Isolation and individualism?Isolation and individualism?

Scientific RomanceScientific Romance

Has within it a set of conventions which Has within it a set of conventions which allow him to put forward his political allow him to put forward his political convictions and explore the psychological convictions and explore the psychological developments of a central characterdevelopments of a central character

Political ideas are humanisedPolitical ideas are humanised

Therefore in 1984 : Form and structure Therefore in 1984 : Form and structure depend upon one anotherdepend upon one another

Tables- HomeworkTables- Homework

Work in pairs- compare/explain the ways in Work in pairs- compare/explain the ways in which the novel fits into each genrewhich the novel fits into each genre

Comparing the TextsComparing the Texts

How does the How does the purpose, structure purpose, structure and formand form of Nineteen Eighty Four’ of Nineteen Eighty Four’ compare to that of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale?’compare to that of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale?’

E.g. Novel-dystopian Novel-written E.g. Novel-dystopian Novel-written transcript.transcript.

Choices within the novel form/genre present in Choices within the novel form/genre present in the narrative include:the narrative include:

1. diary entry1. diary entry 2. dialogue/conversation2. dialogue/conversation 3. reported speech3. reported speech 4. letter4. letter 5. description5. description 6. interior monologue6. interior monologue