1984 Summary
George Orwell

Everything you need to understand or teach 1984 by George Orwell.

1984 Summary & Study Guide
94 Student Essays
1 Encyclopedia Article
1 Literature Criticism
1 Book Notes
...and more

30 1984 Lessons
20 Activities
180 Multiple Choice Questions
60 Short Essay Questions
20 Essay Questions
Pre-Made Tests and Quizzes
...and more

1984 Summary

Published in 1948 and set thirty-six years in the future, 1984 is George Orwell's dark vision of the future. Written while Orwell was dying and based on the work of the Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin, it is a chilling depiction of how the power of the state could come to dominate the lives of individuals through cultural conditioning. Perhaps the most powerful science fiction novel of the twentieth century, this apocalyptic satire shows with grim...

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The 1984 Study Pack contains:

1984 Study Guide

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Topics for Further Study

Encyclopedia Articles (1)

Nineteen Eighty-Four

3,965 words, approx. 14 pages

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair was bom in Motihari, Bengal, India on June 25, 1903, to English parents. Though offered a university scholarship, Blair instead opted to serv... Read more

George Orwell Biographies (6)

George Orwell

1,230 words, approx. 5 pages

The British novelist and essayist George Orwell (1903-1950) is best known for his satirical novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-four.George Orwell was born Eric Arthur Blair at Motihari, Bengal, In... Read more

George Orwell

10,314 words, approx. 35 pages

George Orwell's remarkable international reputation is primarily due to his last two novels, Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), which have spoken to the Cold War consciousness with s... Read more

George Orwell

2,523 words, approx. 9 pages

George Orwell is most widely known today as the novelist who wrote Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), but in the 1930s and 1940s readers of left-wing intellectual periodicals and week... Read more

George Orwell

4,784 words, approx. 16 pages

George Orwell's three major books of travel writing--Down and Out in Paris and London (1933), The Road to Wigan Pier (1937), and Homage to Catalonia (1938)--revived the tradition of excursionary liter... Read more

George Orwell

4,889 words, approx. 17 pages

George Orwell gained an enduring international reputation with his two last works of fiction, the political fable Animal Farm: A Fairy Story (1945) and his near-future dystopia, Nineteen Eighty-Four (... Read more

George Orwell

10,847 words, approx. 37 pages

Biography EssayGeorge Orwell's remarkable international reputation is primarily due to his last two novels, Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), which have spoken to the Cold War cons... Read more

Essays & Analysis (95)

James M. Keech

6,680 words, approx. 23 pages

1,265 words, approx. 5 pages

While almost all novels contain some sort of political allusion or connotation, few novels are as directly political as George Orwell's 1984. From beginning to end, the novel is an epic and shocking ... Read more

Discuss Orwell's treatment of individualism in 1984

2,017 words, approx. 7 pages

"For every text a context" and only through referral to the non-literary world can we understand the motivation behind the literary. In a time of Nazism, Stalin and Civil War in Europe, Orwell's disi... Read more

Power And Control in 1984

1,480 words, approx. 5 pages

1984 is a novel about using power to control society. George Orwell's novel was published in 1949 and this is significant because World War II had recently ended and the Nazi dictatorship of Adolph Hi... Read more

The Propaganda Machine

1,902 words, approx. 7 pages

George Orwell was the pen name for Eric Arthur Blair (1903-1950), who growing up in London was aware of some of the atrocities people lived through during a time of war. Orwell who had worked for the... Read more

Control in "1984"

1,487 words, approx. 5 pages

The early 1900's spawned literature about dystopia filled with dangerous revolutions, corrupt governments and the creation of discontented people. In the novel, 1984, by George Orwell, a gover... Read more

Love in "1984"

893 words, approx. 3 pages

Love is a vague term that is used to describe one of the most basic human emotions. In George Orwell's futuristic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, love symbolizes democracy, the opposite of the Party's d... Read more

1984 Vs. Brave New World - Conceived Reality

1,248 words, approx. 5 pages

1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley use similar devices in their respective societies to create the desired reality for each citizen. However, by using very dissimilar philosop... Read more

1984: Why Freedom is Important

1,061 words, approx. 4 pages

The term `freedom' is often associated with the notion of living free of restraint and having an unfettered liberty to engage in rational actions with a sense that that our actions will not be control... Read more

A Marxist Reading of George Orwell's 1984 from the Point of View of George Luckàcs

5,011 words, approx. 17 pages

A Marxist reading of Orwell's 1984. From the standpoint of Luckàcs Marxism accepts a virtually axiomatic dialectical materialism, the labor theory of value and the economic determination of al... Read more

Individuality Surpressed in Novels

2,504 words, approx. 9 pages

Individuality, and the ability to think for oneself are concepts that are a central part of today's society. In the past century, for the most part, it seems that individuals have been given the more ... Read more

Psychological Manipulation at It's Best

957 words, approx. 4 pages

Americans are sitting at a neutral state being swung back and forth on what and who to believe. Just like the novel 1984 by George Orwell, American citizens are psychologically manipulated to beli... Read more

Mind Control Methods in 1984

1,472 words, approx. 5 pages

Mind Control Methods of 1984 and Today. Everyone wants more money. That's why people go to college to make more money. That's why people rob banks to get more money. That's why people do unethical bu... Read more

1984

337 words, approx. 2 pages

The success of any society relies on the ignorance of the bulk of the society. Orwell, in "1984", creates a society full of ignorance. Through ignorance, there is gullibility, and therefore fear can ... Read more

1984 Control

804 words, approx. 3 pages

The Use of Control in 1984 If someone controlled every aspect of your life: what you did, what you ate, whom you could talk to and how you could talk to them, or even the facial expressions you made,... Read more

1984

575 words, approx. 2 pages

The relationship that has been formed between the government and the masses can be defined in one word, parasitic. They feed off the strengths and weaknesses of each other in order to ensure their own... Read more

1984

623 words, approx. 3 pages

How does George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty Four enable the reader to question people's need for individuality in a totalitarian society? George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four portrays a society, Oceania... Read more

Essay For 1984 George Orwell

401 words, approx. 2 pages

Essay for 1984:  I believe that the author George Orwell did not predict more advanced technology in his book, because 1984 was not a fictional novel, but an honest prediction of what life would... Read more

Common Threads in 1984 and Today's Society

1,541 words, approx. 6 pages

"Big Brother is Watching You"(Orwell 5). This simple phrase has become the cornerstone of the conspiracy theorists dialog. George Orwell may have writing a cautionary novel with 1984, but there is lit... Read more

1984 by Orwell and China

325 words, approx. 2 pages

George Orwell, the author of 1984, expresses his opinion of totalitarianism, which is ruling with absolute power as the ultimate method to control people both physically and psychologically. In the st... Read more

1984 By George Orwell

1,464 words, approx. 5 pages

1984 is a novel written by George Orwell. It is a satire that aims to depict a life under a totalitarian government through the eyes of the protagonist, Winston Smith. Initially 1984 didn't appeal t... Read more

Is 1984 the Future?

1,552 words, approx. 6 pages

Is the Future 1984" George Orwell was born Eric Arthur Blair in colonial India in 1903. He attended boarding school in England where he discovered an "early sensitivity to the uses and abuses of powe... Read more

Semantic Views Between Winston and Julia

637 words, approx. 3 pages

Although Julia and Winston both live in Oceania, they have diverse views on the semantic map of their territory that they are presented with. Some of Winston's ideas about Oceania conflict with Julia... Read more

Newspeak and the Declaration of Independence

546 words, approx. 2 pages

The appendix of George Orwell's 1984 concerns itself mainly with the workings of Newspeak, the official language of Oceania. In it, Orwell discusses how a certain extract from America' Declaration of ... Read more

"1984" was George Orwell's Warnings to Readers of Totalitarianism

456 words, approx. 2 pages

In 1984 George Orwell warns the readers about the dangers of a totalitarian society. He describes a society that is not too far away from the then present day conditions that could so easily turn into... Read more

Analysis of the Novel "1984"

1,870 words, approx. 7 pages

George Orwell's 1984 portrays a character's not only failure of living up to an ideal of a society, but also his choice to rebel against it, because the distorted ideal of the society is too harsh fo... Read more

Sybolism in "1984" by George Orwell

1,074 words, approx. 4 pages

In 1984, Orwell makes excellent use of symbolism to further enhance the novel's theme and to reveal character. He wrote 1984 as a political message to warn future generations about the dangers of tota... Read more

A Review of the Movie and Book "1984"

926 words, approx. 4 pages

Michael Radford did an incredible job in the way he directed 1984, it is a movie about a utopia (a perfect world). Radford used cinematic filming techniques to really capture the way he wanted the mov... Read more

Newspeak and the Declaration of Independence

555 words, approx. 2 pages

Total Power

1,045 words, approx. 4 pages

Throughout history, many societies have attempted to establish a nation with an all powerful government. Some have risen to great power, but in the end, they always result in collapse. In 1984 by Ge... Read more

Theme of "1984"

570 words, approx. 2 pages

In 1984, the government tries to establish a Utopia and mold the perfect world, but it soon leads to destruction and the Inner Party obtaining too much power. The ruling class controls citizens by ta... Read more

Reaching Utopia in "1984"

531 words, approx. 2 pages

Webster's dictionary defines utopia as, an ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects. In 1984, the government strives to make Oceania a utopia, in which no one reme... Read more

"1984": Appearance Versus Reality

1,179 words, approx. 4 pages

In George Orwell's 1984, people, places, and events are not as they seem. A person's life is a lie, and the reality of the world which is dead and lifeless, is hidden behind the figure Big Brother. Wi... Read more

Solipsism in "1984"

608 words, approx. 3 pages

Solipsism is defined by the Meriam-Webster dictionary as "a theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and that the self is the only existent thing." This theory is basic... Read more

Glass Paperweight in "1984"

345 words, approx. 2 pages

The glass paperweight defines Winston Smiths undivided fate throughout the novel 1984, by George Orwell. This symbol of the glass paperweight is crucial to Winston's development as a character. The... Read more

The Plot of "1984"

318 words, approx. 2 pages

Bringing the Story Together

822 words, approx. 3 pages

Minor characters are a vital part for pulling a novel together. Minor characters usually leave distinctive clues and foreshadowing images and descriptions that can make you have a better understan... Read more

Has the Patriot Act Made "1984" a Reality?

1,003 words, approx. 4 pages

The new programs implemented by President Bush in order to protect Americans and discourage terrorist behavior have made evident the similarities between modern American society and Orwellian sociali... Read more

Could the Society in "1984" Exist?

1,276 words, approx. 5 pages

Imagine a society where every move is being watched, pleasure is going to a hanging and part of the daily life is screaming at a telescreen. This is Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell. With the i... Read more

Warnings in 1984

684 words, approx. 3 pages

In George Orwell's novel 1984, Mr. Orwell provides the reader with three practical warnings against certain dangers in government. The first warning states that people who want individualism and free... Read more

Private Security

723 words, approx. 3 pages

America has recently raised security at the price of individual freedoms in order to quell the fear of another September 11th attack. Extensive background checks and personal surveillance has many ... Read more

The Paperweight in "1984"

593 words, approx. 2 pages

In 1984, Orwell makes excellent use of symbolism to further enhance the novel's themes. "This symbol of the glass paperweight is crucial to Winston's development as a character. The paperweight s... Read more

1984 Warnings

744 words, approx. 3 pages

In George Orwell's novel, 1984, there were many warnings about the future. ."..the warning is that unless the course of history changes, men all over the world will lose their most human qualities, wi... Read more

Society of "1984" Versus Society of Today

1,104 words, approx. 4 pages

Imagine living in a world where every aspect of life is controlled by a group of complete strangers. Life is completely devoid of privacy, every minute of every day is spent trying to please a ruler ... Read more

Foreshadowing in "1984"

1,039 words, approx. 4 pages

In the book 1984, George Orwell creates a protagonist who tries to defeat the dark, terrifying traits of a totalitarian world. The protagonist, Winston, has very common human desires to feel love and ... Read more

1984: A Review

6,103 words, approx. 21 pages

The story starts with a man by the name of Winston Smith who is aged 39 and is a member of the Outer Party. The society of Oceania is described, it seems like a contry under martial law. Everywhere th... Read more

1984 and Fahrenheit 451, A Comparison of Themes

1,884 words, approx. 7 pages

"WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH" (17). Ray Bradbury and George Orwell are two different writers, who have written very similar novels: Fahrenheit 451 and 1984. Both these n... Read more

Big Brother Is Watching You

498 words, approx. 2 pages

"Big Brother is Watching You." In 1984 Orwell warns us of the dangers and consequences a government with unlimited surveillance powers can bring on society. The novel's "Party" used technology as well... Read more

Totialtarian Governments and 1984

1,036 words, approx. 4 pages

In the novel 1984, George Orwell shoes the world how things would have been if rulers such as Stalin, Hitler, and Mussolini had stayed in power. These men where the ruler's of our time they... Read more

Freedom in 1984

484 words, approx. 2 pages

In the book 1984 by George Orwell, governmental control systems diminish freedoms of the public, but mainly rights of the members of "the Party." For example, the Party hinders all people of Oceania f... Read more

1984: Room 101

806 words, approx. 3 pages

The idea of room 101 is that it is the place where everyone meets his or her worst fear. The people are sent there after they have endured much pain already. They are sent there because it is known th... Read more

1984 versus 2004

455 words, approx. 2 pages

In George Orwell's novel 1984 the world is a very strange place. Everyone and everything is controlled by Big Brother, even people's thoughts. This seems like a very far out concept but really George ... Read more

Courage - 1984

559 words, approx. 2 pages

Courage is when one has the bravery to stand up against someone or something. Winston, from the book 1984 by George Orwell, proves that he has courage to stand out against the party. Winston wanted ... Read more

George Orwell's 1984

1,291 words, approx. 5 pages

It is always difficult to try and adequately define a utopian world. By definition, a utopian world is a perfect one. Unfortunately, the word perfect is notoriously relative and subject to individual ... Read more

Distopia in 1984

1,758 words, approx. 6 pages

Utopia is an imagined perfect place or state of things, whereas, a distopia, is the exact opposite. When George Orwell wrote 1984, he created an extremely realistic vision of a distopian society. A gr... Read more

1984

1,494 words, approx. 5 pages

`Nineteen Eighty-Four', by George Orwell, is a novel that is set in a bleak future dystopic society. Orwell builds up a pessimistic picture of this society through his use of narration, character,... Read more

George Orwell's 1984: A Book Summary

876 words, approx. 3 pages

In closing, George Orwell's novel 1984 uses strong descriptions to get his ideas across. His ideas represent what he thinks life could become like in fifty or so years if dictatorship is allowed to c... Read more

1984

1,474 words, approx. 5 pages

In the novel, 1984 by George Orwell, there are several intriguing themes, which are discussed from the point of view of the protagonist, Winston Smith, the main theme of the book being control. Two of... Read more

Compar and Contrast Winton and Julia

868 words, approx. 3 pages

George Orwell has demonstrated the possibilities of two main characters who have contradicting traits can fall deeply in love. Although they are both secret rebels of the party and they both hate the ... Read more

How "1984" Relates to 20th Century European History

1,199 words, approx. 4 pages

The book 1984 describes a future society in which Winston Smith lives as a member of the Outer Party, the organization which rules the state of Oceania, where Winston lives. The year 1984 is an arbit... Read more

1984 Study Notes

2,417 words, approx. 9 pages

§ Orwell's political ideas were influenced by the Stalinist Great Purges, Hitler's vision of the Aryan Race and WWII. § After the war, the shifting of alliances among superpowers was a pr... Read more

Book Review of "1984"

852 words, approx. 3 pages

George Orwell: 1984 In George Orwell's 1984 Winston Smith, a member of the Outer Party from Oceania, which is a fictional state that represents England and America, lives in all visible ways as a goo... Read more

Themes and Events in "1984"

1,597 words, approx. 6 pages

George Orwell's novel, 1984, is looked at by some, as a warning of where the current society can be heading. The novel shows experiences similar to some today, such as war and parts of the government... Read more

Oceania's Subdivided Society

870 words, approx. 3 pages

Throughout the recorded times in Oceania, there has always been three kinds of people in the world, the High (Inner Party Members) the Middle (Outer Party Members) and the Low (Proles). These three k... Read more

Dystopian Societies in Literature

1,157 words, approx. 4 pages

The arena that is reality is a house of balance. With gain comes inherent loss. As the world is imperfect, so too are its inhabitants. With this imperfection, however, comes the meaning of life. The g... Read more

Alienation in 1984

644 words, approx. 3 pages

If you live in a state where you are dictated all the time, it can bring the kind of alienation that is shown in the novel 1984. Winston, the first and the most obvious example of this, is total... Read more

1984: An Analysis of O'Brien

708 words, approx. 3 pages

O'Brien is a kind of mysterious character. Early on in this book, I honestly thought that he was Winston's friend and co-conspirator in fighting Big Brother. But in part three we find out that h... Read more

The Orwellian World Presented in 1984: Possible or Not?

1,717 words, approx. 6 pages

Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell, focuses primarily on one man, Winston Smith, and his plight against the Orwellian world and its government. This harsh and heinous world is shown by the governm... Read more

Repression of Society in "1984" and "Fahrenheit 451"

1,136 words, approx. 4 pages

Ray Bradbury and George Orwell are two totally different writers who have written a very similar book. What do the books 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 have in common? They both share a common theme, conflic... Read more

1984: A Look Into Totalitarianism

1,008 words, approx. 4 pages

In the novel 1984, George Orwell demonstrates how one governing body can manage to manipulate a whole country such as Oceania. Throughout our past we have seen totalitarian governments take absolute ... Read more

Winston's Alienation from the World in "1984"

725 words, approx. 3 pages

The character of Winston is a compilation of confusion of the past, present, and future of the world he knows, a world of hierarchical turmoil in which the government is omnipotent and suppressive. Wi... Read more

Is the World of 1984 Possible?

1,004 words, approx. 4 pages

Is the world of 1984 possible" George Orwell's vision of 1984 is a dark and wicked place to be, where trust and freedom are inexistent. It is a world where most people don't know the meaning of priva... Read more

Is the World of 1984 Possible?

1,107 words, approx. 4 pages

George Orwell's world of 1984 is a dark and sinister place. In a world controlled by high and demanding power constantly living in fear of doing or saying something is somewhat similar to the world of... Read more

Comparison of Dystopian Worlds in 1984 and the Matrix

781 words, approx. 3 pages

Dystopian Worlds From the beginning of the text, George Orwell's "Nineteen eighty-four" is portrayed as a dystopia in which the protagonist, Winston resides in. The ugliness of the dystopia in which ... Read more

1984

1,284 words, approx. 5 pages

Is the World of 1984 Possible" The book 1984 tells a story of a world that is undergoing a totalitarian rule, whereby the freedom of human beings is removed and there is injustice present to all by t... Read more

To Deceive the Ignorant: The Government's Work in George Orwell's 1984

1,529 words, approx. 6 pages

The novel 1984 written by George Orwell in 1949, was written as a warning for the future. Throughout the novel George Orwell illustrates how the government deceives their citizens to believe that good... Read more

Manipulation of Power

219 words, approx. 1 pages

1984 can be seen as the final distillation of a number of opinions and theories George Orwell had been building over the years of his short life. His stint with the Indian Imperial Police in Burma int... Read more

1984-Analysis of Chapters One to Three

782 words, approx. 3 pages

1984- Analysis of Chapters 1-3 In chapter one of 1984, the characters are basically being introduced. They live in a totalitarian society called Oceania. Winston Smith is the protagonist of... Read more

Is Our Society Becoming an Orwellian Society?

1,013 words, approx. 4 pages

Imagine that you are walking down the street and you see your friend walking towards you. As you stop to talk, it suddenly dawns on you that your conversation could be monitored. Everything that you s... Read more

Living Conditions, Winston and Julia, and Mind Control in "1984"

965 words, approx. 4 pages

Part I: Describe the living conditions of Oceania. The living conditions in Oceania are terrible. The people of Oceania live in a cold, dark world full of terror and restrictions. The party of Ocean... Read more

Rebellion

628 words, approx. 3 pages

        Rebellion is defined as rejection of accepted conventions of behaviour.  In the novel, 1984 by George Orwell, both of the main characters,  Julia and W... Read more

The Dangers of Totalitarianism in "1984"

722 words, approx. 3 pages

Published in 1949, within the acclaimed classic "1984", Orwell narrates the utterly hopeless, bleak and harsh realities of a predicted completely totalitarian dystopic world. Orwell portrays a grim ... Read more

How Is Language Important in 1984?

1,258 words, approx. 5 pages

How is language important in 1984? In this essay, I would like to analyse language and its importance in the early chapters of 1984, commenting on the techniques and stylistic devices that Orwell us... Read more

Freedom Is Slavery

603 words, approx. 3 pages

Freedom is Slavery: The maxim Freedom is Slavery is best explained in the book 1984 by the telescreens shown throughout the novel. In the world today, the Patriot Act ensures U.S. citizens freedom b... Read more

1984: Society

779 words, approx. 3 pages

Society in Nineteen Eighty-four is a terrifying example of totalitarianism. Citizens live in a nightmarish emotional vacuum where everything is controlled by the party. Love, independent thought and ... Read more

1984: Winston and His Role in Oceania

372 words, approx. 2 pages

What is Winston Smith's role in the state of Oceania Winston Smith is seen by the Party as being anti-establishment. The book was originally titled "The last man in Europe" before being changed to "... Read more

Winston Smith's Battle Against Totalitarianism in "1984"

1,302 words, approx. 5 pages

1984, a novel written by George Orwell, portrays a dismal prediction of a “negative utopia” that runs on the base of brainwashing civilians, daily propaganda, and torture. The novel desc... Read more

Mind Control in "1984"

362 words, approx. 2 pages

Throughout the novel 1984, one main theme is infused. That theme is mind control and what its everlasting effects can do. Mind control takes its biggest victims in the forms of the main characters,... Read more

The Oppression of Totalitarian Society in "1984"

1,305 words, approx. 5 pages

As with many controversial topics in life, there are always at least two schools of thought. The debate as to whether or not one person can make a difference in the world is no exception. There are t... Read more

1984

826 words, approx. 3 pages

Throughout the novel 1984, George Orwell sends a chilling warning of the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of education. He creates an extreme example of a world where "Big Brother is watc... Read more

Comparing George Orwell's 1984 with Iran in Today's Society

1,175 words, approx. 4 pages

The daunting image created by Orwell in 1984 depicts a society where there are no such thing as human rights and absolutely no straying from the standard political way of thinking. The government cont... Read more

George Orwells Plea for Humanity

1,822 words, approx. 7 pages

As evolution has progressed the human species has refined its way of living to a state of being civilized. This civilisation is controlled by laws and hierarchies of power which slowly limit freedoms ... Read more

1984 Today

3,886 words, approx. 13 pages

Juan Puentes Instructor: Phil Hu English 100 5/11/06 Living in 1984-Today George Orwell's horrendous yet prophetic vision of the future in his novel, 1984 has come and gone. In this nightmaris... Read more

Rhyme, Slime, and Crime: an Exploration of the Destructive Side of Rhyme in Orwell's 1984

1,429 words, approx. 5 pages

The idea of rhyme in language plays two important roles in George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984. First, the negative portrayal of rhyme (or words that sound the same) helps us to understand Orwell's o... Read more

Class Structure in "1984"

642 words, approx. 3 pages

In George Orwell's 1984, there is no individual. He portrays a society that is broken up into class groups, where the proletarians make up the majority of society (approximately 80%) and are the lower... Read more

Free Book Notes (1)

1984

20,371 words, approx. 68 pages

1984 Book Notes is a free study guide on 1984 by George Orwell. Browse the summary below:   Author Biography / Context of the Work   One-Page Plot Summary   Character Descriptions... Read more

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