Newspeak

March 10, 2014

 

E.Q: How is power abused by Newspeak?

Obj: I can identify the abuse of power in 1984.

 

Starter:

2.  Put yourself in Winston’s situation.

Imagine you have just started your secret diary. After you have scribbled

“DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER”

 numerous times, been accosted by the Parsons children, and been told the chocolate ration is reduced, you sit down in order to begin writing a meaningful entry into your diary.

When Winston first begins to write, he believes that he is writing for the future, for the people who will live after the reign of Big Brother, after the end of INGSOC.

Imagine what kind of information you, as Winston, want to preserve for the future. Which descriptions, facts, and events do you need to include in your diary to enable future generations to understand the way of life in 1984? What advice and what warnings do you want to write down in order to ensure that the age of Big Brother will never be repeated and that future generations can live in a state of peace and equality?

 

Vocabulary:

Propaganda

Big Brother's Slogan:

War is Peace

Freedom is Slavery

Ignorance is Strength

 

 

Activity:

1.  With a partner read pages 50-60.

 

2.  Literature Circles

Each of you choose a role.

 

Discussion Director

Literary Luminary

Summarizer

Illustrator

Prophet

 

Discussion Director-Write a list of questions you have about this particular section of reading.

Literary Luminary-Choose a  few particular passages or quotations for the group to look at.  Why is it important?  What does it mean?

Summarizer- Prepare a summary of the reading.

Illustrator- Create a picture that represents this chunk of text.

Prophet- Predict what will happen next.

 

As a group answer the following questions:

What impact does Newspeak have on society?

How is this a form of power?

 

Turn in what you discussed at the end of class.

 

 

Closure:

Come up with one question that you have from the reading.  This may be something you are curious about or are just unsure of.