Language and Style Flashcards
what is free indirect discourse?
third person narration, with the ‘voice’ of the book belonging to the narrator but echoing Winston’s thoughts and feelings
what is the effect of the pessimistic tone in 1984?
the setting is dismal, which is reflecting is the pessimistic and gloomy tone and language used throughout the book
Orwell uses a rather bleak editing style, the sentences are direct with minimal flourish and poetic quality
this reflects how dull and bleak life is for the citizens of Oceania but also shows how limited thought, individuality and creativity had become in such a totalitarian state
what is the significance of Newspeak?
reminds us of the power that language has — the Party needs to destroy the capacity for free thought by limiting and destroying language
they do this in order to quell rebellion because without language we cannot clarify our ideas or express ourselves
while verbal language is corrupted, there is a heavy emphasis on the significance of body language throughout the book — e.g. Julia tearing off her uniform, Winston recognising that even his back could give him away, the “enveloping, protecting gesture” of Winston’s mother
cinematic dissolves in 1984
Winston’s consciousnesses frequently drifts from past to present and from waking to dreaming
his mind is ultimately beyond his control
he is attacked from the outside by propaganda and regulation, but also from the inside by nightmares and memories — no escape, even in his own mind
what does the symbol of the paperweight represent?
the fragile paperweight represents hope and the past
it is a useless item from the past, banned by the Party, so Winston possessing it gives him hope
however it is very fragile and delicate, symbolising the delicate nature of hope and how it can be destroyed easily — as seen when the paperweight is smashed during his arrest, symbolising the destruction of hope
what do the victory gin and cigarettes symbolise?
assigned, state sanctioned vices
they act as a means of escape and self medication
not acts of individuality or rebellion as the Party has allowed them access to such things
what do the telescreens symbolise?
constant surveillance and absolute control
abuse of technology
what does the red armed prole woman symbolise?
hope for the future — Winston hopes that one day the proles will rise up, but they are ignorant to their own oppression
symbol of freedom — she sings freely, which is forbidden for Party members, and she is truly happy, the Party has not destroyed the proles’ humanity
what does the varicose ulcer symbolise?
repressed sexuality — swells up whenever Winston is sexually frustrated and heals when he is with Julia
what do the memory holes symbolise?
destruction of the past and absolute control
