Disclaimer – Some of these topics worked better than others and will need some tweaking. The Prole woman and the church and paperweight were especially difficult to come up with a significant number of quotes when compared to some of the other topics. That being said, the students enjoyed it and felt like they got more out of the novel through this activity.

Stacie Atkins

1984

Close Reading Envelope Activity

Atkins/English IV AP

Directions:

Each of you will be given an envelope with one close reading topic on it. Throughout your reading of the novel, you are to copy passages along with page numbers onto index cards or slips of paper and put them in your envelope.

You will meet periodically in groups to share the contents of your envelope and discuss why the passage was selected and the effect of the quoted passage on the meaning of the work as a whole. Some days you will be placed into groups of students with the same topic and on others you will be placed with a group with different topics. Envelope contents may also be used to guide discussion in Socratic seminar and/or as quiz grades. Write legibly on the cards as some days the envelopes will be swapped and your classmates might write an analysis of the excerpts in your envelope.

Envelope #1

Who is Emmanuel Goldstein and how is he represented to the people of Oceana? What is the significance of the Jewish name?

Envelope #2

Language and Communication – What is Newspeak? What is its purpose? Why is it necessary for the Party to rid the language of synonyms and antonyms?

Envelope #3

Philosophical Viewpoints – Winston contemplates the meaning of life, of existence, of history, of power and each one’s relation to the other. What is existence? What is reality? Is reality dependent on the observer?

Envelope #4

Power – Totalitarianism – The Party uses a number of techniques to control its citizens. They carefully monitor every aspect of life in the citizens of Oceania. What are the ways in which the Party uses its power to control its citizens?

Envelope #5

War – Why is it necessary for Oceania to be engaged in perpetual war? Why does it have to be perpetual war with a constantly shifting enemy?

Envelope #6

Torture and Violence – How does the Party use physical torture to control its citizens? How does the party use psychological torture to control its citizens? Why is it necessary for the party to use torture to maintain control in it totalitarian state?

Envelope #7

Technology – How does technology facilitate evil in the novel 1984? Is privacy possible in Oceania? How and why does the Party use technology to control its citizens?

Envelope #8

Manipulation – Why is it necessary for the Party to control the past, present, and future? How is this manipulation made possible?

Envelope #9

Loyalty – What loyalties are “allowed” in 1984? Are private loyalties possible?

Envelope #10

Rebellion – In what ways does Winston display his rebellions? What acts of rebellion does Julia engage? How are Winston’s and Julia’s acts of rebellion different and similar?

Envelope #11

Big Brother – What does Big Brother represent? How is he used in the Party’s totalitarian state in Oceania?

Envelope #12

Glass paperweight and St. Clemens Church – What is the significance of these symbols for Winston? What do they represent?

Envelope #13

The red armed Prole woman – What is the significance of the Prole woman and what does she represent in Winston’s mind?