1984

By the end of this unit, students will be able to: identify the elements of dystopian literature; explain how Orwell’s background emerges in the themes of 1984; explain the purpose of the Two Minutes’ Hate; explain the various forms of control that the Ingsoc government exercises over its citizens; describe the ways in which the Ingsoc government uses technology to monitor and influence its citizens; explain the historical context behind the three forms of totalitarianism that appear in 1984; explain the major ideas found in Goldstein’s book about oligarchical hierarchism, and compare and contrast those ideas with the ideas espoused by our own government; contrast the rulers of Oceania (the Inner Party) with rulers in historical totalitarian states; analyze the ways in which tone and diction undermine one another in the story; analyze the ways in which syntax lends itself to tone construction; explain the various forms of paradox that appear throughout the story, including Newspeak, doublethink, and crimestop. 61 pages. ©2007.