Themes
1984, George Orwell’s classic literature novel, has the following theme(s):
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Task 13: Pretest time to complete task - ½ hour
Please complete the pretest BEFORE attempting ANY assignments. Please relax this will only test what you know at this point in time. You are
graded for doing it regardless of your score.
Task 14: Background 1 time to complete task - 1 hour
Watch the following videos:
Introduction
Summary and Overview
Character
Write one paragraph summarizing what you learned in the videos.
Task 15: Background 2 time to complete task - 1 hour
Watch the following videos:
Big Brother
Totalitarianism
Doublethink
Write one paragraph summarizing what you learned in the videos.
Task 16: 1984 time to complete task - 12 hours
Text with audio
Text with audio Free online text 1 Free online text 2 Free online audio
Complete the study guide.
Task 17: Themes in modern non-fiction time to complete task - 2 hours
1. Read “Meet the Big Brother Screening your Social Media for Employers”. Write a one paragraph ABC essay: Should employers be
allowed to use personal, on-line information that discovered about you to make hiring and firing decisions?
2. Read “We’re living 1984 today”. Write a one paragraph summary of the article.
3. Read “Harrison Bergeron” or see Language for Literature - Orange: pages 21 - 26. One ABC paragraph: What do you think Vonnegut might
be trying to say about today’s society and the role a government can play in achieving equality among people?
Task 18: Essay time to complete task - 3 hours
Essay must be typed and submitted using Google Docs, unless you receive other instructions. You MUST DOUBLE-SPACE AND LEFT-JUSTIFY
YOUR PAPER. You must complete the rubric handout and turn it in to have your essay graded. Essay must be at least 400 words and include
examples from the book. Please note that the grading of your essay may take 24 hours or more. You may use the link for a slideshow for a
complete understanding of what is involved in writing an argument essay.
Choose 1 essay topic:
Task 19: Music and Literature time to complete task - 1 hour (as you read)
Many contemporary songs are inspired by literature and share common ideas and themes. Pick a song or songs from the list below, which
share common ideas or themes from 1984. Write 1 ABC paragraph explaining how the 1984 and your selected song share a theme or idea.
See Music and Literature Assignment.
List of songs for 1984:
Go to: Image (Back Story: This Diego Rivera mural was commissioned by Nelson Rockefeller for Rockefeller Center in New York City. The
title was “Man at the Crossroads.” When Rockefeller noticed that prominent Communists, Lenin (man on the right between the two
propellers) and Trotsky (man holding the red flag) were in the fresco, he ordered it to be painted over. Rivera refused and Rockefeller had it
destroyed. This is a smaller version that Rivera did in Mexico City. Diego Rivera also painted the famous murals in the Detroit Institute of Arts
Rivera Court.)
Write a paragraph on how Rivera portrayed the collective vs. individual identity. How do you think this would tie into the themes in Orwell’s
1984?
Task 21: Exam time to complete task - 1 hour
Must achieve a 70% or greater to pass.
Task 22: FIT/Grammar
Activities assigned on a daily basis.
Task 23: Contemporary Fiction time to complete task - 10 hours
Catching Fire
Read Catching Fire. Write a 200 word (minimum) essay or multimedia project with presentation. Identify and discuss the how collective vs.
individual identity as portrayed in the book. Discuss how “Big Brother” is portrayed in the book.
You must increase your TABE score to receive credit for this section.
Task 24: Projects time to complete task - 6 hours
First Presentation: Prepare a presentation in which you discuss the themes from 1984 across literature, film, art, and music.
Second Presentation: Prepare a presentation, using a different tool than the one used in the first presentation, in which you discuss the
individual vs. collective identity across the pieces you have studied.
1984, George Orwell’s classic literature novel, has the following theme(s):
- Totalitarianism and Communism
- The Individual vs. Collective Identity
- Reality Control
- Sex, love, and loyalty
==============================================================
Task 13: Pretest time to complete task - ½ hour
Please complete the pretest BEFORE attempting ANY assignments. Please relax this will only test what you know at this point in time. You are
graded for doing it regardless of your score.
Task 14: Background 1 time to complete task - 1 hour
Watch the following videos:
Introduction
Summary and Overview
Character
Write one paragraph summarizing what you learned in the videos.
Task 15: Background 2 time to complete task - 1 hour
Watch the following videos:
Big Brother
Totalitarianism
Doublethink
Write one paragraph summarizing what you learned in the videos.
Task 16: 1984 time to complete task - 12 hours
Text with audio
Text with audio Free online text 1 Free online text 2 Free online audio
Complete the study guide.
Task 17: Themes in modern non-fiction time to complete task - 2 hours
1. Read “Meet the Big Brother Screening your Social Media for Employers”. Write a one paragraph ABC essay: Should employers be
allowed to use personal, on-line information that discovered about you to make hiring and firing decisions?
2. Read “We’re living 1984 today”. Write a one paragraph summary of the article.
3. Read “Harrison Bergeron” or see Language for Literature - Orange: pages 21 - 26. One ABC paragraph: What do you think Vonnegut might
be trying to say about today’s society and the role a government can play in achieving equality among people?
Task 18: Essay time to complete task - 3 hours
Essay must be typed and submitted using Google Docs, unless you receive other instructions. You MUST DOUBLE-SPACE AND LEFT-JUSTIFY
YOUR PAPER. You must complete the rubric handout and turn it in to have your essay graded. Essay must be at least 400 words and include
examples from the book. Please note that the grading of your essay may take 24 hours or more. You may use the link for a slideshow for a
complete understanding of what is involved in writing an argument essay.
Choose 1 essay topic:
- Some feel that 1984 had much relevance at the time that it was written, but now has very little relevance. Write an essay in which you agree or disagree with the idea that the novel is no longer significant to our society. Be sure to use examples from the story as well as modern articles (Hint: You just read 2 articles.)
- Write an essay in which you explain whether or not Winston is a hero. Explain your answer with a thorough definition of what a hero is and specific examples that demonstrate how Winston does or does not match the definition.
- In 1984, humans are no longer important and all that matters is power. The purpose of George Orwell’s novel is to warn people about where the state of the world could be headed if too much power were to be given to the government. Prompt: How is our world actually growing closer to the world of 1984?
Task 19: Music and Literature time to complete task - 1 hour (as you read)
Many contemporary songs are inspired by literature and share common ideas and themes. Pick a song or songs from the list below, which
share common ideas or themes from 1984. Write 1 ABC paragraph explaining how the 1984 and your selected song share a theme or idea.
See Music and Literature Assignment.
List of songs for 1984:
- “Let Down” by Radiohead
- “1984” by David Bowie
- “Candidate” by David Bowie
- “Streets of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen
- “Wake up (It’s 1984)” by Oingo Boingo
- “We are the Dead” by David Bowie
Go to: Image (Back Story: This Diego Rivera mural was commissioned by Nelson Rockefeller for Rockefeller Center in New York City. The
title was “Man at the Crossroads.” When Rockefeller noticed that prominent Communists, Lenin (man on the right between the two
propellers) and Trotsky (man holding the red flag) were in the fresco, he ordered it to be painted over. Rivera refused and Rockefeller had it
destroyed. This is a smaller version that Rivera did in Mexico City. Diego Rivera also painted the famous murals in the Detroit Institute of Arts
Rivera Court.)
Write a paragraph on how Rivera portrayed the collective vs. individual identity. How do you think this would tie into the themes in Orwell’s
1984?
Task 21: Exam time to complete task - 1 hour
Must achieve a 70% or greater to pass.
Task 22: FIT/Grammar
Activities assigned on a daily basis.
Task 23: Contemporary Fiction time to complete task - 10 hours
Catching Fire
Read Catching Fire. Write a 200 word (minimum) essay or multimedia project with presentation. Identify and discuss the how collective vs.
individual identity as portrayed in the book. Discuss how “Big Brother” is portrayed in the book.
You must increase your TABE score to receive credit for this section.
Task 24: Projects time to complete task - 6 hours
First Presentation: Prepare a presentation in which you discuss the themes from 1984 across literature, film, art, and music.
Second Presentation: Prepare a presentation, using a different tool than the one used in the first presentation, in which you discuss the
individual vs. collective identity across the pieces you have studied.