"Between the Pages" -- Period 1

W12, #7: Seems Like A Lot of Effort

I'm sure you're not the only one to have asked yourself this question:

• If Big Brother controlled everything...
• If O'Brien had been monitoring Winston for years...
• If the thought police had plenty of evidence already...

...why go to all this trouble to a) trick, b) catch, and c) torture Winston?

5+ sentences, please.

W12, #6: How Did O'Brien Get This Way?

How do you think O'Brien came to believe all that he says/does?

• Was he like -- Winston -- just a normal guy in the "party" who eventually was brainwashed?
• Was he more like Big Brother from the beginning, never brainwashed because he always believed what he told Winston?
• Or do you imagine some 'other way' that he developed his view of the world?

5+ sentences would be very helpful.

W12, #5: A Film By A Different Name

I'm curious.

Other than the obvious choice -- Minority Report with Tom Cruise playing the police officer that can predict when someone is thinking of committing a crime (aka "a precrime") before they actually do it -- can you think of another film that plays around with the same themes and ideas as 1984?

Your challenge:

• Name the film (or films).
• Give us a short description -- 5 sentences would be great! -- of why there is a strong connection in your mind between our novel and another film.

For those who are curious, here is the film trailer for Minority Report:

W12, #4: Friend, Foe, or John Doe?

I'm curious.

Do you think that at the end of the novel that O'Brien is a real friend of Winston?

Seems possible, right? 

• He is 'honest' with Winston.
• He knows everything about Winston.
• Winston seems 'loyal' to him. 
• Oh, and since there aren't typical 'friends' in this society, is it possible that O'Brien is the closest thing that he can have to one?

What do you think?  Friend?  (Foe or John Doe?)

5+ sentences would be great.

W12, #3: Re-Writing the Future

We know how Orwell 'ended' 1984. 

At the same time, we are left with a few questions as to what really happens to Winston in the coming days, weeks, months, years.

Make a prediction.  Support your ideas with proof from the novel (to get credit).  A quotation (or two) would be great.

W12, #2: Peering Into Room 101

For you, what would be in Room 101?

Explain why.  7+ sentences.

W12, #1: Revise Your 1984 In-Class Essay

If you do this entry, please include all of the following:

1.  Type in your original introduction or conclusion fully from the most recent in-class essay over 1984.
2.  Identify the #1 change you want to make -- be specific.
3.  Type in your revised intro or conclusion fully.