Language and Style in 1984

Mood
Consider how words work to contribute to mood, atmosphere and suspense.
Choose three key chapters. Each student asked to develop language analysis questions to
discover how the language in each chapter:
o Contributes to mood and atmosphere as well as to the creation of suspense
o Elements of control
o Importance to the plot or ideas of the novel
o Teacher to model this activity
Plot Structure
Class discussion regarding three parts of the novel
o Three part structure
o Three geographical settings
o Three types of people High, middle, lower classes
o Three party slogans and three year plans of the party
o Three political prisoners Rutherford, Jones and Aaronson
Tension and suspense
The voice behind the picture repeats the words of Winston and Julia. Why is this effective?
What is the impact of the repetition of dead?
What is the effect of the short sentence They sprang apart?
Discuss the effectiveness of the image, Winstons entrails seemed to have turned into ice
What is the effect of the use of the infinitive in To run for life, to get out of the house?
Explain the irony in the following:
Miniluv, the ministry for maintaining law and order
The Ministry for Peace (Minipax), which is the ministry for war
Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimetres inside your skull
The unknown lines of the old Oranges and Lemons rhyme: Here comes a candle tp light
you to bed, / here comes a chopper to chop off your head!
The ending of the novel: He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.

Motifs/symbols
Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts and literary devices that help develop and give
information about the texts major themes.
Symbols are objects, characters, figures and colours used to represent abstract ideas or
concepts
Teacher will model one of the following at the beginning of the lesson. Using knowledge of
the novel, students identify examples of each of the techniques and explain their effect by
completing the following chart.
Motif/Symbol

Double think

Urban Decay

Telescreens

Big Brother

Glass Paperweight

St Clements Church

The place where there is

no darkness

Red armed prole woman

Examples/Explanation

Effect

Techniques
Composers convey their meaning through language the choice and arrangement of words so it
is important to locate the techniques employed and connect the techniques with the process of
meaning. Students should choose a section of the novel to gather information for the following
questions and table
o How does the use of a particular technique convey characterisation/ideas/mood/or any other
effect relevant to the prescription?
Technique

Paradoxes

Hyperbole government
propaganda

Allusions

Symbolism

Juxtaposition

Imagery

Foreshadowing

Examples

Effect

Flashbacks