September 24, 2014 Day 1 of 1984

Homework: Read chapter 1 of 1984 and write 2 inferential discussion questions.

Three examples of inferential questions from novels: 

"He was familiar with that hollow feeling. He remembered it from the nights after they had buried his mother....the empty space of loss, regret for things which could not be changed." (73) How has this hollow feeling from Tayo's past returned to him? What do you think caused it? Do you believe that the empty feeling described is worse now than it was in the past? Why would this be?

‘When we gaze at the night sky’ he says, ’we are looking at fragments of the past.’  What does Stephen mean by this? Also, could that phrase (and some of what follows it) be relevant in some way to Elaine’s life as well?

1.  “After he has gone back, to wherever he’s going next, I think of getting him a star named after himself, for his birthday.  I have seen an advertisement for these: you send in your money, and you get a certificate with a star map, your own marked on it.  Possibly he would find this amusing.  But I’m not sure the word birthday, for him, would still have meaning (363).”  What might Elaine mean with this cryptic comment about the word “birthday”?  Is this comment connected to his speech on the universe?  Is the “star” as a “birthday” present significant in a symbolic way, or just something a theoretical physicist might like? 

For each question, answer whether you agree or disagree. Be prepared to explain why you answered as you did.

1. Those who would exchange freedom for security deserve neither.

2. To assure our country’s freedom, the government should be able to spy on its citizens.

3. Patriotism means supporting your government during times of war.

4. Torture of a person who is a threat to our country’s freedom is acceptable as long the person does not die.

5. People who are a serious threat to the government should be able to be held in prison without being charged.

6. The government has a right to know what people are reading so they may determine who might be a threat.

7. Society would be safer if we had security cameras in public places to catch potential criminals.

8. For an idea to exist, we must have words to express it.

9. Reporters should submit their work to government officials so they may determine if it’s a threat to the country.

10. The only way to prepare for peace is to be prepared for war.

The United States of Secrets "The Program"