Blog #45 -Eric Huang -Period 2 -5/28/20

Aim: How is the theme, "the importance of having knowledge about the past in order to understand the future" exemplified/elucidated through Winston’s time in the Prole District?

Do Now: 

1. What are some of the “lies/stories” parents tell their children?
1. Santa Claus
2. Tooth Fairy
2. Why do you believe they tell these stories, rather than the truth?
1. To make life more fun
2. To control kids
3. What might be a history “lie/story” a school has taught/told you?
1. Christopher Columbus and the first Thanksgiving

Group Discussion 

1. Analyze Winston’s statement above. How do you explain his example. What are your thoughts on the matter?
1. The party has so much power that they can easily manipulate the people
2. What do you think is the author’s intention of purpose is for the reader to have as a takeaway about the world you/we live in?
1. It’s really comparable to current day’s society
1. Shows how there are limited people in power at the top
2. The author wants you to question authority
1. Don’t blindly follow as the people in 1984 and Animal Farm

Group Work

• Assess if Winston is correct in his statement “If there’s hope, it lies in the proles.”
• Depends on the proles because they are all brainwashed already
• If there is someone brave enough, then there can be a rebellion
• The older age group might be more willing to rebel than the younger age group
• The old people might still have some memories of life before the revolution
• How would things unfold for success/failure to occur.
• The government would have to fall
• Are there specific actions or events that need to occur to guarantee success/failure? If so, what?
• Revolution 

Whole Class Discussion

• What do you make of Winston (unconsciously) finding himself back at the very junk shop where he bought the diary?
• He is already becoming rebellious against the Party
• Why does he appear to be so drawn to the paperweight?
• It stands out to him
• It’s something from before the revolution 
• He’s on a quest to the past
• What are your opinions of the room, which has no telescreen?
• It’s a protection against the government’s eyes

• Why do you suppose he decides he will continue to return to the shop, despite the risks? Foreshadowing?
• Bad consequences

Write about what you learned in your online English lessons.

During my online English classes, I’ve been able to learn about different views of the story. For example, I might have read the book and understood one thing, but my classmate might have read it and had a different understanding of it.

What is it like working from home?

Working from home is a lot more relaxed than being in class physically. At home, eating and sleeping schedules are a lot more flexible. There’s also a lot less schoolwork and little to no tests. 

What are the updates around the world/community regarding the virus?

The death toll in the United States just reached 100,000, which is a horrifying number to hit. In New York, the daily death toll has slowly gone down. In April, it was at its highest around 800 deaths per day. Currently, it’s dropped to around 100-200 the past few days.

Reflection

What did I learn?

I learned that the paperweight not only stood out to him, but it also symbolizes him wanting to go back to the past before the revolution.

Why did I learn it?

I learned it so I can see another classmate’s understanding of the book. When I read it, I didn’t realize that, but now, I see a different point of view.

How will I use what I learned?

I can try to make more connections like this and try to find other things that may be symbols.