Blog #43 - David Keyser - Period 3 - 05/27/2020

Blog 2, David Keyser, Period 3, 5/27/20

Aim: how does the setting of the novel contribute to the mood and tone of 1984?

Do Now: Turn and Talk

Consider your knowledge of Oceania thus far.

What words, which provide “tone” might you use to describe Oceania

My answers:

• Oppressive 
• Bitter
• Cult-like
• Distasteful
• Unfair

Classmates answers:

• Miserable
• Gloomy
• Negative
• Tyrannical: big brother is a tyrant, looks out for himself, vaporizes people (withers)

What is Tone and Mood

Tone: Think of Tone as demonstrating how the Speaker feels.

Mood: Think of Mood as how the reader feels.

Class Discussion:

How would you compare Winston’s tone to the reader’s mood?

• Winston’s tone is similar to the reader’s mood. Both the reader and Winston realize the unsettling nature of the creation of this society or world. Winston feels like Oceania is not the place he is meant to be. **Both the reader and Winston start to question their society and if it really the ideal way of life*** Anyone that reads this book will agree with Winston.

How does his tone compare to the rest of Oceania?

• My answer: Winston is one of the few with an independent thought process and the others seem to be following under the will of big brother. For instance, the children who live next to Winston and children in general use their fun pastimes to plot and aid the government in their silencing of free will.

Irony found in 1984

• Ministry of truth: place where Winston works that's goal is to fabricate, conceal and bend the truth to make their society seem completely perfect with no mistakes.
• Ministry of plenty: their goal is to decrease the supply of certain material goods or food/supplies but lie and make it seem like there is gain in the amount of product.
• Winston recognizes the eradication of people he is creating and loves his job of manipulation but despises big brother and the party.

What is Setting?
Setting: The time, place, physical details and circumstances in which a story occurs. They include the background, atmosphere, or environment in which characters live and move, and usually include physical characteristics of the surroundings.

Class Discussion

1. Why is Setting important? How does it contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole?

My Answer: Setting can help the reader make a personal connection or can invoke a sense of emotion in the reader. Knowing the setting can open up conflict, character development and can be used effectively in storylines.

Classmate Answers: George Orwell’s reason for writing 1984 was to make a precautionary tale, something to warn people of where the world may be heading and making the setting a real place in our world today can be relatable and can express the magnitude of how closely tied the story is to our real world.  

Vocabulary

• Palimpsest: a manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain. 

Summary of Aim

• The setting and societal structure of 1984 contributes to the tone and mood by allowing both the reader and the characters (Winston) to understand the extent of power the government has and the sad and negative tone and the dreary mood that is conveyed upon the readers. 
• Important to note the irony of Winston’s distaste of the government and the ideals of big brother while loving his job of propaganda employed by the government and altering the truth.

Blog Content

1. My own personal feelings and thoughts about what is happening right now

• Currently the entire world is on complete pause and no one has any clue when it will end. Personally, I am appalled at the improper role the media has taken in their place in society today. They are causing mass hysteria through their use of propaganda and often seem to target specific political leaders to incite hate and place blame on this confusing seemingly never-ending pandemic. At a time of confusion people look to news stations and media outlets to try and bring some sanity and relieve them of their fears. When they find headlines like “Why the Coronavirus is worse than you think” it only instills a deeper fear.

2. What it's like working from home

• In my opinion, working from home is a smart thing to have implemented into our quarantined lives. It creates a sort of structure in our everyday lives that seem to be extremely repetitive. Not only does it help you stay productive regarding school-related activities but it can also motivate you to exercise and maintain a normal sleep schedule. In my personal experience of working from home I find it to be a little excessive and am seeing more work being assigned now compared to the normal school year. 

3. What I’ve learned about the world and community based off of their reactions

• I’ve learned that you can never know what to expect from people and how they will react. When told by almost every government official to maintain a home quarantine and limit exposure with others, people revolt in displays of rebellious social gatherings that completely disregard official orders. The American people especially refuse to be legally kept enclosed for an extended period of time. Eventually it caught on and the idea of socially distancing from one another slowly started to fade resulting in our current strange period where we still are weary of others but are not completely locked up either.

Reflection

What did I learn

• In this lesson I learned the significance of a setting on the development of the story, the characters and the storyline. The setting can also play a huge role in the use of tone and mood to further demonstrate the author’s opinion on a topic as well as how he/she conveys that mood. Depending on where the story takes place can tell you a lot about the main character(s). Having a basic understanding of a character’s background can help the reader further dissect the tone, the author’s attitude and the mood, how the reader feels based off of the information in the book. 

Why did I learn it

• In order for me, the reader, to fully understand a novel learning and understanding the basics like the setting are just the base of further expanding upon ideas such as tone, mood, character development, etc. Understanding the setting can also help me with understanding the morals the author is trying to convey: for instance, the heavy authority the government has can be evident in the understanding of a large area such as Oceania in which “big brother” is always watching you. 

How will I use what I learned

• Understanding the significance of setting will not only help me with 1984, but with every other book I read in the future, allowing me to expand upon ideas on my own in my head. Understanding the difference between tone and mood will help me later figure out both the tone and mood in any novel I read in the future as well as allow me to have an advanced outlook on novels that I read.