Blog #52- Sonia Lyakhovich- Period 2
- 6/5/20 Sophomores 2020
Aim: How is connotation, denotation,
and paradox explicated through Orwell’s “doublethink”?
Do Now: Analyze the images below. Record
the feelings you have/
❖ connotation - something suggested by a word or
thing; associative meaning.
❖ denotation - a direct specific meaning as
distinct from an implied or associated idea; the literal meaning.
Words with different connotations
are used all the time in language, either as a metaphor or in slang. As well as
assumptions are made, such as in the above photos, it was easy to associate
meanings with the pictures because they are already set in your mind.
Paradox:
“All
animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
(George Orwell, Animal Farm)
“Fair
is foul and fouls is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air.”
(Macbeth, Act I- Scene I, 12-13)
“What
a pity that youth must be wasted on the young.”
–George Bernard Shaw
Sarah’s Certain Death Riddle: Labyrinth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dgmgub8mHw&feature=youtu.be
❖ paradox - a seemingly absurd or
self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained
may prove to be well founded or true.
The quotes above, as well as the
video show examples of a paradox, a statement that contradicts itself. In 1984,
George Orwell used Doublethink, which is quite literally a paradox, in the
slogans of the Party. The slogans are the following: “War is Peace”; “Freedom
is Slavery”; “Ignorance is Strength”. The point of this was to convince the
residents of Oceania, that both were good, and therefore promoting the
government as great.
Reflection:
I have learned about the use of connotation
and denotation, as well as paradox in writing. George Orwell uses this in his
writing in order to show how the government of Oceania brainwashes their people
into believing the statements of the Party and doublethink. This is important
to understand in order to be able to interpret the book and understand it’s
message of how important it is to be educated and seek the full truth.
External Links:
Definitions from: Merriam Webster Dictionary, Google
Dictionary
Around the country as well as around
the world, protests are started, to support the Black Lives Matter Movement.
They are centered around the police brutality that tends to target the black
community and people of color. During these protests, police have been known to
show up in riot gear, use pepper spray and tear gas on crowds, as well as shoot
rubber bullets at protesters. In addition to these protests, there are riots
during which people have broken into stores, stole, and set stores on fire.
There are many different ways to look at this as well as many opinions, making
it a controversial issue to many. The Mayor had announced a curfew, for one day
it was at 11 pm, but later got changed to 8 pm. During this time, you are not
allowed to be outside. While this curfew was lifted after less than a week,
protests continue to happen across not only the country, but outside of the
United States as well. These protests have created a need to set up COVID-19
testing sites for protesters, because they are at a higher risk of catching the
virus, being in a large crowd.
Outside of
the news, I think the most important thing for myself and many others is to
focus on your personal well being and safety. That is why I will give you a
couple of reminders.
- Make sure to check in with yourself. Ask yourself these
questions: How are you feeling? What is and what is not working well for
you? What do you need?
- Try to look on the brighter side of things. Yes, this
is a very difficult and stressful time, but focus on what you are doing
well and how you are improving on what is hard.
- Most importantly, strive to find happiness.
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