研究生英语核心教材 Unit 7 Wnston Smith.pptVIP

Unit 7 Winston Smith Contents 1. About the author Background of the Text: 1). 2). 3. Questions Word Distinctions Oral Translation 1). 2). Written Translation 1). 2). 3). Further questions for discussion About the author George Orwell (pseudonym of Eric Arthur Blair) (1903-1950), journalist, political author and novelist wrote Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949); throughout his writing life. Orwell worked to achieve a balance between public and private values, between creative work and necessary labour. His major concerns were public and political, yet he was equally aware of the importance of the individuals private life and the matters of everyday existence。 George Orwell 1. Background of the Text ．1984 is a dystopian satire of totalitarian regimes, nationalism, the class system, bureaucracy and world leader’s power struggles. It is also nihilistic prophesy on the downfall of humankind. The book has proven to be a profoundly meaningful work and continues to be one of the world’s most widely read and quoted novels into the twenty-first century, with its title and many phrases - such as ‘Big Brother is watching you’, ‘newspeak’ and ‘doublethink’ - entering popular use. The story starts, as the title tells us, in the year of 1984, and it takes place in England or as it is called at that time, Airstrip One. Airstrip One itself is the mainland of a huge country, called Oceania, which consists of North America, South Africa, and Australia. The country is ruled by the Party, which is led by a figure called Big Brother. The population of Oceania is divided into three parts: The Inner Party (app. 1% of the population) The Outer Party (app. 18% of the population) The Proles （app. 80% of the population) 2. Background of the Text 1984 is a political novel written with the purpose of warning readers in the West of the dangers of totalitarian government. Having witness