George Orwell - 1984 - Book 1, Ch. 1: Establishing Themes & Motifs (IGCSE WORKSHEETS + ANSWERS)

This advanced unit of work focuses on the first chapter of George Orwell’s 1984 or Nineteen-Eighty-Four, with a specific focus on aiding your study of the novel for IGCSE English Literature (1984 is a set text for the IGCSE English Literature Exams in 2020 and 2021).

Although worksheet, as indeed all of my 1984 handouts and activities are specifically designed to be read at IGCSE level or in preparation for the IGCSE English Literature exams. But they can be used independent of these exams and the IGCSE curriculum, too, of course!

The level is certainly also high enough to be used if you have made 1984 one of the set texts for your IB English A: Literature or English A: Language & Literature course.

The unit of work includes:

1) Comprehension questions for Book 1, Chapter 1 of 1984

2) 1984 in Context: Information Texts about Europe and the Soviet Union before 1949, to help students gain a better understanding into the context of composition of the novel. The text is accompanied by helpful discussion questions as a follow-up activity.

4) Close Reading & Analysis Activity: Establishing Themes & Motifs in 1984. This activity is designed to facilitate close reading & analysis practice. The activity uses carefully selected quotations and passages to encourage this. There is a particular focus on recognising themes and motifs that are established early on in the novel; students should be encouraged to keep an eye on how these themes & motifs develop as they read the novel.

5) Essay Questions & Exam Practice Questions to enable or emulate mock exam situations and provide further essay response writing practice.

7) TEACHER’S GUIDE + ANSWER KEY: A detailed teacher’s guide with summary & analysis of Book 1, Chapter 1, as well as an MODEL ANSWERS for the comprehension questions & the close reading activity is included.

Feedback is always welcome!