1984 Glossary

Clear Search

  • a

  • In George Orwell’s 1984, Airstrip One is a province. It is part of the larger nation of Oceania. 
  • In George Orwell's classic dystopian novel 1984, the character of Ampleforth plays an important role in the story. He is a minor character but he has a significant impact on the characters and the plot.

  • b

  • Big Brother is a character and symbol from George Orwell’s '1984.' He is the leader of Oceania. 

  • d

  • The term “doublethink,” as first seen in George Orwell’s '1984,' is used to describe one’s capacity to hold two contradictory beliefs at one time.

  • e

  • Emmanuel Goldstein is a major figure in George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. He is a mysterious man, and his identity remains shrouded in darkness.

  • f

  • The floating fortress is a military base mentioned in George Orwell’s '1984.' These are stations that Oceania uses to protect its territories or encroach on lands that belong to Eastasia and Eurasia. 

  • h

  • Hate Week is a week of events that are designed to make the citizens of Oceania feel as much hate as possible towards certain enemies in George Orwell’s '1984.' 

  • i

  • INGSOC, or English Socialism, is the totalitarian political party of Oceania, in George Orwell’s '1984.'  
  • The Inner Party is the top two percent of citizens from Oceania in George Orwell’s 1984. 

  • j

  • Julia is one of the most important characters in George Orwell’s 1984. It’s her influence on Winston Smith that inspires him to break more of the Party’s rules than he ever had before. 
  • The Junior Anti-Sex League is a fictional organization featured in George Orwell’s '1984' that's working to end all sexual intercourse.

  • k

  • Although she’s only mentioned a few times, Katharine, Winston’s Smith ex-wife, plays a critical role in Smith’s understanding of other women and relationships generally. 

  • m

  • The memory hole is a term that comes from George Orwell’s 1984. It refers to a hole in the wall into which paper and photographs are destroyed.
  • The Ministry of Truth is one of four ministries in Oceania in George Orwell’s novel '1984.'
  • Mr. Charrington is an enigmatic and mysterious character in George Orwell's classic novel, '1984.' He is the owner of the rented room that protagonist Winston Smith and his lover Julia rent. 

  • n

  • Newspeak is the fictional language Orwell invented for his novel 1984. It is used to control what people are capable of thinking.

  • o

  • O’Brien is one of the most interesting characters in George Orwell’s '1984' and an undeniable villain who is responsible for much of the protagonist, Winston Smith’s, suffering. 

  • p

  • Pornosec is a division of the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s novel '1984.'
  • In George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel 1984, the majority of society is made up of a group of people known as proles. Proles, short for proletariats, are the working-class citizens of the oppressive state of Oceania, and their presence and purpose in the novel has a great deal of meaning(...)

  • r

  • Room 101 is the designation of a particularly awful torture chamber within the Ministry of Love in '1984.'

  • s

  • The speakwrite is a device that was invented by George Orwell for his novel, '1984.' It is used instead of physical writing. 
  • Syme is far from the most important character in 1984. But, he is one of those that readers tend to remember due to his brief interactions with Winston Smith and the job he does at the Ministry of Truth.

  • t

  • The telescreen is a device used in '1984' by George Orwell. It has the appearance of a dulled mirror and is usually part of the wall. It also allows the Thought Police to monitor Party members.
  • The Ministry of Peace is a governmental organization in '1984' by George Orwell. It is in charge of the war effort.
  • The Ministry of Plenty is one of the four ministries that are responsible for running Oceania in George Orwell’s 1984.
  • 'The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism' is a fictional novel featured in George Orwell’s 1984. 
  • Throughtcrime a term used throughout Orwell’s 1984. It is defined as thoughts that go against the political ideology of the Party. 
  • The Thought Police, or Thinkpol, are the group responsible for the detection of thoughtcrime within Oceania in George Orwell’s '1984. '
  • Tom Parsons is a minor character in George Orwell's classic novel 1984. He is a middle-aged man living in the totalitarian state of Oceania.
  • In George Orwell's iconic novel 1984, the Party subjects its citizens to a daily ritual known as the Two Minutes Hate. This Orwellian concept has become synonymous with the novel's oppressive and totalitarian regime. 

  • u

  • The term “unperson” first appeared in George Orwell’s '1984.' It refers to someone whose existence is denied due to a political or ideological crime.

  • w

  • Winston Smith is a complex and interesting character in George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984. He is the protagonist of the story.