Study Guide of 1984 by George Orwell. Have Visual, nonfiction, media, and literary connections to the novel.
Uploaded by thepunisher2899 on Feb 15, 2017
Ayala 1
Enrique Ayala
Mr. Quintero
AP English Lit, Period 5
27 January 2017
Visual Connection
Karp, Trokhimenko “ Stakin as an Organizer of The October Revolution” Virtual Museum of
Political Art. Web.
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Karp Trokhimenko’s fascinating art piece, “Stalin as an Organizer for the October
Revolution,” gives a glimpse of history of a government rising to power, led by notorious
Russian leader Joseph Stalin. This fades in the topic of the novel 1984 on the rise and danger of
totalitarianism. First,it shows a part of history that supports 1984’s theme. Orwell wanted to
show readers how dangerous a government like the Soviet Union can be to its people. Although
many Americans did not realize what was happening in the east, he wrote a communist society in
his book to help keep it on the people’s minds. The painting captures a visionary description of
Stalin negotiating with other members of the government to help with a revolution that changed
Russia’s government to a totalitarian country. During the time the novel is sold and the painting
was made, many Americans began to realize that it is a horror that is a reality, with no freedoms
and no capital. They also began to realize that Russia is beginning to become a major power like
the United States. This painting shows a power rising up from a strong leader that could make a
country run by the government’s power.
Having a link to the novel, this painting connects to one of the primary literary theories
that can be connected to 1984: historical approach. History is a subject of knowledge that is
heavily studied on, to prevent on repeating mistakes people or countries have made in the past .
The image of Stalin indicates the image of power that was used to the extent of having total
control of the people of Soviet Russia. This painting became historical and a piece of history
because it portrayed a leader that soon was given power to dominate a country back to its feet,
without making lives in the country better.
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Nonfiction Connection
enotes.com: Totalitarianism
“The final part of Arendt’s text focuses on totalitarian movements and governments, in
particular, how various movements became established and retained power and control. The
most central ideas are that the success of a totalitarian movement depends on the selflessness of
its adherents; its aim in and skill at organizing the masses; its elimination of all anomalies, even
those in its own ethnic base; and the presence of the masses for support and continuation. The
masses are those who by sheer numbers, neutrality, or indifference cannot...