Answers for chapter 8
Here are some reading comprehension answers of the book 1984, by George Orwell (chapter 8 part 1) I hope they are useful!
1. What is a steamer?
A steamer is a nickname used by the proles to refer to the rocket bombs that Eurasia threw on the cities of Oceania.
2. Who warns Winston?
A man in a black suit who belonged to the proles.
3. How does the Party fool the people with the lottery?
The party makes sure the proles stay entertained with the lottery. In this way, they don’t discuss important matters, such as politics. Their only concern is trying to win a prize. Nonetheless, the party only pays out small sums of money. The large prizes are non-existent since they are given to imaginary people.
4. Why can’t the old man get a pint?
Because they don’t exist anymore. The party uses the metric system to measure volume, and not the imperial one anymore. At the pub, they only offer a litre or a half-litre of beer.
5. Does Winston get any important information concerning the Past from the old man?
No, he doesn’t. The man only remembers specific anecdotes full of details, which don’t actually prove the past was better or worse than the present.
6. Where does Winston eventually find himself?
Winston eventually finds himself in the same junk shop where he bought the diary.
7. Does the proprietor recognize Winston?
Yes, he does. He remembers who he is and what he bought.
8. What does Winston find to buy?
He finds a paperweight made of glass, with a coral stuck inside of it.
9. Why does he buy it?
He buys it because it has caught his attention. It has an air of belonging to a different age, and now seems useless, which interests him very much. He also finds it a very beautiful possession.
10. What else does the old man show him?
He also shows him the room upstairs, where he and his wife lived before her death.
11. Why is Winston attracted to the room?
Winston is attracted to the room because it looks “curiously inviting”. It gives him a nostalgic feeling, as if it belonged to ancient times. He would like to live there.
12. What doesn’t the room have?
The room doesn’t have a telescreen. This surprises Winston, since he is not used to seeing rooms without them. The owner of the shop tells him he never bought one because they are too expensive, and he was in no need of one.
13. What picture does Winston recognize?
Winston recognises a picture of an oval building with rectangular windows and a statue, but cannot recall its name. The owner tells him it was a church called St. Clement Danes.
14. What is the proprietor’s real name?
His real name is Mr. Charrington, not Weeks, as the inscription at the front of the shop said.
15. What do the church bells ringing cause Winston to think about?
The church bells ringing mentioned in the riddle cause Winston to imagine that he can actually hear them, even though he hasn’t ever heard them in real life. It further convinces him that the past was not as ugly and uncomfortable as the present.
16. Does Winston intend to come back to the shop?
Yes, he does. He intends to return to the shop in a month, buy the picture, and continue chatting with Mr Charrington. He wants him to remember the whole rhyme.
17. Whom does Winston see as he leaves the shop?
He sees the girl with dark hair coming towards him. She looked at him straight in the face, then walked quickly on as if she had not seen him.
18. Why is Winston worried?
Winston is worried because he believes she has actually been spying on him the whole time. She was probably an agent of the Thought Police or an amateur spy. Either way, she would hand him in to the thought police, and he would die sooner or later.
19. What words does he read on the coin?
He reads the slogans of the party.
“War is peace,
George Orwell, 1984. Chapter 8 Part 1.
Freedom is slavery,
Ignorance is strength”
Here is a video that might help you understand better the chapter!
If you need more help, on Shmoop you can find a summary of chapter 8. Also, here you can read some questions on the previous chapter.
