Ok, sure, I started my Literature Review today… but I also finished today so like no regrets. Feel free to take these, I decided to post some of the topics lower on the list for all of you who are like me and finished the first few on your own and then got tired as you got lower and just want to copy and paste and be done with it…
6. Motifs
The shape of a pyramid shows up constantly in 1984, from the shape of the giant Ministry Buildings to even the shape that the party mottoes make:
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
(26). Pyramids are oftentimes a symbol of social hierarchies, which is very prevalent in 1984 with very distinct lines being drawn between the classes of Inner Party members, Outer Party members, and Proles. Plus, the pyramid structure can also refer to the “Eye of providence”, aka the eye of god. With government buildings and government mottoes being pyramids, it gives the idea that the government is an omnipotent being on the level of a god, seeing all and hearing all, and smiting anyone who dares insult its bidding.
8. Diction/ Syntax/ Personal Spite
The old prole man in the bar speaking in a “textual accent” about pints both shows his level of ill-education and his memory of the old world. As Winston walks into the bar, he overhears the bartender and the man arguing over how they use to serve pints of beer in bars, but now they only sell liters and half liters. This dichotomy between their word choices, and the bar tender even asking “‘And what in hell’s name is a pint?’” (86) shows how the prole is one of the last people in all of Oceania that knows what daily life was like before INGSOC changed everything from how their citizens spoke to one another down to how they ordered their beers. (The conversation isn’t there just to take attention away from Winston you filthy AP Multiple choice practice!)
Dawn and Dusk 
So, both of these are super well written, and I used your Diction/Syntax one. I definitely relate to the procrastination issue…but same, I usually finish on time, with the exception of my catch-up day today. Like with the endangered species thing? Was it just me or did that take like 5 hours? I have 12 pages on it that I started last night…
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Wow. I totally missed the pyramid motif and it was really cool how you demonstrated its looming presence in the novel. It ties back to Goldstein’s manifesto where societies only really work if there is a class structure like the pyramid. Great post!
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Your pyramid motif was a popular option for your classmates to include in their Lit reviews. What an astute interpretation, Daniel!
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I appreciate your analysis of diction/syntax through the old prole man and how that reveals details about the old world and its significance to the work as a whole. Nicely done!
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