1984 Key terms

"Reality control" by the Party; the power to hold two completely contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accept both of them.

• Doublethink
• Thoughtcrime
• Big Brother
• INGSOC
• Proles

Unorthodox thoughts; uncontrolled or potentially treasonous or treacherous thoughts of a Party member.

• Thoughtcrime
• Doublethink
• Big Brother
• INGSOC
• Proles

Though he never appears in the novel, and though he may not actually exist, he is the leader of Oceania; 45, heavy black moustache.

• Big Brother
• Doublethink
• Thoughtcrime
• INGSOC
• Proles

The Party. Newspeak for English Socialism.

• INGSOC
• Doublethink
• Thoughtcrime
• Big Brother
• Proles

The masses who are approximately 85% of Oceania's population; viewed as primitive, unintelligent, and ultimately unaware how ignorant and controlled they are.

• Proles
• Doublethink
• Thoughtcrime
• Big Brother
• INGSOC

A kind of "middle class"; bureaucrats (like Winston) comprising approximately 13% of population in Oceania.

• Outer Party
• Inner Party

• Memory Hole

• Newspeak

• Thought Police

Official Party members (like O'Brien); "upper class"; 2% of the population in Oceania

• Outer Party
• Inner Party

• Memory Hole

• Newspeak

• Thought Police

Small chute leading to a large incinerator; used for censorship by helping the Party eliminate the past and control citizens' minds.

• Outer Party
• Inner Party

• Memory Hole

• Newspeak

• Thought Police

Deliberately ambiguous and contradictory language used by the Party to mislead, manipulate and control Oceania; aimed at reducing language to a bare minimum of terms.

• Outer Party
• Inner Party

• Memory Hole

• Newspeak

• Thought Police

Government agents who hunt for citizens against the Party, searching out anyone with even the smallest thoughts against the Party.

• Outer Party
• Inner Party

• Memory Hole

• Newspeak

• Thought Police