Fahrenheit 451 depicts a dystopian society where censorship and book burning is practiced. Its citizens condensed books, then relied on their titles, until finally finding them useless all together. In the novel there are those who defend the cause of language, those who attempt to destroy the value of words, and those who are victims of the abuse of power over language and thought, wielded by the government. The protagonist, Montag, tries to use language as weapon against the ignorance of his world, and ironically, the Fire Chief Beatty, uses the power of language as a weapon against those that attempt to preserve the value of knowledge. The novel aligns nicely with the thematic topic and 1984 as it brings in literature to the discussion and continues 1984 commentary on the value of individual expression and thought, and the power of literature’s language to enlighten, transform, and connect, as well as its ability to reveal truths of our reality, hearts, and the human condition.

         Orwell wrote his famous essay “Politics of the English Language” in 1946 which formed the basis of Newspeak and his famous novel 1984. While this would be an ideal informative text to bring into this set, it’s reading is dense, technical, and complex, and far above my students’ reading level. William Lutz’s book Doublespeak, offers a more assessable discussion on the themes and ideas of Orwell’s essay, drawing on Orwell’s points and 1984 in the text. Lutz provides relevant examples of Doublespeak in our present society that allows students to gain the same insights on the technical aspects of language Orwell offered, building on their funds of knowledge why doing so. In this excerpt Lutz discusses the politics of language, or the ways language is used to influence and confuse, and world of Doublespeak. Lutz defines Doublespeak as “the language that makes the bad seem good, the negative appear positive, the unpleasant appear attractive… Doublespeak is the language that avoids or shifts responsibility” (p. 347-348).  Through this informative text students read about the kinds of Doublespeak, how to spot it, and its dangers. For example, students will ponder the effects when a corporation like Chrysler "initiates a career alterative enhancement program," instead of a massive layoff of five thousand workers. Lutz’s text aligns well with the essential question because Lutz focuses on the ways the “corruption of the function of language can have far-reaching consequences as it can infect and destroy the function of language, which is the communication between two groups” (p. 353). Since our country depends on citizens to select candidates for office and creating public policy, the importance of the words we use becomes evident. This text provides students with foundational knowledge that will equip them to better examine the nature of language and words, and their ability to control and confuse, as well as impact our beliefs, attitudes, perception, and feelings. 

         Lutz explains, “The use of Doublespeak can become pervasive when it becomes the coin of the political realm, with listeners and speakers convinced they understand such language. After a while we actuality believe the politicians don’t lie but only ‘misspeak’ … or believe failure can be an ‘incomplete success’” (p. 353). The video clip of a TV interview on Meet the Press with Kellyanne Conway continues Lutz discussion, while aligning with the themes of the novels and essential question. During the interview when confronted with lies told by the White House Press Secretary, Conway introduces the term, “alternative facts,” which is an example of Doublespeak. This interview also aligns with notion of fake news and the ethics of the control of information by the government, or those that speak for it, and from this students will consider the power of words when used to deliver falsehoods. Winston provided “alternative facts” as he corrected history, statistics, and facts in the Ministry of Truth and this interview and the statements presented at the White House conference draw the themes of 1984 out into our reality. The truths of the words we use matter, even more so by those sworn to uphold it. This text presents an opportunity for students to practice their critical thinking as they use this information to help answer the essential question, and consider the role the media plays in it.

         While politics of language is important to the essential question, the ways in which language constructs our reality and the way we view the world, is a critical part to the importance of words and language, and Orwell’s themes. The TedTalk given by Lera Boroditsky provides an informative look at the cognitive science behind language and how it structures our world, thoughts, and communication. Boroditsky uses various languages and cultures to demonstrate that the structure and vocabulary of language can impact how we view time, witness events, and even give directions. She explains how our vocabulary and words shape our thoughts and world, for example cultures without words for numbers are unable to count objects in an image. Through this text students learn the fascinating science of Orwell’s argument, not to mention witnessing powerful public speaking in action, and are thus able to better understand how Winston and the citizens of Oceania had their thoughts and behavior limited through the shrinking of their vocabulary. 

         Shakespeare asked, “What’s in a name?” The spoken word poem “I am Hiwot” by Hiwot Adilow answers this question and brings issues of social justice and identity to the thematic discussion on words. The poem is intense, powerful, and valuable for every student to witness. The rhetoric is strong and Adilow uses incredible metaphors. She proclaims her name is her heritage, her culture and their fight, and to mispronounce her name is an insult to that legacy as well as all the word Hiwot represents and embodies. She recites:

                      “My father handed me this heavy burden of five letters

                       decades before I was born.

                       With letters, he tried to snatch his Ethiopia back from the middle of a red terror.

                       He tried to overthrow a fascist.

                       He was thrown into prison, ran out of his home.

                       My name is a frantic attempt to save a country

To preserve a legend”

From this poem students will consider the ways in which words can contain deep-rooted meanings and connotations. Words have the power to heal and hurt, to represent the strength and oppression of others, and the power to define us, connect us, or divide us . This text not only aligns with the essential question, but it also gives students a chance to consider issues of social justice issues surrounding language, which has far reaching value and presents another important aspect to this thematic collection.

         The book burning in Fahrenheit 451 was practiced by the Nazis as a way to control German citizens and suppress dangerous ideas and thoughts that could hurt the government and their cause. Even in America censorship and banned books, and even book burning on occasion, have are practiced. In the letter “I am Very Real” by Kurt Vonnegut, Vonnegut reaches out to Drake High School after the educators there had burned his book, Slaughterhouse-Five (1967). He talks about the fact he is a person, and spent time crafting his book for a significant and important purpose, and to burn it is ignorant and un-American. In Fahrenheit 451 Montag states, “And I thought about books. And for the first time I realized that a man was behind each one of the books. A man had to think them up. A man had to take a long time to put them down on paper.... It took some man a lifetime maybe to put some of his thoughts down, looking around at the world and life” (Bradbury 178). This letter aligns with this passage and highlights the importance of the act of writing and literature. The letter states, “Perhaps you will learn from this that books are sacred to free men for very good reasons, and that wars have been fought against nations which hate books and burn them. If you are an American, you must allow all ideas to circulate freely in your community, not merely your own” (Vonnegut).  Censorship of books is censorship of words and the ideas they form. The cautionary tales of the two novels in this thematic unit depict the reason why we have gone to war against those who would burn books, because those groups seek to elevate their words and ideas over another, which is a dangerous thing to do. Like Vonnegut argues, books are real, the authors are real, he is real, and words are certainly real. 

         These texts all provide important aspects on the power and value of words, and why the language we use, as well as the way we use it, are vital to our world. Through the exploration of these multimodal, linked texts, students’ reading experiences of 1984 will be dramatically enhanced. Using this collection of works, the novel’s themes will be explored across a number of texts that offer different insights and perspectives into the value of the words they use everyday, teaching students to be critical thinkers, practice in becoming proficient in interpreting a range of texts, and developing their ability to read across content-areas. OMG!