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Part II Chapter 1

What is the main idea of this chapter?

Winston and the girl with the dark hair know they have to be very careful not to show what they are thinking and feeling as they make their plans, but they are used to this: "Not to let one's feelings appear in one's face was a habit that had acquired the status of an instinct…."

What does "status"mean?

Winston is frightened by having received the message from the girl with the dark hair. He thinks she might work for the Thought Police. "But there was another, wilder possibility that kept raising its head, though he tried vainly to suppress it."

What does"suppress"mean?

Eventually Winston decides that the girl with the dark hair is not a member of the Thought Police, even though "only five nights ago he had contemplated smashing her skull in with a cobblestone . . ."

What does"contemplated"mean?

Winston and the girl with the dark hair arrange to meet in the midst of the crowd gathered in Victory Square. Just before they leave to go their separate ways, "…her hand felt for his and gave it a fleeting squeeze."

What does"fleeting"mean?

Were there any words that you did not know?
You can always list them here.