What is the main idea of this chapter?
The poet Ampleforth is led into the white–tiled room, and Winston decides that "He must speak to Ampleforth, and risk the yell from the telescreen. It was even conceivable that Ampleforth was the bearer of the razor blade."
What does"conceivable"mean?
The prisoners are kept in a state of dreadful unknowing: "Winston's entrails contracted. Soon, very soon, perhaps in five minutes, perhaps now, the tramp of boots would mean that his own turn had come."
What does"contracted"mean?
Winston's neighbor, Parsons is brought into the cell. He, too, is terrified, but feels differently about being arrested than Winston or Ampleforth: "The tone of his voice implied at once a complete admission of his guilt and a sort of incredulous horror that such a word could be applied to himself. "
What does"implied"mean?
Parsons' daughter has turned him in for committing Thought Crime. He was talking in his sleep. What did he say that was criminal?
Another prisoner is led into the white–tiled room. It is apparent that he is being starved to death: "Because of its thinness the mouth and eyes looked disproportionately large, and the eyes seemed filled with a murderous, unappeasable hatred of somebody or something."
What does"disproportionately"mean?
Winston thinks of Julia: " 'If I could save Julia by doubling my own pain, would I do it? Yes, I would.' But that was merely an intellectual decision, taken because he knew that he ought to take it. He did not feel it."
What does"intellectual"mean?
When O'Brien comes into the white–tiled room, Winston cries out, "They've got you too!" and O'Brien answers him: 'They got me a long time ago,' said O'Brien with a mild, almost regretful irony."
What does"irony"mean?
After the guard hits Winston on the elbow with the truncheon, "One question at any rate was answered." What does Winston now believe is the worst thing in the world?
