45 We were able to print out Ben’s prior HW assignment with the help of his dad who resent it in an email. We then reviewed expectations for his current HW assignment as the date was extended as Ben had forgotten his book at school over the weekend; however, he did submit preliminary answers and thoughts with which to generate discussion and demonstrate his synthesis of the material and questions – and he was commended for making an effort and afforded the extension. We read Chapter V and discussed the setting when the protagonist (Winston) is in the Ministry of Truth dining hall at lunchtime. We selected various phrases and literary devices used by Orwell to paint a picture of the drab conditions and disgusting food. We also did a character analysis of the character with whom Winston ends up eating lunch. Winston notes that no one really has friends anymore, they have comrades. This character’s job is to help develop the Party's language, and we examined the reasons why Winston believes he will be ‘vaporized,’ with no record left to exist about his existence. Ben was asked to reflect on the symbolism of the razor blades. We agreed that the razor blades best represents free will, or an ability to shape your own world because rationing them as is done in the novel symbolizes the control or dictatorship that the state has over life.