a few suggestions for reflection and Discussion

In 1984, telescreens insure that people are under near constant surveillance. 

How does this compare with our society?   Be sure to consider closed TV surveillance, all the personal information that we expose on social media, and the ability of 'data accumulators' to collect information on our purchases and web activity to predict and influence future actions.

In 1984, Big Brother is a leader who can never be wrong and is the only person who has the ability to save Oceania.  Our world has seen a cults of personalities around leaders  such as Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Kim Jong-un.  

What leaders today have the beginnings of a Cult of Personality?

The "B (political) Vocabulary" of Newspeak, the official language of Oceania in 1984, consists of "two or more words, or portions of words welded together in an easily pronounceable form."  These world are designed to refer to concepts which simultaneously are clear to party adherents but prevent deep thought. 

Do any politicians, groups, or others have such words in its political vocabulary today?  (For further discussion, see "The Principles of Newspeak,"  The Appendix in Orwell's 1984.)

In 1984, every aspect of life is politicized.  This includes love, marriage, family, facial expressions, and even arithmetic (2 + 2 = 5 if the party says so).  

To what degree are aspects of life that would in past years be considered non-political now become political?

In Animal Farm, leaders betray those who have given them power.  For example, the leaders of he revolution in Animal Farm begin by proclaiming "All animals are equal," but end by proclaiming "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."  

What are parallels in 20th century history and today?

 In 1984. history can be changed and party members engage in doublethink.  The purpose is to destroy all independent sources of fact except the party. Indeed, the end result is a public for whom 'facts just don't matter--so whatever the party says today, even if a contradiction of yesterday's infallible pronouncement, is accepted.

 What are parallels today?