The expression unfriend is commonly associated with Facebook and social media. Who first used the related term unperson in modern literature?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: George Orwell

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This general knowledge question links a modern social media expression with a classic term from political literature. While unfriend is widely used on platforms such as Facebook to describe removing a contact, the term unperson comes from dystopian fiction and carries a much deeper meaning related to political control and erasure of identity.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question states that unfriend is associated with Facebook.
- It asks who first used the related expression unperson.
- The options list George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Franz Kafka, Isaac Asimov and Arthur C Clarke.
- We assume the question refers to the widely known origin of the term in twentieth century English literature.


Concept / Approach:
The key concept is familiarity with famous dystopian novels. George Orwell popularised the term unperson in his novel Nineteen Eighty Four to describe people who have been secretly murdered or erased by the totalitarian state, so that they no longer officially exist. Other authors listed also wrote about dark or speculative futures, but the specific term unperson is most strongly and originally associated with Orwell.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall major works of the authors listed, especially their themes about society and power. Step 2: Remember that George Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty Four, which introduced concepts such as Big Brother, thoughtcrime and unperson. Step 3: Recognise that Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World, Franz Kafka wrote works like The Trial, and Isaac Asimov and Arthur C Clarke focused mainly on science fiction and robotics or space exploration. Step 4: Conclude that George Orwell is the correct originator of the term unperson.


Verification / Alternative check:
A quick mental check is to connect unperson with other invented political terms like thought police and newspeak, all of which clearly belong to Orwellian vocabulary. None of the other authors have a similar cluster of political language that includes this specific word. This strongly confirms the answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Aldous Huxley is incorrect because although he wrote about a controlled society in Brave New World, the terminology there is different.
Franz Kafka is wrong because his works focus on alienation and bureaucracy but do not use the term unperson.
Isaac Asimov is known for stories about robots and the three laws of robotics, not for coining this particular political term.
Arthur C Clarke is famous for space themed science fiction and also does not introduce the term unperson.


Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes mix up Orwell and Huxley because both wrote about dystopian futures. Others may simply guess a science fiction author without remembering the specific vocabulary of each work. Regular reading of summaries of classic novels and noting their key terms is an effective way to avoid such confusion.


Final Answer:
Therefore, the expression unperson was first used in modern literature by George Orwell.

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