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Animal Farm by George Orwell
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Week 2: Animal Farm by George Orwell
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Week 3: Animal Farm by George Orwell
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Week 4:
Finish Watching Film
Comparison Movie / Book
Thanksgiving Break
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1. Allegory of the Human World: Explain how the different characters in the book Animal Farm represent types of humans in the real world. Use specific examples of humans. Use specific examples of behavior from the book to show why they are alike. Which world leaders today most closely resemble the pig Napoleon? What sort of people does Squealer represent? Old Major? Boxer? The dogs? Mollie?
2. Old Major's view of the future was a bleak one for the animals under Jones. He even predicted that Boxer would be sold to the Knacker. His dream was for Utopian society without man and his evil ways. Discuss Old Major's view of the future and show how and why he was both correct and mistaken in his thinking. How does this relate to historical events?
3. Inaction: Although some of the animals are smart enough to recognize they are living under tyranny, they do not act. Do you think Orwell is passing judgment on the animals for not trying to change their situation? Does knowledge of a crime not coupled with action constitute agreement/collaboration in the crime?
4. Allegory of Russia: Write an essay describing how Orwell uses the animals in his novel to represent specific individuals and events of the Russian Revolution. Include specific information about the revolution and specific literary terms such as: character and characterization, setting, irony, imagery, conflict, symbol, theme, and allusion. Do you think Animal Farm's message would come across effectively to someone who knows nothing about Soviet history or the conflict between Stalin and Trotsky? What might such a reader make of the story?
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5. Power Corrupts: Lord Acton once stated: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Using examples from Animal Farm, support Lord Acton's statement. Describe how the abuse of power causes three negative effects upon the animals of Animal Farm.
6. It has become evident by chapter six that all of the animals are not equal, and life on the farm is settling into familiar hierarchies and oppressions. What do you think this says about Orwell's beliefs about human nature? Could this happen to our society? Why or why not?
7. Propaganda: How does Orwell explore the problem of propaganda in Animal Farm? What is a propagandist? What techniques does a propagandist use? Paying particular attention to the character of Squealer, how is language used as an instrument of social control? How do the pigs rewrite history? Analyze how Squealer uses various persuasive techniques to manipulate the animals. Discuss how Squealer is able to convince the animals. Read the passage from Chapter VII that begins with "'Comrades!'" cried Squealer,'" and ends "'Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment!'"
8. Discuss Boxer. What role does he play on the farm? Why does Napoleon seem to feel threatened by him? Unquestioning allegiance to authority invites abuse of power. After overthrowing Mr. Jones and establishing their new government, the animals blindly follow Napoleon, failing to question his revisionist policies. Their submissiveness serves only to invite further abuses of power.
9. the point of view of the author is represented in which characters in Animal Farm? Which of the animals or people do you think come(s) closest to achieving Orwell's perspective on Animal Farm?
10. The attack dogs represent the police force. What were the names of the secret police in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany? What powers did they have? In what way is our own law enforcement becoming like the dogs of Animal Farm?
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Quotations
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." Animal Farm, p. 133
"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." George Orwell
"
that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Abraham Lincoln
"There's a hole in the American system where the leadership used to be
The most effective answer to this leadership vacuum would be a new era of political activism by ordinary citizens." Bob Herbert, a New York Times op-ed writer of "liberal values".
"Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national heritage." Dwight D. Eisenhower
"As learners of freedom, we might come to understand that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance." The Gospel According to America David Dark, a Christian writer
"If we are to preserve the American Dream for future generations,
We must begin with ourselves as individuals. A good starting point for each of us is to read the two most important documents that govern our lives as individuals and as a nation." War on the Middle Class, p. 197., Lou Dobbs, a populist author and op-ed host on CNN
"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total; of all those acts will be written the history of this generation." Robert Kennedy
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." John Kennedy
"The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use - of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public." Robert Kennedy
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Narrative Text
Genre Study
Characteristics of
satire
allegory
fable
cautionary tale
dystopian fiction
Author Study
George Orwell
Literary Elements
novella (political
commentary)
protagonist
antagonist
anonymous narration
point of view
tone
Literary Devices
symbolism
irony
foreshadowing
maxim/motto/watchword motifs of songs and rituals
imagery
satire
propaganda
Allegory
extended metaphor
objects, persons, and actions have symbolic meanings
personifications of abstract ideas
literal vs. symbolic meaning
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Historical/Cultural Perspectives
Historical, political and cultural themes and perspectives
Critical Perspectives
Quotable lines
How would this situation be viewed today?
Connect to self - own perspective on issues of propaganda and leadership
Analyze Animal Farm and 1984 from the sociological (Marxist) perspective; evaluate the use and abuse of power.
Vocabulary Development
Animal Farm and 1984:
language of 1940's England - formal
words related to and from selections (Orwellian, Newspeak, unperson, doublethink, thoughtcrime)
academic vocabulary
technical/specialized vocabulary
word etymology and variation
find current uses in Google News
Features of Film
setting (geographical, historical, social milieu)
atmosphere (mood)
cinematography (camera placement and movement, lighting, color, focus, frame)
composition
lighting (realistic, romantic, expressive, "dark," "surreal")
dιcor/clothing
pace (fast-paced, slow-paced, "meditative," "poetic")
suspense
sound (realistic, expressive, simple vs. multi-layered)
music (soundtrack vs. source)
editing (cutting for continuity, cutting within a scene, cross-cutting, parallel editing, metaphorical/symbolic cutting)
character (complexity, development, believability)
acting (professional/non-professional, realistic, stylized/symbolic)
plot (story, subplots, drama)
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