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● Reading: Students are responsible for the reading of this novel outside of class. There may be some class time set aside to give you reading time, but the bulk of the reading is homework. It is ESSENTIAL that the reading be done in order to pass this unit. ● Quote Journal : See assignment details later in this packet.
● Class Discussion Questions/Study Guide ● Various Analysis Assignments ● Ongoing Paideia Seminars
● Reading Quizzes (As Needed) ● Literary Analysis Paper (2-3 pages) ● Ongoing Paideia Seminars ● Quote Journal ● Unit Final Exam
Through class activities and readings, students will not only become familiar with an author’s use of fiction to echo real world issues. We will look at the ideas behind fables, allegories, and subtext in fiction. We will explore George Orwell as an author and Animal Farm as both a work of fiction and a life lesson. This unit will include an exploration of big ideas and values, discussing literature as philosophers and scholars, and how to analyze a novel through a critical lense.
By the end of this Unit, the student will be able to: ● Read closely for textual details. ● Annotate texts to support comprehension and analysis. ● Engage in productive, evidence-based discussions about texts. ● Collect and organize evidence from texts to support analysis in writing. ● Make claims about texts using specific textual evidence. ● Use vocabulary strategies to define unknown words. ● Trace the development of ideas over the course of the text. ● Examine the use and refinement of a key term over the course of the text. ● Paraphrase and quote relevant evidence from texts. ● Independently preview texts in preparation for supported analysis. ● Independently develop questions for further textual analysis. ● Write informative texts to examine and convey complex ideas. ● Independently practice the writing process outside of class. ● Use rubrics and checklists for self-assessment of writing and discussion.
Themes & Big Ideas Explored In Animal Farm
● Oppression ● Revolution ● Corruption ● Class Warfare ● Language as Power ● Religion ● Government & Control ● Tyranny
Symbols/Symbolism In Animal Farm
● Characters & Character Names ○ Mr. Jones ○ Old Major ○ Napoleon ○ Snowball ○ Squealer ○ The pigs ○ Moses ● The Windmill ● Sugarcandy Mountain
Animal Farm Essential Questions
● How do allegories reveal basic truths about society/life? ● How is the idea of freedom seen in the book? How is repression seen in the book? ● What is the role of an individual in his/her society? ● How does propaganda influence the actions of an individual? ● What do you think are Orwell’s feelings about religion? ● What do you think are Orwell’s feelings about Communism? ● How does Orwell want you to feel about power? How do you know? ● Why do the animals’ original utopian ideas fail? ● What causes people to rise up and rebel? ● What prevailing conditions cause revolt? ● Does this novel still resonate today? How so?
Effective Satire
Some (but not all) Satire Techniques
Introduction to Fables
Introduction to Propaganda
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
colonial rule, Orwell said he “theoretically—and secretly, of course... was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British.” Returning to England to recover from a bout of the chronic lung illness that plagued him all his life, Orwell began his writing career in earnest. Over the next two decades, he wrote newspaper columns, novels, essays, and radio broadcasts, most of which grew out of his own personal experience. Orwell’s beliefs about politics were affected by his experiences fighting in the Spanish Civil War. He viewed socialists, communists, and fascists as repressive and self-serving. Orwell patriotically supported England during World War II, but remained skeptical of governments and their will- ingness to forsake ideals in favor of power. With each book or essay, Orwell solidified his role as the outsider willing to question any group’s ideology. Orwell spoke his mind with Animal Farm , in which he criticized the Soviet Union despite its role as a World War II ally of Great Britain. At first, no one would publish the novel, but when Animal Farm finally appeared in 1945 it was a success. It was later adapted both as an ani- mated film and as a play. In explaining how he came to write Animal Farm , Orwell says he once saw a little boy whip- ping a horse: It struck me that if only such animals became aware of their strength we should have no power over them, and that men exploit animals in much the same way as the rich exploit the [worker]. Orwell said it was the first book in which he consciously tried to blend artistic and political goals. Orwell’s final novel, 1984 , continued that effort with a grim portrayal of a world totally under government control. Orwell pursued his writing career faithfully, although it was not always easy. In his final days he made the statement, “Writing... is a horrible, exhausting struggle... One would never under- take such a thing if one were not driven.. .”
Meet George Orwell
Liberty is telling people what they do not want to hear.
—George Orwell
I
n the years since the publication of Animal Farm and 1984, both of which conjure visions of modern government’s dangerous power, critics have studied and analyzed George Orwell’s per- sonal life. Orwell was a man who had a reputation for standing apart and even making a virtue of his detachment. This “outsider” position often led him to oppose the crowd. Orwell began life as Eric Arthur Blair (George Orwell was a pen name he adopted later for its “manly, English, country-sounding ring.”) He spent his early years in India as a lonely boy who liked to make up stories and talk with imagi- nary companions. He began to “write” before he even knew how, dictating poems to his mother, and perhaps saw this outlet as an alternative to the human relationships he found so difficult. Refuge in words and ideas became increasingly important when Orwell’s parents sent him, at age eight, to boarding school in England. Later, instead of going on to university, he decided to take a job in Burma with the Indian Imperial Police. Orwell wrote about this experi- ence in Burmese Days (1934) and in the essay “Shooting an Elephant.” At odds with British
Animal Farm Study Guide 9
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Once in power, Stalin began, with despotic urgency and exalted nationalism, to move the Soviet Union into the modern industrial age. His government seized land in order to create collective farms. Stalin’s Five Year Plan was an attempt to modernize Soviet industry. To counter resistance
(many peasants refused to give up their land), Stalin used vicious military tactics. Rigged trials led to exe- cutions of an estimated 20 million government officials and ordinary citizens. The government controlled the flow and content of information to the people, and all but outlawed churches.
Orwell initially struggled to find a publisher for Animal Farm_._ Many liberal intellectuals in Europe admired the Soviet experiment with socialism. They believed socialism would pro- duce a society in which everyone—workers and employers—was equal, and in which there were no upper, middle, or lower classes. In Orwell’s words “they want[ed] to believe that, somewhere, a really Socialist country does actually exist.” Also, British publishers were hesitant to publicly criticize their Soviet allies as World War II came to a close. The book was published in 1945, after Germany surrendered.
Orwell believed that the basis for society was human decency and common sense, which conflicted with the ideals for society that were prevalent at the time: socialism, capitalism, communism, and fascism, to name a few. As an individualist who believed that his own experi- ences should guide his philosophy, he was often at odds with these popular ideas. He believed that governments were encroaching on the individual’s freedom of choice, love of family, and tolerance for others. He emphasized honesty, individuality, and the welfare of society throughout his writings.
Animal Farm Study Guide Animal Farm Study Guide 1111
Animalism Guide
Benjamin
The Dogs
The Cat
Clover
The Sheep
Jones
Frederick
Pilkington
Whymper
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
FOCUS ACTIVITY
Why do you think revolutions occur? What circumstances would lead people to overthrow the daily political and economical structure of their lives?
List It With a partner, identify two or three revolutions that occurred more than ten years ago. What circum- stances, if any, do these revolutions have in common? What sorts of goals were the revolutionaries seeking to accomplish? In retrospect were the revolutions successful?
Setting a Purpose Read to find out about farm animals who decide that revolution is the necessary course.
BACKGROUND
Did You Know? Many of the ideals behind the Soviet revolution were based on the writings and teachings of Karl Marx. A German intellectual who lived in the mid-1800s, Marx believed that societies are divided into two seg- ments, a working class and an owner class. The working class creates all the products, while the owner class enjoys all the benefits of these products. This class division leads to inequality and oppression of the work- ing class. Marx’s objective was to create a classless society in which the work is shared by all for the benefit of all, and he believed revolution was the way to achieve this goal. In leading workers toward revolution, Marx used slogans like “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.” He also urged people to give up their religion, which he believed gave them false hope for a better life in heaven. The character of Old Major in Animal Farm is sometimes interpreted as a representation of Karl Marx. Major’s speech in the novel’s opening chapter reflects many Marxist ideas, from the opening “Comrades,” a typical form of address in the former Soviet Union, to the revolu- tionary song he teaches the other animals. Character Types A fable is a narration intended to enforce a useful truth. Fables have two important characteristics. First, they teach a moral or lesson. In Animal Farm , the moral involves Orwell’s views about Soviet politics. Second, the characters are most frequently animals. These animal characters often function as a satiric device to point out the follies of humankind. Though Old Major, Snowball, and Napoleon may represent Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky, and Joseph Stalin, many of the story characters are much more general. Some animals are grouped together as a single character—“the sheep,” “the hens,” and “the dogs.” Orwell also capitalizes on the traits generally associated with particular animals, such as sheep as followers and dogs as loyal.
VOCABULARY PREVIEW
cannibalism [kan5ə bə liz´əm] n. practice of eating one’s own kind
cryptic [krip5tik] adj. intended to be mysterious or obscure
gambol [gam5bəl] v. to skip about in play
ignominious [ig´nə min5¯e əs] adj. shameful; dishonorable
indefatigable [in´di fat5ə gə bəl] adj. untiring
parasitical [par´ə sit5i kəl] adj. like a parasite; gaining benefits from a host it injures
Before You Read
Animal Farm Chapters 1–
12 Animal Farm Study Guide
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Personal Response What is your reaction to the animals’ revolution?
Do you sympathize with the animals’ complaints and goals? Why or why not?
Analyzing Literature Recall and Interpret
1. Describe how the Rebellion takes place. How does the animals’ behavior during the Rebellion suggest both human and animal characteristics? 2. How do the pigs gain the rights to the cow’s milk? Why do the other animals allow this to occur? What does this event suggest about the power hierarchy on the farm? 3. How does the original vision of Animalism become the slogan “Four legs bad, two legs good”? In your opinion, do the animals want rules with simple language? What kind of language do the pigs use?
Responding
Animal Farm Chapters 1–
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Responding
Animal Farm Chapters 1–
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Analyzing Literature(continued) Evaluate and Connect
4. What technique does Orwell use to cast doubt on the likelihood of a successful revolution? 5. Characterize Snowball as a leader. Do you think his reaction to the stable-boy’s death is the appropriate reaction to have during a revolution?
Literature and Writing Battle Log The animals recognize the Battle of the Cowshed as a pivotal moment in the Revolution. What effects did the battle have on the animals, individually and as a group? On your own paper, write a short battle log describing the events and evaluating the animals’ behavior. Share your battle log with a partner and compare your evaluations of the events and the effects on the animals. Extending Your Response Literature Groups While addressing a serious topic on one level, the plot of Animal Farm, when taken literally, is also hilariously funny. Divide Chapters 1 through 4 among the members of your group. Identify passages or scenes you find especially funny. Briefly role-play these scenes and then discuss how Orwell creates humor. Present one or two of your scenes to the rest of the class. Music Connection Write a revolutionary song like Beasts of England. Choose one of the revolutions you identified in the Focus Activity on page 12. Learn a little more about the surrounding historical events, then build an analysis of the rebels’ emotions. Set your song to original music or to that of a popular song. If possible, record or perform the song for the class.
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Animal Farm Study Guide 15
