George Orwell

Introduction

Today you will be learning more about George Orwell, a famous author, and his two best known works: Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Click on “task” in the menu bar to start!

Task

The goal of this task is to learn more about Orwell’s life as well as his most famous works.

This task consists of several parts:

  1. a part with questions on the author
  2. a part with questions on Nineteen Eighty-Four
  3. a part with questions on Animal Farm
  4. a cartoon

You will have to work with your neighbor. You do not have to complete all four parts.

Start by dividing the questions of part one between you and your neighbor. Then, decide together which novel you want to learn more about: Nineteen Eighty-Four or Animal Farm. Divide the questions on the novel between yourselves.

When this is finished, you can start the final part of the task.

Time frame

Keep an eye on the time!

Make sure you start the final part at 9 o'clock.

Process

Section 1: author

First, find out some more about the author.

  •  Use the following websites :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/orwell_george.shtml

  •  Don’t forget to use the search function from time to time (“Edit” bar, then “find”), there is no need to read the entire article.
  1. “George Orwell” is not the author’s real name, but a pseudonym. Find his real name. Why did he choose this particular pseudonym?
  2. Describe Orwell’s family life (Where did he grow up? To which social class did he belong?)
  3. Describe Orwell’s academic career. (Which school(s) did he attend? Was he a good student? Did he go to university?) 
  4. What were Orwell’s political views? Describe them in your own words.



Section 2: Nineteen Eighty-Four

Nineteen Eighty-Four was made into a successful movie. Watch the first part of the movie and try to determine what the story is about (who? where? when? what?). 

(Use your headphones/ earphones!)

Now see if you got it right. Check this site (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/1984/summary.html) and read the summary. Which important plot elements can you add that were not in the clip?

Let’s take a closer look at the novel.

Find the answers to these questions using the following websites:

  1. When was Nineteen Eighty-Four first published? Which important historical event took place around this time?
  2. Explain the title.
  3. Nineteen Eighty-Four is a dystopian novel. Explain in your own words what this means. Give another example of a dystopian movie or book that you have watched / read.
  4. In Nineteen Eighty-Four’s dystopian future, the citizens of Eurasia are being controlled in several ways. Newspeak and doublethink are two methods employed by the government to keep control. Explain in your own words what these concepts entail.
  5. Find one more way in which the government controls its citizens and explain it in your own words.

Section 3: Animal Farm

Watch the trailer of the movie based on Animal Farm and try to determine what the story is about (who, where, what).
 trailer: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xveqvc_trailer-animal-farm-jesper-ganslandt-vo_shortfilms
(Use your headphones/earphones!)

Watch the trailer again and write down the names and some characteristics of the following characters:

  1. Who do you think is the intended audience of this movie (and Orwell’s book)?
  2. Animal Farm is an allegorical work. You can find a definition for allegory on the following site:
    http://literarydevices.net/
    Define the concept using your own words.
  3. Of which historical event is Animal Farm an allegory?
  4. The characters in Animal Farm represent key figures of this historical event. Find out who they are by using the following website (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/). What role did they play in this historical event? (You can consult http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page)
  5. The animals’ society is based on seven Commandments. Over time, these Commandments are adjusted to better fit the corrupted government. Find the original seven Commandments and the adjusted versions.

Section 4:

Take a look at the comic on the following website: http://all-that-is-interesting.com/post/1002783134/amusing-ourselves-to-death

It talks about George Orwell's fears about the future (as seen in Nineteen Eighty-Four and in Animal Farm) and contrasts them with the views of Aldous Huxley (author of Brave New World).

For more information about Huxley, click here: http://www.gradesaver.com/author/aldous-huxley/

Read the comic and decide which point of view you agree with most: Orwell's or Huxley's. Discuss with your neighbors and write down some key words.

  • Be sure to motivate your response! Refer to historical and/or current events to strengthen your argument.  
  • You will have to be able to explain and/or defend your opinion!