Animal Farm

The Big Idea

Summary:

 The animals on the farm are tired of being ruled by humans and want to be free. They chase Mr. Jones off and take control of the farm. They try to make the ideal community where everyone is treated equally.  After a while it is clear that power corrupts and that things are not as equal as they seem.

 

Vocabulary

acute:

apathy:

cryptic:

dissentients:

dynamo:

enmity:

ensconced

factions:

falter:

gamboled:

ignominious:

indefatigable

maxim:

obstinate:

parasitical

posthumously:

preeminent:

shirked:

spinney:

vivacious:

 

Themes covered in the Story

 

• When Power Corrupts
• Propaganda and the use of language to persuade
• Symbolism
• Political fable
• Communism is  inherently hypocritical

Metaphors in Animal Farm

http://www.novelguide.com/animalfarm/metaphoranalysis.html

 

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Characters:

Benjamine the donkey; Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher -The dogs;   

Boxer: The male of the two horses on the farm;

Cat:The only cat on Manor Farm;

Clover:The female of the two horses

The Dogs:Nine puppies;

Frederick-The owner of Pinchfield;

Jones-The owner of Manor Farm ;

Minimus-A pig with “a remarkable gift for composing songs; Mollie-The white mare that draws Mr. Jones’s trap;

Moses-A tame raven ;

Muriel-The white goat;

Napoleon-One of the leaders among the pigs;

Old Major-A prize Middle White boar ;

Pilkington-The owner of Foxwood;

Pinkeye-A pig that is the food taster;

 

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Chapter Overviews

OVERVIEWhttp://www.teachervision.fen.com/animals/activity/3307.html

Chapter I – Twelve-year-old Major, Manor Farm's prize-winning boar, calls a meeting of all of the animals to talk about the difficulty of their lives under man's rule. He reveals his dream and prophesies a future rebellion of animals against man, teaching the animals a song called "Beasts of England."

Chapter II – Major dies, but the other animals, led by two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon, keep the idea of a future rebellion against man alive. On Midsummer's Eve, Mr. Jones becomes too drunk to feed or care for the animals, and the hired hands forget about them, as well. The animals break into the grain bins. When Mr. Jones and the hired hands appear, the animals attack and drive them off the farm. The animals are now in control of Manor Farm. They change its name to Animal Farm and establish their own rules for behavior, which are painted on the wall of the barn.

Click the link above for additional overviews of each chapter 

Assignments 

Lesson 1 March 2nd 2009

 

1. “What is propaganda?”

Read the definition : Wikipedia definition of propaganda and/or the What is Propaganda? definition. 

    a. When do you recall seeing or hearing examples of  propaganda used? 

2. Why do  leaders and organizations often employ propaganda?

3. Discuss how propaganda is a powerful tool when combined with mass media.

4. Name the Five Types of Propaganda?

By the End of class have the chart below filled out!

·         WikiAnswers - What are the five types of propaganda

History Politics and Society question: What are the five types of propaganda?

www.wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_five_types_of_propaganda

 

·         Propaganda Techniques

Bandwagon is also one of the seven main propaganda techniques identified by the ... and, as with most types of propaganda, we should seek more information. ...

www.library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/proptech.htm

 

·         Types of Propaganda Techniques

May 12, 2008 ... Know all about types of propaganda techniques with some interesting examples of propaganda. Types of Propaganda Techniques.

www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-propaganda-techniques.html

 

 

·         Types of Propaganda

First · Previous · Next · Last · Index · Home · Text. Slide 3 of 11.

www.thematzats.com/propaganda/prop/sld003.htm

 

In pairs or small groups, have the students fill out the Propaganda Techniques Used in Literature chart.

• Identify an example of each type of propaganda technique used in the text you’ve chosen.
• Explain what goal each technique is trying to accomplish.
• Consider why the propaganda in the text is not challenged by most people in the society.
• Identify any characters who seem to question the propaganda in the text (e.g., John the Savage, Helmholtz, and Bernard in Brave New World) and explore the possible reasons for their questioning.
•  

 

Part II- The Sea Cook

 

Project Possibilities

 

Role-Playing.

Have students discuss or role-play one of the situations that follow:

Your school gets a new principal and she changes all the old rules, some in ways that seem unfair. Some students organize a protest and ask for a voice in setting rules. The principal rejects this without explanation. What will you do? What guidelines will you follow to determine how far your protest should go to gain equality?

• You are reading two different newspapers one day, and you see that they tell different versions of the same event. How do you decide which to believe?
• Linking to Today: Changing Society.

Help students look into their views about how to change society. Begin by having students name a wrong in society such as large companies influencing politicians, or powerful people promoting racism. Have them identify the reasons their example speaks to something that is wrong, and how people should change it. During the discussion, have students think about both the morality and the effectiveness of the various ways to change societal wrongs. Who has the power to make changes in a democratic society? How do people make those changes happen? Have students consider past methods—protests, violence, lawsuits, elections, marches, and so on. Finally, the discussion should address the question of long-range effects: What is the most effective method for change?

 

   2.Writing Propaganda. To get firsthand experience with propaganda, have students write a description of a school policy, real or imagined. First have them use an informational, objective style that would be appropriate for a newspaper. Then have them rewrite the article as propaganda, changing language, emphasis, and altering content to reflect the interests of an individual trying to manipulate student opinion. Have students present the main points of their articles in a speech

3.Student Panel.

Organize a group of students into a panel. Divide them into two teams and tell them to each take a position on the following comments by J.R. Hammond:

One of the reasons why the book has such a wide appeal today is that it possesses those timeless qualities which enable readers of different generations and different cultures to apply its lessons to their own circumstances. One commentator has shrewdly observed: "There have been, are, and always will be pigs in every society, Orwell states, and they will always grab power. Even more cruel is the conclusion that everyone in the society, wittingly or unwittingly, contributes to the pigs' tyranny." The book is then a profoundly pessimistic fable.

Encourage students to cite examples both from the book and from history to defend their positions.

 4. RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS

Socialism vs. Communism.

Have students research the two political systems of socialism and communism and write a comparison. Identify the principles the systems have in common; then explain how the two systems differ. Instruct them to mention at least one nation today which employs each system.

5. Russian Revolution.

Have students pick one of the historical figures of the Russian Revolution—Marx, Lenin, Stalin, or Trotsky—and write a research essay describing both his personal strengths and his role in the Russian Revolution. Instruct them to include how well Orwell's allegorical portrayal in Animal Farm supports their research.

Assignment  2: March 9th

 

Animal Farm Projects.doc

 

1. Find a speech by a famous political leader (from any country) and summarize the theme of his/her speech. Include in your analysis:

• What was the political leader's message?
• What was the country of the people supposed to do in response to the speech?
• Do you agree or disagree with the contentions made in the speech? Why or Why not?
• Please attach a copy of the speech you found! If you found it on You Tube you need to find a written transcript.

(Purpose: To think about the effect political leaders have on the public and to look at the psychology and intention behind Major's speech in Animal Farm (Chapter 1)

 

2. Imagine that you were given a piece of land the size of Texas. You have plenty of farm land, plenty of water resources, plenty of oil reserves, and enough forest land to cover over half of your country.

• View a World Atlas. Notice how the countries are drawn and labeled.
• Create a map of your country, and include capital, rivers, lakes, forest land, and  ranges you would like to have. This should be drawn and colored onto poster board large enough that it is easy to read.
• Name this country that you have inherited Place the name on the top of the drawing. Why did you choose this name? What does it stand for?
• Determine the population of your country.
• Determine the rules that govern your country. Explain why these particular rules were chosen.

 

(Purpose: To understand the idea and enormity of a dictatorship, Think about what happens when you become a leader of  highest order and make intelligent decisions based on what you create)

 

3. All world leaders have been through a journey to their political office.

• Research a world leader (past or present) and write a two page summary of this leader's journey thorough political life. (This must be a real person) When did they become interested in politics? What are their policies?
• Include a picture of your world leader

(Purpose To gain an understanding about politics, history, and political leaders. Compare and contrast real leaders with the pigs attempts at leadership, and relate the book to modern politics)

 

4. Almost all countries dedicate monuments  to their heroes and leaders. All countries have a national anthem ( a song that unites the people of that country. Ours is the Star Spangled Banner)

• research the histories of three national monuments and three national anthems of three countries that exist in the modern world.
• Compare and contrast the significance of the three, and discuss the histories of each as they apply to the politics of today.
• Place a picture of the monuments and copies of the anthems on poster board.

(Purpose: Understand national pride and victories and comparing modern day to the events in Animal Farm)

 

 

5.  Windmills are used to generate power for a farm, community or in our case a school.

 

• Find a picture of a windmill that currently exists
• Research how a windmill operates and explain its operation in a one page paper. (  DO  NOT  COPY_  RESEARCH  AND  REWRITE  the information in your own words)
• Attach to the paper a picture of the windmill you found
• Build a model of this windmill

(purpose: To understand how important the windmill was to the farm and how devastating it's destruction was to the farm in Animal Farm)

 

6. Managing employees is a difficult job. You have to organize work hours and scheduling.  Create a fictional company and a product that the company will manufacture and sell.

 

• Describe the product to be manufactured
• Determine the cost of manufacturing the product
• Determine the selling price of the product
• Hire five fake employees
• Write a one week schedule for the work of those employees
• Determine how much you are going to pay the employees
• Determine the profit for one week if all the product is sold.

(Think of  the simulation Lemonade Stand and Coffee Shop)

 

(Purpose: Not only are the animals in animal Farm running a political campaign they are also running a business. Think about how to effectively manage  the farm. What problems might you have. How could you use problem solving to overcome these issues?)

 

7. Over the centuries, many people have gone on strike against companies and industries. These strikes (  Especially during the early 1900's in America) were often brutal and long.

 

• Find pictures from a strike in 1900's in America.
• Explain why the strike occurred
• What did the workers hope to accomplish? What was the position of management?
• Research whether or not the employees were successful?
• Who were the key players in the strike for the employees? For the management?
• How was the strike resolved?

(Purpose: Things fall apart when the rule or boss begins to neglect  the well being of the employees. How did this influence the early strikes in an America by American Employees. How were those protests similar to the protests in Animal  Farm?)

 

 

8. Laws and rules are a part a part of everyone's life.  Some are obeyed, some are not, and some are just outright ignored. Some rules are "bent" to help an individual or group when they are caught disobeying them.

 

• View the rules in the student handbook
• Select three rules from the "Acceptable Behavior" sections and three rules from the "Unacceptable Behavior" section that you think are frequently changed to benefit one student or group of students.
• Rewrite these rules (just as Squealer did) to make exceptions for certain people or groups. Place your rewritten rules on a poster board that is well designed and easily readable.

(Purpose: Squealer tried to make the rules much more complicated by excusing behavior for some animals and limiting it for others. This shows how exceptions to rules can sometimes cause problems within a society or even within a school)

 

Resources to help

Sample layouts for posters- Back pictures and text with colored paper. You need neat edges, and an attractive layout.

 

Speeches

www.americanrhetoric.com/top100speechesall.html

www.famousquotes.me.uk/speeches/

www.famous-speeches-and-speech-topics.info/famous-speeches/index.htm

 

World Atlas

www.worldatlas.com/

www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/world.htm

www.encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/mapcenter/map.aspx

Sample country

Also, my country is:

"The Most Serene Republic of Fuelvolts"

The Most Serene Republic of Fuelvolts is a small, pleasant nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 7 million have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The small government is mainly concerned with Law & Order, although Religion & Spirituality and Commerce are secondary priorities. The average income tax rate is 11%. A large private sector is led by the Uranium Mining, Woodchip Exports, and Retail industries.

Voting is voluntary and organ donation rates are among the lowest in the region. Crime is a problem. Fuelvolts's national animal is the mustang and its currency is the volti.

Fuelvolts is ranked 44th in the region and 48,977th in the world for Most Devout Nations.

 

World Leaders and their Rise to Power

www.exampleessays.com/essay_search/leaders_rise_power.html

www.uky.edu/PR/News/Archives/2002/March2002/monkeyleaders.htm

www.gardenofpraise.com/leaders.htm

www.geocities.com/baskarc/CBPolitics1a.htm

 

Laws

Congress for Kids

How Our Laws Are Made - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

Kids.gov - Government - Making Laws (Grades 6 - 8)