Animal Farm

Political Allegory and Satire 

by George Orwell
                
 

Mrs. Clark-Burnell's Handouts

 

Download the Animal Farm Literature Response Questions for each chapter here  This is a MSWord Document.  Students may print this for free in the CVMS Media Center.

 

Vocabulary List

  • Do a toolkit for each word.  

  • We'll go over context and connotation in class.

  • One of the two definitions is provided for students.

  • Author's sentence:  two options a) find the word in the book b) use the italicized sentences from one of the online dictionaries.

  • Link to our vocabulary tools web page (online dictionaries and toolkit forms available)

Related Links for Students
A searchable on-line version of Animal Farm from online-

literature.com

History of the Russian Revolution and early Soviet history

 

Biography of George Orwell from online-

literature.com

 

Another biography of George Orwell, this one from TNT

 

A simple summary of the characters

 

Topics in Orwell's other writings as well as AF :  note this website incorrectly labels these topics as themes, but it is really a list of topics or issues that Orwell tackles in his writing.

 

What's an allegory? also from TNT

 

What's a fable? also from TNT

 

Allegorical connections to the Russian Revolution and Soviet history

 

Related Links for Teachers

An excellent set of lesson plans designed by Jerome Burg and revised by Mary Jewell which emphasizes the struggle for power in any society,  exploitation of the weak, and distribution of wealth and power.  Available at the SCORE website.

 

 What is Animal Farm about?

On the simplest level, Animal Farm is a fable or fairytale about what happens when well-intentioned folks try to create a perfect society, a utopia, but end up abusing their power to help themselves and hurt others.

On the allegorical level, it is a political satire about the history of the Russian Revolution and communism under the dictator, Stalin.

Perhaps most important, though , Animal Farm is one author's warning about the dangers of totalitarianism.  Orwell uses his allegorical fable to show how any social and economic system can become a corrupt and oppressive dystopia.

Animal Farm Packet

As we read the novel, students will be assigned pages in our Animal Farm packet to help them understand the plot.  They'll answer these questions in their spiral notebook.

What is a fable?

  • Fable Genre   Read several fables by Aesop (from the handout given in class or by visiting this website, AesopFables.com.) Read at least four fables.  Then ask yourself:  what do they all have in common?  Create your own list of characteristics of a fable; record that in your spiral notebook.  Definition of a fable
  • Modernize a Fable:  Choose an existing fable and give it a modern twist.  Brainstorm how you will alter the characters, setting, dialogue, style, or a portion of the conflict to make it seem like it takes place today in our community.
  • Retell your Modernized Fable:  For a speaking grade, retell your modernized fable to the class.  Students will be graded primarily on their delivery.  This is your chance to practice 
    • making eye contact with audience
    • volume:  speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear
    • tempo:  speaking slowly enough for us to understand your story, but not so slowly or in a stilted fashion that it is painful to listen to
    • inflection:  varying the pitch of your voice to make your story more interesting-->  this conveys enthusiasm and engages the audience
    • enunciation:  speaking clearly, without mumbling
    • body language:  using gestures (if any) that contribute to the presentation.  No fidgeting!
  • Reflect on Retelling Fables.    Click here to see the reflection prompt.  Students should answer these questions in their spiral notebooks after the entire class has retold their fables.

Culminating Project Options   

1.  Write your own satirical allegory/fable*.  Just as Orwell used personified animals to satirize historical people and real events, choose an event or people to satirize via a fable.   Please add an illustration to complement your written work.  Print this satirical fable planning sheet to organize your work.  Turn it in with the final draft. 

2.   Response to Literature Essay:  What is one of the  themes of the novel? 

OTHER ANIMAL FARM MATERIALS

Mini-Research Paper and Oral Report -- WE MAY DO THIS DIFFERENTLY FOR 2004-2005

In order to help students understand the issues underlying Animal Farm and The Giver, students may choose to do their mini-research paper and oral report on a topic relating to these dystopia novels.  (Students may also choose to their mini-research paper and oral report on a lighter topic not related to either novel.)

If you want more information on writing a research paper and giving an oral report of information, visit our "Research Paper-Oral Presentation" web page. 

Allegorical Characters from History
  • If you lost your "Allegorical Symbolism Chart" handout, you may print a new allegory chart here.
  • History of the Russian Revolution and the Soviet Union puppet show.  Students take notes on the puppet show by filling in an outline-handout

 

 
 

Created by L. Clark-Burnell. 

12/ 03   Hit Counter

* Adapted from Novel Units, 1991 by Anne Troy & Phyllis Green.