copyright 1999, Sirpa Grierson
copyright 1999, Sirpa Grierson
Novel Information and Resources:
Reading Activities Compiled by Sarita Rich
|During Reading | After Reading |Pre-Reading Connections
1. Hopkinson, Tom. British Writers: George Orwell. Vol 7. Ed. Ian Scott-Kilvert. U.S.A.:
British Council, 1984.The section on George Orwell offers comprehensive autobiographical information that includes details and quotes from his experience in the Spanish Civil War, his years among the poor working classes of Wigan, England, and his service in the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, and places his major novels in social and historical context.
2. Radcliffe, Tom. 10 July 2000. Burmese Days by George Orwell: a fable of social metaphysics. Retrieved 11 Feb. 2006 from website: <http://enlightenment.supersaturated.com/essays/text/tomradcliffe/burmese_days.html>.
This book review for Orwell’s first novel, Burmese Days, features the presumably semi-autobiographical story of John Flory, a British expatriate in Burma. Orwell’s personal experiences and feelings are reflected in John’s character, offering interesting insights into the style of the author’s writing.
3. The Literature Network. 11 Feb. 2006. Shooting an Elephant. Retrieved 11 Feb. 2006 from website: <http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/887/>.
This essay, a classic in the annals of British literature, was written during Orwell’s days in Burma and provides unique and entertaining insights into Orwell’s personality, as well as the life experiences that influenced his writing. This superb sample of Orwell’s writing gives students an idea for his brilliant command of the English language. Another resource that may be used to supplement “Shooting an Elephant” is an entry in Wikipedia.
Wikipedia.org—Shooting an Elephant. Retrieved 11 Feb. 2006 from Wikipedia website: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_an_Elephant>.
4. Charles’George Orwell Links, The Orwell Web Source since 1995. Retrieved 28 Jan. 2006 from website: <http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/>.
This is a website dedicated to George Orwell and includes links to biographical information, chronological events in his lifetime, news articles, photos, and information on his career in journalism and his famous essays. The link on the left titled “Orwell, India, and the BBC” is especially interesting and provides a wonderfully detailed account on his experience in India.
5. Orwell, George. The Road to Wigan Pier. London: The Camelot Press Ltd., 1937.
Orwell’s fifth book, written after spending some time in Wigan, England among the poor working classes of coal miners, provides compelling narrative for the many reasons Orwell chose to believe in socialism, especially the photographs between pages 104 and 137. The pictures provide thought-provoking visual aides that supplement students’ understanding of the situations that influenced Orwell’s political beliefs and advocacy of social reform. Chapter 2 describes the wretched working conditions in England that clearly parallel those at Manor Farm under Napoleon’s tyranny.
6. Wikipedia.org—Spanish Civil War. Retrieved 11 Feb. 2006 from Wikipedia website: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_civil_war#The_war:_1936>.
Orwell fought in the Spanish Civil War from approximately 1936-1938. This site provides an overview of the political insurrections that caused the war as well as a detailed chronology of wartime events which are helpful for understanding how the war influenced Orwell’s writing.
7. Glencoe McGraw Hill. (2006). Study Guide for Animal Farm (pages 9-11). Retrieved 21 Jan. 2006, from Glencoe Website:
<http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/languageart/animalfarm.pdf>.This PDF study guide gives a general overview of Orwell’s autobiographical detail, influences on his writing, and the context of the time period in which Animal Farm was written. Handy worksheets and graphic organizers that facilitate active reading are included for each chapter.
8. Thurber, James. Fables for Our Time. U.S.A.: Blue Ribbon Books, 1943.
These short fables (pg. 17, 69) help to introduce Animal Farm in the context of the tradition of the fable.
9. Author Unknown. (Publication date unknown). “Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution,” Retrieved 18 Jan. 2006 from Cliffsnotes website:
<http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/id-12,pageNum-39.html>.This critical essay focuses on the parallels between famous figures in the history of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and their corresponding representations by characters in Animal Farm. As Animal Farm is based on this revolution, knowledge of the people and events in Russia is essential for students’ complete understanding of the novel.
10. 20th Century History. Retrieved 28 Jan.2006, from website: <http://history1900s.about.com/cs/leontrotsky/index.htm>.
This site provides links to detailed accounts of biographies, photos, and timelines of major figures in the Russian Revolution of 1917.
11. Author Unknown. (2006). Character map. Retrieved 4 Feb. 2006 from website: <http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/id-12,pageNum-8.html>.
This Cliffsnotes character map will help students understand the relationships between the novel’s characters and major events.
12. Wikipedia—Trotsky. Retrieved 28 Jan. 2006, from Wikipedia Website: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trotsky>.
This in-depth review of Leon Trotsky and his contributions to the Russian Revolution includes lots of photos. The information is helpful for teaching the parallels of the role Trotsky played in the Revolution and Snowball’s role in Animal Farm.
13. Wikipedia.org—Satlin. Retrieved 25 Jan. 2006, from Wikipedia Website: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalin>.
This is an in-depth review of the life and times of Joseph Stalin and his rise to power. Many photos included. This valuable biography is key to a greater understanding of Orwell’s characterization of the star villain, Napoleon, of Manor Farm.
14. George Orwell @Web EnglishTeacher. 2 Feb 2006. Web English Teacher. 3 Feb. 2006 <http://www.webenglishteacher.com/orwell.html>.
In examining this excellent website, teachers find a list of links to other sites that offer interactive reading suggestions and projects ideas for each Animal Farm chapter assignment.
15. Davis, Hazel K. (2006). A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. (pages 1-15). Retrieved 3 Feb. 2006 from website: <http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pdf/teachersguides/animalfarm.pdf>.
This in-depth PDF study guide includes emphasis on the fable, an overview of the novel, and learning activities, essay questions, and reading guides for each chapter, vocabulary lists, and ideas for great interactive drama and art projects.
16. Burg, Jerome. 3 Jan. 2006. Teacher CyberGuide: Animal Farm By George Orwell. Retrieved 3 Feb. 2006 from website:
<http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/anfrm/anfrmtg.htm>.This website developed under the Schools of California Online Resources for Educators (SCORE) project and offers three activities that help students analyze traditional rhetorical strategies of persuasion, understand the dynamics of wealth distribution in America, and learn about protections provided to workers by the laws of the U.S. Department of Labor.
17. Author Unknown. 4 May. 2001. George Orwell Resources. Retrieved 4 Feb. 2006 from website: <http://students.ou.edu/C/Kara.C.Chiodo-1/orwell.html>.
This website includes a link to a movie review of S. J. Griffith's 1955 animated feature of Animal Farm, which is useful for comparing the presentation of events in the book and in the film, as well as a comparison to TNT’s 20th century film version.
18. Chicago High School Library. 2006. Orwell & Animal Farm Information Resources. Retrieved 4 Feb. 2006 from website:
<http://dewey.chs.chico.k12.ca.us/orwell.html>.This website provides useful links for teaching about political propaganda as well as helpful links for teaching about major events of the Russian Revolution of 1917.
19. Novelguide. 22 Jan 2006. Novel Analysis: Animal Farm. Retrieved 4 Feb. 2006 from website: <http://www.novelguide.com/animalfarm/index.html>.
This website provides links to discussion and analysis of themes and metaphors, summaries, and top ten quotes in Animal Farm.
20. Author Unknown. GrAdeSaver. 4 Feb. 2006. ClassicNote on Animal Farm. Retrieved 4 Feb. 2006 from website: <http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/animalfarm/>.
This website gives an overview of the novel and provides links to examples of 25 quiz questions designed to assess students’ knowledge of plot events. Answer key provided.
After Reading Connections
21. Davis, Katie (reporter). “Bronx Youths Paint Orwell-Inspired Mural.” National Public Radio. KUER, Washington, D.C. 28 Jan. 2005.Listen to a radio clip that discusses Animal Farm from the point of view of students in the Bronx. These students, members of artist and educator, Tim Rollins’s Kids of Survival (KOS) read and studied the novel together and created a mural that depicts students’ interpretations of political leaders. These formerly at-risk students with previously low literacy rates discuss how the novel influences their views. Play this news clip for your class and discuss your students’ reaction to those of the students of KOS. The mural will be on display in the Hirshhorn Museum of Washington, D.C. in September 2006.
22. Steadman, Ralph. Ralph Steadman Illustrations. Retrieved 11 Feb 2006 from website: <http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/nameless/animalfarm.html>.
Connect the novel with fun artistic interpretations from themes and scenes by British artist Ralph Steadman at the website above. Included is a link to discussions of the central metaphors that tie the novel’s main events to important events in the Bolshevik Revolution. Art is also found at this website:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/dingonet/Steadman.htm23. TNT Learning. 7 Feb. 2006. Animal Farm Educator’s Guide. Retrieved 7 Feb. 2006 from website: <http://www.turnerlearning.com/tntlearning/animalfarm/afintro.html>.
The TNT Learning guide provides a great resource that sets the stage for the viewing of the 1999 film adaptation of Orwell’s novel and includes both before and after viewing guidelines. A link to media literacy is included and discusses differences between the novel and the film, which students will find interesting to discuss.
24. Reiss, Andy. 21 Nov. 1999. Animal Farm: a new version on US television. Retrieved 7 Feb. 2006 from World Socialist Website: <http://www.wsws.org/articles/1999/nov1999/anim-n12.shtml>.
This website provides a review of TNT’s 1999 film version of Animal Farm. The author includes a plot summary followed by some of the pointed discrepancies between the novel’s events and the film’s presentation and ending. This is a useful site to aide student comprehension of the novel and the liberties taken in making books into movies.
25. Orwell, George. 1946. Why I Write. Retrieved 11 Feb. 2006 from website: <http://orwell.ru/library/essays/wiw/english/e_wiw.html>.
This essay offers a recap of Orwell’s motivations to write his novels. Included are some fascinating quotes about his struggle to represent politics artistically in his works. The essay ends with some thought-provoking quotes about the difficulty of writing in general.
26. Wikipedia.org—Democratic Socialism. Retrieved 11 Feb. 2006 from Wikipedia website: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_socialism>.
This website defines Orwell’s political beliefs of democratic socialism which will be helpful for students who want to know about his personal political ideals. Included in the site are links to definitions, history, characteristics of this political outlook and a list of Democratic Socialist parties.
27. Parent, Michael R. 11 February 2000. Animal Farm: The Complete Project. Retrieved 3 Feb. 2006 from website: <http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/1565.html>.
This is a fantastic website that offers lessons and creative activities for each chapter that link the context of Animal Farm to major events in U.S. and world history. This is a great resource for encouraging creativity and teaching students how to make cross-curricular connections.
28. Classzone.com. Language Arts: Novel Guides. 11 Feb. 2006. Retrieved 11 Feb. 2006 from website: <http://www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/animalf/guide.cfm>.
This is an excellent website that provides great links to literature connections, further reading, and related reading. Creative theme openers, cross-curricular activities, and research topics are suggested.
29. EDSITEment. More than a Metaphor: Allegory and the Art of Persuasion. Retrieved Feb. 11 2006 from website: <http://edsitement.neh.gov/>. The PDF is found at: <http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson_images/lesson613/Allegory01.pdf>.
This PDF worksheet assesses student comprehension of the use of allegory and the art of persuasion in Animal Farm. The questions can be easily adapted for a short-essay exam. The questions are designed to be given after students have learned about the history associated with the Russian Revolution on which the novel is based.
30. Garrett, Nick. George, You Only Told the Truth. Song. Retrieved 28 Jan. 2006 from website: <http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/ext/242.htm>.
This song was written as a tribute to George Orwell. It can be used to provide background music for a slideshow of his photos, or just played for a bit of entertainment.
Reading Resources and Unit Guide for this Novel
