1. Can You Decipher Orwell’s Allegory?

In George Orwell’s book Animal Farm, the characters, places, and events are symbolic of events in Russian history. Can you decipher Orwell’s Allegorical Tale?

You will research actual events and attempt to draw parallels between reality and fiction.

These materials are © 2005 Jeremy VanDerKern, Keene High School, all rights reserved.

Picture:www.graphicsbydezign.com/ clipartarchive.htm Copyright ByDezign - 1999/2004

Allegory: A symbolic representation: The blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory of justice.

2. Reading Reminiscing

These materials are © 2005 Jeremy VanDerKern, Keene High School, all rights reserved.

. Napoleon. Snowball. The Farmhouse. The Windmill. Squealer. The Sheep. The Pigeons. Rasputin. Sugarcandy Mountain. Farmer Jones. Animalism. Beasts of England. Boxer. Benjamin. Molly. Muriel Frederick and Pilkington

What is important, memorable, or significant about each character, place, or event listed to the right?

Before we begin searching the Internet, I’d like you to describe characters, places and events in Animal Farm.

You will use these descriptions later when you attempt to match fact with fiction. HEY! Who

took all the milk and apples!?

3. Web Hunt

The following sites are Key to deciphering Orwell’s Allegory. Visit each and attempt to draw connections between fact and fiction.

Historical Backdrop NotesCzar NicholasKarl MarxCommunismStalinTrotskyPropagandaInternationaleRasputinProletariatsKGBIndustrial Revolution

These materials are © 2005 Jeremy VanDerKern, Keene High School, all rights reserved.

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I’ll never give up control! Never. I’ll rule with an iron fist.

I’ll make a deal with

him….as long as it fits my plans. But I don’t trust

him!

Image taken from:

Animal Farm.Dir. John Stephenson.1999.Videocassette.Hallmark Home Entertainment,October 2005.

4. Poster SynergyNow that you have recorded what made certain characters, places, and events memorable AND now that you have explored the Internet on various topics from Russian History, it is time to draw parallels between Russian Historical Fact and the Fictitious World of Orwell’s of Animal Farm.

You will create a Poster Comparing and Contrasting at least five of the characters, places, or events listed from Animal Farm and draw parallels to the information you found on the Internet regarding Russian History.

These materials are © 2005 Jeremy VanDerKern, Keene High School, all rights reserved..

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.Use a Venn

Diagram!

Poster requirements:

•11X17” paper

•Size 20 text font

•5 intense Venn diagrams

•C&C fact with fiction

•10 pictures

5. EnrichmentAnimal Farm addresses the issue of Leadership.

For Enrichment, visit any KHS club and write down observations about its leaders and its members.

KHS CLUBSLEADERS

These materials are © 2005 Jeremy VanDerKern, Keene High School, all rights reserved.

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6. Teacher Resources & Goals

• http://www.geocities.com/vanderkernj/animal/animal_farm_unit.html

These materials are © 2005 Jeremy VanDerKern, Keene High School, all rights reserved.

• Allegorical Animal Chart

GOALS“The Mission Statement of Keene High School is to provide each student with the tools to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world”

Academic

1) Graduates read critically

2) Graduates comprehend at or above grade level

3) Graduates read for a variety of purposes

8) Graduates can find and use information

This course is based upon New Hampshire’s K-12 Language Arts Curriculum Framework--which can be

viewed at: http://www.ed.state.nh.us/education/doe/organization/curriculum/NECAP/HS_NECAP.htm