Introduction
Today you will be learning about George Orwell and his book 1984.
Task
Use the following websites to learn a little about George Orwell:
https://www.bl.uk/people/george-orwell#
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/orwell_george.shtml
Answer these questions in your English folder in your Drive. Copy and paste the questions. Then respond.
- “George Orwell” is not the author’s real name, but a pseudonym. Find his real name. Why did he choose this pseudonym?
- Describe Orwell’s family life (Where did he grow up? To which social class did he belong?)
- Describe Orwell’s academic career. (Which school(s) did he attend? Was he a good student? Did he go to university?)
- What were Orwell’s political views? Describe them in your own words.
Use the following and any dictionary source to learn a little about the background of the novel. It was published in 1949:
https://owlcation.com/humanities/A-Historical-Analysis-of-1984-by-George-Orwell
- First, define totalitarianism:
- Who is Big Brother based on? Where have you heard this term in today's world?
- Who was Leon Trotsky? What character in the book is based on him?
- What is the role of the Ministry of Truth in 1984?
- What is a thoughtcrime and how was it treated in reality in Russia in the 1940s?
- What is 1984 a warning about?
- Use the CNBC link for this question. What is happening in Russia right now that is similar to Trotsky and Stalin? Could this kind of thing happen in America? Why or why not?
Evaluation
When you are finished with the questions, submit them in schoology. They are due by Thursday 11:59. This is a 20 process points completion grade.