This opinion essay is about Orwell's Animal Farm with the question, whether or not should it be taught in schools. It contains a short summery, the pros and cons, which character is which historical figure and other books, similar to Orwell's.
Animal Farm - full summary, themes, and characters e.t.c.
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Animal Farm: yes or no?
George Orwell was born in 1903, whose book, Animal Farm only appeared in printing in
1945, August. His work describing a well-known historical event with – as the title says-
animals, but the real question is: Should Animal Farm be taught in schools, or not?
Animal Farm is about a group of farm animals who, led by the pigs, overthrow the farmer, Mr
Jones, and attempt to establish a new egalitarian order. Their idealism is betrayed, however,
and the animals slowly succumb to a dictatorial regime led by Napoleon, one of the pigs.
As I have mentioned before, the book is a transparent allegory describing the events in Russia
from the 1917 revolution up to the totalitarian tyranny of Stalinism.
Let’s start with why it should not be taught in schools! Some say that Animal Farm is not fit
in the curriculum, but if we look behind it, we can see the state tells what the curriculum is. In
that way they can stop the ‘spreading’ of critical thinking among the ones, who are the most
receptive. As for the teachers’ side, they are already overburdened by the material they have
to teach so this kind of book, like Animal Farm, which requires a lot of time to be perfectly
process. Some say this book needs to be found individually, not ‘forced’ by the school, since
in that way it will leave a bad taste in the students’ mouth. Other important aspect is, Orwell’s
books need some kind of mature thinking to be understood. People need to grow up to
prescind from the characters as well, as it was given to primary school students, there would
be a little chance for anyone to understand it.
On the other side, this book needs to be taught, since it helps you to think critically and see
the patterns of building a dictatorial state, which unfortunately have actuality. Animal Farm
also shows how can herd mentality ruin what we want to build and how this mentality
supports the ones, who seeks power for themselves. It also helps to understand how radical
sides of political parties gain power through history with the help of speeches and lies.
Orwell’s work is a great way to learn the beginning of communism and its peak, in that way
History and Literature teachers can work together in a way that students can the material fully
understand.
As for my side and experience? I only can recommend this book, not only because of it’s
amazing world-building, but it was easy to read. Animal Farm really a good preparation for
History class, it shows as well how ideas can be corrupted, twisted and changed to fit in the
propaganda and the ideas of the dictator. Other great idea of Orwell is showing how people
can be manipulated by ruling organisations with fear, lies and in other ways.
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