Synopsis: Animal Farmis the most famous by far of all twentieth-century political allegories. Its account of a group of barnyard animals who revolt against their vicious human master, only to submit to a tyranny erected by their own kind, can fairly be said to have become a universal drama. Orwell is one of the very few modern satirists comparable to Jonathan Swift in power, artistry, and moral authority; in Animal Farm his spare prose and the logic of his dark comedy brilliantly highlight his stark message. Taking as his starting point the betrayed promise of the Russian Revolution, Orwell lays out a vision that, in its bitter wisdom, gives us the clearest understanding we possess of the possible consequences of our social and political acts.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Suggested Summer Reading or First Six Weeks Reading
Annotation Guide Requirement
English I Pre-AP
Thematic Idea
Corruption :dishonest actions generally done by someone in power
As you find examples and instances of corruption in the novel, label them. You can label them by writing a C in the margin of the book or writing the example on a separate piece of paper, e.g. corruption page 15.
Characters
In the front of your book or on a separate sheet of paper, write descriptions (both personality and physical) for the characters as you encounter them; this information is generally at the beginning of the novel for Animal Farm. You should be able to identify literally what type of animal it is, (horse, pig, etc.) but you should also be familiar with their behaviors and personalities.
Summaries
For each chapter, either on a separate sheet of paper or at the beginning or end of each chapter (wherever you have more space to write in your book), write a short summary of the chapter’s events. Summaries should be roughly two-three sentences.
Reactions
For each chapter, either on a separate sheet of paper or at the beginning or end of each chapter, (wherever you have more space to write in your book) write your reaction to the events of that chapter and give a brief response as to why you felt the way you did. Possible reactions may include, but are not limited to: anger, shock, confusion, happiness, disgust, and satisfaction. Your reaction statement should include a “because.” For example, “Chapter two made me feel angry and disgusted because blah blahblah.” It does not need to be more than a sentence or two.
**These annotations must be completed and will be checked on the day of your exam. The annotations are worth a formative (smaller) grade. Each day a formative grade is late, the student forfeits 25 points with a 50 point maximum. The exam itself is worth a summative (larger) grade. Your test over Animal Farm will be during the third week of the school year.**
Required Reading for English I Pre-AP
for the 2017-2018 Academic Year
First Six Weeks Outside of Class: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Second Six Weeks Outside of Class:A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider by Ishmael Bea
Third Six Weeks Outside of Class:When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka
Fourth Six Weeks in Class:The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare**Found in the Freshmen Literature Textbook – students do not need to purchase an additional copy.
Fourth Six Weeks Outside of Class: One of the three for our Choice Novel Unit
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck OR
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry OR
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar
Fifth and Sixth Six Weeks Outside of Class: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee