How does this even relate to history class??

[DVCLiz]

Thanks, Jenny, "allegory" was the word I was looking for, not parable.

 

[KimR]

My DD just finished reading that book for her language arts class. I've never read it but I did like the quote she shared with me 'all animals are created equal...but some are more equal than others' or something to that effect.

 

[Florida_Mom]

I think im understanding the view on communisim now. I havn't read the whole thing yet though. I just find it a weird way to teach your history class?

What's great about novels is that they get you emotionally invested in a concept or way of thinking that you might not have embraced before. While discussing civil liberties vs. security in the Political Science class that I teach, many students don't see the problem with the government taking away civil liberties. However, those students that have read "1984" usually have a strong reaction to such a thing. They experienced it emotionally in the novel.

 

[Bashful2]

I never had to read it in school, so when DD had to read it for English in 9th grade, I also read it. We both thought, although it was very sad, it was an important book to read. We rate it right up there with "Lord of the Rings."

 

[suzannen]

My DD is going to be reading this later on this Spring in her 6th grade class. Her teacher has said they are going to be having detailed discussions on the use of symbolism in novels. I can't wait to have discussions with her on this book.

 

[ford family]

I was always a big fan of "Brave New World" but then I would be, wouldn't I?

ford family

 

[GoofieRuthie]

I remember reading this in High School too. Man, I feel old!

totalitarianism~ Absolute power corrupts absolutely.


Speaking of symbolism. I remember learning the story BEHIND The Wizard of Oz. It was weird and remember thinking, HUH???? Kinda took the fun out of the movie for awhile, but not for long. Still one of my favorite movies.

 

[Sparx]

by any chance have you recently studdied the russian revolution? That is what Animal farm is about.

 

[daisyduck123]

It's been over 25 years since I read Animal Farm (9th or 10th grade maybe?)

Sorry but I remember nothing about it.

 

[daisyduck123]

OOps! double post!

 

[rascalmom]

My dd read for her history class last year also. What grade are you in now? She was a sophomore at the time.

 

[mermaidlady]

MermaidLady's DD is hijacking her moms name for a moment:

I read Animal Farm in 7th grade and just recently somewhere I was discussing it...Anyways, I remembered it was all about commies. Agh! Everyone's talking about high school; I'm in 10th grade and have read 2 Shakespeare plays before this and am rereading Julius Caeser? this year. Okay, pointless rambling, but I had to put my two cents worth in before disappearing to go study for my math final. >.<

 

[simba928]

Thank yall so much for your answers! (I am in the OPs class in case you missed that.) To answer some of your questions, we are in 10th grade. We just finished learning about World War II, but we talked about the Russian Revolution briefly (maybe 5-10 minutes) in one class at the very beginning, maybe a month ago. We have asked our teacher multiple times why it relates. Currently I think me and the OP are the only ones with the slightest clue as to whats going on, thanks to yall! He just says read and we'll discuss it later. To which we reply "But we don't get the book at all" and he just says "READ!" He can be totally clueless at times. True story: Our class took it upon ourselves to discuss the "four legs good, two legs bad" rule while we were supposed to be reading. LOL. We were asking him what about birds and he said that their wings were considered legs ( ). Then somebody brought up kangaroos. We argued that they have 2 legs and 2 "arms". And he was totally confused, so we argued some more. And he goes "Stop talking about mythical creatures and go back to work!" We were like "since when are kangaroos mythical creatures?" and he said "they are". See, clueless! LOL.

 

[suzannen]

Thank yall so much for your answers! (I am in the OPs class in case you missed that.) To answer some of your questions, we are in 10th grade. We just finished learning about World War II, but we talked about the Russian Revolution briefly (maybe 5-10 minutes) in one class at the very beginning, maybe a month ago. We have asked our teacher multiple times why it relates. Currently I think me and the OP are the only ones with the slightest clue as to whats going on, thanks to yall! He just says read and we'll discuss it later. To which we reply "But we don't get the book at all" and he just says "READ!" He can be totally clueless at times. True story: Our class took it upon ourselves to discuss the "four legs good, two legs bad" rule while we were supposed to be reading. LOL. We were asking him what about birds and he said that their wings were considered legs ( ). Then somebody brought up kangaroos. We argued that they have 2 legs and 2 "arms". And he was totally confused, so we argued some more. And he goes "Stop talking about mythical creatures and go back to work!" We were like "since when are kangaroos mythical creatures?" and he said "they are". See, clueless! LOL.

Simba, I think in this instance your teacher could probably learn a lot from his class. Meanwhile, you might want to check out Spark Notes (http://search.sparknotes.com/?query=Animal+Farm) which will help explain themes, symbolism, characters and plot overviews of the book. Good luck with it!

 

[JVL1018]

Ohhhh..bad memories..Animal Farm. Hated that book, hated 1984 as well.
I think I just ended uo getting Cliffs Notes and tried to put it all behind me. LOL

I am a voracious reader always have been, did advanced English classes in high school..but those 2 books(along with The Great Gatsby) were ones that were just awful, IMO.

 

[Crankyshank]

i had to read Animal Farm twice - for 7th grade English and 9th grade world history. I loved it. I also liked 1984 but the hysteria attached to it lost it's meaning for me since I read in around 1989/1990.
TNT did a pretty good movie adaption of Animal Farm a few years ago.
I should probably dig the book out of my attic and read it again.

 

[cardaway]

I also was assigned to read it in Jr. High history class. Sure beat reading another chapter of the text book. I remember enjoying the class discussions as well.

 

[Galahad]

No Hamlet and no Animal Farm

Actually, you're right.... if there were no Hamlet there might have been no Animal Farm......

 

[GoofyDad869]

It's a great book. My, we're having an Orwellian day on the DISBoard Community Boards, aren't we?

I just love typing/saying that word (Orwellian)...

I love history - My high school grades notwithstanding. Sincerely, the textbooks have a way of making real living people (warts & all) into these noble, no personality, by the numbers abstractions. Do some REAL research on Woodrow Wilson, for an example of what I mean. His stance on racism, womens' rights, etc. What do you learn about him in H.S. History? World War I isolationist bullcr@p and the League of Nations.

 

[Cindy B]

I remember it had to do with anarchy, overthrow of the government, coups and I think caste system.

We read it in 6th grade! At least in high school, it makes more sense since you are talking about that type thing in Western Civ classes (Ie French Revolution).