How does this even relate to history class??

[SnowAngel08]

This is so frustrating! A few days ago in my High School History class we started reading this book called the "Animal Farm". Our teacher will give worksheets on every chapter and i do them all to the best of my ability. But the problem is, I don't understand how this even closely relates to history! Its basically about these animals (that can talk) take over a farm and kick out the man who owned it. Then they spread the message of "animalism" all over England. (Animalism is when the animals will take over the world) If anyone else has read this book please tell me how it relates to history!
P.S.
Simba928 is also in my class and has no idea why we are reading this book.

 

[DVCLiz]

This is so frustrating! A few days ago in my High School History class we started reading this book called the "Animal Farm". Our teacher will give worksheets on every chapter and i do them all to the best of my ability. But the problem is, I don't understand how this even closely relates to history! Its basically about these animals (that can talk) take over a farm and kick out the man who owned it. Then they spread the message of "animalism" all over England. If anyone else has read this book please tell me how it relates to history!
P.S.
Simba928 is also in my class and has no idea why we are reading this book.

Oh, girls, you're bringing back so many memories here!!!!!

Actually, I have no clear memories of "Animal Farm". Wasn't it a parable about communism or something????

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

No idea on the book--but perhaps a ficitionalized equivilant of stuff that did happen. Countries getting taken over to spread whatever "ism" was of the day.

In 8th grade history class--the teacher showed "North and South"--a fictionalized (and sometimes sexualized) historical fiction miniseries. I always thought it a hoot how on quizzes she spelled the many characters name wrong. She insisted it was with an H like the same named county in South Carolina...I politely said it didn't have an H (per the credits--mom and I were huge fans and would watch marathon tapes of this on the weekend sometimes). She said I was wrong. I guess that is what happens when you use fiction to teach history.

I'm guessing your prof couldn't find a better historical fiction book to bring home the point he/she is trying to teach.

I always like the idea--if you don't know "why" ask "who" thought of it "why" and they just might tell you.

 

[gr8tpanther]

I didn't understand why I had to learn HALF the crap they taught me in school! Really, I am 38 years old, and I don't use it.... yeah, I graduated, but I really don't get why they teach some of the stuff they do!

 

[SwedishMeatball]

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/themes.html

 

[JennyMominRI]

It's allegory about communism
Animal Farm is a satirical novel (which can also be understood as a modern fable or allegory) by George Orwell, ostensibly about a group of animals who oust the humans from the farm they live on and run it themselves, only to have it corrupted into a brutal tyranny on its own. It was written during World War II and published in 1945, although it was not widely successful until the late 1950s.

Animal Farm is a thinly veiled critique and satire of Soviet totalitarianism. Many events in the book are based on ones from the Soviet Union during the Stalin era. (For example, the character Snowball, who is expelled from the Farm by Napoleon, is clearly modeled on Trotsky.) George Orwell, though a leftist – he was for many years a member of the Independent Labour Party – was a critic of Stalin, and suspicious of Moscow-directed communism after his experiences in the Spanish Civil War.

 

[Twinkles6892]

I LOVE THAT BOOK! Napoleon is Stalin. Yes, the pig is Stalin. There was Snowball, who he kicked out of power, chased off the farm. The puppies he takes away from their mother, those are representitive of his secret police. That's all I remember though, Boxer was something too. Boxer

I'm so going to have to reread it now!

 

[SnowAngel08]

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?

 

[JennyMominRI]

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?

I had to read this in school also. It's pretty common

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I had to read this in school also. It's pretty common

I moved so much I missed all the common stuff.

No Hamlet and no Animal Farm.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

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?

By chance are you studying Communism in your history class? Or is that comming up?

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

I had to read that and 1984 in history class. I liked them both. Glad you explained it, Jenny, I was thinking, whew, where do I start with this!

 

[bekkiz]

I am a history teaher, and have taught middle and high school students. Actually, I love using novels as a way to learn history for a couple of reasons
1. Often, novels are more engaging then a text book
2. Not only does the novel provide a take on the subject at hand, there's usually interesting discussions around when the book was written, and what commentary it provides on that time as well

A hint from someone who is reasonably young who has been through high school, college and graduate school and remembers it, as well as a teacher...
For the the love of God, if you don't understand something--ask! Animal Farm is an extremly dense book in terms of metaphor. If you've read the whole thing with no clue about what the context is....you're not learning. Make an appointment or catch your teacher after class. Without being accusatory, let them know that you think you're missing something, and could they please provide a hint.

This will make you school life SO much more useful.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I moved so much I missed all the common stuff.

No Hamlet and no Animal Farm.

I never read any Shakespeare in school

 

[belle_of_the_ball]

i had to read it..hated it but it teaches about communisum and how it doesnt work..if you need any help PM me...i remember it all or almost all.

 

[missypie]

DS read Animal Farm in 8th grade. I asked him if he got all that symbolism on his own. He said that once the teacher clued him in that it was about Communism, it all fell into place.

 

[disneymom3]

I know why the teacher is having you read the book--read Jenny's post above. I am just hoping he eventually tells you why you are reading the book. Maybe he is hoping you figure out the connection.

 

[Towncrier]

ACK!!! No discussion of George Orwell is complete without mentioning "1984", a book that I argue he copied from Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin's book titled "We". But we can debate that another day.

 

[SnowAngel08]

Well we studied comunism already, but I think we may be going into something deeper with it.

But I also love reading novels in class -I just love reading in general- its just this one book hasn't made much sense to me. I think now that I know some of the literal meaning behind it, it should be much much easier!
Thanks all you Disers!

 

[Marseeya]

I never read any Shakespeare in school

Quick! Get thee to a nunnery!



Sorry, couldn't resist.