Abusing Power: Animal Farm and Wicked History

Lesson 20
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ELA

Unit 3

8th Grade

Lesson 20 of 32

Objective


Identify places where the film version of Animal Farm differs from the original text and evaluate the choices made by the filmmakers.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Animal Farm by George Orwell  pp. 3 – 26 — Chapters 1–2

  • Movie: Animal Farm  — 0:35–23:30

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A Note for Teachers


  • Though the film is Rated G, the film contains significant depictions of violence and animal cruelty that may be distressing for students, including Mr. Jones kicking the animals, throwing things at them, and shooting them. The film also contains depictions of excessive alcohol consumption. For further guidance, review the Parents' Guide to Animal Farm from Common Sense Media as a part of intellectual preparation.
  • Inform students that it is more important for them to be able to summarize the events depicted in the film than it is for them to capture the exact language of direct quotes. For this reason, encourage students to jot brief notes in shorthand rather than to copy what they hear word for word. None of the Key Questions require students to use quotes from either the film or the text, but they are welcome to do so if they wish.
  • Some of the events of the film do not line up with the events of the text in terms of how the lessons are divided. For instance, in the first section of the film, we see Napoleon take the puppies so that he can train them. However, in the text, that does not occur until chapter three, which students revisit in Lesson 21. Inform students that just because an event has not yet occurred in the film does not mean it has been omitted; some of the events in the film occur in a different order than they do in the text. Therefore, it is important to take careful notes on each plot point because they may wish to revisit these plot points in future lessons.

Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

Contrast the ways that Napoleon is depicted early in the novel and early in the film. Provide examples from both the text and film to support your answer. Evaluate the director's choices.

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Key Questions


  • Which events from the first two chapters of Animal Farm did the filmmakers choose to condense? What impact does this have on the audience's interpretation of the scene? Provide an example from the film to support your thinking. (Film: Animal Farm, 1954; Orwell)

  • Which events from the first two chapters of Animal Farm did the filmmakers choose to extend? What impact does this have on the audience's interpretation of the scene? Provide an example from the film to support your thinking. (Film: Animal Farm, 1954)

  • How does Old Major's speech differ between the text and the film? Identify two differences and explain their impact. (Film: Animal Farm, 1954 )

Homework


Lesson 21 is a synthesis lesson where students will continue watching the film adaptation of Animal Farm. If needed, review notes and annotations from Lesson 12, Lesson 13, and Lesson 14. 

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What are the key events in Chapter 3? Summarize the chapter.

  • What are the key events in Chapter 4? Summarize the chapter.

  • What are the key events in Chapter 5? Summarize the chapter.

  • What are the key events in Chapter 6? Summarize the chapter.

  • Why do the animals change the name of the farm? What do they change it to?

  • What do Snowball and Napoleon disagree about? What does Napoleon do about it?

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.8.7 — Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.

Supporting Standards

L.8.6
RL.8.1
SL.8.1
SL.8.6
W.8.1
W.8.1.a
W.8.1.b
W.8.4
W.8.9
W.8.9.a
W.8.10

Next

Identify places where the film version of Animal Farm differs from the original text and evaluate the choices made by the filmmakers.

Lesson 21
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