Date: Wednesday, March 4th, 2020
Talha Gondal
Pd. 7 Sophomores 2020
Blogger #11
Aim: How is Animal Farm, by George Orwell a fairy tale, fable, and satirical allegory?
Our class discussion opened with a conversation about the definitions of the above terms. We decided what made a fairy tale, a fairy tale. From our previous lessons, we knew that fairy tales incorporate specific themes that testify to a fantasy aspect. This world of imagination is enhanced in the fairy tales we tell our children. We then transitioned to the meaning behind a fable. A fable is a short story that offers a lesson to the reader. It often includes magic, talking animals, and other constants among famous fables. An allegory is defined by an attempt to show a hidden meaning using symbolism and by telling a story behind what is observed upfront.
Vocabulary: Here is a simple example of one of the most dominant features of a fable, and a fairy tale. Note, one of the major reasons these types of stories find success among children is because of this very fantastical element, which creates exciting characters and dramatizes the plot. In this example, a cloud is given the human emotion of grief, to explain the town’s weather. This is also used to create a negatively connotated environment and sets up the mood for the rest of the scenario.
Do Now:
THINK, PAIR, SHARE
features of a fairy tale:
- Personification
- “Once upon a time”
- Theme of “Good” vs “Evil” clearly defined.
- “They lived happily ever after”
NOTE: A lot of modern fairy tales told to children are variations of more gruesome and violent tales by pre-modern authors, like the Brothers Grimm.
An example: One of the step sisters from “Cinderella” cuts off her own toe in order to fit into the glass slipper.
Initially, the faculty meeting constricted the period time to a couple of minutes less than the standard 45. Mrs. Peterson of course had planned the lesson under these constraints accordingly. Along with the beginning of the period starting with a 10 minute quiz, we had a couple of minutes to settle in. This left about 20-25 minutes of class time in which we discussed fundamentals towards understanding George Orwell’s Animal Farm and the flow of the lesson was just like any day, filled with vibrant discussions and deep analysis. Our discussion for the Do Now
The majority of today’s lesson was verbal and analysis based on feedback from our peers and Mrs. Peterson but the notes I collected pertained to the classification of a fairy story, and whatever other categories George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm, falls under. I noted the key characteristics and defining factors of a fairy tale to be a tale, often told to children that have key fantasy elements such as talking animals (Animal Farm, of course), mythical creatures, and other fantastic events. They often have a perspective to share or perhaps a lesson to teach, which is a predominant reason they’re passed on throughout generations. We finished off the lesson with a viewing of a classic Aesop’s Fable, The Tortoise and The Hare. We discussed the features of a fable that can be observed from the video viewing. For example: Talking animals/ Personification, offering a moral (Slow and steady wins the race) and an outdoor/countryside setting.
Reflection: Today’s lesson gave me a deeper look into what differentiates a fable from a fairytale, and what characteristics are found in both. I began to explore the allegorical concepts intended by George Orwell in Animal Farm. The author’s purpose was to warn of the dangers of a rising autocratic system, in which one government body holds political power. He did this by creating connections between in book characters and real life threats to liberty. For example, the pigs who dominated the farm unjustly, represent the Bolshevik party, and how their rise to power during the Russian revolution allowed them to corrupt the values of liberty that the decent man holds dear.
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