Animal Farm- Chapter One Notes
“Utopia”
1.
Definitions of Utopia : a.
b.
2. What kind of Utopia does Old
Major envision for England and Ireland?
Beasts of England
Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
Of the golden future time.
Soon or late the day is coming,
Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown,
And the fruitful fields of England
Shall be trod by beasts alone.
Rings shall vanish from our noses,
And the harness from our back,
Bit and spur shall rust forever,
Cruel whips no more shall crack.
Riches more than mind can picture,
Wheat and barley, oats and hay,
Clover, beans, and mangel-wurzels
Shall be ours upon that day.
Bright will shine the fields of England,
Purer shall its waters be,
Sweeter yet shall blow its breezes
On the day that sets us free.
For that day we all must labour,
Though we die before it break;
Cows and horses, geese and turkeys,
All must toil for freedom's sake.
Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken well and spread my tidings
Of the golden future time.
~Old Major
What kind of Utopia does John Lennon envision for the world?
Imagine
Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people living for today...
Imagine there's no countries,
It isn’t hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people living life in peace...
Imagine no possessions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.
~ John Lennon

3. Compare/Contrast the two songs. What do they have in common? How are they different?
“Beasts of England” “Imagine”
4. Do you think Old Major’s dream will be achieved? Why or why not?
5. If you could design the perfect, ideal school, what things would you implement? (Think: homework, grades, teachers, etc.)