George Orwell
?
GEORGE ORWELL
(Eric A. Blair)
1903-1950
Orwell is well known for his novels Animal
Farm (1945) and 1984 (1949). He wrote
numerous novels, poems and literary
criticism.
Eric Arthur Blair,
better known as
George Orwell, was
born on 25th of June
1903. He was born
in a British colony in
India and was
brought by his
parents back to
England when he
was a year old.
The Blair family
Orwell joined the
police in Burma
(India), where he had
family connections.
In 1927 he returned to
England and resigned
from the police force
with the intention to
become a writer.
Orwell took a job as a teacher in England, after
living in Paris for a short time. It was a small
school and allowed Orwell to focus on his writing
both as a writer and as a journalist.
When the Spanish Civil
war began, Orwell
volunteered to fight for
the Republicans
because he wanted to
support Socialism
(republicans and
socialists were allied).
He was politically left-winged [1] but he had
an idealistic view of Socialism which was
extremely different from what he
experienced.
His experience of Socialism in Spain
disappointed [2] him and made him critical
about political parties [3] in general.
[1] Di sinistra
[2 Contrariato, deluso
[3] partiti politici
After the publication of his most
famous book Nineteeneightyfour in
1949 Orwell became seriously ill,
suffering with tuberculosis and January
of 1950, aged 46, he died.
Main Works
Animal Farm
(1949)
(1945)
Animal Farm was
ready in 1944 but
Orwell had difficulties
finding a publisher
because many
considered it an
attack on the Soviets
who were allies in the
war. Animal Farm
would finally be
published in 1945 and
was the work that
made Orwell famous.
An allegory of Russian revolution
Orwell wrote 'Animal Farm' primarily as
an allegory of the Russian Revolution
thinly [1] disguised as an animal fable.
Orwell specifically had Russia in mind
but also draws from his experiences
in Spain to show that all modern
societies are at risk.
[2]
►
[1] In modo sottile, arguto
► [2] attinge
The story is set [1] on the Manor Farm,
owned and operated by Mr. Jones.
One night the animals realized [2] that the
misery of their daily life is all due to the
tyranny of human beings [3], and that if they
work to overthrow [4] the humans their lives
will become easy and comfortable.
►
[1] si svolge [2] rendersi conto [3] esseri umani [4] sbarazzarsi
Animal Farm
A few months later, Mr. Jones gets drunk
and forgets to feed [1] the animals, who
become so hungry that they rebel and drive
the human beings off the farm [2]. They
rename the farm 'Animal Farm' and write
on the barn wall [3] the Seven
Commandments of Animalism.
[1] dar da mangiare
[2] cacciano gli uomini dalla fattoria
[3] sul muro del fienile
Animal Farm
The Seven Commandments
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy
Whatever goes upon four legs, or has
wings, is a friend.
No animal shall wear clothes.
No animal shall sleep in a bed.
No animal shall drink alcohol.
No animal shall kill any other animal.
All animals are equal.
Animal Farm
All animals are equal,
but some are more equal than others
After many years, life
is just as hard as it
ever was. The pigs
start walking on two
legs, they drink
whiskey, some animals
are killed because they
disobeyed
Animal Farm
[1]…
►[1]
avevano disubbidito
One day a group of
human farmers come
to see the farm, they
quarrel with the pigs
over a game of cards and the animals
discover they can no
longer tell which is
human and which is
pig.
Animal Farm
The novel highlights [2] not only the
corruption of the revolution by its leaders
(the pigs) but also how wickedness [3],
indifference, ignorance, greed [4] and myopia
destroy any possibility of a Utopia. It also
shows how ignorance and indifference to
problems within a revolution could allow
horrors to happen.
[2] mette in luce [3] malvagità
[4] avidità
Animal Farm
Orwell wrote 'Nineteen
Eighty-four' to show
how political systems
can suppress individual
freedom. 'Nineteen
Eighty-four' is a
warning [1] for the
future about the risks
of totalitarianism.
[1] ammonimento, avviso, allerta
Published in 1949
Summary (1)
It presents an imaginary future
where a totalitarian state controls
every aspect of life, even people's
thoughts.
The state is called Oceania and is
ruled by a group known as the
Party; its leader and dictator is
Big Brother.
1984
Summary (2)
Winston Smith, the central
character, is a thirty-nine year
old man living in London. He
secretly hates the Party and
decides to rebel by starting a
diary in which he reveals his
rebellious thoughts. He also
starts a love affair [2] , which
is considered a crime.
[2] relazione amorosa
Summary (3)
Winston is then
arrested, tortured and
brainwashed [1] by the
Thought Crime Police
until he fully believes
in the Party and its
doctrines. In the end
Winston has submitted
completely and loves
Big Brother.
The slogans of the party are
contradictions :
"War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery,
Ignorance is Strength".
With these slogans, Orwell wanted to
highlight [2] the cruelty of political
oppression and its contradictory excuses
to justify inhuman and mean [3] actions
driven [4] by economical interest
►[2]
evidenziare [3] meschine [4] guidate
1984
Check your comprehension:
► Which
are the main works written by
Orwell?
► What do you know about his life?
► What political ideology did he support?
► What is 1984 about?
► What is Animal farm about?
1984