George Orwell GEORGE ORWELL Eric A Blair 1903

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 25 th 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 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 [1]… Animal Farm ►[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 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. [1] subisce il lavaggio del cervello

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