2/12/20 Rachel Yang PD5

2/12/20
Rachel Yang Period 5
Sophomores 2020
Blogger #28

Aim: How can we symbolically analyze the character of Old Major?
*a vocabulary quiz was taken prior to the start of lesson*
          Today was the first day in which we started talking about the book Animal Farm written by George Orwell. To start off the conversation about Chapters 1&2 which we read the night prior, we were assigned a "Do Now" about Old Major and the Russian Revolution.

Do Now/Turn and Talk:

• How is Old Major characterized?

My Group's Response: 

We talked about how Old Major was the leader of all the animals on the farm yet he treated everyone else as if they were on the same level as him showing how he is a humble pig. Throughout Chapter 1, Old Major refers to all the other animals as "comrades" showing that he doesn't see himself as something who is any better than everyone else despite his high position. 

Whole-Class: 

1. He was a pioneer/ trailblazer as he introduced the idea of a rebellion. He used his wisdom to inform the other animals on the actions that needed to be taken as a result of Mr. Jones' treatment of them. 
2. Was well known by the animals on the farm and had a good reputation. 
3. Each animal in the book is an allegory to a figure in WWII, Old Major is an allegory of a high military general 

• What do you know about the Russian Revolution?

My Group's Response:

We knew that the Russian Revolution was started by Lenin who helped lead the Bolsheviks. Lenin and the Bolsheviks all worked together to take over czar Nicholas and his family by brutally assassinating them. 

Whole-Class:

1. Was caused by the aftermath of WWI: people were tired and upset after the war and wanted to take initiative and action 
2. Lenin was successful since he appealed to the commoners and peasants rather than the already powerful aristocracy; he gave them hope
3. Russia was still struggling with economic troubles after WWI leading to famine and terrible working conditions throughout Russia. 
4. As a continuation of the aftermath of WWI, the economic gap between the classes was increasing, the poor were getting poorer as the rich got richer causing the poor to get fed up

To end the class, Ms. Fusaro had us brainstorm some ideas for an end of the unit assessment after we finish Animal Farm; ideas that don't involve taking a traditional test. The ideas had to be an effective way to capture the whole meaning of the story, but it was then brought up to our realization that we do not have enough knowledge on the meaning/purpose around the story, so as we read we will have to determine the overall meaning George Orwell was trying to convey in the Animal Farm.

Reflection:

        In today's lesson, I learned that throughout Animal Farm there will be many references to historical figures. The characters will each represent an important historical figure and their actions will reflect upon that. I will be using this information to analyze future important characters and how they are influencing the behavior of the animals on the farm. I will also be applying this knowledge to the task of uncovering the overall meaning in the text. This introduction to the pioneer character of the book, Olf Major, will affect the way I understand the story as I will be able to connect it to events in history that we have already learned about.