Objective: Students will critically examine George Orwell’s Animal Farm alongside the policies and actions of the Trump administration to understand the dynamics of power, propaganda, and governance. Through this analysis, students will draw parallels between the allegorical elements of the novel and contemporary political events, fostering a deeper comprehension of the mechanisms of authority and control.
How George Orwell would despair at today’s political discourse. His power-grabbing pigs in Animal Farm were an allegorical warning against Soviet-style dictatorship and propaganda. The more unequal the once egalitarian animal collective becomes, the more the ruling pig class rewrite their story. Today, you do not need to look to totalitarian states to see politicians manipulate the narrative. Consider Donald Trump accusing his enemies of the flaws he himself is guilty of or, to pluck an example out of the air, The Guardian
Grade Level: High School (Grades 11-12)
Materials:
- Copies of Animal Farm by George Orwell
- Donald Trump’s Interviews With TIME
- Politifact “Latest false fact-checks on Donald Trump”
Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.7: Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction to Allegory and Historical Context
- Introduce students to the concept of allegory and provide historical background on Animal Farm.
- Define allegory and discuss its purpose in literature.
- Present a brief overview of the Russian Revolution and its key figures, highlighting Orwell’s inspiration for the novel.
Source: Orwell, G. (1945). Animal Farm. London: Secker and Warburg.
Exploring Themes of Power and Corruption
- Analyze the emergence of power structures in the early chapters of Animal Farm.
- Discuss the establishment of Animalism and the initial ideals of the rebellion.
- Examine the roles of Napoleon and Snowball, focusing on their leadership styles.
- Discuss the quote: “Man serves the interests of no creature except himself,” and how it reflects power structures in both Animal Farm and contemporary politics.
- Cooperative Learning Task: Jigsaw activity where groups analyze different aspects of power dynamics in the novel and teach their findings to other groups.
Source: Rodden, J. (1999). Understanding Animal Farm: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents. Greenwood Press.
Propaganda and the Manipulation of Truth
- Source: Politifact, “Latest false fact-checks on Donald Trump.”
- Investigate the use of propaganda in Animal Farm and draw parallels to modern political strategies.
- Analyze Squealer’s speeches and the manipulation of language to control information.
- Introduce the concept of “alternative facts” and discuss its relevance.
- Analyze Trump’s rhetoric about media control and information dissemination, drawing direct comparisons to Animal Farm.
- Cooperative Learning Task: Groups create propaganda posters for Animal Farm and present them to the class, explaining their persuasive techniques
Source: Kakutani, M. (2018). The Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump. Tim Duggan Books.
The Role of the Media and Public Perception
Objective: Examine the portrayal of the media in Animal Farm and compare it to the Trump administration’s relationship with the press.
- Examine the portrayal of the media in Animal Farm and compare it to the Trump administration’s relationship with the press.
- Discuss the character of Moses and the dissemination of distracting narratives.
- Analyze the term “fake news” and its impact on public discourse.
- Explore Trump’s use of media platforms to shape public perception and compare it with Napoleon’s control of information.
- Cooperative Learning Task: Debate activity where groups argue different perspectives on media representation in both Animal Farm and contemporary politics.
Source: Kessler, G., Rizzo, S., & Kelly, M. (2020). Donald Trump and His Assault on Truth: The President’s Falsehoods, Misleading Claims and Flat-Out Lies. Scribner.
Analyzing Contemporary Political Rhetoric
Objective: Students will critically examine primary sources to draw parallels between Animal Farm’s themes and contemporary political discourse.
- Provide excerpts from the TIME interview transcript with Donald Trump.
- Students analyze Trump’s language and policy proposals, comparing them to themes in Animal Farm.
- Cooperative Learning Task: Groups identify and discuss specific quotes that relate to key themes such as power, propaganda, and nationalism.
- Compare Trump’s statement “Man serves the interests of no creature except himself” to similar sentiments expressed in Animal Farm.
Discussion Points:
- Trump’s use of phrases like “invasion of our country” and its similarity to fear-mongering tactics in Animal Farm.
- The proposal for mass deportations and its parallel to the expulsion of perceived enemies in the novel.
- Trump’s views on law enforcement immunity and how it relates to power consolidation in Animal Farm.
Source: TIME. (2023). Read the Full Transcripts of Donald Trump’s Interviews With TIME.
Suppression of Dissent and the Cult of Personality
- Explore how dissent is handled in Animal Farm and relate it to contemporary political climates.
- Discuss the purges in the novel and the consolidation of power by Napoleon.
- Examine instances where dissent was challenged or suppressed in recent politics.
- Analyze Trump’s discussions about targeting political adversaries and their correlation with Napoleon’s tactics in Animal Farm.
- Cooperative Learning Task: Groups create and perform short skits depicting scenes of dissent suppression from both Animal Farm and recent political events.
Challenging Democratic Norms and the 22nd Amendment
- Analyze Trump’s interview response regarding the possibility of challenging the 22nd Amendment and compare it to Napoleon’s gradual shift from democratic ideals to authoritarian rule in Animal Farm.
- Discuss how the idea of term limits functions as a safeguard in democratic governance and how historical leaders have attempted to extend their rule.
- Debate activity where students explore the implications of removing or challenging term limits in a democratic society.
Group Research and Presentation Preparation
Objective: Students will research specific policies or events from the Trump administration that parallel themes in Animal Farm.
- Students will research specific policies or events from the Trump administration that parallel themes in Animal Farm.
- Divide students into groups, assigning each a theme (e.g., propaganda, power consolidation, media relations).
- Provide time for research and development of presentations.
- Cooperative Learning Task: Groups use a collaborative digital platform to compile and organize their research findings.
Student Presentations
Objective: Students will present their findings, drawing direct comparisons between Animal Farm and the Trump administration.
Activities:
- Students will present their findings, drawing direct comparisons between Animal Farm and the Trump administration.
- Each group presents their analysis, supported by evidence from both the novel and contemporary sources.
- Class discussion follows each presentation to deepen understanding.
Socratic Seminar
- Engage in a structured discussion to explore the ethical implications of leadership and governance.
- Prepare open-ended questions related to the themes of the novel and their modern parallels.
- Facilitate a Socratic Seminar, encouraging students to support their viewpoints with textual evidence.
- Incorporate a discussion on Trump’s interview, focusing on his statements about power, media control, and political opposition.
- Cooperative Learning Task: Inner-outer circle discussion format, with students rotating roles and providing feedback to their partners.
Assessment:
- Comparative analysis essay assessing the relationship between Orwell’s themes and modern political realities..