George OrwellGeorge Orwell

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GEORGE ORWELL GEORGE ORWELL (Eric A. Blair)(Eric A. Blair)

1903-19501903-1950

Orwell is well known for his novels Orwell is well known for his novels Animal FarmAnimal Farm (1945) and (1945) and 19841984 (1949). (1949). He wrote numerous novels, poems and He wrote numerous novels, poems and

literary criticism. literary criticism.

Eric Arthur Blair, Eric Arthur Blair, better known as better known as George Orwell,George Orwell, was was born on 25th of born on 25th of June 1903. He was June 1903. He was born in a British born in a British colony in India and colony in India and was brought by his was brought by his parents back to parents back to England when he England when he was a year old.was a year old.

The Blair familyThe Blair family

Orwell joined the Orwell joined the police in Burma police in Burma (India), where he (India), where he had family had family connections.connections.

In 1927 he returned In 1927 he returned to England and to England and resigned from the resigned from the police force with the police force with the intention to become intention to become a writer.a writer.

Orwell took a job as a Orwell took a job as a teacherteacher in England, in England, after living in Paris for a short time. It was a after living in Paris for a short time. It was a small school and allowed Orwell to focus on small school and allowed Orwell to focus on

his writing both as a his writing both as a writerwriter and as a and as a journalistjournalist..

When the Spanish When the Spanish Civil war began, Civil war began, Orwell Orwell volunteered volunteered to fightto fight for the for the Republicans because Republicans because he wanted to he wanted to support Socialism support Socialism (republicans and (republicans and socialists were socialists were allied). allied).

He was politically He was politically left-winged left-winged [1][1] but but he had an idealistic view of Socialism he had an idealistic view of Socialism which was extremely different from which was extremely different from what he experienced.what he experienced.

His experience of Socialism in Spain His experience of Socialism in Spain disappointed disappointed [[2]2] him and made him him and made him critical about political parties critical about political parties [3][3] in in general.general.

[1][1] Di sinistra Di sinistra

[2[2 Contrariato, deluso Contrariato, deluso

[3] partiti politici[3] partiti politici

After the publication of his most After the publication of his most famous book famous book NineteeneightyfourNineteeneightyfour in 1949 Orwell became seriously in 1949 Orwell became seriously ill, suffering with tuberculosis and ill, suffering with tuberculosis and January of 1950, aged 46, he died.January of 1950, aged 46, he died.

Main WorksMain Works

Animal Farm 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 [2] from his experiences in Spain to show that all modern societies are at risk.

►[1] In modo sottile, arguto

► [2] attinge

The story is The story is set set [1][1] on the Manor Farm, on the Manor Farm, owned and operated by Mr. Jones.owned and operated by Mr. Jones.

One night the animals One night the animals realized realized [2][2] that that the misery of their daily life is all due the misery of their daily life is all due to the tyranny of to the tyranny of human beings human beings [3][3],, and and that if they work to that if they work to overthrow overthrow [4][4] the the humans their lives will become easy humans their lives will become easy and comfortable.and comfortable.

► [1][1] si svolge si svolge [2][2] rendersi conto rendersi conto [3][3] esseri umani esseri umani [4][4] sbarazzarsi sbarazzarsi

Animal Farm

A few months later, Mr. Jones gets A few months later, Mr. Jones gets drunk and forgets to drunk and forgets to feed feed [1][1] the animals, the animals, who become so hungry that they rebel who become so hungry that they rebel and and drive the human beings off the drive the human beings off the farm farm [2][2].. They rename the farm 'Animal They rename the farm 'Animal Farm' and write on Farm' and write on the barn wall the barn wall [3][3] the the Seven Commandments of AnimalismSeven Commandments of Animalism..

[1][1] dar da mangiare dar da mangiare [2][2] cacciano gli uomini dalla fattoria cacciano gli uomini dalla fattoria [3][3] sul muro del fienile sul muro del fienile

Animal Farm

The Seven CommandmentsThe Seven Commandments

1.1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy enemy

2.2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. wings, is a friend.

3.3. No animal shall wear clothes. No animal shall wear clothes. 4.4. No animal shall sleep in a bed. No animal shall sleep in a bed. 5.5. No animal shall drink alcohol. No animal shall drink alcohol. 6.6. No animal shall kill any other animal. No animal shall kill any other animal. 7.7. All animals are equal. All animals are equal.

Animal Farm

All animals are equal, but some are more equal than

others

After many years, After many years, life is just as hard as life is just as hard as it ever was. The it ever was. The pigs start walking pigs start walking on two legs, they on two legs, they drink whiskey, some drink whiskey, some animals are killed animals are killed because they because they disobeyed disobeyed [1][1]……

►[1][1] avevano disubbidito avevano disubbiditoAnimal Farm

One day a group of One day a group of human farmers human farmers come to see the come to see the farm, they quarrel farm, they quarrel with the pigs over a with the pigs over a game of cards - and game of cards - and the animals the animals discover discover they can they can no longer tell no longer tell which which is human and which is human and which is pig.is pig.

Animal Farm

The novel The novel highlights highlights [2][2] not only the not only the corruption of the revolution by its leaders corruption of the revolution by its leaders (the pigs) but also how (the pigs) but also how wickedness wickedness [3][3],, indifference, ignorance,indifference, ignorance, greed greed [4][4] and and myopia destroy any possibility of a myopia destroy any possibility of a Utopia. It also shows how ignorance and Utopia. It also shows how ignorance and indifference to problems within a indifference to problems within a revolution could allow horrors to happen.revolution could allow horrors to happen.

[2][2] mette in luce mette in luce [3][3] malvagità malvagità [4][4] avidità avidità

Animal Farm

Orwell wrote Orwell wrote 'Nineteen Eighty-four' 'Nineteen Eighty-four' to show to show how political how political systems can systems can suppress individual suppress individual freedomfreedom. 'Nineteen . 'Nineteen Eighty-four' is a Eighty-four' is a warning warning [1][1] for the for the future future about the risks about the risks of totalitarianismof totalitarianism. .

[1] ammonimento, avviso, allerta[1] ammonimento, avviso, allerta

Published in 1949

Summary (1)Summary (1)

It presents an imaginary It presents an imaginary future where a totalitarian future where a totalitarian state controls every aspect of state controls every aspect of life, even people's thoughts. life, even people's thoughts. The state is called Oceania The state is called Oceania and is ruled by a group known and is ruled by a group known as the Party; its leader and as the Party; its leader and dictator is Big Brother.dictator is Big Brother.

1984

Summary (2)Summary (2)

Winston Smith, the central Winston Smith, the central character, is a thirty-nine character, is a thirty-nine year old man living in year old man living in London. He secretly hates London. He secretly hates the Party and decides to the Party and decides to rebel by starting a diary in rebel by starting a diary in which he reveals his which he reveals his rebellious thoughts. He rebellious thoughts. He also starts a love affair also starts a love affair [2][2] , , which is considered a which is considered a crime.crime.

[2][2] relazione amorosa relazione amorosa

Summary (3)Summary (3)

Winston is then Winston is then arrested, tortured and arrested, tortured and brainwashed brainwashed [1][1] by the by the Thought Crime Police Thought Crime Police until he fully believes until he fully believes in the Party and its in the Party and its doctrines. In the end doctrines. In the end Winston has Winston has submitted completely submitted completely and loves Big Brother.and loves Big Brother.

[1] [1] subisce il lavaggio del cervellosubisce il lavaggio del cervello

1984

The slogans of the party are The slogans of the party are contradictions : contradictions :

""War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength". Ignorance is Strength".

With these slogans, Orwell wanted With these slogans, Orwell wanted to highlight to highlight [2][2] the cruelty of political the cruelty of political

oppression and its contradictory oppression and its contradictory excuses to justify inhuman and excuses to justify inhuman and

mean mean [3][3] actions driven actions driven [4][4] by by economical interesteconomical interest

►[2] evidenziare [3] meschine [4] guidate[2] evidenziare [3] meschine [4] guidate

Check your Check your comprehension:comprehension:

►Which are the main works written by Which are the main works written by Orwell?Orwell?

►What do you know about his life?What do you know about his life?►What political ideology did he support?What political ideology did he support?►What is 1984 about?What is 1984 about?►What is Animal farm about?What is Animal farm about?

1984