Abusing Power: Animal Farm and Wicked History

Lesson 9
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ELA

Unit 3

8th Grade

Lesson 9 of 32

Objective


Define the literary genres of satire and allegory, and explain their purposes.

Readings and Materials


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Target Task


Writing Prompt

Watch the following video: “One Human Family, Food for All” by Caritas Internationalis (YouTube)

Explain this allegory. What does this story appear to be about on the surface, and what is it really about on a deeper level?

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • What is satire, and what is its intended purpose? Explain in your own words.

  • Explain what the following cartoon is satirizing: Gary Varvel Cartoon

  • What is allegory, and what is its intended purpose? Explain in your own words.

Discussion Questions

  • Why do you think that satirists use humor to call attention to social issues? Why would someone want to laugh at a serious issue?

Vocabulary


Academic

allegory

n.

a simple story that has a "hidden meaning" that communicates a message about society, politics, or human nature.

satire

n.

a literary and artistic genre that uses humor to point out hypocrisy and flaws in human nature.

verbal irony

n.

when a speaker's intended meaning is the opposite of what they literally say. 

juxtaposition

n.

when two things or concepts are placed side by side to emphasize the difference between them.

Homework


To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Book: Animal Farm by George Orwell  — Chapter 1

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Why does Old Major gather all of the animals together?

  • What does Major think that animals must do in order to achieve rich, free lives?

  • How do the animals respond to the song Major teaches them?

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Common Core Standards


  • RI.8.2 — Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.

Supporting Standards

L.8.6
RI.8.1
RI.8.4
RI.8.10
SL.8.1
SL.8.6
W.8.2
W.8.2.a
W.8.2.b
W.8.4
W.8.9
W.8.9.b
W.8.10
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Lesson 8

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Lesson 10

Lesson Map

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