Y9S2 - English Reading Response: Animal Farm

Talk to me about the setting of the novel and why it is important to the narrative.

In Animal Farm, the story takes place on a farm in England, which at first stands for the idea of a fair, self-sufficient society where everyone is equal. This farm actually represents the Russian Revolution and what happened afterward. The setting is important because it changes throughout the story, starting with the animals’ hopeful dreams of freedom and equality, and ending in a harsh, unfair world where power corrupts everything. The farm's transformation reflects how revolutionary ideas can be lost, and how dictatorships can take over, making it a powerful story about politics and human nature.

Tell me about point of view and structure; what did you notice or think about this?

In Animal Farm, George Orwell tells the story from a third-person point of view, which means the narrator knows what all the characters are thinking and feeling. This is important because it helps us understand why the animals act the way they do, and it shows how power and control are used to manipulate others. The story is told in a clear, straightforward way, going in order from start to finish. This helps us see how the animals' original hopes for a fair society slowly fade, and how one group ends up taking control, just like in real-world dictatorships. The way Orwell tells the story makes his message about political corruption and betrayal even stronger.

What did you learn from this novel - it could be about different lives, worlds or time periods, or about yourself. It could also be about language and writing or storytelling in general.

From Animal Farm, I learned how power can change people and how easily good ideas can get twisted. The book shows what life is like under a harsh government and how quickly a revolution meant to bring freedom can end up creating a dictatorship. I also saw how allegory (using symbols like animals to represent real-life people and situations) can make a story much deeper. Even though it’s a simple story, Orwell uses it to share big truths about human nature and society. His clear and strong writing helped me realize how the way a story is told can challenge real-world problems and make us think.

What is the title of the book you read for year nine semester two reading response task?

The title of the book I read for year nine semester two reading response task was “Animal Farm”.