1984 - A Worthy Assignment

Hundreds of titles, authors, novels, and classic works exist, yet how does one choose a few outstanding works from a sea of ingenious? As educators, teachers are bound by a code known as “core curriculum” as well as, relevance and a sensitive word known as controversy, when it comes to novels. However, these heavy boundaries only create a large pool of varying shades of gray. This process of selection leads high school English teachers nation wide to a single conundrum: Which novel is the right novel to assign? The majority of high school teachers recognize that through their discussions, lectures, and assignments that they have the capability to change not only the course of their students lives, but also as a result, they greatly influence the world. While reading the following quote, speculate about the novel’s title, its author and consider its possible impact.

“Cut off from contact with the outer world, and with the past, the citizen of Oceania is like a man in interstellar space, who has no way of knowing which direction is up and which is down. The rulers of such a state are absolute, as the Pharaohs or the Caesars could not be. They are obliged to prevent their followers from starving to death in number large enough to be inconvenient, and they are obliged to remain at the same low level of military technique as their rivals; but once that minimum is achieved, they can twist reality into whatever shape they choose.”

The quote above is an excerpt from George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, an intensely written novel. Its timely and concise messages concerning propaganda, over-powering states and the meaning of life relevant to the present age makes it a congruous for all high school students.

Many aspects of the novel p...

... middle of paper ...

...living within an oppressive government that exceeds beyond the means Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin’s rule. Orwell shares with students the true fear of communism after World War II. The novel aids students to understand the significant impact of totalitarian rulers in history as well as, the power of people. The single line “Power is not a means; it is an end” (page 235), illustrates the terror and the fear of granting society’s leaders with too much power. If anything, this novel will potentially rise an aware and governmentally involved generation. Therefore, as a reading assignment it contributes an investment towards a generation grateful for their electoral rights. More over, the novel encourages all readers to be more optimistic and aware. Thus, through their assignments teachers transcend profusely impacting students, yet more importantly they touch the world.