I read 1984 in 1984. I also read it last week. That’s where today’s literary quote of the day comes from.
Intro Music
Big Brother is able to maintain absolute control over the citizens of Oceania by controlling all information. One critical aspect of information control is determining what history is taught and what information from the past remains. In the words of the Party
Quote: Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.
Classroom Application
Analysis: Nobody understands the need to control information better than media and the government.
This has become ever more prominent with the selective banning of social media outlets. Holding an opinion contrary to the mainstream public, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, got you banned from Twitter and Facebook. It’s all about information control.
Have you ever asked yourself why schools rarely teach The Declaration of Independence or The Constitution of The United States? Do government run schools not want you to know what’s in them? Perhaps I’m being paranoid and perhaps I’ll be rounded up by the thought police soon. Perhaps I’m just challenging you to think more deeply about 1984.
Maybe I’m insane. Winston Smith was.
Life Lesson
I think we all need to question the information we receive. Just because you see it on the internet or on the news does not mean you should believe it. As far as ELA is concerned, we could examine the importance of credible sources when doing research.
Links
-
8 Short Stories and Novels that Exemplify the Dangers of Big Government Blog Post
- Science Fiction Lesson Plans
- Short Story Catalog at ELACOMMONCORELESSONPLANS.com
- Poetry Collections at ELACommonCoreLessonPlans.com
