“Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past,” the Party slogan in Orwell’s 1984.
In both Animal Farm and 1984, George Orwell explores the mutable nature of the past: “history is continuously rewritten (1984).” His characters rewrite history, changing facts, dates, actions, even people. As his characters do, you will take a shot at re-writing a period in history in a two-part assignment.
I. Due Friday (10/27): Your thoughts on rewriting history
- We know the past can be forgotten, but can history really be rewritten? if so, how? If not, what prevents this? Should it ever be rewritten? Explore this question in at least two paragraphs.
- Choose a piece of real history that is important to the community, the nation, or the world. It cannot be personal history: this period of time must have had a major impact on other people and be known/discussed in print. For example, what would the world be like today if the Louisiana Purchase was never purchased? If Japan had overcome the US in WWII? Or if the Internet or airplanes were not invented? Post your selection in your blog on Friday.