Now that you have read far enough into the novel, you know that Old Major plays a crucial, yet short-lived role in the book. However, the man Old Major represents, Vladimir Lenin, lived quite a few years after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia which took place in 1917. Skim through the following link and identify any similarities you notice between the two. Next, talk about Orwell’s decisions as a writer to first include Old Major but have him die off in the first scene. Also, what significance do you think inclusion of the Battle Song holds for the readers? And . . . anything else you’d like to discuss. I think this is an awesome group, and as long as you set the bar high for yourselves, you should have a deeply enriched experience with the novel.
I’m really excited!
Posted by Jenn Gutierrez 
