17. Nineteen Eighty-Four & "Another Brick in the Wall"

About the Book:

Nineteen Eighty-Four is a novel by George Orwell published in 1949. It is a dystopian and satirical novel set in Oceania, where society is tyrannized by The Party and its totalitarian ideology. Their tyranny is headed by Big Brother, the quasi-divine Party leader who enjoys an intense cult of personality, but who may not even exist. Big Brother and the Party justify their rule in the name of a supposed greater good.

The Link with the song:

Another brick in the wall talks about the control in the schools, the influence and the censorship of teachers under the students. It can be related to the influence of Big Brother under the Oceania population in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, and the strong reprehension of the Party in the people thought and habits.

Activity in Class:

The movie "The Wall" - which contains the song "Another Brick in the Wall" - can be used to make a parallel between book and music. If the teacher doesn't have so much time, is possible to work only with the song. What about ask the students to make links between each verse of the song and some part of the book?

For example:

We don't need no thought control  --> is related to --> The Thought Police
All in all you're just another brick in the wall --> is related to --> the comodation of people in relation to the thought control of the Party

and so on...

“Another Brick in the wall – Part II” By Pink Floyd

From the album The Wall (1979)

Written by Roger Waters

We don't need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.

We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave us kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave us kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.

"Wrong, Guess again! 2x
If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding.
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?
You! Yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still laddie!"