1984

I found this for GCSE age which 14-16.

1. Core GCSE English literature texts​

Depending on their exam board, students will study specific texts. Commonly examined works include:

• Shakespeare: Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, or The Tempest.
• 19th-Century Novels: A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens), Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (Robert Louis Stevenson), or Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen).
• Modern Prose/Drama: An Inspector Calls (J.B. Priestley) or Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck).
• Poetry Anthologies: Themes vary but often include works by Carol Ann Duffy, Wilfred Owen, and Seamus Heaney.

2. Supplementary fiction for GCSE students​

In addition to set texts, here are some recommended reads to support critical thinking and creativity:

• Dystopian Fiction: 1984 (George Orwell) or The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins).
• Classics: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) or Lord of the Flies (William Golding).
• Diverse Voices: The Hate U Give (Angie Thomas) or Noughts & Crosses (Malorie Blackman).
• Fantasy/Adventure: His Dark Materials series (Philip Pullman) or The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien).

3. Non-fiction suggestions​

Non-fiction books can expand vocabulary and offer insights into real-world issues:

• Sapiens (Yuval Noah Harari) – A compelling history of humanity.
• I Am Malala (Malala Yousafzai) – An inspiring memoir of resilience and activism.
• The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank) – A poignant account of life during wartime.

4. Poetry and plays​

For students interested in exploring more poetry and drama:

• The Waste Land (T.S. Eliot) – Challenging but rewarding for analytical minds.
• A Raisin in the Sun (Lorraine Hansberry) – A modern American classic exploring race and family.
• War Poetry Anthologies – Powerful insights into history and human emotion.

Chesterton said:

1984 was not supposed to be an instruction manual

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"I'LL STOP CALLING THIS ADMINISTRATION "ORWELLIAN" WHEN THEY STOP USING 1984 AS AN OPERATIONS MANUAL" -Op-Ed Columnist: Get Me Rewrite!: February 6, 2004 OP By PAUL KRUGMAN

"Seventeen years later than expected, 1984 has arrived." -Bush's Orwellian Address: Happy New Year! It's 1984 Published on Saturday, September 22, 2001 by CommonDreams.org by Jacob Levich

"As President Bush wages his war against terrorism and moves to create a huge homeland security apparatus, he appears to be borrowing heavily, if not ripping off ideas outright, from George Orwell. The work in question is 1984, the prophetic novel about a government that controls the masses by spreading propaganda, cracking down on subversive thought and altering history to suit its needs. It was intended to be read as a warning about the evils of totalitarianism -- not a how-to manual" -Learning To Love Big Brother by Dan Klutzman (Washing Political Correspondent) July 2002

Chesterton said:

I'm curious about what books U.K. youngsters read in school, in primary education. I don't know what terminology you use, but in the U.S., primary education is what you get from ages approx. 5 through 18 years of age.

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Is 1984 taught in school, and what other books are taught in primary education?

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It gets complicated as each country in the UK has its own distinct education system. Primary Education lasts until age 11/12, then Secondary is mandatory to age 16, but can continue up to age 18.

The GCSE curriculum Larniavc posted mostly applies only to England. That said, I had to read a few of the texts on it.

Off the top of my head, and in no particular order: 1984, Animal Farm, MacBeth, Romeo & Juliet, Sons and Lovers (DH Lawrence), Of Mice and Men, Huckleberry Finn (or was it Tom Sawyer), Lord of the Flies, The Importance of Being Earnest, and All Quiet on the Western Front. There may have been a couple of other texts.

At age 14, we had to select subjects for exams, and again if we continued after age 16. As far as I remember, most 14-16 year-olds will have studied English, and Animal Farm was at this level. 1984 was studied only by those who stayed at school after age 16 and who chose to study English. So at least 2/3 of students wouldn't have covered it.

I'd say so. It's a 20th Century classic after all. Though among younger people it may be better known as background to "V for Vendetta".

Chesterton said:

We have "thought crime" in the U.S., but I do have to say that when it comes to thought crime, ya'll are way ahead of the game, right up there with North Korea and China, IMO.

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No country has thought crime. What goes on in our heads is not accessible to other people unless we make it so. Then it’s not a thought it’s an behaviour.

Re: surveillance cameras. When I was a student I lived in London and more than a few times I got lost on my way home from across town. I felt safer because I knew there were eyes on me and could alert the police if I got into trouble (which I never did; even as a wet behind the ears boy in the big city).