1984

[Chesterton]

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.

I was wondering if George Orwell's book 1984 is or was required reading. Some people consider it one of the most important book of the 20th century.

Over here, I recall having to read Animal Farm, To Kill A Mockingbird, Huckleberry Finn, Brave New World, King Lear, and those are all I remember for certain. I know there were more. The required reading will vary depending on what part of the U.S. one lives in.

Decades ago, I was struck by hearing the fact that London has more public surveillance cameras than any city on Earth. In the decades since, I've been struck even harder by how much the contemporary U.K. resembles the situation described in the novel 1984. There's even a slogan which says "1984 was not supposed to be an instruction manual".

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

 

[Larniavc]

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.

 

[Larniavc]

1984 was not supposed to be an instruction manual

"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