Unit of Work: Metropolis and 1984

Comparative units are a great way to examine how the same preoccupations appear in different times, styles, and forms.

This senior unit of work invites students to compare Fritz Lang’s 1927 expressionist sci-fi extravaganza Metropolis with George Orwell’s 1949 dystopian novel 1984. They consider the two texts’ handling of themes, narrative strategies, and representational techniques through a side-by-side reading and viewing of the text pairing.

The unit has been designed for a 10-week term, and this resource includes:

1. A brief list of useful websites and readings which students should research to gain a sense of the film’s context and to give them time to read the first chapters of the novel.

2. A breakdown of the text-pairing over seven task-sheets corresponding to 7 weeks of a school term. Each week contains

A nominated section of the film and novel for study
Topics and questions for class discussion which students should prepare either verbally or in writing.
A writing task to consolidate the week’s work
The final weeks of term can be given over to an assessment task, which will be put up on this shop.