British Culture - User contributions [en]

Armistice Day

2011-12-01T11:52:47Z

Jule:

Armistice Day (also known as Remembrance Day or Poppy Day) is the official day to commemorate the end of the First World War in Great Britain as well as in France, Belgium and the USA. The armistice between the allied nations (Triple Entente: Great Britain, Russia, France) and Germany was signed on 11 November 1918 at 11 a.m. in Compiègne, France. Nowadays there is a moment of silence on this day to remember all people who died in wars since the First World War including World War II, the Falklands War,
the Gulf War, and all conflicts in which the British army was involved.

==History==
At the first anniversary of the armistice the two minutes silence was proposed by the Australian, Edward Honey and by a South African statesman. King George V personally asked all people of the British Empire to observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. The silence often takes place at war memorials, cenotaphs or religious services. The Royal Family as well as politicians attend a service at The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.

==The Poppy Appeal==
In the weeks before Armistice Day people wearing a poppy can be seen all around Britain. These poppies are sold by the Royal British Legion which is in charge of caring for veterans and raising money for soldiers who are still alive. The Poppy Appeal exists since 1921 and was inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields” (1915) by John McCrae. The poppies are supposed to remind the people of the bloody fights in the region of Flanders, North France. Poppies were the only flowers that grew despite complete devastation.

===In Flanders Fields===
'''John McCaer (1915)'''

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

'''Literature:'''

The Australian Army. "Remembrance Day Tradition". Available on: http://www.army.gov.au/traditions/documents/RemembranceDayTradition.htm (01/12/11).

The Royal British Legion. "History of the Poppy Appeal". Available on: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/about-us/history-of-the-poppy-appeal (01/12/11).

This years' celebrations:

BBC News. "Millions Mark Armistice Day at Events Across the UK". Available on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15676087 (01/12/11).

Armistice Day

2011-12-01T11:48:23Z

Jule:

Armistice Day

2011-12-01T10:02:32Z

Jule: Created page with 'Armistice Day commemorates the end of the First World War. The armistice between the Allies and Germany was signed on 11 November 1918 at 11 o' clock. Nowadays there is a moment …'

Armistice Day commemorates the end of the First World War. The armistice between the Allies and Germany was signed on 11 November 1918 at 11 o' clock. Nowadays there is a moment of silence on this day in many countries around the world.

George Orwell

2011-11-23T17:32:44Z

Jule:

25th June 1903 – 21st January 1950. British writer, journalist, essayist, socialist.

'''Biography'''

Née Eric Arthur Blair, George Orwell was born in Motihari, Bengal in India. At the age of five, he moved to England together with his mother and two sisters. He got the chance to attend a boarding school on a scholarship. Between 1917 and 1921 he studied at Eton. Here he experienced the extreme propaganda of the Great War which made him reject pre-war values.

From 1922-1927 Orwell joined the Indian Civil Service in Burma. When he came back to England he had learned to hate the Empire as well as imperialism. This becomes obvious in his novel ''Burmese Days'' (1934) as well as in the essays “Shooting an Elephant” (1936) and “A Hanging” (1933).

After his return from India, Orwell worked on his career as a writer. He adopted his pen name which expresses his deep connection to his country; George is the patron saint of England, the River Orwell was one of his favourite places in Suffolk.

Between 1930 and 1935 he published three novels, numerous essays and book reviews as well as a semi-autobiographical documentary. All of them show Orwell’s anger at the injustices of the capitalist system. The publication of the novel ''The Road to Wigan Pier'' is said to be the turning point in Orwell’s life: “It made his reputation as a sharp critic of capitalism and it launched him on the road to his own eccentric brand of socialism.” (Rodden 2007, p. 3)

In 1937 Orwell went to Spain to fight for the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. When he came back to England he joined the radical Independent Labour Party. Although he still believed in socialism, he disapproved of the Soviet Union.
Directly after the Second World War ''Animal Farm'' was published (August 1945). Finally, this was the novel which made him famous. Being financially independent, he moved away from London to the island of Jura (Scottish west coast) in 1946. The dystopian novel ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' was published in 1949. It contains clear connections to events in the Soviet Union. Both ''Animal Farm'' and ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' have been forming in Orwell’s mind for years and work with many of his earlier experiences.

'''Reception of his works'''

Nowadays, Orwell is much more present in Anglo-American culture than he was during his own lifetime. Especially his last two novels ''Animal Farm'' and ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' are still widely read. They were translated into 62 languages and about 50 million copies have been sold. Nevertheless, Orwell’s political legacy is controversial. As he was mainly a political writer during his lifetime, his last two novels are taken as political statements, prophesies or satires.

'''Sources:'''

Kerr, Douglas. George Orwell. Northcote House Publishers: Horndon 2003.

Rodden, John. A Cambridge Companion to George Orwell. CUP: Cambridge 2007.

http://www.george-orwell.org

George Orwell

2011-11-23T17:28:21Z

Jule:

25th June 1903 – 21st January 1950. British writer, journalist, essayist, socialist.[[Media:Example.ogg]]

'''Biography'''

Née Eric Arthur Blair, George Orwell was born in Motihari, Bengal in India. At the age of five, he moved to England together with his mother and two sisters. He got the chance to attend a boarding school on a scholarship. Between 1917 and 1921 he studied at Eton. Here he experienced the extreme propaganda of the Great War which made him reject pre-war values.

From 1922-1927 Orwell joined the Indian Civil Service in Burma. When he came back to England he had learned to hate the Empire as well as imperialism. This becomes obvious in his novel ''Burmese Days'' (1934) as well as in the essays “Shooting an Elephant” (1936) and “A Hanging” (1933).

After his return from India, Orwell worked on his career as a writer. He adopted his pen name which expresses his deep connection to his country; George is the patron saint of England, the River Orwell was one of his favourite places in Suffolk.

Between 1930 and 1935 he published three novels, numerous essays and book reviews as well as a semi-autobiographical documentary. All of them show Orwell’s anger at the injustices of the capitalist system. The publication of the novel ''The Road to Wigan Pier'' is said to be the turning point in Orwell’s life: “It made his reputation as a sharp critic of capitalism and it launched him on the road to his own eccentric brand of socialism.” (Rodden 2007, p. 3)

In 1937 Orwell went to Spain to fight for the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. When he came back to England he joined the radical Independent Labour Party. Although he still believed in socialism, he disapproved of the Soviet Union.
Directly after the Second World War ''Animal Farm'' was published (August 1945). Finally, this was the novel which made him famous. Being financially independent, he moved away from London to the island of Jura (Scottish west coast) in 1946. The dystopian novel ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' was published in 1949. It contains clear connections to events in the Soviet Union. Both ''Animal Farm'' and ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' have been forming in Orwell’s mind for years and work with many of his earlier experiences.

'''Reception of his works'''

Nowadays, Orwell is much more present in Anglo-American culture than he was during his own lifetime. Especially his last two novels ''Animal Farm'' and ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' are still widely read. They were translated into 62 languages and about 50 million copies have been sold. Nevertheless, Orwell’s political legacy is controversial. As he was mainly a political writer during his lifetime, his last two novels are taken as political statements, prophesies or satires.

'''Sources:'''

Kerr, Douglas. George Orwell. Northcote House Publishers: Horndon 2003.

Rodden, John. A Cambridge Companion to George Orwell. CUP: Cambridge 2007.

http://www.george-orwell.org

George Orwell

2011-11-23T17:26:30Z

Jule:

George Orwell

2011-11-23T17:25:21Z

Jule:

25th June 1903 – 21st January 1950. British writer, journalist, essayist, socialist.

'''Biography'''
Née Eric Arthur Blair, George Orwell was born in Motihari, Bengal in India. At the age of five, he moved to England together with his mother and two sisters. He got the chance to attend a boarding school on a scholarship. Between 1917 and 1921 he studied at Eton. Here he experienced the extreme propaganda of the Great War which made him reject pre-war values.

From 1922-1927 Orwell joined the Indian Civil Service in Burma. When he came back to England he had learned to hate the Empire as well as imperialism. This becomes obvious in his novel ''Burmese Days'' (1934) as well as in the essays “Shooting an Elephant” (1936) and “A Hanging” (1933).

After his return from India, Orwell worked on his career as a writer. He adopted his pen name which expresses his deep connection to his country; George is the patron saint of England, the River Orwell was one of his favourite places in Suffolk.

Between 1930 and 1935 he published three novels, numerous essays and book reviews as well as a semi-autobiographical documentary. All of them show Orwell’s anger at the injustices of the capitalist system. The publication of the novel ''The Road to Wigan Pier'' is said to be the turning point in Orwell’s life: “It made his reputation as a sharp critic of capitalism and it launched him on the road to his own eccentric brand of socialism.” (Rodden 2007, p. 3)

In 1937 Orwell went to Spain to fight for the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. When he came back to England he joined the radical Independent Labour Party. Although he still believed in socialism, he disapproved of the Soviet Union.
Directly after the Second World War ''Animal Farm'' was published (August 1945). Finally, this was the novel which made him famous. Being financially independent, he moved away from London to the island of Jura (Scottish west coast) in 1946. The dystopian novel ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' was published in 1949. It contains clear connections to events in the Soviet Union. Both ''Animal Farm'' and ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' have been forming in Orwell’s mind for years and work with many of his earlier experiences.

'''Reception of his works'''
Nowadays, Orwell is much more present in Anglo-American culture than he was during his own lifetime. Especially his last two novels ''Animal Farm'' and ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' are still widely read. They were translated into 62 languages and about 50 million copies have been sold. Nevertheless, Orwell’s political legacy is controversial. As he was mainly a political writer during his lifetime, his last two novels are taken as political statements, prophesies or satires.

'''Sources:'''
Kerr, Douglas. George Orwell. Northcote House Publishers: Horndon 2003.

Rodden, John. A Cambridge Companion to George Orwell. CUP: Cambridge 2007.

http://www.george-orwell.org

George Orwell

2011-11-23T17:23:40Z

Jule:

25th June 1903 – 21st January 1950. British writer, journalist, essayist, socialist.

[[Biography]]
Née Eric Arthur Blair, George Orwell was born in Motihari, Bengal in India. At the age of five, he moved to England together with his mother and two sisters. He got the chance to attend a boarding school on a scholarship. Between 1917 and 1921 he studied at Eton. Here he experienced the extreme propaganda of the Great War which made him reject pre-war values.

From 1922-1927 Orwell joined the Indian Civil Service in Burma. When he came back to England he had learned to hate the Empire as well as imperialism. This becomes obvious in his novel ''Burmese Days'' (1934) as well as in the essays “Shooting an Elephant” (1936) and “A Hanging” (1933).

After his return from India, Orwell worked on his career as a writer. He adopted his pen name which expresses his deep connection to his country; George is the patron saint of England, the River Orwell was one of his favourite places in Suffolk.

Between 1930 and 1935 he published three novels, numerous essays and book reviews as well as a semi-autobiographical documentary. All of them show Orwell’s anger at the injustices of the capitalist system. The publication of the novel ''The Road to Wigan Pier'' is said to be the turning point in Orwell’s life: “It made his reputation as a sharp critic of capitalism and it launched him on the road to his own eccentric brand of socialism.” (Rodden 2007, p. 3)

In 1937 Orwell went to Spain to fight for the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. When he came back to England he joined the radical Independent Labour Party. Although he still believed in socialism, he disapproved of the Soviet Union.
Directly after the Second World War ''Animal Farm'' was published (August 1945). Finally, this was the novel which made him famous. Being financially independent, he moved away from London to the island of Jura (Scottish west coast) in 1946. The dystopian novel ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' was published in 1949. It contains clear connections to events in the Soviet Union. Both ''Animal Farm'' and ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' have been forming in Orwell’s mind for years and work with many of his earlier experiences.

[[Reception of his works]]
Nowadays, Orwell is much more present in Anglo-American culture than he was during his own lifetime. Especially his last two novels ''Animal Farm'' and ''Nineteen-Eighty-Four'' are still widely read. They were translated into 62 languages and about 50 million copies have been sold. Nevertheless, Orwell’s political legacy is controversial. As he was mainly a political writer during his lifetime, his last two novels are taken as political statements, prophesies or satires.

[[Sources:]]
Kerr, Douglas. George Orwell. Northcote House Publishers: Horndon 2003 .
Rodden, John. A Cambridge Companion to George Orwell. CUP: Cambridge 2007.
http://www.george-orwell.org

File:Example.jpg

2011-11-23T17:21:42Z

Jule: uploaded a new version of "File:Example.jpg"

File:George-orwell-2.jpg

2011-11-23T17:19:22Z

Jule:

George Orwell

2011-10-19T19:27:35Z

Jule: Created page with '1903-1950. He was a British writer and journalist. His most famous novels are ''Animal Farm'' (1945) and ''1984'' (1949).'

1903-1950. He was a British writer and journalist. His most famous novels are ''Animal Farm'' (1945) and ''1984'' (1949).