New
New
Year 11
AQA
Analysing form and structure in 'Animal Farm'
I can explain how form and structure have been used to explore Orwell's viewpoints.
New
New
Year 11
AQA
Analysing form and structure in 'Animal Farm'
I can explain how form and structure have been used to explore Orwell's viewpoints.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Arguably, the pigs taking the milk and apples is the turning point of the novella.
- The fable form is used to illustrate there are (many) morals to this story.
- Orwell uses the simplistic form of a fable to help put forward his messages.
- The main motifs are food and the military.
Keywords
Genre - This categorises texts based on conventions and themes.
Conventions - The features you would expect to find in a given genre.
Motif - A dominant or recurring idea or theme.
Moral - Being moral means you have high standards of what is right and wrong.
Accessible - Easily understood.
Common misconception
That 'Animal Farm' is a simple story about leadership and power.
Stylistically it is simple, but why does Orwell do this? What does he hope to achieve by making his novella accessible?
Preparing and sharing a model paragraph on Orwell's use of form and structure can help develop student responses.
Teacher tip
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
What did Orwell originally call his novella? 'Animal Farm: __________'
a fable.
an allegory.
a history of the Russian revolution.
Q2.
What word beginning with 'F' describes a 'short story, typically with animals, that has a moral message'?
Q3.
Which statements about George Orwell are correct?
He was writing at the same time as Charles Dickens.
He wanted to stomp down on the ordinary working people when he fought in Spain.
He wanted to get out of fighting in World War II because he was scared.
Q4.
Which reasons does Squealer give to convince the other animals that the pigs need to eat the milk and apples in 'Animal Farm'?
He says that the pigs deserve the apples because they are the best animals.
He says they only eat them to protect the other animals.
He says that no-one had ever said that the apples would be shared.
Q5.
Which character says this in 'Animal Farm': "And remember also that in fighting against a man, we must not come to resemble him."
Snowball
Squealer
Napoelon
Q6.
Which character says this in 'Animal Farm': "I have no wish to take a life, not even human life."
Benjamin
Mollie
Clover
Muriel
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which word beginning with 'M' refers to the standards of what is right and wrong?
Q2.
Which of the following is not a convention of a fable?
Simple and basic.
Animals are the protagonists.
Good overcomes evil.
Q3.
According to Orwell, what is the turning point in 'Animal Farm'?
The animals rebel against Mr. Jones
Old Major's speech
The battle of the cowshed
Boxer's death
Q4.
Complete this quote from 'Animal Farm': “Never mind the milk, comrades!” cried Napoleon,__________"
moving the buckets towards him.
hiding the buckets.
the milk doesn't matter.
Q5.
In 'Animal Farm' which images can be found on the flag?
A hoof and horse shoe.
A whip and chain.
Milk and apples.
A horse and pig.
Q6.
In his preface, what does Orwell predict that reviewers will say about 'Animal Farm'?
"A boring, ridiculous book that should never have been written".
"A frivolous account of the Russian Revolution."
"A ghastly fairy story about pigs."