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Year 11
Edexcel

The leadership of Mr. Jones in 'Animal Farm'

I can explain the role of Mr. Jones and his presentation in ‘Animal Farm’.

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New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

The leadership of Mr. Jones in 'Animal Farm'

I can explain the role of Mr. Jones and his presentation in ‘Animal Farm’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Arguably, Mr. Jones is a more sympathetic character than Napoleon.
  2. Through the pigs’ behaviour, the spirit of Mr. Jones is always present on the farm.
  3. Napoleon uses rations of food to differentiate himself from Mr. Jones.
  4. Orwell offers a nuanced perspective on leadership and power.

Common misconception

That there are clear distinctions between good leaders and bad leaders in 'Animal Farm'.

Although 'Animal Farm' is simply written, its messages are complex. What is Orwell wanting to reveal about leadership in general?

Keywords

  • Ruthless - Behaving without pity, empathy or compassion.

  • Differentiate - Recognising what makes something different.

  • Astute - The ability to recognise a situation quickly and use it to your advantage. Highly aware.

  • Nuanced - If something is nuanced it has layers of meaning and complexity.

  • Negligent - Failing to take proper and appropriate care of something.

Bring in other characters from 'Animal Farm' to explore nuance. A good example to explore is Snowball, although he may seem a better leader, he too is flawed. Exploring these nuances really helps to understand Orwell's intention.
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
  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Complete this quote from 'Animal Farm': "but was too to remember to shut the popholes."
Correct Answer: drunk
Q2.
Which incident triggered the rebellion in 'Animal Farm'?
Correct answer: The animals were left unfed for two days.
Mr. Jones forgot to lock the barn.
The animals were left out in the cold.
Mr. Jones hit the animal with whips.
Q3.
In 'Animal Farm' which historical figure does Mr. Jones represent?
Stalin
Trotsky
Molotv
Correct answer: Tsar Nicholas II
Karl Marx
Q4.
In 'Animal Farm', which animal does Mr Jones feed "crusts of bread soaked in beer"?
Correct answer: Moses
Mollie
Napoleon
Bluebell
Old Major
Q5.
In 'Animal Farm' what is Mr. Jones's favorite pastime, contributing to his neglect of the farm?
Watching television
Correct answer: Drinking alcohol
Reading the news
Rabbiting
Q6.
In 'Animal Farm', how do the other farmers perceive Mr. Jones after his expulsion from the farm?
They admire his resilience.
Correct answer: They reject him as a failure.
They support his efforts to reclaim the farm.
They see him as a cautionary tale.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What term best describes Mr. Jones's leadership style in the early stages of 'Animal Farm'?
Complacent
Astute
Correct answer: Negligent
Active
Q2.
What word beginning with 'A' describes the ability to recognise a situation quickly and use it to your advantage or to be highly aware.'?
Correct Answer: astute, Astute, astute., Astute.
Q3.
In 'Animal Farm', how does Napoleon differentiate himself from Mr. Jones in terms of controlling the food supply?
Napoleon forgets to feed the animals.
Correct answer: Napoleon strategically controls the food supply.
Napoleon relies on the generosity of Mr. Jones.
Napoleon has no involvement in food distribution.
Q4.
In 'Animal Farm', how does Napoleon make the animals believe he is more generous and fair with food distribution than Mr. Jones?
Correct answer: Initially serving double rations
Taking less for himself and the other pigs
Allowing the animals to help themselves
Feeding them milk and apples
Q5.
In 'Animal Farm', how is Mr. Jones's presence maintained on the farm even after his expulsion?
Through physical appearances
Through positive memories
Through active involvement
Correct answer: Through the pigs' behaviour
Q6.
Complete the sentence: In 'Animal Farm', Mr. Jones is initially described as irresponsible. However, he is also described as " ".
Correct Answer: capable