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Year 10
Edexcel

'Animal Farm': reading and discussing Chapter 1

I can describe the events of Chapter 1 and recognise emerging themes.

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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

'Animal Farm': reading and discussing Chapter 1

I can describe the events of Chapter 1 and recognise emerging themes.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Mr Jones is the drunk and reckless owner of the farm.
  2. Old Major is a well respected boar. He represents a challenge to authority and dominant ideology
  3. Old Major uses rhetoric effectively to influence the animals.
  4. Powers and hierarchical structures are already beginning to emerge. The pigs have more authority.

Common misconception

That the animals are always equal, even from the very start.

Focus on the positioning of the animals and how they enter the barn. Orwell is already beginning to make distinctions between the animals.

Keywords

  • Hierarchy - A hierarchy is where people or things are ranked with reference to status or authority.

  • Oppression - Oppression occurs when individuals or groups of people are unfairly treated and controlled by those in power.

  • Ideology - An ideology is a system of ideas, values or beliefs.

  • Privileged - If you are privileged you are seen to have special rights or advantages over others.

When reading the text try different reading strategies, for example, "control the game". Select students at random to read, jumping from pupil to pupil after small sections.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which revolution is 'Animal Farm' based on?
Correct Answer: Russian, socialist, bolshevik, Russian Revolution, russian
Q2.
What device beginning with 'A' describes how 'Animal Farm' is written?
Correct Answer: Allegory, allegory, allegorical
Q3.
Which system is described as: an economic system that encourages profit making and private ownership of business and resources?
socialism
Correct answer: capitalism
communism
marxism
fascism
Q4.
George Orwell was a democratic socialist which meant that....
he believed that power should be with an individual and freedoms limited.
he believed that private ownership and profit should be highly regarded.
Correct answer: he believed that everyone should be empowered to have a say and share ownership.
Q5.
The main goal of Marxism is....
Correct answer: equality.
profit.
power.
business.
Q6.
Which three best describe Orwell's motivation in writing 'Animal Farm'?
Correct answer: To expose corruption and tyranny.
Correct answer: To show how authoritarian regimes gain and maintain power.
Correct answer: To expose the flaws in communist and capitalist ideologies.
To celebrate how intelligent animals can be.
To write an informative fairy story.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Animal Farm', what is the name of the song the animals learn to sing?
Correct Answer: Beasts of England, beasts of england, beasts of England, Beasts of england
Q2.
In 'Animal Farm', what term does Old Major use to address the animals?
"friends"
"citizens"
"neighbours"
Correct answer: "comrades"
Q3.
In 'Animal Farm', what does Old Major claim is the source of the animals' misery?
natural disasters
Correct answer: cruelty and oppression
lack of food
harsh weather conditions
wild animals
Q4.
What is significant about the "raised platform" and where the pigs position themselves in chapter 1 of 'Animal Farm'?
Correct answer: Orwell is showing there is already an established hierarchy.
Orwell wants to show how big Old Major is.
Orwell is suggesting that the pigs are listening more closely.
Orwell is emphasising how comfortable the animals are.
Q5.
Complete this quote from chapter 1 of 'Animal Farm': "Man is the only creature that__________".
Correct Answer: consumes without producing, consumes without producing.
Q6.
What is Orwell foreshadowing in Chapter 1 of 'Animal Farm'?
There will be plenty of food.
Correct answer: The pigs will have power.
Correct answer: There will be a rebellion.
Mr Jones will give them all their demands.
Correct answer: That equality is hard to achieve.