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Year 10
Edexcel

'Animal Farm': reading Chapter 2 and exploring the three pigs

I can explain the events of chapter 2 and the role of the three pigs

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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

'Animal Farm': reading Chapter 2 and exploring the three pigs

I can explain the events of chapter 2 and the role of the three pigs

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer are emerging as the most powerful animals on the farm
  2. The three pigs all have different leadership qualities
  3. Propaganda is used to gain and maintain power structures
  4. The three pigs are an allusion to Stalin, Trotsky and Molotov/propaganda
  5. Orwell uses language to present Napoleon as controlling and foreshadow future events

Common misconception

Old Major invents Animalism.

The three pigs invent Animalism in response to Old Major's speech. What might Orwell be commenting on here or trying to reveal?

Keywords

  • Rebellion - A rebellion is an action organised by a group of people trying to change the political system.

  • Charismatic - If you are charismatic you come across as charming and engaging.

  • Propaganda - Propaganda is the use of information to promote a particular idea in order to influence or manipulate people.

  • Allusion - An allusion is a reference to something, such as a historical event or person, that helps to convey a deeper meaning.

Allow students to explore their own ideas about what makes an effective leader and use to explore the descriptions of the pigs.
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 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).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who is the owner of Manor Farm at the beginning of the novella 'Animal Farm'?
Correct answer: Mr. Jones
Mr. Smith
Mr. Brown
Mr. Wilson
Q2.
Old Major, a "prize middle weight boar", delivers a speech in chapter 1 of 'Animal Farm'. What is his main message?
Humans are their friends.
Correct answer: All animals are equal.
Some animals are more equal than others.
Dogs are the smartest animals.
Q3.
Which word beginning with 'H' means a system where members of society are ranked according to status or power?
Correct Answer: hierarchy, Hierarchy
Q4.
In 'Animal Farm', which two quotes are most effective at presenting the hierarchies already present in the barn?
"there was a stirring and a fluttering all through the farm buildings."
Correct answer: "the pigs, who settled down in the straw immediately in front of the platform."
Correct answer: "raised platform"
"he lurched across the year"
Q5.
Match the rhetorical device to the quote from Old Major's speech, which he makes in chapter 1 of 'Animal Farm'.
Correct Answer:rhetorical question,"What is the nature of this life of ours?"

"What is the nature of this life of ours?"

Correct Answer:anaphora,"All men are enemies. All animals are comrades"

"All men are enemies. All animals are comrades"

Correct Answer:metaphor,"no animal escapes the cruel knife"

"no animal escapes the cruel knife"

Correct Answer:direct address,"you cows that I see before me."

"you cows that I see before me."

Correct Answer:triplet/rule of three,"our lives are miserable, laborious, and short"

"our lives are miserable, laborious, and short"

Q6.
Match the political ideology to the definition.
Correct Answer:Marxism,Karl Marx's ideas about class struggles and equality.

Karl Marx's ideas about class struggles and equality.

Correct Answer:Communism,Government owns everything, aiming for fairness.

Government owns everything, aiming for fairness.

Correct Answer:Socialism,Mix of government control and private ownership.

Mix of government control and private ownership.

Correct Answer:Capitalism ,Private businesses, competition, and individual ownership.

Private businesses, competition, and individual ownership.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Animal Farm', who is Moses and what is his role?
A loyal horse who works hard on the farm
Correct answer: A raven who spreads tales of a paradise called "Sugarcandy Mountain"
A pig skilled in propaganda
The leader of the rebellion against Mr. Jones
Q2.
Match the pig from 'Animal Farm' to the correct description.
Correct Answer:Squealer,"he was a brilliant talker"

"he was a brilliant talker"

Correct Answer:Snowball,"quicker in speech and more inventive"

"quicker in speech and more inventive"

Correct Answer:Napoleon,"large, rather fierce looking"

"large, rather fierce looking"

Q3.
Complete the quote with two missing words. "The others said of Squealer he could turn__________ into __________."
Correct Answer: black white, black and white, white black, white and black
Q4.
What does the word "allusion" mean?
A direct statement or fact
Correct answer: A reference to a well-known person, event, or piece of literature
A form of storytelling
A type of character development
Q5.
What is the significance of renaming the farm "Animal Farm" in Chapter 2 of 'Animal Farm'?
It marks the end of Mr. Jones' ownership.
Correct answer: It represents the animals' vision of equality.
It is a secret code for the rebellion.
It symbolises a return to the past.
Q6.
What does the disappearance of the milk in Chapter 2 of 'Animal Farm' foreshadow?
The success of the harvest
The rise of Squealer's authority
Correct answer: Future corruption and inequality
Mr. Jones' return to the farm