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Year 10
Edexcel

'Animal Farm': exploring Orwell's influences and purpose

I can explain why Orwell wrote 'Animal Farm'.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

'Animal Farm': exploring Orwell's influences and purpose

I can explain why Orwell wrote 'Animal Farm'.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Orwell was influenced by his varied life experiences
  2. Orwell was against authoritarian regimes and viewed his writing as a way to criticise the abuse of power
  3. 'Animal Farm' is an allegory for the Russian Revolution
  4. Orwell was a democratic socialist and against the ideals of communism which he saw as easily corruptible and flawed
  5. 'Animal Farm' explores themes of power and hierarchy

Common misconception

George Orwell was a communist.

Although Orwell wanted an equal society, he viewed communism as corruptible and idealistic.

Keywords

  • Authoritarian - An authoritarian regime enforces strict obedience and the expense of personal freedoms.

  • Allegory - An allegory is a story, poem or image that has a hidden message, typically a moral or political one.

  • Socialism - Socialism is a political ideology that believes in equality and shared ownership of resources and production.

  • Capitalism - Capitalism is an economic system that encourages profit making and private ownership of business and resources.

  • Marxism - Marxism is a political theory based on the work of Karl Marx. It believes in collective ownership and the eradication of social classes.

Task B can be printed as a completed task which students can cut out and rearrange. Asking students to offer justifications of their choices in Task B can develop understanding and critical thinking further.
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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Complete this sentence. Social and historical __________ can help us have a better understanding of the texts we are reading.
Correct Answer: context, contextual information , facts, information
Q2.
In what year did WWII end?
Correct Answer: 1945
Q3.
Equality is...
the idea that some people should have more than others.
Correct answer: a concept that encourages fairness and treating everyone the same.
the belief that only a few should have all the power.
a type of government ruled by a single person.
Q4.
What is the definition of a dictator?
A leader elected by the people.
A system of government with multiple rulers.
Correct answer: A ruler with absolute and unchecked power.
A government that practices democracy.
Q5.
When considering a writer's purpose, we want to try and understand why they were compelled to write. What does the verb compel mean?
to write for fun and leisure
Correct answer: to feel driven by a strong motivation
to write without any goal in mind
to write with hesitation and doubt
Q6.
Social class refers to....
a gathering of friends and family.
Correct answer: a group of individuals with similar economic and social positions.
a community of people sharing common interests.
a hierarchy of people based on physical appearance.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
'Animal Farm' was published in what year?
Correct Answer: 1945
Q2.
George Orwell was against totalitarianism. These are governmental systems defined by which three things?
Correct answer: centralised power
Correct answer: dictatorships
democracy
Correct answer: loss of personal freedoms
Q3.
What word beginning with 'A', describes a story, poem or image that has a hidden message, typically a moral or political one.
Correct Answer: allegory
Q4.
Which two political systems are considered left wing?
Correct answer: communism
fascism
conservatism
Correct answer: socialism
Q5.
Marxism is the belief that...
business owners should own most of the wealth in society.
Correct answer: wealth should be shared equally amongst all in society.
class systems are a positive way to group people.
Q6.
What is the main goal of capitalism?
wealth distribution
equality
Correct answer: profit
management of resource