Lesson video

Hello, everyone, it's lovely to see you here today.

My name's Dr.

Clayton and I'm here to guide you through your learning journey today.

So today's lesson's called, "The Manipulation of Language in Orwell's "Animal Farm".

Now, I think this idea of the manipulation of language is absolutely central to "Animal Farm".

We're going to focus on the commandments and how the pigs' manipulation of the commandments alters our perception of what is true and absolute.

Then we're going to think about the religious connotations of the commandments and what Orwell might've been suggesting about religion and society through the way the pigs alter the commandments.

So if you're ready, grab you pen, laptop, whatever you're using for this lesson and let's get started.

So by the end of the lesson, you'll be able to explain how the manipulation of the law and commandments creates a sense of control in "Animal Farm".

So we have five words today we're going to be using as our keywords.

They'll be identified in bold throughout the learning material and I'll try to point them out to you as well so you can see them be used in context.

So our first keyword is manipulation, which means an action designed to influence or control another person, usually in underhanded or unfair manner.

So we're going to focus on how the pigs manipulate language in order to influence and control the other animals.

Our second keyword is commandment, which means a divine rule, especially one of the 10 Commandments.

We're going to focus on how the pigs alter the language of the commandments, but also think about them as a divine and what Orwell might've been suggesting about religion through them.

Our third keyword is control, which means the power to influence or direct people's behaviour or the course of events.

So we're going to be thinking about how the manipulation of language allows the pigs to influence or direct the behaviour of the other animals.

Our fourth keyword is corruption, which means dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.

So we're going to be thinking about how the pigs' manipulation of the commandments allows for their corruption.

And our final keyword is absolute, which means something complete, unconditional and final.

So we're going to be thinking about how pigs' manipulation of the commandments challenges our ideas about what is absolute, so what is unconditional.

So I'll just give you a moment to write down those keywords and their definitions.

So pause the video, write them down now.

Fantastic, let's get started with the lesson.

So we have two learning cycles in our lesson today.

For our first learning cycle, we're going to focus on the pigs' manipulation of the commandments and how that links to their control over the animals and how that challenges our ideas of what is absolute.

So it challenges our perception of what is an undisputed truth.

For our second learning cycle, we're going to think about the religious connotations of the word commandment and what Orwell might've been saying about religion through the way the pigs are able to manipulate the commandments to suit their own desires.

So as I said in our introduction, a central theme of Orwell's writing in the power of language and how it can be used to corrupt and control people.

Now, corrupt and control are two of our keywords.

Corrupt means dishonest behaviour by those in power and control means to direct or influence someone's actions or behaviour.

Now, we see this in "Animal Farm" through the way the pigs manipulate language, but also in "Nineteen Eighty-Four", which is another of Orwell's novels.

We see the government using language to not only manipulate people's perception of reality, but also to limit their range of thought.

Now, one of the way we see language being used to corrupt and control in Orwell's "Animal Farm" is through the manipulation of the seven commandments.

So the way in which the pigs alter the commandments in order to influence or control the other animals.

So let's begin by thinking about Orwell's choice to call them commandments.

What I'd like you to think about is how does this word, commandment, immediately create a sense of control? Now, if you're working through this with someone else, you might talk about your ideas with them.

If you're working through this by yourself, you might just think about your ideas.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Let's talk through some of the things you might've said.

So you might've thought about the definition of a commandment and how it's a rule, which instantly gives the ideas of control, because a rule is designed to control people's behaviour.

You also might've thought about the word, command and how there's connotations of being given an order, so being told what to do.

But also the idea if you have command over something, you have control over it.

So we already have these ideas of control simply through Orwell's use of the word commandment.

Now, even without the pigs' manipulation, they're designed to control the animals' behaviour.

So let's think about the moment the commandments are first decided on and written down.

So what I'd like you to do, is look at the following two quotations.

So we have, "The pigs had succeeded in reducing the principle of Animalism to seven Commandments.

The commandments are written by Snowball on the tarred wall in great white letters." And what I'd like you to do, is think about what the significance of these quotations are in terms of control.

So think about who's decided on the commandments and who is writing them down.

How does that link to ideas of control? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some fantastic ideas there.

Now, one of Oak pupils, Laura, said, "I think the quotations show that it's the pigs who created the commandments, both conceptually and physically, so therefore they have control over the messaging within the commandments and how those commandments are shared and articulated to the rest of the animals." So what I'd like you to do now is think about whether you agree with Laura's ideas, why or why not? So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

It was great to see people engaging with Laura's ideas and I think it's a general consensus of agreeing that Orwell's shows the commandments so the rules of the farm and Animalism are very much decided on by the pigs alone.

We don't see the other animals being involved and therefore we can already see how the pigs are directing and influencing the other animals, because they have decided on the rules.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

So is it true or false that Orwell presents the pigs as having control over the commandments? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

The correct answer is true.

Now, I'd like you to tell me why it's true.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, you might've said, "Orwell demonstrates how the pigs have control over the messaging within the commandments and how they are shared with the rest of the animals." So very well done if you got those right.

So now let's think about the way in which the pigs alter the commandments.

Now, these alterations occur throughout the novel and the other animals are unaware the pigs are changing the commandments.

They're told they were always this way.

So the original commandments are, whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy, whatever goes upon four legs or has wings is a friend, no animal shall wear clothes, no animal shall sleep in a bed, no animal shall drink alcohol, no animal shall kill any other animal and all animals are equal.

But the pigs changed them to, no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets, no animal shall drink alcohol to excess, no animal shall kill any other animal without cause, all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

So what I'd like you to do, is think about how the alterations link to ideas of corruption.

How are they linked to ideas of dishonesty from those in power? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now, one of our Oak pupils, Izzy, said, "I think the alterations are inherently linked to corruption, because it shows the pigs are behaving dishonestly.

They convince the animals that the commandments haven't changed when they have manipulated them.

Moreover, the changes directly benefit the pigs over the other animals." So what I'd like you to do, is think about whether you agree with Izzy, why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

I think we can definitely see there are two significant points here.

The dishonesty comes from the fact that the pigs convince the other animals the commandments haven't changed and this convinced the other animals it's their memories that are wrong.

We can also clearly see how the commandments have been altered to suit the pigs.

While it says no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets for example, it's the pigs who sleep in the beds in the farmhouse, while the other animals remain in their stalls.

So we can see the pigs abusing their power in order to make changes that suit them and their agenda while making the other animals doubt themselves and their memories.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do, is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

So is it true or false, the pigs' alterations to the commandments link to ideas of corruption? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

The correct answer is true.

Now I'd like you to tell me why it's true.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, you might've said, "The very act of altering the commandments is an act of dishonesty, moreover, the alterations benefit the pigs." So very well done if you got those right.

So now, let's think about the specific alterations in the language.

Now, the original commandment is, "All animals are equal." Here, the use of a the modal verb are suggests an absolute and unchanging truth.

Something absolute means something unconditional, something not subject to any conditions.

So we have the idea that equality is not subject to conditions, you either are equal or you're not.

There's no grey area.

However, the pigs alter the commandment to read, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." So here, the pigs are undermining the idea that equality is unconditional, it is in fact subject to conditions.

So what I'd like you to think about is what is the significance of the pigs' change from are to are but? Think about the use of are and how that suggests an unchangeable truth.

What are the pigs doing to the idea of truth? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

That was a really hard question, so very well done for having a go.

Now, one of our Oak pupils, Sam, said, "I think it's significant, because it shows the pigs taking something that's meant to be absolute and undermining it.

The word are suggests that it's something unchangeable, however, the pigs do change it.

That suggests they're not only changing the language, but manipulating the idea of what is true and absolute.

So what I'd like you to think about is whether you agree with Sam's ideas, why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

It was great seeing people engaging in Sam's ideas and thinking about the contradictions within the pigs' alteration.

There's inherent paradox in the idea.

You can't be both equal and not equal at the same time.

It isn't possible, yet the pigs say it is possible.

So challenging ideas of what is possible and what is true.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do, is tell me which interpretation of the change to are but is the most relevant to ideas of control and corruption.

So is it A, the change to are but shows that the pigs are contradicting themselves, they're unsure of their own ideas? Or B, the change to are but shows that the pigs are manipulating ideas of what is true and absolute to suit them? So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

The correct answer is B.

The change to are but shows the pigs are manipulating ideas of what is true and absolute to suit them.

Now I'd like you to tell me why it's B.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, you might've said, "While are but is a contradiction, it specifically suggests that the pigs are manipulating the idea of something absolute to suit them." So very well done if you got those right.

Amazing work, everyone.

We're now to the first task of the lesson.

So what I'd like you to do is bring all of our ideas from this learning cycle together and write a short answer to the question, "How does Orwell use the manipulation of the seven commandments to demonstrate the pigs' control?" Now, you might consider the following ideas.

The commandments were described as unalterable, yet the pigs alter them throughout the novel.

The original commandments convey something absolute, yet the pigs' alterations contradict this.

So pause the video, write your answer now.

Welcome back, everyone, some great work there.

What I'd like you to do, is read Alex's answer.

Do you agree, why or why not? So Alex said, "I think the pigs' manipulation of the commandments demonstrates a sense of control, because it shows how they have conceptual and physical power over the rules in society and how they have the ability to change those rules to benefit themselves." So pause the video, think about whether you agree with Alex or not.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now I'd like us to think about how we could extend Alex's answer and consider the pigs' manipulation of absolutes, so pigs' alteration of what we think is unconditional and true.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now, you might've said, "We could extend Alex's answer by adding, moreover, their manipulation of the absolutes shows they have control over what is thought to be true.

This implies that our perception of truth can be altered by those in power." So now we're gonna move on to the second learning cycle.

We're going to think about the religious connotations of the commandments.

Amazing work, everyone.

We're now to the second learning cycle.

We're going to think about the religious connotations of the commandments and what Orwell might've been saying about religion through them.

Now, the definition of a commandment is a divine rule, especially one of the 10 Commandments.

Therefor, we might suggest that there religious connotations to the seven commandments.

Then we might use these connotations to draw conclusions about how Orwell is presenting ideas of religion and control in his writing.

So what I'd like you to think about first is the following quotation.

"The pigs had succeeded in reducing the principles of Animalism to seven commandments." And what I'd like you to think about is what is the significance of this in terms of the idea of the commandments as a divine law? Think about the idea as the pigs have reduced the principles and written them down.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now, one of our Oak pupils, Lucas, said, "I think it signifies that divine law is interpreted and shared by humans and therefore could be open to manipulation and corruption." So what I'd like you to do now, is think about whether you agree with Lucas' ideas, why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

It was to see people engaging with Lucas' ideas and thinking about how Orwell's suggesting that humans are involved in how divine law is shared and interpreted by people and whether or not that means we can fully trust them.

So now I'd like us to think about another quotation, which is, "Friend was written freind and one of the S's was the wrong way round." And what I'd like you to think about is what is the significance of this in terms of the idea of the commandments as a divine law? Think about the fact that Snowball's made mistakes in writing the commandments down.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some fantastic ideas there.

Now, as our Oak pupil, Andeep, says, "Perhaps it suggests there's the possibility that the humans can mistakes when interpreting and recording divine law." So what I'd like you think about, is do you agree with Andeep's ideas, why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great thoughts there about how humans are not perfect, we make mistakes.

If humans are the ones transcribing and interpreting divine law, it's possible they'd have made mistakes, which could lead to misinterpretations.

Now, as we saw in the first learning cycle, arguably, we see the pigs altering the commandments for their own benefit.

So what I'd like you to think about, is what is the significance of this in terms of the idea of the commandments are divine law? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now, one of the Oak pupils, Aisha, said, "I think it's significant, because it present the idea that humans might manipulate divine law for their own benefit." So what I'd like you to do now, is think about whether you agree with Aisha's ideas, why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

It was great to see people engaging with Aisha's ideas.

Now, as we saw with the pigs, Orwell could be suggesting there's a possibility that people can use divine law and religion for their own benefit and how hard it is for people and other animals to argue against it, because they're manipulating the divine laws to allow for their control and their corruption.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do, is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

So is it true or false that Orwell presents divine law as something protected from human influence? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

The correct answer is false.

Now I'd like you to tell me why it's false.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, you might've said, "By showing how the pigs manipulate the commandments, Orwell is perhaps implying that divine law can be manipulated by humans." So very well done if you got those right.

Fantastic work, everyone.

Now for the final task of the lesson.

Now, one critical reading of Orwell's writing is that he presents religion as a way for those in power to control society.

So what I'd like you to discuss, is to what extent do you think the seven commandments support this critical reading of Orwell's work, why? Now, you might consider that the pigs themselves wrote the seven commandments, the pigs manipulated the commandments for their own benefit.

So pause the video, take a few minutes to discuss.

Welcome back, everyone, some amazing discussions there.

Now, what I'd like you to do, is think about Sofia's ideas.

So Sofia said, "I agree with the idea that we might interpret "Animal Farm" as suggesting that religion offers a way for those in power to control society, because Orwell presents the commandments as a way to control the behaviour of others, but also as something that can manipulated to benefit a small group of people." So pause the video, think about whether you agree with Sofia's ideas, why or why not? Welcome back, everyone.

Now, hopefully these discussions around how we might interpret the commandments as representing religion will add to your understanding of "Animal Farm" and how Orwell presents the influence of language and power.

You all did amazingly well today, everyone.

Here's a summary of what we've covered.

Orwell believed in the power of language and how it can be used to corrupt and control people.

We see this throughout "Animal Farm", but also in his other work, such as "Nineteen Eighty-Four".

Arguable, we see this corruption and control through the pigs' manipulation of the commandments.

We see the pigs not only using the commandments in order to benefit themselves, but also how their manipulation ultimately leads the animals to question their own memories and their perception of what is true.

Potentially, we might consider the commandments as representing religious language, because the definition of a commandment is a divine law.

Therefore, we may think that Orwell's commenting on how religion can be used to corrupt and control people.

I really hope you enjoyed the lesson, everyone and I hope to see you for another lesson soon.

Goodbye.