New
New
Year 11
AQA

The connection between shifting language and shifting ideology in 'Animal Farm'

I can explain how the pigs' shifting language represents their shifting ideologies in 'Animal Farm'.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

The connection between shifting language and shifting ideology in 'Animal Farm'

I can explain how the pigs' shifting language represents their shifting ideologies in 'Animal Farm'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. We see the pigs' language shifting throughout 'Animal Farm'.
  2. Arguably, this shift reflects ideological shifts.
  3. For example, the shifting place name represents the pigs' shifting ideology around Animalism.
  4. Potentially, Orwell might be commenting on how language can be used to rewrite history.

Keywords

  • Perception - the way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted

  • Manipulation - to control or influence something or someone so that you get an advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly

  • Ideology - a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory

  • Intention - something that you want and plan to do; an aim

  • Tentative - not definite or certain

Common misconception

Language cannot change facts.

The language that we use to present facts can alter people's perception of the facts and therefore, in essence, change the facts.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: The connection between shifting language and shifting ideology in 'Animal Farm', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to connect the pigs' shifting ideology to the language of the Russian Revolution and Stalin's shift away from this ideology.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You may wish to have a copy of Orwell's 'Animal Farm' for this lesson.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What happens at the end of Orwell's 'Animal Farm'?
The animals all live happily and in harmony.
Correct answer: The dream of an animal utopia is not realised.
The animals rebel against Napoleon and the pigs.
Q2.
'Something that you want and plan to do; an aim' is the definition of which word beginning with 'i'?
Correct Answer: intention, intent, Intention
Q3.
In Orwell's 'Animal Farm', the seven commandments are used to show the principles of __________.
Humanism
Correct answer: Animalism
Socialism
Q4.
Which of the following are pronouns that suggests collective identity and unity?
I
He
Correct answer: We
Correct answer: Our
Q5.
Which of the following best describes the government of the pigs in Orwell's 'Animal Farm'?
Correct answer: dictatorship
technocracy
meritocracy
democracy
Q6.
Which of the following is the definition of tentative?
Correct answer: not definite or certain
incomprehensible and confusing
concrete and unequivocal

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following words would you use to show a tentative opinion?
certaintly
absolutely
Correct answer: potentially
Q2.
'The way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted' is the definition of which of the following?
deception
Correct answer: perception
inception
Q3.
At the end of Orwell's 'Animal Farm', the farm is called " Farm".
Correct Answer: Manor, manor
Q4.
Complete the quotation from Orwell's 'Animal Farm': “Comrades!” he cried. “You do not imagine, I hope, that pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege?”
Correct Answer: we, We
Q5.
'To control or influence something or someone so that you get an advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly' is the definition of which word beginning with 'm'?
Correct Answer: manipulation, manipulate, maniupulative, Manipulation
Q6.
'A system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory' is the definition of which word beginning with 'i'?
Correct Answer: ideology, ideological, Ideology