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Year 11
AQA

The manipulation of language in Orwell's 'Animal Farm'

I can explain how the manipulation of the law and commandments creates a sense of control in 'Animal Farm'.

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New
New
Year 11
AQA

The manipulation of language in Orwell's 'Animal Farm'

I can explain how the manipulation of the law and commandments creates a sense of control in 'Animal Farm'.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Orwell believed in the power of language and how it can be used to corrupt and control people.
  2. Arguably, we see this corruption and control through the pigs' manipulation of the commandments.
  3. Potentially, we might consider the commandments as representing religious language.
  4. Therefore, we may think that Orwell is commenting on how religion can corrupt and control people.

Keywords

  • Manipulation - an action designed to influence or control another person, usually in an underhanded or unfair manner

  • Commandments - a divine rule, especially one of the Ten Commandments

  • Control - the power to influence or direct people's behaviour or the course of events

  • Corruption - dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery

  • Absolute - something complete, unconditional and final

Common misconception

The concept of truth is something that cannot be changed.

Our perception of what it true can be altered by those around us.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: The manipulation of language in Orwell's 'Animal Farm', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You might extend the conversation around religion and control to include Moses' description of Sugarcandy Mountain (which is arguably representative of heaven) and how the pigs allow Moses to remain and spread his ideas.
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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who wrote 'Animal Farm'?
Charles Dickens
Correct answer: George Orwell
Jane Austen
Q2.
'The power to influence or direct people's behaviour or the course of events' is the definition of which word beginning with 'c'?
contrary
contraband
Correct answer: control
convivial
Q3.
Put the events of 'Animal Farm' in chronological order.
1 - The animals are treated cruelly by their owner, Mr Jones.
2 - The animals rebel against their owner, Mr Jones.
3 - The animals win their freedom.
4 - Snowball and Napoleon campaign for the animals' support.
5 - Napoleon seizes power and assumes leadership.
6 - The pigs begin dressing and acting like humans.
Q4.
Orwell's 'Animal Farm' is typically interpreted as an allegory for the Revolution.
Correct Answer: Russian, Russia , russian
Q5.
'Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery' is the definition of which word beginning with 'c'?
Correct Answer: corruption, corrupt, corruptive, Corruption
Q6.
'An action designed to influence or control another person, usually in an underhanded or unfair manner' is the definition of which word beginning with 'm'?
Correct Answer: manipulation, manipulate, manipulative, Manipulation

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Orwell's 'Animal Farm', the seven rules of Animalism are known as the .
Correct Answer: commandments, 7 commandments, seven commandments , the commandments , Commandments
Q2.
Complete the quotation from Orwell's 'Animal Farm': “All animals are equal, but some animals are than others.”
Correct Answer: more equal, More equal
Q3.
Which of the following are connotations of the word "commandment"?
Correct answer: authoritative rule
submission and obedience
permissive behaviour
Q4.
At the beginning of Orwell's 'Animal Farm', the commandments are described as being which of the following?
temporary
flexible
Correct answer: unalterable
Q5.
In Orwell's 'Animal Farm', which of the following are true of the commandments?
they are written on the wall by Benjamin
they are created by all of the animals
Correct answer: they are created by the pigs
Correct answer: they are written on the wall by the pigs
Q6.
'Something complete, unconditional and final' is the definition of which word beginning with 'a'?
Correct Answer: absolute, Absolute