Using context effectively in 'Animal Farm' essays
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can understand what context is and how to include it effectively in my responses.
Key learning points
- Context refers to the historical, social, literary and biographical.
- Context should not be presented as isolated facts or generalisations.
- Context should be relevant to the analysis and embedded in the response.
- Context should develop your ideas and give an insight into the writer’s purpose and intention.
Keywords
Literary movement - A way to divide literature into categories focusing on philosophical, ideological or stylistic similarities.
Disillusionment - A feeling of disappointment in the realisation that something is not as good as it seems.
Generalisation - If a statement is applied to more things than to which it directly applies, then it is known as a generalisation.
Theme - A repeated idea in a story is known as a theme. Power is a theme in ‘Animal Farm’.
Common misconception
That context refers only to historical facts.
Interesting context also includes different attitudes and values. How would different audiences respond to the text and why?
Teacher tip
Prepare and share some model responses that effectively use context, these can also become part of the improvement task in learning cycle 2.
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
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word describes the overarching statement you include in an introduction to an essay?
Q2.What word beginning with 'A' describes a story that has a hidden moral or political meaning?
Q3.Which famous independent school beginning with 'E' did Orwell attend between 1917 to 1921?
Q4.Match the characters from 'Animal Farm' to the quotes they say.
"All men are enemies. All animals are comrades."
"I will work harder."
"Will there still be sugar after the Rebellion?"
"Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure!'
"Comrades, do you know who is responsible for this?"
"liberty is worth more than ribbons"
Q5.Match the character from 'Animal Farm' to the historical figure or group they represent.
Working class
Propaganda
Joseph Stalin
Religion
Bourgeoisie
Trotsky
Q6.Complete the sentence, Orwell considered himself a ...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word beginning with 'D' describes a feeling of disappointment, in the realisation that something is not as good as it seems.
Q2.Match the type of context to the definition.
refers to what was happening at the time
refers to cultural constructions or ideas
refers to what influenced the text's style or genre
refers to information about the writer's life
Q3.Orwell fought in the Spanish Civil war in 1937. What type of context is this sentence referring to?
Q4.Which of these statements is not true when using context?
Q5.Which of these is an example of literary context?
Q6.In 'Animal Farm', what is Orwell's primary purpose in the use of the fairy tale and fable style?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Using context effectively in 'Animal Farm' essays, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Using context effectively in 'Animal Farm' essays, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Animal Farm: the pigs and power unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.