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Year 11
Edexcel

The connection between a lack of voice and oppression in Orwell's 'Animal Farm'

I can explore the connection between a lack of voice and oppression in Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’.

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Year 11
Edexcel

The connection between a lack of voice and oppression in Orwell's 'Animal Farm'

I can explore the connection between a lack of voice and oppression in Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Many of the animals in 'Animal Farm' do not have a voice within the text.
  2. Arguably, we connect having a voice with having power.
  3. Potentially, Orwell is representing how the masses do not have a voice in political systems.
  4. Arguably, we see the pigs’ suppressing the animals language.
  5. Orwell implies that the animals' lack of linguistic ability contributes to their subjugation .

Keywords

  • Voice - to have a voice is to have an active and participatory role in making a decision or influencing something

  • Disenfranchised - not having the right to vote, or a similar right, or having had that right taken away

  • Suppression - the act of preventing something from being expressed or known

  • Subjugation - the action of bringing someone or something under domination or control

Common misconception

The animals in 'Animal Farm' are unintelligent and therefore cannot grasp complex language.

Conversely, we might suggest that the pigs' simplification of the animals' language suppresses their ability to use language to express themselves.


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

You might extend the discussion in Task B by thinking about how a lack of linguistic ability can also lead people to be misled by people using persuasive language.
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.
Put the events of Orwell's 'Animal Farm' in chronological order.
1 - The animals rebel against the cruel treatment of Mr Jones.
2 - The animals start to create their vision of a utopia.
3 - Napoleon and Snowball argue over how the farm should be run.
4 - Napoleon seizes power through force.
5 - Napoleon and the pigs oppress and exploit the animals.
Q2.
'The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events' is the definition of which of the following?
Correct answer: power
strength
intelligence
Q3.
Which of the following is true of Orwell's 'Animal Farm'?
The animals are never able to vote on any of the pigs' resolutions.
The animals are always able to vote on the pigs' resolutions.
Correct answer: The animals lose their ability to vote on the pigs' resolutions.
Q4.
What does it mean to have a voice?
Correct answer: to have an active role in decision making
to have a passive role in decision making
to have no role in decision making
Q5.
Which of the following is the definition of simplifying?
To make something more complex.
Correct answer: To make something less complicated.
To make something incomprehensible.
Q6.
'Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or exercise of authority' is the definition of which word beginning with 'o'?
Correct Answer: oppression, oppressive, oppress, Oppression

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Having a lack of voice means which of the following?
The ability to influence decisions.
Having individual agency.
Correct answer: Not being able to express your beliefs.
Q2.
'The action of bringing someone or something under domination or control' is the definition of which of the following?
subvert
Correct answer: subjugation
subordinate
subscribe
Q3.
Complete the following quotation from Orwell's 'Animal Farm': “all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of ”
Correct Answer: pigs, the pigs , Pigs
Q4.
'The act of preventing something from being expressed or known' is the definition of which of the following?
procession
oppression
Correct answer: suppression
Q5.
Complete this quotation from Orwell's 'Animal Farm': “the animals were dismayed by this announcement. Several of them would have if they could have found the right arguments.”
Correct Answer: protested, protest , Protested
Q6.
'Not having the right to vote, or a similar right, or having had that right taken away' is the definition of which word beginning with 'd'?
Correct Answer: disenfranchised, disenfranchise, disenfranchisement, Disenfranchised