Year 11 - English
How language creates social divisions in Orwell's 'Animal Farm'
'Animal Farm': language manipulation and control
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils explore how language is used for control in 'Animal Farm'. They first look at the pigs' control of language, before exploring how the other animals' apathetic language contributes to their oppression. Pupils finally plan and write an essay about language manipulation.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how language creates social distinctions and divisions in 'Animal Farm'.
Key Notes
- The language we use determines our relationships and connections with others.
- As well as connections, language can be used to alienate and differentiate.
- Orwell arguably demonstrates how language can be used to create social distinctions.
- Furthermore, Orwell may be commenting on how language can control people through isolation and division.
Vocabulary To Learn
- divisive: tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people
- differentiate: to show or find the difference between things that are compared
- distinction: a difference or contrast between similar things or people
- alienate: to make someone feel that they are different and not part of a group
- dissent: strong disagreement or dissatisfaction with a decision or opinion
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Language cannot alter how you see someone else.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
The language we use determines our relationships and connections with others. As well as connections, language can be used to alienate and differentiate.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'divisive'
tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Language cannot alter how you see someone else. Correction: Alienating and divisive language can be used to create the perception that someone is an outsider and separate from our social group.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Narrative voice and the concepts of truth and complicity in 'Animal Farm' Study Guide
- The connection between a lack of voice and oppression in Orwell's 'Animal Farm' Study Guide
- The connection between shifting language and shifting ideology in 'Animal Farm' Study Guide
- The consequences of complicit and apathetic language in Orwell's 'Animal Farm' Study Guide
- The manipulation of language in Orwell's 'Animal Farm' Study Guide
- Writing a nuanced response on the manipulation of language in 'Animal Farm' Study Guide
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