Year 11 - English
The consequences of complicit and apathetic language 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 explore how Orwell presents apathy and complicity in 'Animal Farm'.
Key Notes
- Arguably, Benjamin's language conveys apathy throughout 'Animal Farm'.
- We might see Orwell as suggesting that Benjamin's apathy is a form of complicity.
- Potentially, we might see the animals' complicity as allowing the pigs' oppression.
- On the other hand, we might consider the pigs' language as conditioning the animals to be complicit.
Vocabulary To Learn
- complicit: involved in or knowing about a crime or some activity that is wrong
- apathetic: showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern
- inherent: belonging to the basic nature of someone or something
- oppression: prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or exercise of authority
- conditioned: to influence a person so that they do or expect a particular thing without thinking about it
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The only interpretation of Orwell's 'Animal Farm' is that the pigs' desire for power leads to the animals' oppression.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Arguably, Benjamin's language conveys apathy throughout 'Animal Farm'. We might see Orwell as suggesting that Benjamin's apathy is a form of complicity.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'complicit'
involved in or knowing about a crime or some activity that is wrong.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: The only interpretation of Orwell's 'Animal Farm' is that the pigs' desire for power leads to the animals' oppression. Correction: We might also interpret the animals as being complicit in allowing their oppression to happen.
More Lessons In This Unit
- How language creates social divisions in Orwell's 'Animal Farm' Study Guide
- 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 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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