1. Character, Language and Theme.
Animal Farm
George Orwell

2. Literature Revision - Animal Farm
Objective – To reflect on the examiners advice for Animal Farm
Starter: What assessment
objectives are you being tested
on in this part of the exam
AO1: Respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations.
AO2: Explain how language, structure and form contribute to a writer’s presentation of ideas, themes and settings.

3. The Questions
Use only the information contained within the extract in order to answer parts (a), (b)
Candidates who made several points, and supported these with examples from the extract, qualified for marks in the higher bands.
The only section of the 3 part question that requires candidates to explore another area of the text is part c.
For part c, candidates should select and explore one extract of their own choice that relates to the theme given in the exam.
The extract should be approximately one page in length of the chosen text and be relevant to the given theme.

4. Issues With Question A the character question
Most examiners have commented that on the whole,
candidates answered this part of the question well.
However,
A minority of students saw this question as chance to
inform us that the plight of Boxer was a metaphor for the
downtrodden working class of Russia, but got so enthralled
by this, they did not make any other relevant points about the
extract.
Question A: Make a variety of points – don’t waffle! Always relate your answers to the question. USE the exact words of the question when you make a point or explain something. It carries the least amount of marks, so don’t spend too much time on it.

5. Issues With Question B: Language
Part (b) This was also answered well, and most understood the language devices used to create effects.
Many did manage to identify the techniques of short sentences and
punctuation, but failed to use quotations to support answers.
A number of candidates mistakenly referred to personification, especially when talking about the ‘drumming of the hooves’
Make sure you identify language techniques using the
correct examples to exemplify them. If in doubt don’t name that
device but focus on its effects. You MUST, MUST, MUST always
use quotes, little and often to back up your ideas.
PEE
Point by making a statement using the words from the question.
Evidence by quoting or using a word or two from the extract.
Explain by pretending the examiner is a child who needs you to explain the point and quote in simple terms.

6. Issues with Question C theme in another part of the novel
Part (c) Some candidates took ‘ignorance’ to be 'rudeness' rather than ignorance meaning lack of knowledge. They tended to focus on the horses that were pulling the van, and missed out the ignorance of the animals in the first place for not being able to read. Some students used the 'milk and apples' being taken as their examples, with more using the changing of the commandments.
A handful of candidates used Napoleon’s taking of the puppies, but this was usually where they had mistaken ignorance as rudeness and talked of Napoleon’s ignorance towards the mother of the pups.
Make sure you are aware of the themes in the novel and which chapter they are found in.
Choose a text that is relevant to the theme.
This question holds the most marks so spend most of your time on it.

7. Meow do an exam: Read all 3 Questions a, b and d
From the extract, what do you discover about the character of Napoleon? Use evidence from the extract to support your answer. Read the text and underline anything that describes Napoleon, annotate it.
Comment on how language is used to create the relationship between the pigs and the other animals in the extract. Use examples of the writer’s language from the extract. Read the text underline any language techniques that highlights the hierarchy between the pigs and workers.
d. Explore the significance of dishonesty in one other part of the novel. Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. Dishonesty is a main theme in Animal Farm. You should use this to help you answer question a. Skim chapter 5 and 6 for dishonesty Napoleon or. Squealer is always dishonest. He is propaganda personified.

8. Character Question A
Major: Marx and Lenin. Marx wrote books on socialist ideals and Lenin introduced Russia to communism. He dies. That humans are evil and the animals would be better off if they ruled themselves. All animals would be equal.
Napoleon: Stalin. Dictator of the farm. Powerful, power hungry, rules with fear and terror. Hypocrite. Dishonest. Strong. Greedy. “all animals are equal but some are more equal than others”. Changed all the rules so communism became Stalinism.
Snowball: Trotsky Stalin’s rival. One of the smartest pigs on the farm. He wanted to spread animalism to all the farms. Napoleon chased him out he was exiled and became the scape goat for everything that went wrong on the farm. He promised a better life.
Squealer: is a metaphor for propaganda. Lies deceit. Makes Napoleon look good. Changes the commandments for Napoleon. Study all his speeches.
Boxer: working class hero. All the animals love him. “I must work harder” and “Napoleon is always right.

9. Now lets do the language question. Q. b

10. Language Test: Match them up
Giving an inanimate object human characteristics.
A comparison between two different things saying something is/was something else.
A word used to identify any class of people, place or thing.
Comparing two things using like as or than.
A question that doesn’t require an answer.
Using the same letter at the start of two or more words.
Saying the same thing many times for effect.
A word used to describe how an action is completed.
An instruction or command.
Words like we, you and us.
A word that sounds like the noise it is making.
A describing word.
Three phrases or describing words used to emphasise a point.
1 Adverb
2 Rhetorical question
3 Cluster of three
4 Personal pronouns
5 Simile
6 Metaphor
7 Onomatopoeia
8 Repetition
9 Imperatives
10 Personification
Verb
12 Alliteration
Adjective
Noun
Imperative: instruction. Adjective: describing. Noun:c naming. Verb: doing action.

11. Language Test: Match them up
Giving an inanimate object human characteristics.
A comparison between two different things saying something is/was something else.
A word used to identify any class of people, place or thing.
Comparing two things using like as or than.
A question that doesn’t require an answer.
Using the same letter at the start of two or more words.
Saying the same thing many times for effect.
A word used to describe how an action is completed.
An instruction or command.
Words like we, you and us.
A word that sounds like the noise it is making.
A describing word.
Three phrases or describing words used to emphasise a point.
Personification
Metaphor
Noun
Simile
Rhetorical
Alliteration
Repetition
Verb
Imperative
Personal pronouns
Onomatopoeia
Adjective
Cluster of 3
Imperative: instruction. Adjective: describing. Noun:c naming. Verb: doing action.

12. B Language AO2: Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writer’s presentation of ideas, themes and settings. Use words from Orwell's text.
Orwell’s choice of words and phrases are crafted for effect and are used to present an unequal relationship between the pigs and the other animals in the extract. The extract opens with Napoleon’s ‘solemn decree’ thus emphasising that as a leader he is making decisions for all the animals. The writer choses the adjective ‘solemn’ to show the importance of the new law and the consequences to the other animals are highlighted by ‘the drinking of alcohol was to be punished by death’. • This law in the first paragraph is immediately contrasted in the second paragraph, by the descriptions of Napoleon’s recovery. As he recovers from a hangover, the reader learns that he begins to make plans, in secrecy, to brew his own alcohol. • It is Whymper , a human who is sent by Napoleon to purchase some “booklets on brewing and distilling”; Napoleon is clearly trying to keep his intentions of drinking, a secret from the other animals. This clearly demonstrates that there is one rule for the pigs and another for the rest of the animals. • False information is deliberately put about the farm in order to convince the animals ahead of the seeding of barley: ‘pasture was exhausted’. Phrases like ‘gave orders’, ‘it was learned’ ‘given out’ suggests animals are not part of the decision making. The drinking by the pigs is a secret and the knowledge of this secret could mean danger for any animal who spoke out, hence Benjamin, who understands the commandments are being changed: ‘would say nothing’. Finally the word ‘excess’ is crafted in the end of this extract in italics.

13. Themes in Animal Farm Theme Power/ control
How are these themes represented in the Animal Farm? Skim through novel and make note of chapters.
Power/
control
Chapter 5 dogs chase snowball p 39
Class
Chapter 1 humans and animals. Chapter 10 when napoleon is trading with the humans.
Education and Learning
Snowball’s committees chapter 3
Ignorance
Boxer gets sold for glue chapter 9 p88. Animal trusting the rule of the pigs without questioning or inquiry. Not being able to read. Not trusting their own memory of events and believing pigs as they rewrite history; especially about snowballs actions in rebellion and the changing of the rules/ideals.
Propaganda
Squealer and any of the speeches. Chapter 6 sleeping in the bed for brain power. Chapter 7
Dishonesty, lies deceit
Squealer: the confessions and purges chapter 8. plans for the windmill, windmill blows down.
Corruption and power
Napoleon and squealer. Changes to commandments
Dreams, hopes and Ideals
Old Major’s speech ch1. of a better future where the animals rule themselves and no one goes hungry. Snowball’s promise of the windmill and the 3 day week, hot water light and an easier life. Clovers monologue of what the farm should be ch7.

14. Themes in Animal Farm Theme
How are these themes represented in the Animal Farm?
Power/control
Class
Education and Learning
education
ignorance
Propaganda
Dishonesty, lies deceit
Corruption and power
Dreams, hopes and Ideals

15. The theme of dishonesty in another part of the novel Question C highest Marx
Candidates may draw on any relevant part of the novel outside the extract provided that the focus is on the significance of dishonesty and that statements made are supported with a quotations or references from the text (A01) and reference is made to the writer’s craft: Orwell’s presentation of this theme (A02). Responses may include: Dishonesty is an important theme from the outset, Orwell’s novel seems to be a story about triumph over cruel and dishonest humans and the unity of animals so that life is fair and harmonious; however, nothing could be further from the truth… Orwell has deliberately written this story to have a particular effect on the reader. Characters and events mirror the dishonesty during and after the Russian Revolution and how the people were coerced into Stalin’s 5 year industrial plan. For example, the windmill’s walls collapse because the walls are not thick enough to withstand the violent gale. However, Napoleon covers up this fact with a deceit that will allow him to remain the ruler and deceit his rival Snowball. He uses snowball as a scape-goat and blames the collapse of the windmill on him. (evidence).

16. Theme in one other part of the novel: you choose
The reader is aware that the pigs have become dishonest, even if the rest of the animals haven’t.
The repetition of phrases about the weather being harsh and that ‘they worked
like slaves’ leaves the reader in no doubt that the pigs are dishonest and that they are exploiting the other animals for their own gain.
The character of Napoleon, who is representative of a dishonest leader, uses
Snowball as a scapegoat, passing the blame from himself onto someone else and concealing the truth from the other animals.
Orwell has crafted the dishonest character of Napoleon as a clear example of power at its worst, his animals are starving; despite what the animals think, they are not free.