LESSON

FOURTEEN
All Animals Are
Equal
YOUR STARTER: ALLEGORICAL PIE
Fill out each slice of pie by answering
the question on your sheet in as much
detail as possible.
Use the prompts in the boxes outside
each slice to help you remember. You
will have FOUR minutes to fill out each
slice and then you must move on.

Now that you have filled out

each slice of historical pie, go
around the room and speak to
the others in the class. Fill in
any missing gaps.
 THE BIG QUESTIONS
How does ‘Animal Farm’ have a
cyclical narrative?
What is a microcosm?
 CONSIDER THIS: CYCLICAL
Farm’ uses a cyclicalSTRUCTURE
As we read, pay close attention to how ‘Animal
narrative.
A cyclical narrative is a story
where the beginning and end
either start and begin in the
same way or mirror each other
(mirroring is often where
themes or ideas are repeated at
both beginning and end rather
than a direct repeat of events).
 READ THE NOVELLA
Read the final chapter in ‘Animal Farm’.
1. What are the dangers of forgetting the ‘old
rebellion’? What could happen?
2. ‘The farm was more prosperous now’ – How
does this reflect what happened to Russia after
World War 2? What did Russia become?
3. ‘Their life… was as it had always been’ –
How does this mirror what happened at the
beginning of the novel?
4. ‘None of the old dreams had been
abandoned’ – What would it take for these
dreams to become a reality?
5. ‘It was a pig walking on his hind legs’ – What
has Squealer become? Why is this significant?
6. What do the other animals find the pigs doing
in the farmhouse?
7. Why do you think the name of the farm
changes again?
8. What is the significance of Napoleon and Mr.
Pilkington playing an ace of spades
simultaneously?
9. What is the significance of the last line?
 ORACY TASK: EQUALITY
1. The last commandment has
changed in favour of who?
2. What is George Orwell’s message
to his readers? What is he saying
through this adjusted
commandment?
3. What has ‘equality’ become?
 YOUR TASK: HOW IS ‘ANIMAL FARM’
CYCLICAL?
Arrange the following events in order:
Animals start to realise they are being lied to. Community
is starving while leaders are putting on weight. The hope
for sugar candy mountain returns.
Those unwillingly to help the community leave. Disputes
between new leaders start. One is forced out by the other.
New leaders try to haggle with old leaders – this fails. The
community suffers far more than the leaders for this.
Work becoming unfair and rules getting broken. Leaders
start to take advantage using violence to establish
authority.
Leaders start lying to animals to secure authority. Some
animals act out against leaders – they are punished.
Manor Farm. All animals treated badly - they hope for
sugar candy mountain. One animal encourages change.
Before the rebellion is hardly remembered. Hunger and
exhaustion is rife. Leader unfair. Manor Farm.
Unfair leaders attack and fail. Animals work together and
the most hard working are rewarded and celebrated.
Rebellion – Unfair leader gone. Animal Farm. The seven
commandments are established to secure equality across
the farm.
All animals worked hard but fairly. Education offered to
help animals to think for themselves.
 YOUR TASK: HOW IS ‘ANIMAL FARM’
CYCLICAL?
Manor Farm. All animals treated badly - they hope for
sugar candy mountain. One animal encourages change.
Work becoming unfair and rules getting broken. Leaders
start to take advantage using violence to establish
authority.
Rebellion – Unfair leader gone. Animal Farm. The seven Leaders start lying to animals to secure authority. Some
commandments are established to secure equality across animals act out against leaders – they are punished.
the farm.
New leaders try to haggle with old leaders – this fails. The
All animals worked hard but fairly. Education offered to community suffers far more than the leaders for this.
help animals to think for themselves.
Animals start to realise they are being lied to. Community
Unfair leaders attack and fail. Animals work together and is starving while leaders are putting on weight. The hope
the most hard working are rewarded and celebrated. for sugar candy mountain returns.

Those unwillingly to help the community leave. Disputes Before the rebellion is hardly remembered. Hunger and
between new leaders start. One is forced out by the other. exhaustion is rife. Leader unfair. Manor Farm.

1. Think of three words that you could use to describe the beginning of the novel.
2. Now explain how those three words could also be applied to the end of the novel.
3. What ideas are explored at the beginning of the novel?
4. What similar ideas are explored at the end? How are they explored?
5. What is George Orwell saying about power through this cyclical structure?
YOUR TASK: WHAT IS A MICROCOSM?

‘Animal Farm’ is an example of

a microcosm.
Complete the vocabulary check
on ‘microcosm’ and be prepared
to share your ideas.
 YOUR TASK: ORWELL’ PURPOSE
Why might Orwell have written the novella? Complete each
analytical verb with a different idea:
Orwell may have written ‘Animal Farm’:
- to criticise
- to teach
- to warn
- to reveal the importance of
- to celebrate

Let’s share our

ideas.
REVISITING THE BIG QUESTIONS
How does ‘Animal Farm’ have a
cyclical narrative?
What is a microcosm?
RESOURCES
Animals start to realise they are being lied to. Community
is starving while leaders are putting on weight. The hope
for sugar candy mountain returns.
Those unwillingly to help the community leave. Disputes
between new leaders start. One is forced out by the other.
New leaders try to haggle with old leaders – this fails. The
community suffers far more than the leaders for this.
Work becoming unfair and rules getting broken. Leaders
start to take advantage using violence to establish
authority.
Leaders start lying to animals to secure authority. Some
animals act out against leaders – they are punished.
Manor Farm. All animals treated badly - they hope for
sugar candy mountain. One animal encourages change.
Before the rebellion is hardly remembered. Hunger and
exhaustion is rife. Leader unfair. Manor Farm.
Unfair leaders attack and fail. Animals work together and
the most hard working are rewarded and celebrated.
Rebellion – Unfair leader gone. Animal Farm. The seven
commandments are established to secure equality across
the farm.
All animals worked hard but fairly. Education offered to
help animals to think for themselves.