Step 1: Identify Old Major’s points about the relationship between Man and the Animals. What is Orwell’s point?
Step 2: Describe Old Major’s attitude and tone. Who or what is he criticising and why? Referring to at least three quotes, explain their purpose and their link to his ideas about the Revolution.
- eg. stirring, encouraging, passionate; forthright; stern
Step 3: Learn four new expressions (words and phrases). Write these phrases in your own sentence.
Old Major :
- Old Major urges the animals to carry on the struggle until “it is victorious” (6)
- Old Major encourages the animals: “your resolution must never falter” (resolute temper or character, boldness or firmness of purpose; (hesitate or waver in action ; to speak hesitatingly or brokenly; to become unsteady in movement)
- “no argument must lead you astray” (out of the right way)
- Napoleon undermines Old Major’s philosophy. Old Major adamantly urges the animals: “Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest”. (7)
- “There were only four dissentients” (those who dissent; at variance especially with established government principles)
- He commands them to remember “your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways”
- Old Major reminds them: “when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices”
- “No animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind” (to exercise power cruelly or oppressively; to reign as a tyrant)
Step 4: What narrative elements are evident? eg. Analogy of the Animals to set up an analysis of economic power; Old Major’s speech and rhetorical and persuasive devices. Use quotes and give explanations.
Other Exercises
Exercise 8: Animal Farm, Napoleon’s comments, p. 52
Exercise 9: Animal Farm: the hen’s rebellion, p. 56
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