LESSON PLAN: Novel – Animal Farm

Subject: English Literature (Novel) / Date: / Topic: Leadership in Animal Farm, George Orwell / Grade: 10/11 (HL/FAL) / Time: 40 min
Objective(s): Learners explore and develop a better understanding of different leadership styles in the novel.
Teacher / Resources / Learners
Introduction
Ask the class what they know about leadership. Ask if any learners occupy leadership positions. What are they? Is it possible to be a leader without actually occupying a leadership position? Discuss this. Ask for examples of leaders – in politics, in sport, in world affairs. What characteristics do these leaders exhibit?
In Additional Language classes, be prepared to provide support with vocabulary. / Black or white board – chalk, markers / Respond as whole class to question – responses should be rich and flow freely – leadership is a popular topic, easy to talk about. It is likely that learners may even produce names of different kinds of leadership (such as authoritarian, democratic, laissez-faire …)
Body
1Create six groups of learners. Allocate each group a character(s): Old Major, Napoleon, Snowball, Squealer, Boxer and Clover, Benjamin.
2Give each group a worksheet with their character’s name and two questions:
aWhat kind of leadership does the animal practise? Describe it.
bGive examples from the text to substantiate your choice.
3Allow 20 minutes. Remain active – manage the groups. Provide help and motivation.
4After 20 minutes ask for feedback from each group – open for discussion. / Worksheet with character
as heading and questions
with space for answers / Each group has a spokesperson presenting findings
Possible answers:
Major: symbolic leader, intellectual; provides guidelines for revolution
Napoleon: authoritarian, totalitarian; trains dogs as brutal force
Snowball: intelligent leader, thinker, planner, moral; designs plan for windmill
Squealer: spin doctor; leads by convincing masses of Napoleon’s good intentions
Boxer and Clover: heroic, hardworking but uneducated and simple-minded; work tirelessly at windmill
Benjamin: critical, cynic, loner; is never taken in by any propaganda
Conclusion
Essay assignment:
Talk through the assignment. Here are suggested topics:
1Orwell presents different kinds of leadership in Animal Farm. Discuss three of these and show how they are presented.
2Write an essay contrasting Napoleon and Snowball’s leadership styles. Refer to incidents from the novel to substantiate the points you make.
3Considering the kinds of leadership Orwell presents in Animal Farm, how would you describe your own leadership style? Refer to characters in the novel to provide examples. / Printed copies of the essay assignment / Learners choose essay assignment and write the essay for homework.

© Oxford University Press Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd 2013. From Oxford Practical Teaching English Literature: How to teach Grades 8–12. You may modify, print and photocopy this document solely for use in your classes.