Animal Farm: Key Theme: Education (AQA GCSE English Literature): Revision Note

Animal Farm mind map    

The theme of education in key chapters of Animal Farm:

What are the elements of education in Animal Farm?

Education is important in the novel as it is instrumental to the animals’ — and especially the pigs’ — success on the farm.

• Education as power: Education is the primary tool the pigs use to gain power over the other animals. Their education and ability to read and write enables them to establish the Seven Commandments and, later, amend them for their own advantage. They manipulate those whom they consider uneducated into believing that “some animals are more equal than others”. 

• Varying levels of education: All of the animals have various levels of education and literacy, which enable or restrict the amount of information they can understand. For instance, the dogs can read but do not wish to do so, Muriel is literate and reads “scraps of newspaper” to the others, and Benjamin is fully literate but believes there is “nothing worth reading”. While some of the animals learn part of the alphabet, many do not get beyond the letter ‘A’.

• Boxer’s blind loyalty: Boxer’s illiteracy and his lack of education means that he is vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation. His inability to read the sign on the truck that takes him to the slaughter house means he does not realise Napoleon’s deception. 

The impact of education on characters

The theme of education is prevalent throughout the novella and has an impact on many characters. 

Why does Orwell use the theme of education in his novella?

1.  Setting and atmosphere 

• Establishes education as a powerful tool as the pigs use their literacy to control the other animals

• Creates an atmosphere of inequality as those without education are easily manipulated by others

2. Plot driver 

• Influences key events in the novella as the rewriting of the Commandments and Boxer’s betrayal depend on the animals’ inability to read or think critically

3. Audience appeal 

• Highlights the dangers of ignorance and the importance of education in preventing oppressive regimes

4. Narrative device  

• Creates irony as the animals blindly accept changes to the Commandments, which results in their suffering

Exam-style questions on the theme of education

Try planning a response to the following essay questions as part of your revision of the theme of education:

• How does Orwell use the consequences of a limited education to highlight the dangers of ignorance and manipulation? (You could start with how the pigs exploit the other animals’ lack of literacy to alter the Commandments.)

• How does Orwell use the theme of education to highlight the inequality between the animals on the farm? (You could start with Snowball’s initial attempts to educate all animals and contrast this with Napoleon’s decision to keep them uneducated to maintain control.)