education Flashcards
themes (23 cards)
how does orwell use the theme of eduction to set the atmosphjere
- pigs use their literacy to control other animals
- atomshpere of inequality as those without eucation are easily manipulated
how does orewell use the theme of education as a plot driver
- key events such as
-> writing commandments
-> boxer’s betrayal depends on the inablility of the animals to read or think critically
-> limitied critical thinking skills so more gullible
what does the theme of education highlight
- the dangers of ignorance and the importance of education in preventing oppressive regimes
how is education used as a narrative device
- creates irony as animals blindly accept changes to commandments
- which results in their suffereing
quote to show snowball was aspiring to educate the other animals more than napoleon
“it was snowball who was best at writing”
“it was nsowball who was best at writing”
- unlike napoleon snowball aspires to educate all the animals
- his intelligence neables him to take charge of organising the farm
“they (the pigs) had taught themselves to read and write from an old spelling boook”
- pigs used their early access to education to establisn their authroity over the less educated animals
quote to show the pigs learnt their access to education early on
“they had taught themselves to read and write from an old spelling book”
“Snowball had studied an old book of Julius Caesar’s war campaigns”
- verb “studied” connotes crtitcal thinking and intelligence whereby snowball aims to be pragmatic and cunning and not just idealist - wanting to also understand tactics that linked to his potential for power
- “campiangs” - noun he is trying to improve his leadership adn innovate the farm
- the fact it was a book about julius ceasure foreshadows brutal tactics used by all pigs and perhaps snowball’s ruthless mindset
- snowballs way of thinking contrasts napoleons as he focuses on strategy not outright fear and force
quote to show snowball reading julius ceasure
“Snowball had studied an old book of Julius Caesar’s war campaigns”
“napoleon took them away from their mothers”
- napoleon educated the puppies in secret
- illustrating how education can be used as a tool for control
- shows napoleon wanted to take over from the start - he is smart and does have his own tactics (contrasts julius ceaser point a bit)
quote to show napoleon taking dogs at early stage
“napoleon took them away from their mothers”
“the reading and writin glcasses were a great success”
- snowball initially promotes education for all
- eventually the pigs restrict learning to maintain their control
quote to show hwo snoballl initially promotes education for all but the pigs eventually restrict learning to maintain their control
“the reading and writing classes were a great success”
“all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others”
- pigs use their education to rwite history and manipulate the truth
- the pigs distort language to provide an idea of logic in what they are doing which they can get away with due to how uneducated the animals are
- the animals are unable to critically analyse the changing of the commandments or notice what is going so are unable to challenge the hypocrisy of the leadership->allowing oppressive regimes to flourish
-This demonstrates how education can be a tool of both liberation and oppression, depending on who controls is as all animals are equal was a foundatio of the revolution
famous final alteration to the commandments
“all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than oterh”
elements step by step of education in animal farm
- education as power - 7 commandmetns
- snowball’s part in education - trying to educate the animals with committes and how he read julius ceasre
- boxer’s blind loyalty - his illiteracy and lack of education means he is vulnerable to exploitations - he cannot read the sign on the truck
how does napoleon use education
- less smart than snowball and forces him to rely on agression to take control
-> dismisses snwoball to educate
-> takes puppies and “makes himelf resoponsinle for their education”
how is benjamin presented as educatied and how does he use this
- he can read
- reads slaughter on truck, reads commandments to clover
- but he doesn’t do anything because he is cynacial and is the only one smart enough to see what the pigs are doing however doesn’t do anything
why does benjamin do nothing to question the leaders - how does this relate to education
While education can be empowering, it doesn’t guarantee that an individual will use their knowledge to challenge authority or fight for change. Benjamin represents how some educated people may choose to remain passive in the face of injustice, either because they feel it’s too dangerous to challenge authority or because they believe that change is impossible
how is boxer used to show education (or lack of)
- “boxer could not get past the letter D”
- struggles to learn and his inability to read keeps him powerless
- boxer is “content with” not being able to get past the letter D - adjective “content” not only shows his lack of desire to learn any more (as he may think it is unimportant (or not as important as hard work)) but also shows why the animals can’t work out anything for themselves as they just accpe everything they are told and submit to the pigs’ authority - they have no intellect to object - they undrmine education which leads to their downfall
-> here orwell is trying to make the point that education is important to not lead to tyrnnay
education opening
- it seems Through the pigs’ manipulation of knowledge, Orwell warns about the dangers of a controlled, unequal education system that benefits only the powerful.
- however he also shows how a lack of education and critical thinking can leave people vulnerable to exploitation.
- therefore Orwell stresses that education, if used responsibly, is essential for the preservation of equality and the prevention of tyranny
