Animal Farm Chapter One: Learning Resources

Condensed version of Chapter 1 (text & audio) with activities to establish the key characters & themes. Aimed GCSE English Literature students or others new to the novel and its historical context.
Aim
To familiarise students with the central story before tackling the allegorical connections with the Russian Revolution. Characters be introduced sequentially: Mr Jones, Old Major and other key (non-porcine!) are animals introduced in C1. Those scheming pigs (Snowball, Squealer & Napoleon) do not appear until C2.

Once the students have grasped the essentials of the story they can engage more with the original text and its historical sources.
Key Features
While staying close to the spirit of the original, I have:
a) reduced length of the text by about 50%.
b) shortened paragraphs and sentences
c) replaced used direct speech where this is feasible.
d) reduced the number of words/phrases/references likely be unfamiliar to young readers.
e) reduced the use of passive voice and authorial intervention in the narration.
f) kept the focus on the story rather than the Russian Revolution parallels. These can be introduced once the central narrative is established.
g) encouraged readers continue onto to the original text

My background
I teach and write graded reading materials for language learners and reluctant readers. My publications include original stories like Love by Design (Macmillan Education) and adaptations of classics like The Picture of Dorian Gray (Penguin Simply Stories) and Washington Square, Vanity Fair and Gulliver’s Travels for OUP.