Richard III

1. Richard III Lesson 1

2. Political intrigue The language of politics: • Betrayal • Duplicity • Treachery • Treason • Back-stabbing • Fear • Arrogance • Ignorance • Paranoia • Oblivion

3. Band 5: • Clear focus on the question and use of relevant quotations from both extracts. Clear understanding of how characters use language in both extracts. • Creates an argument with well-chosen reference to the text to justify comments.

4. Band 6: • Coherent analysis of the text in relation to the question. • Appreciation of the effects of features of language in both extracts. • Creates a well-developed argument with comments and precisely selected references to the text integrated appropriately.

5. Both bands require: • integrated quotations • ongoing links to both extracts • sentences that make a point, embed a quotation and explore implications relevant to the question in detail • creation of an argument – a chain of linked points that respond to the question with a point of view that might be maintained or reconsidered if appropriate

6. These 2 extracts show how power has corrupted the character of Napoleon in Orwell's 'Animal Farm'. Extract 1: • Napoleon, with the dogs following him, now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. He announced that from now on the Sunday morning Meetings would come to an end. They were unnecessary, he said, and wasted time. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself. These would meet in private and afterwards communicate their decisions to others. The animals would still assemble on Sunday mornings to salute the flag, sing 'Beasts of England', and receive their orders for the week; but there would be no more debates.

7. Extract 2: After that it did not seem strange when next day the pigs who were supervising the work of the farm all carried whips in their trotters. It did not seem strange to learn that the pigs had bought themselves a wireless set, were arranging to install a telephone, and taken out subscriptions to John Bull, Tit-Bits, and the Daily Mirror. It did not seem strange when Napoleon was seen strolling in the farmhouse garden with a pipe in his mouth – no, not even when the pigs took Mr Jones's clothes out of the wardrobes and put them on, Napoleon himself appearing in a black coat, rat-catcher breeches, and leather leggings, while his favourite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs Jones had been used to wear on Sundays.

8. In these extracts, how does Napoleon’s behaviour show us that he is abusing his role as leader? Napoleon abuses his power throughout the novel and often disguises his true intentions or works in secret while everyone else is busy. His behaviour in public is often formal and authoritative, although Orwell allows his readers to see the crimes he is committing by including subtle details. In the first extract, Napoleon has ‘the dogs following him’ as he mounts the raised stage. This is typical of him in that he appears ready to overpower challenge even though the likelihood of it is very slim. He is threatening his audience with the dogs and using this power to secure his position above them. In the second extract, Napoleon is again using props to set himself aside from the animals: he has demonstrated to the pigs how to hold a whip, he is wearing the very threatening clothing of men, which ironically is made of animal skin, and was formerly used to exterminate rats. Napoleon is acting in a way that oppresses the other animals without having to say that much. It is ironic that in the first extract, the animals are still commanded to sing the song ‘Beasts of England’ which contains the line ‘Cruel whips no more shall crack’, whilst in the second extract Napoleon and his pigs all carry whips. Opening summary establishes agreement with the point made in the question – that Napoleon abuses his role. Coherent analysis of abuse of power in relation to question. Uses words with meanings that are linked to those in the title giving added coherence and showing understanding of implications. Argument developed with wide range of references

9. Continued The changes to life on Animal Farm that are announced in the first extract show us that Napoleon is removing all power from the other animals. Their right to discuss policy and contribute to their society through discussion and ‘debates’ is to be removed. Napoleon has decided that participation in the running of things is unnecessary and ‘wasted time’. This shows us that Napoleon is abusing the strength he has over the animals, due to his dogs, to take away any opportunity that they might have to challenge him. In the second extract, Napoleon is using his position to separate himself from the animals by acting as humans did prior to the revolution. He and his fellow leaders have bought into the human world by purchasing a ‘wireless set’ and reading the ‘Daily Mirror’. This behaviour is against the original rules of the farm, which state that ‘whatever goes on two legs is an enemy’, immediately alerting the reader to the fact that the pigs are no better than the original men who abused the animals. It makes the reader question if everyone who was allowed to have power would abuse it. Napoleon's behaviour shows how abuse of power and manipulation of others can take the form of threatening people with violence, wearing clothes that intimidate and making rules that take away any freedom to challenge an oppressive regime. Appreciation of the effects of language through well-chosen, relevant comments and quotations. Argument is developed with move between extracts. Argument developed into coherent analysis of question and the characterisation of Napoleon.

10. The reading skills that are assessed in the Shakespeare Paper are: • your ability to understand a question and select relevant material to suit your answer to it • your appreciation of how the language of the text informs your analysis of the question • your ability to construct an appropriate argument and develop your points in a coherent way • your understanding of character, theme, language or performance in relation to the extract

11. Homework: Use the 2 extracts from the opening of the play to respond to the question: How do these scenes show us the difference between Richard’s public and private face?

12. The Shakespeare Paper does not assess: • your understanding of the whole play or all of the extracts • your version of what happens • quantity of quotations • your opinion of the play