Animal Farm - Glencoe

Chapter 1-4

Character	Characteristics/ Actions/ Purpose
Old Major	Gets the revolution started, inspires hope for real change
Mr Jones	Wants to get his farm back by all means after being kicked out by the animals.
Napoleon	Leader of the revolution, together with Snowball. Used violence to control the farm and started to act like humans
Snowball	Leader of the revolution, together with Napoleon. Believes that animals should be treated equally
Squealer	Sort of the 'messenger' for Napoleon, convinces the animals the life is better than before
Boxer	Hardworking and too obedient
Clover	Questions Napoleon's way of ruling the farm
Mollie	Lazy and prefers humans to animals
Benjamin	Thinks that life is the same with or without the revolution

Personal Response:

1. What is your reaction to the animals’ revolution?

I feel that the animals are right to have a revolution and I am happy for them when the revolution is successful as I feel that animals also have the right to be treated well.

2. Do you sympathize with the animal’s complaints and goals? Why or why not?

Yes, I do. I think that the animals are unfairly treated and should be treated better. I also think that a revolution is a good way to free themselves.

Analysing Literature:

1. Describe how the Rebellion takes place? How does the animals’ behavior during the Rebellion suggest both human and animal characteristics?

The animals attacked the humans and chased them out of the farm. The animals were upset and furious that they were not fed and chased the humans out of the farm.

2. How do the pigs gain the rights to the cow's milk? Why do the other animals allow this to occur? What does this event suggest about the power hierarchy on the farm?

The whole management and organisation of the farm depends on the pigs and the pigs need it for their brains. The other animals did not want Jones to be back and Squealer said that if the pigs die, there would be no animal to lead the farm. This even suggests that the pigs were the head of the farm.

3. How does the original version of Animalism become the slogan "Four legs good, two legs bad"? In your opinion, do the animals want rules with simple language? What kind of language do the pigs use?

Animalism meant that anything with four legs is bad while anything with two legs is good. Yes, they do. The pigs used very complex sentences that the animals did not understand.

4.What technique does Orwell use to cast doubt on the likelihood of a successful revolution?

He uses the idea of many characters who doubt the success of the revolution.

5. Characterize Snowball as a leader. Do you think his reaction to the stable-boy’s death is the appropriate reaction to have during a revolution? 

Yes, I do. During a revolution, many will die. Thus, everyone must be willing to sacrifice their lives.

Chapter 5-7

The Words	What they really mean
On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from Napoleon’s papers	Snowball stole Napoleon's ideas.
This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations cut by half	The work is compulsory.
Clover warned him sometimes to be careful not to overstrain himself, but Boxer would never listen to her.	Boxer is stubborn.
"It isn't ture!" repeated Mollie, but she could not look Clover in the face.	Mollie is lying.
There would be no need for any of the animals to come in contact with the human being, which would be clearly be most undesirable.	Napoleon would be doing all the trading.
The pigs would get up an hour later	The pigs find themselves superior

1.  What was your reaction to Snowball’s expulsion from Animal Farm?

I feel that Snowball should not be expelled from Animal Farm. Instead, Napoleon should be expelled. He was much lazier than Snowball and only uses force to drive Snowball away. I feel that Snowball should foresee this problem and make preparations for it.

Analyzing Literature

1. What happens to Snowball during the meeting about the windmill? What events in Soviet history does this scene suggest?

Snowball was being attacked by Napoleon's dogs. This scene suggests Stalin expelling Trotsky.

2. Identify three ways that Napoleon tries to solidify his leadership position on the farm. How

does the process of decision-making on the farm change under Napoleon’s leadership?

1) He expelled Snowball.

2) He used his dogs to force the animals to listen to him.

3) He killed every animal who oppose his rule.

All decision were made by Napoleon.

3. Why do the executions take place? What message do these events send to the animals

about their role in a future society?

Napoleon wanted to kill animal who leagued themselves with Snowball. It tells the animals that they should follow Napoleon's orders without disobey or else they would be killed.

4. How does Orwell compare Animal Farm under Napoleon’s leadership, to its exploited state

under Farmer Jones’s rule? What attitude about totalitarian government do you think Orwell conveys?

Orwell tells the readers that the animals suffered even more under Napoleon's leadership than under Farmer Jones's rule. Orwell tells us that totalitarian governments will only make life even more miserable.

5. Do you think it’s fair that those who are more educated or more skilled—like the pigs in

Animal Farm—have more influence in decision making? Consider how decisions are

made in your community, state, or in the nation.

No, I do not. Decisions in my nation is fair. Everyone can vote for what we want.

Chapter 8-10

Life for the pigs:

1. Sleep on beds

2. Do not work

3. Enjoy life

4. Given privileges

5. More rations

Life for Other Animals:

1. Mistreated

2. Less rations

3. Worked long hours

4. No privileges

5. No say

6. Sleep on hay

Personal Response 

1. What is your reaction to the novel’s ending? For example, do you find it uplifting,

depressing, cynical? Explain.

I feel that the ending of the novel to be depressing. The animals are even worse of when they begin and are being forced to work by the pigs, who are having a good life.

Analyzing Literature

1. What dealings does Napoleon have with Frederick and Pilkington? How does the battle over

the windmill affect the animals? What events from Soviet history is Orwell highlighting?

Napoleon traded with Frederick and Pilkington. The animals are now under Napoleon. Orwell is highlighting the event when Stalin took over the Republic.

2. What happens to Boxer and how do the other animals learn of his fate? How do they come to a final conclusion about these events?

Boxer was slaughtered but the animals learn that he received every treatment possible and died peacefully. They were always convinced by Squealer that everything was well.

3. What changes are made to the Fifth and Sixth Commandments? How is the entire list of

Commandments ultimately refashioned? What point is Orwell making about the role of

communication in Soviet society?

They were changed from 'No animal shall kill another animal' to 'No animal shall kill another animal without cause' and 'No animal shall drink alcohol' to 'No animal shall drink alcohol to excess'. The entire list of Commandments was finally refashioned to 'All animals are equally, but some are more equal than others'. The soviet leaders made the rules to suit what they do.

4.In Chapter 10 the pigs begin to walk on two legs. In your opinion is this evolution a sign

of progress? Explain.

I think that this evolution is a sign of progress. It shows that the pigs (animals) are beginning to learn human ways.

5.Some critics believe that, at the end of the book, Orwell suggests that the pigs and

human political leaders are interchangeable. Do you think most government rulers are

interchangeable? How might power change those who have it? Explain.

No, I do not think so. We should only change government rulers who are not doing their job properly and correctly. If not, the power would be in the wrong hands and the society might be in danger.

Personal Response

Animal Farm contains many extremely effective scenes. Some are humorous or witty, others are

bitterly ironic or pessimistic. Which scene did you find most memorable and effective? Why?

I find the scene when Boxer was taken to away to be slaughtered is the most memorable and effective. This scene summarises what will happen to animals under Napoleon when they are old and useless. Boxer worked the hardest for the farm and when he grew old and useless, the cold-hearted Napoleon sent him to the knackers in turn for money. This shows how ruthless and uncaring Napoleon is.