1IB ANIMAL FARM Study Questions & Reading Assignments

Reading Assignments:

Reading Assignment 1 - Chapters I and II

Reading Assignment 2 - Chapters III and IV

Reading Assignment 3 - Chapter V

Reading Assignment 4 - Chapters VI and VII

Reading Assignment 5 - Chapters VIII and IX

Reading Assignment 6 - Chapter X

Before reading the book

MAL BEFORE READING THE NOVEL

Check the terms satire, allegory, irony, and fable.

Since Orwell’s subtitle is “A Fairy Story,” we will discuss this in class.

Write about the qualities of a good leader.

Jot down interesting incidents from the novel as you read the book, but also answer the assigned questions in your notebooks.

Think about reasons why a government might be overthrown and relate it to current world events,  including the rebellions in South Africa, Poland, Panama, or other historical revolts. What made these people dissatisfied with their leaders and their living conditions?

CHAPTER I

Summarize always every chapter in your own words (2 or 3 paragraphs)

1. What is significant about how the animals arrange themselves as they gather to hear Major? What might this arrangement say about future meetings or events?

2. According to Major, what is the cause of all the animals’ problems?

3. What motto does Major give the animals?

4. What are the commandments Major gives the animals? Can you think of ways each of them could be considered a vice?

5. Summarize Major’s speech.

6. Examine the song “Beasts of England” as poetry. What imagery is present? What is the message? Why do the animals like it so much that they memorize it on the spot? To what emotions and needs does it appeal?

7. Analyze “Beasts of England.”

CHAPTER II

Sumarize this chapter in your own words.

1. After Major’s death what happens to the idea of rebelling against man?

2. Why don’t the pigs like the pet raven Moses’ stories about Sugarcandy Mountain?

3. What causes the animals to finally rebel against Mr. Jones and his four farmhands?

4. When the humans have been chased from the farm, what do the animals do?

5. What do the animals do about the farmhouse?

6. How does the behavior of the pigs foreshadow their eventual leadership positions?

CHAPTER III AND IV

From what you know so far about the pigs and the other animals on the farm, speculate on what the future will be like for the animals.

As you continue reading, compare your predictions to what actually happens in the novel.

1. What further examples of the difference between the pigs and the other animals occur in these two chapters?

2. What are Napoleon’s ideas about education?

3. How is Squealer able to convince the other animals to accept whatever Napoleon decides?

4. Describe the Battle of the Cowshed.

5. What was Snowball’s part in this battle?

6. Where is Napoleon during the battle?

7. What is the significance of the gun’s placement at the foot of the flagpole?

CHAPTER V

List of all the changes that occur in this chapter. From this list they will find vivid evidence

of the pigs’ increasing power.

1. Why does Mollie run away from the farm?

2. What changes have been made in the weekly meetings over the last year?

3. Explain the windmill controversy from Snowball’s point of view.

4. Explain the windmill controversy from Napoleon’s point of view.

5. What changes does Napoleon make after his dogs chase Snowball off the farm?

6. Why don’t the other animals protest Napoleon’s decisions?

7. Note how the animals now arrange themselves when they enter the barn to receive their orders as compared to the description in Chapter I.

8. What is the importance of the dogs accompanying Squealer when he comes to talk to the animals?

CHAPTERS VI AND VII

Imagine how Snowball might have run things if he had gotten rid of Napoleon. Would things have been any different? Are there indications that Snowball’s ideas for running the

farm would have proved more beneficial to the animals? Or would things have turned out the same?

1. How much work are the animals now doing?

2. Why does Napoleon decide to engage in trade with neighboring farms?

3. How do the animals react?

4. How is the windmill destroyed? Why does Napoleon blame Snowball?

5. Why does Napoleon insist the windmill must be rebuilt immediately?

6. Why does Napoleon order that the hens’ eggs be sold?

7. How does Napoleon react when the hens’ rebel against his orders?

8. Why does Napoleon revive the threat of the farm being sabotaged by Snowball?

9. Explain why the animals confessed to being traitors. Or is there any explanation?

10. Why does Napoleon order the animals to stop singing “Beasts of England?”

Point out how the animals react to the murders and how they gain some comfort by gathering together and singing “Beasts of England.”

What will comfort them now that the song has been banned?

CHAPTERS VIII AND IX

1. What purpose is served by the production figures Squealer reads to the animals?

2. How is Napoleon becoming more and more like a typical dictator?

3. Compare/contrast the poem “Comrade Napoleon” to “Beast of England.”

4. Describe the sale of the stack of lumber. How does Napoleon outwit himself?

5. What makes the battle against Frederick’s men different from the Battle of the Cowshed?

6. Why do the men blow up the windmill?

7. The animals celebrate a victory, but at what cost?

8. Describe the whisky incident. Why would Orwell make this scene somewhat humorous?

9. Why are the animals so easily fooled, even when they find Squealer with a ladder and white paint beside the barn at night?

10. What is happening to Boxer?

11. What are living conditions like for all of the animals except the pigs and dogs?

12. Why does Napoleon allow Moses to return and to tell his stories about Sugarcandy Mountain?

ACTIVITY: Write about what you look forward to, telling how those things will make your lives better or more enjoyable.

13. What happens to Boxer? How do the animals accept it?

14. Of what kind of person does Benjamin remind you? Give some examples. What is your opinion of such people? What makes people behave this way?

CHAPTER X

1. What changes have the years brought to the farm?

2. How does Orwell make fun of bureaucracy?

3. How do the animals no feel about their social order, their farm?

4. What drastic actions do the pigs use to shatter the animals’ complacency?

5. All seven commandments are erased. What is the new commandment and how has it been true from the beginning?

6. At the conference with neighboring farmers, what new changes does Napoleon point out?

7. What happens to the pigs’ appearance?