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?