Animal Farm

English 10A Ms. Portch

Literature: Animal Farm

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Name _______________________________________ Date _________ Period _______

Animal Farm Unit

What predictions can you make about the novel based on the cover?



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People often classify Animal Farm as a fairy tale or fable. What prediction can we make

about the novel based on this classification.

Fairytale Fable



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Background Information

“Animal Farm was the first book in which I tried, with full consciousness of

what I was doing, to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one while.”

~George Orwell

The Author: Early Life

• Born __________________________________

• Christened ______________________________, but in 1933 ________________________.

Political Activism

• He saw _________________________ first-hand in India, was appalled at the oppression he

witnessed. He came to consider himself a democratic socialist who hated

_______________________ of any kind.

• He chose to live among _____________________ for one year, and he described the days in

the autobiographical work Down and Out in Paris and London (1933).

• As he continued to write and work as a journalist, Orwell learned more about the cruelty and

oppression of _________________ Communist dictatorship in _____________________.

Increasingly disillusioned, he came to believe that the bright promise of

_________________________ had been betrayed.

• By that time he began writing _________________ (November 1943-February 1944), he had

become ____________________ with the methods of the _____________________ and

wanted to warn against it. The novel focuses not only with the events of the Russian

Revolution, but also against the danger of ________________________.

• Orwell suffered from tuberculosis for many years and died at the peak of his career in 1950.

He was one of the most powerful and influential political writers of this century.

The Novel - Inspiration

• George Orwell wrote that the idea for Animal Farm came to him one day when he saw a

large cart-horse being driven by a little boy who would whip the horse when it tried to turn.

“It struck me that if only such animals became aware of their strength we would have no

power of them, and that men exploit animals in much the same way as the rich exploit the

proletariat [the class of wage earners].”



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Name ______________________________________ Date ______________ Period _________

Chapter One

Ensconce (en-sconce) _____

I found Mrs. Spengeman in the library, ensconced in an armchair.

Definition:

Benevolent (be-nev-o-lent) _____

The gifts from several benevolent mourners were well received from the family.

Definition:

Mince _____

He was angry and didn’t mince words when he spoke with the principal.

Definition:

Tyranny (ty-ran-ny) _______

The people escaped from the tyranny of the cruel and unjust ruler.

Definition:

Dissentients (dis-sen-tients) ______

There are a few dissentients at every school when it comes to following the directions.

Definition:

Enmity (en-mi-ty) ______

There was a lot of enmity between the two schools at the football game.

Definition:



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Name ______________________________________________ Date __________Period ______

Animal Farm: Chapter 1 First Read

Directions: Answer the following comprehension questions. Write page numbers by each

answer.

1. Who owns Manor Farm?

2. What problem does he have?

3. Who is Old Major?

4. Why does Old Major assemble the animals?

5. List the ideals outlined by Old Major that should occur after the rebellion.

6. What broke up the meeting?

Stop! You only have to complete the First Read activity for homework.



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Second Read

Directions: List the characteristics of fable and fairy tale that appear in Chapter one.

Fairy Tale Fable

Response: After reading Chapter 1, do you believe the novel should be classified as a novel or

fairy tale? Explain your answer. Remember to pick a side and start with a topic sentence!

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Name ______________________________________ Date ______________ Period _________

Chapter Two

1. pre-eminent _____

Pavarotti is considered pre-eminent among all tenors!

definition:

2. expound _____

At length, our teacher expounded upon the importance of reading.

definition:

3. caper ____

On Halloween, teens like to perform capers.

definition:

4. apathy ____

Many students are enthusiastic about school; others show apathy.

definition:

5. unalterable ____

His attitude was unalterable, fixed by many years of experience.

definition:



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Name ______________________________________________ Date __________Period ______


Directions: As the class reads the chapter, answer the following comprehension questions.

Write page numbers by each answer.

1. Who are the three main pigs?

2. The pigs formulate the teachings of Old Major into a system of thought. What is it called?

3. The animals encounter a couple of problems as they begin to discuss the coming rebellion.

Name one of them.

4. What immediate event brings about the revolution?

5. What is done with the farmhouse?

6. What have the pigs been doing for the past three months?

7. Who came up with the Seven Commandments?

8. What two leaders emerge after the rebellion?

9. What do the animals plan to do with the milk?



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Name ______________________________________ Date ______________ Period _________

Chapter Three

1. acute _____ I had an acute headache that was sudden and excruciating, but brief. definition: 2. parasitical ______ Some people are so demanding that they become parasitical. definition: 3. obstinate ______ Obstinate students usually make a low grade. definition: 4. cryptic _______ I received a cryptic message on my voice mail. definition:



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Name ______________________________________________ Date __________Period ______




1. How well did the animals work together? Why do you think so?

2. Who among the workers is most admired? Why?

3. Describe the flag and what it represents.

4. What is the relationship between Napoleon and Snowball?

5. Who was sent to explain why the milk was being used by the pigs?

6. Name one of the arguments that he used to explain why the milk was going to the pigs.



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Name ______________________________________ Date ______________ Period _________

Second Read

Directions: Skim Chapters 1-3 and look for evidence that either Animal Farm will be a success

or a failure.

Signs of Success Signs of Failure



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Name ______________________________________ Date ______________ Period _________

Response: In Chapter One, Old Major states that the evils of life “spring from the tyranny of

human beings” (Orwell 7). His speech leads the animals to prepare for a rebellion, and they

eventually overthrow Mr. Jones. Do you believe this new society will be successful? Why or

why not?

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Name ______________________________________ Date ______________ Period _________

Animal Farm

Chapter 1-3 Quiz Review

• Background Information Review completed handout

• Vocabulary Words Ensconce

Benevolent

Mince

Tyranny

Dissentients

Enmity

pre-eminent

expound

caper

apathy

unalterable

acute

parasitical

obstinate

cryptic

• Key Characters Mr. Jones

Old Major

Snowball

Napoleon

Squealer

Moses

Boxer

• Basic Events Review Comprehension Questions

• Grammar/Mechanics Review rules from daily warmups

• Successful topic sentences Be able to identify or write a successful topic sentences.

Be able to critique a topic sentence.

English 10A Ms. Spengeman


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Name ______________________________________ Date ______________ Period _________

Chapter Four and Five Vocabulary

1. shrewd _______

He was both a shrewd observer and shrewd in his business affairs, which led him to retire at

an early age.

2. tractable _______

Alice gets out her calculator and begins solving with confidence what, for her, is a far more

tractable kind of problem.

3. irrepressible _______

The crowd’s enthusiasm was irrepressible during final minute of the fourth quarter when

the game was tied.

4. posthumously ________

The fallen soldier received a purple heart posthumously.

5. pretext _______

The thieves gained entry under the pretext of friendship.

6. manifestly _______

She is manifestly too important not to invite.

7. eloquence _______

The eloquence of the speaker motivated the crowd.

8. sordid ________

The sordid details of the crime were unbearable.



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Name ______________________________________________ Date __________Period ______




1. How did Napoleon and Snowball spread the news of the rebellion to the animals on

neighboring farms?

2. Did Pilkington and Frederick offer to help Jones at first?

3. How did they react to their own animals’ singing “Beasts of England”?

4. Where did Snowball learn his battle techniques?

5. Why did Snowball give the sound for retreat?

6. What does Snowball tell Boxer that shows him to be ruthless?

7. Where was Mollie during the battle?

8. What name was given to the battle in which Jones and his friends tried to retake Animal

Farm?

9. Name two human rituals (traditions) that the animals used to celebrate their victory.



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Name ______________________________________________ Date __________Period ______

Chapter 4: Second Read

Directions: During the battle, the animals of Animal Farm all take different roles. Read Chapter

4 again and focus on the actions and statements of the different animals. List your observations

in the chart below. After listing your observations, try to decide the role of the animal in the

battle.

Character Role in Chapter 4 including actions, statements, role

Snowball

Napoleon

Squealer

Muriel

Benjamin

Boxer

Mollie



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Name ______________________________________________ Date __________Period ______




1. Describe Mollie’s contribution to the farm?

2. What idea did Snowball have to improve conditions on the farm?

3. The animal divided into two factions (they took two sides). What slogans did they come up

with?

4. At the meeting about the windmill, Snowball begins to win over the animals. What does

Napoleon do about this? What happens to Snowball?

5. What rights does Napoleon take away from the animals? How did the animal respond?

6. What phrase always stopped any arguments from the animals?

7. What two phrases does Boxer use frequently?

8. How does Squealer explain Napoleon’s sudden decision to build the windmill to the rest of

the animals?



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Second Read

Directions: During Chapter 5, it appears the Napoleon becomes the leader of Animal Farm. Do

you believe he will be an effective leader? Read Chapter 5 again and looks for hints that

Napoleon will either be a good or bad leader.

Napoleon is a Good Leader Napoleon is a Bad Leader

Evidence & Reason Evidence & Reason



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Name ______________________________________ Date ______________ Period _________

Response: Based on Chapters 1-5 of the textbook, do you believe Napoleon will be a successful

leader. Why or why not?

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Name ______________________________________ Date ______________ Period _________

Vocabulary

1. laborious _______

We spent many laborious hours on the project.

2. arable _______

Among the pioneers were farmers looking for arable land.

3. repose _______

They worked hard and earned their repose.

4. malignity _______

The malignity of their attitude was disturbing.

Animal Farm: Chapter 6

First Read



1. How is the work on Sunday truly involuntary?

2. Why was the windmill so hard to build?

3. Without whom would the windmill have been impossible? Why?

4. Why must the animals engage in trade with humans?

5. What did Napoleon tell the hens about giving up their eggs?



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6. Why do Napoleon and the other pigs move in the farmhouse?

7. Which commandment is changed, and how?

8. How is Snowball used as a scapegoat?


1. What was one of the strongest motivations for completing the rebuilding of the windmill?

2. How does Napoleon use Mr. Whymper to counter act the negative stories being told about

Animal Farm?

3. Why did it finally become necessary for the hens to surrender all their eggs?

4. What did the hens do to rebel against this?

5. What else is revealed about Snowball?

6. What confessions do the pigs, hens, goose, and sheep make? How are they punished?

7. Which of the Seven Commandments does this violate?

8. What does Boxer think was the cause of the frightening slaughter of fellow animals? What is

his solution?



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Second Read

Directions: List five of the principles that Old Major states as the basis for the Revolution

(Orwell 7-8). Are these principles still in place?

Principles of the Revolution

as stated by Old Major

Principle is Still in Place Principle has been Removed



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Name ___________________________________________________ Date ____________

Writing Workshop: Incorporating Evidence

After you have a strong and clear topic sentence, find evidence to support it!

Evidence can be a direct quotation or a paraphrased statement.

Rules about Evidence:

1. Introduce evidence

2. State evidence

3. Cited evidence

4. Follow up evidence



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Name ___________________________________________________ Date ____________

Response: In America, the leaders are elected by the people. They gain power by earning the

vote of the people. They retain power by representing the majority. In Animal Farm, Napoleon

is not elected, but he takes power. How does he retain his power?

Start with a clear topic sentence and include a minimum of two parenthetical citations and one

direct quotation.

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Name ______________________________________________ Date __________Period ______

First Read

Directions: Answer the following questions as you read Chapter 8-10.


1. What does the commandant that Murial read at the beginning of the chapter state? Has it

always stated this?

2. What does Squealer do on Sundays? Why is this important?

3. What special treatment does Napoleon receive?

4. What occurs during the negotiations with the neighboring farms for the timber?

5. When Frederick and his men attack Animal Farm, what is their goal?

6. What is the outcome of the battle, and what is it called?

7. What are the animals different responses to the outcome of the battle?

8. What is Squealer doing at the conclusion of the chapter?

9. Which commandments were broken in this chapter? The list of commandments can be found

on page 17-18.



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1. What species of animal is increasing in number? Decreasing?

2. Why are only the young pigs being educated, and why are they discouraged from playing

with other young animals?

3. How was the president of the new Republic elected?

4. What happens to Boxer? Why is this so tragic?

5. How did the pigs use Boxer’s death to get the animals to work harder?


1. What was the windmill used for on the farm? Was this the intended use when Snowball first

proposed the windmill?

2. What secret accomplishment do the pigs reveal? How are the commandments changed, and

how does this relate to the pig’s accomplishment?

3. How do the pigs begin to resemble humans?

4. What is revealed at the conclusion of the novel during the meeting with Napoleon and the

neighbors?

Documents

Animal Farm