Animal Farmby

George Orwell

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George Orwell and the Politics of Animal Farm

English author George Orwell was born Eric Arthur Blair in 1903 in Motihari, India, during a time when India was part of the British Empire. Both his father and grandfather were officials in the British forces occupying India. When he was one year old, he went with his mother to England, where he completed much of his schooling. He witnessed constant taunting (since he was poor) and endless competition for scholarships and because of this developed hatred for any type of authority. He eventually returned to India and served as an officer with the Indian Imperial Police in Burma (for 5 years). Seeing the way the British authorities treated the Burmese people opened his eyes to the abuses of power (hangings, beatings, filthy prisons) and led him to despise Imperialism (expanding power by conquering those around you). Resigning from the policeforce, he moved to London to pursue his childhood ambition of becoming a writer.

Over the next five years, Orwell lived on the edge of poverty.

In 1936, Orwell moved to England’s industrial north to investigate the conditions of working-class life and the effects of unemployment. During that same year, Orwell enlisted in the Spanish Civil War, fighting on the Marxist side opposed to the fascists (when one person holds all power). It was at this time that he had first-hand experience with propaganda and deliberate distortion of facts. During the war, he was shot through the neck and was lucky to survive.

In 1945, Orwell published Animal Farm, which met with great critical and popular success. Money made from the book provided him with a steady income for the first time in his adult life.

After the death of his wife, Eileen, Orwell moved to an island off the Scottish coast. Always a sickly man, he developed serious tuberculosis and died in 1950. He saw the favorable response to his novels, but died well before the impact of the writing would be fully evident. He was 47 years old.

Animal Farm : An Allegory, A Satire, A Fable, and Story Full of Symbolism

Allegory

Symbolism

An allegory is a story with two levels of meaning. First, there’s the surface of the story – plot, characters, setting, etc. Then there’s the symbolic level, or the deeper meaning that everything on the surface represents.

Animal Farm is a political allegory. Though set in a barnyard, the novel also tells the story of the rise of the Communist party and socialism in Russia between 1917 and 1943. Although on the surface the story may seem to be about a bunch of talking farm animals, the novel also has a secondary meaning that the readers will piece together. The characters and the actions in the plot can be directly interpreted as a representation of political events in Russian history.

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Satire

After viewing the video clip from The Onion, describe why the clip is an example of satire.

Fable

Read the fables below and state the moral.

The Ant and the Grasshopper by Aesop

The ants were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain which they had collected in the summertime. A grasshopper, who was so hungry that he was starving, passed by and begged for a little food.

The ants asked him, “Why did you not store up food during the summer when there was plenty around?”

The grasshopper replied, “I didn’t have the time. The weather was so lovely that I spent all the days singing.”

The ants then said in anger, “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

Moral

The Tortoise and the Hare by Aesop

A hare one day laughed at the small feet and slow pace of a tortoise. The tortoise grinned.

“You may be swift as the wind, but I will beat you in a race.”

“Simply impossible,” laughed the hare and he agreed to race.

They agreed that the fox should choose the way and wait at the winning post. On the day of the race, the two started together. The tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow and steady pace straight to the end of the course. The hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the tortoise had reached the winning post and was comfortably dozing in the sunshine.

Moral

The Story Behind the Story:

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THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONIn Animal Farm, George Orwell uses the animal characters and their story to comment on real people and events – in this case, Stalinist Russia. This type of literary device is called an allegorical fable. To understand and appreciate the allegorical aspects of the story, it helps to know something about the causes and events of the Russian Revolution, one of the most important events in modern history.

Karl Marx was born back in 1818. He was a journalist and had to leave his country because of his unpopular political views. Eventually, he settled in London, England. While he was there he published a pamphlet called “The Communist Manifesto” which outlined his ideas about government and economics. He believed that with communism, all people are equal. “The government owns everything and the people own the government.” Marx died before the Russian Revolution took place.

In the early 1900s, Russia’s poor and working classes were fed up with Czar Nicholas II. Under his rule, people struggled for survival under conditions of widespread poverty, famine, and a lack of modern transportation. Centuries of oppression by the owning classes fueled people’s anger. They had no representation in government and the Czar remained out of touch with their problems. During this time, Karl Marx’s ideas became popular in Russia. By combining these ideas with economic hardship and the brutal rulings of the Czar, a widespread revolt took place. The people wanted a better life – what Karl Marx believed was possible for all people. In 1917, Czar Nicholas II was overthrown and later executed, along with his wife and kids. A provisional government took over for awhile, but then Vladimir Lenin took over, thanks to help from the Bolsheviks, aka the Reds.

Lenin tried to rebuild Russia’s economy, but agriculture was still a problem. The government wanted farmers to work together, sharing equipment and profits. But most farmers wanted to keep their own land and use their own methods.

Lenin died in 1924 and a power struggle began for control of the Communist Party. The first contender was Leon Trotsky, who followed the ideas of Karl Marx. He wanted to improve life in all of Russia and was a great speaker, which made people believe him quite easily. The second contender was Joseph Stalin who followed a ‘modified’ version of Marx’s ideas. He was not a very good speaker and was not educated. So in order to help persuade people he had to use the help of the KGB which was the secret police. Their job was to eliminate all opponents and they did just that as they chased Trotsky out of the country. He was later killed in Mexico and Stalin managed to become dictator of the Soviet Union. While in power, Stalin lived in a self-contained city known as the Kremlin.

The government of the Soviet Union was totalitarian, which meant that it attempted to control all individuals. Stalin instituted a series of Five Year Plans to help with economic growth. He made the collective farms give most of their products to the government to raise money for industrialization. Millions of peasants opposed thus idea and were severely punished. Eight million people were arrested, deported, sent to labor camps or killed.

Other European countries were under the rule of dictators, like Germany, Italy and Spain. The Allied Invasion took place so that Russia wouldn’t overtake Germany. The flag of the Soviet Union’s colors were red and yellow. It had a picture of a hammer and sickle in the corner.

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“L’Internationale” was the national anthem at the time and propaganda was spread throughout the region by using the newspaper, Pravda. The Russian Orthodox Church was also used by Stalin to preach his ideas of ‘modified communism’ and to convince religious followers that obeying Stalin was what God wanted. By giving into Stalin’s demands, they would be rewarded in heaven.

~ MARX ~ ~ STALIN ~

~ TROTSKY ~

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Animal Farm Comparison Chart

Complete the chart below, keeping in mind that Animal Farm is an allegory of Russian history during the rise of communism/socialism. Your chart should include evidence from the story, proving the connection.

Animal FarmCharacter or Event

Russian HistoryHistorical Figure or Event

Czar Nicholas II

Old Major- Respected animal on the farm- Set forth idea of animal revolt

- Died before Rebellion occurred

Karl Marx

Communism/Socialism

Leon Trotsky

Joseph Stalin

Propaganda

KGB

Russian Orthodox Church

Vain, Upper Class (Bourgeoisie)

Uneducated, Working Class (Proletariat)

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Skeptical, Elderly Citizens- Did not trust the Revolution

Germany/Hitler

Britain/US

Capitalist Businessmen

Peasant Farmers- Forced to give up land and farm according to the rules of

the StateRussia

The Soviet Union/USSR

The Kremlin

Heaven

The Russian Revolution

Allied Invasion- Forces invade to try to stop Communist takeover

Resistance to Collective Farming- Collective Farming = groups of farmers working together

to produce for the government- Farmers who disagreed sabotaged their own farms and

productionHammer and Sickle

- symbols representative of the USSR

“L’Internationale”- adopted as the “Official Hymn of the Soviet Union” in

1944

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The Five Year Plans- Series of Stalin’s plans for economic growth

Animal Farm Anticipation Guide

Answer each question thoroughly. Answering these questions thoughtfully will help you to formulate background knowledge about concepts and themes found in Animal Farm.

1. What would life be like if we were all equal?

2. How much involvement should the government have in our lives?

3. Is fear a good motivator? Can you make someone do something by instilling FEAR in them? Why or why not?

4. What freedoms do you value the most? What freedoms would you be willing to give up if it meant greater security, success, or wealth?

5. Do most people choose to do what is right, what is easy, or what they can gain the most from? Explain.

6. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” What do you think about this quote?

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Chapter 1 (I)After Reading: Answer the following questions after reading Chapter 1 (I).

____ 1. Where does the story take place?

A. at a zoo B. on a farm C. in a city

____ 2. How do the animals feel about Old Major?

A. The animals make fun of Old Major.B. The animals ignore Old Major.C. The animals respect Old Major.

____ 3. Notice the description of how and in what arrangement the animals are seated for Old Major’s speech. What does this arrangement suggest?

A. There is chaos breaking out. B. There is a level of inequality among the animals.C. Most animals do not get along. D. The ducks hold the power on the farm.

____ 4. Who does Old Major say is responsible for the animals’ condition?

A. pigs B. humans C. cows

____ 5. What does Old Major mean when he says “no animal escapes the cruel knife”?

A. The farmer will kill all of the animals. B. Knives are dangerous. C. Animals are slow.

6. Why did the animals wait for Mr. Jones to go to bed?

7. At whom or what did Mr. Jones shoot his gun? Why?

8. Old Major uses the phrase “produce of our labour” several times. What are some examples of produce of the animals’ labor?

9. What solution does Old Major suggest to solve the animals’ problem? When will this happen?

10. Look at the lyrics to “Beasts of England.”

A. What is the mood of the song?

B. What are some of the images in the song?

C. Why do you think the animals liked the song so much?

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D. Do we have any revolutionary songs in American culture?

Animal Farm’s Evolution of the Rules

Complete the chart with Old Major’s rules. Note changes to the rules as you read the rest of the novel.

Old Major’s Rules The Evolution

Always remember enmity towards Man and all of his ways.

Whatever goes upon 2 legs is an _________________________.

Whatever goes upon 4 legs, or has wings, is a_________________________.

We must never come to ______________________ Man.

Even when you have conquered him, do not ___________________________________.

No animal must ever (7):

No animal must ever _________________________ over his own kind.

No animal must ever _________________________ any other animal.

All animals are _________________________.

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Chapter 2 (II)

Before Reading: Answer the following questions before reading Chapter 2 (II).

1. Make a prediction about what you think will happen in Chapter 2.

2. If what Old Major suggests comes true, the farm will be run by animals. List the positive and negative aspects of a farm run solely by animals.

Positives Negatives

After Reading: Answer the questions after having read Chapter 2 (II).

____ 1. What effect did Old Major’s speech have on the more intelligent animals?

A. They began to write more songs.B. They looked at life in a very different way.C. They decided to stop working.

____ 2. Which animals began teaching the others?

A. pigs B. cows C. horses

____ 3. Why did the cows break into the storeshed?

A. They wanted more air. B. Mr. Jones asked them to. C. They were hungry.

____ 4. What didn’t Mr. Jones do?

A. Pay his bills. B. Feed the animals. C. Read the newspaper.

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____ 5. What did the animals do to Mr. Jones and his men?

A. Had a party for him? B. Locked them in the house. C. Kicked them off the farm.

____ 6. What do the animals destroy?

A. They straw that they ate. B. The farmhouse. C. Things that remind them of Jones’ power.

____ 7. Why does Snowball tell Mollie she cannot wear her ribbons>

A. Ribbons symbolize slavery.B. Ribbons are bad for a horse’s health.C. All the ribbons were taken by Jones and his wife.

____ 8. What did Squealer do that was so convincing to the other animals?

A. move his tail B. use pictures and diagrams C. talk very loudly

____ 9. Which animal leaves the farm with the humans?

A. Bluebell the dog B. Moses the raven C. Benjamin the donkey

____ 10. What ability do the pigs reveal that they have?

A. They can fly. B. They can read and write. C. They can play piano.

____ 11. What does Orwell mean when he says Squealer can “turn black into white”?

A. Squealer is a good speaker. B. Squealer is a good painter. C. Squealer is good at magic tricks.

____ 12. What did the animals decide to do with the farmhouse?

A. Turn it into a museum. B. Burn it down. C. Use it for sleeping in.

13. Why don’t the pigs like the stories about Sugarcandy Mountain that the raven, Moses, tells?

14. The words Orwell uses to describe the morning after the revolution are very descriptive. List some of the descriptive words and images he uses. What does Orwell want us to think about the farm?

15. Find examples from Chapter 2 (II) that show that some animals may be beginning to take control on the farm.

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Animal Farm’s Seven Commandments – Now and Then

The Seven Commandments The Evolution: Give chapter of the change. Note details regarding the change.

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Chapter 3 (III)Before Reading: Answer the following question before reading.

1. At the end of Chapter 2 (II), the animals freed themselves from the tyranny of Mr. Jones. Now they must take care of themselves. Do you think this will go smoothly? What decisions will they have to make? What difficulties might they face?

After Reading: Answer the following questions after having read Chapter 3 (III).

1. What was the problem with the farm tools?

2. Why did Boxer ask the cockerels to call him a half-hour earlier in the morning?

3. Snowball’s committees were not very successful with the exception of which one?

4. Why do you think the cat enjoyed the Re-Education committee?

5. Why did the animals enjoy their food more?

6. Who did the most speaking in the Sunday meetings? Who could never agree?

7. Who enjoyed the slogan “Four legs good, two legs bad” the most?

8. Why does Napoleon take the puppies away?

9. What do we learn has happened to the milk and apples?

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10. Squealer says about the pigs eating the milk and apples, “Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. . . . It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! List 2 types of propaganda found in this excerpt and explain each.

A.

B. Chapter 4 (IV)

Before Reading: Answer the following questions before moving on to Chapter 4 (IV).

1. There are already problems in the new leadership on the farm. List evidence proving that this is true.

2. Do you think that the problems in leadership will be solved as the story progresses? Why or why not?

After Reading: Answer the following questions after having read Chapter 4 (IV).

1. How did humans respond to the animals singing of “Beasts of England”?

2. Why would Frederick and Pilkington be threatened by Animal Farm?

3. What was Snowball’s strategy to win the battle?

4. How did Snowball know what to do in battle?

5. What do the animals do to celebrate their victory in battle?

6. How would you describe Snowball’s character following the battle?

7. Who do you think are the heroes of the battle? Why? Who was not a hero that you might have expected to be?

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8. Who said the following? What do these quotes say about the character of the speaker?

A. “I have no wish to take life, not even human life.”

B. “No sentimentality, comrade! War is war. The only good human being is a dead one.”Chapter 5 (V)

Before Reading: Answer the following question before reading Chapter 5 (V).

1. Last chapter, Napoleon took the puppies to another part of the farm. Predict what you think will become of these puppies.

After Reading: Answer the following questions after having read Chapter 5 (V).

____ 1. What happened to Mollie?

A. She was killed by Mr. Jones.B. She betrayed Animal Farm and went to live with humans.C. She began her own revolution in which all animals get sugar and ribbons.

____ 2. The animals would “assemble” in the barn every Sunday. This means ____.

A. they would argue in the barnB. they would all meet together in the barnC. they would build a barn every Sunday

____ 3. According to Snowball, what would be the benefit of a windmill?

A. Wind would make the farm cooler.B. Electricity would make life easier.C. It could be sued as a new place to sleep.

____ 4. What did Napoleon first say about the windmill?

A. It is a good idea.B. Food production is more important.C. Its construction will be difficult to accomplish.

____ 5. What issue do Napoleon and Snowball disagree on besides the windmill in this chapter?

A. defense of the farm B. housing C. egg laying

____ 6. Of what does Squealer accuse Snowball?

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A. being no better than a criminal B. being lazy C. speaking too much

____ 7. What stopped the other pigs’ protests?

A. the animals’ applause B. the dogs’ growling C. Napoleon’s shouting

____ 8. What did Napoleon cancel?

A. Sunday meetings B. the windmill plans C. singing “Beasts of England”9. Who did it seem the animals would support after Snowball’s speech at the Sunday windmill meeting? What were the animals promised?

11. We are beginning to see many examples of propaganda being used. Read each quote below and list the type(s) of propaganda contained in each. Explain your answers.

A. “Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of ‘Four legs good, two legs bad!’ which went on for nearly quarter of an hour …” (50).

B. “Suppose you had decided to follow Snowball, … who as we now know, was no better than a criminal?” (50).

C. “One false step, and our enemies would be upon us. Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?” (51).

D. “This, said Squealer, was something called tactics. He repeated a number of times, ‘Tactics, comrades, tactics!’ skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh. The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they accepted his explanation without further questions” (53).

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The Great Windmill DebatePart 1: Read the following paragraph and then answer the questions that follow.

“In January there came bitterly hard weather. The earth was like iron, and nothing couldbe done in the fields. Many meetings were held in the big barn, and the pigs occupiedthemselves with planning out the work of the coming season. It had come to be accepted thatthe pigs, who were manifestly cleverer than the other animals, should decide all questions of farmpolicy, though their decisions had to be ratified by a majority vote. This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between Snowball and Napoleon. These two disagreed at every point where disagreement was possible. If one of them suggested sowing a biggeracreage with barley, the other was certain to demand a bigger acreage of oats, and if note of them saidthat such and such a field was just right for cabbages, the other would declare that it was uselessfor anything except roots. Each had his own following, and there were some violent debates.”

1. Which group has taken over decision making on the farm?

2. Underline the sentence in the paragraph that is evidence of this.

3. Which two pigs are the strongest leaders?

4. Why were there debates?

5. What is the main point of disagreement?

Part 2: Complete the chart with the information for your assigned character based upon his stance during the windmill debate.

Snowball Napoleon

What are the main points of disagreement?

What is his opinion on the windmill?

What are his reasons?

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What is his opinion of farm defense?

Is his attitude positive or negative?

Other notes:

Chapter 6 (VI)

Before Reading: Complete the following tasks before reading Chapter 6 (VI).

1. Turn to pages 6-7 in your packet. Fill in as many characters and events from Animal Farm that you can.

2. Turn to page 10 in your packet. Note any changes from Old Major’s original rules that are happening on the farm.

After Reading: Answer the following questions after having read Chapter 6 (VI).

____ 1. How is farm life different for the animals in Chapter 6 (VI)?

A. The animals work harder and harder and many things aren’t finished.B. It is easier than before, with much food and free time.C. Nothing has changed.

____ 2. Why was the windmill difficult to build?

A. The animals don’t work very hard.B. Snowball is trying to slow them down.C. The stones are large and the weather is bad.

____ 3. What happens to the animals if they do not do the “voluntary” work?

A. They are not allowed to attend Sunday Meetings.B. Half of their food is taken away.C. They must apologize.

____ 4. Napoleon decided to trade with human beings. Which of the following does this decision contradict?

A. The Seven Commandments B. Old Major’s Rules C. Mr. Whymper’s advice

____ 5. What does Squealer say about the meaning of the word “bed”?

A. Anything to sleep on, like a pile of straw, is actually a bed.B. Animals do not need to worry about definitions because the word “bed” was invented by man.C. A bed is only a bed if you use blankets.

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____ 6. How does Squealer explain that it is not against the Seven Commandments for pigs to sleep in beds?

A. There is no rule that mentions beds.B. Pigs do not need to follow the rules.C. The rule is against sheets, not beds.

7. Who does Napoleon blame for the destruction of the windmill?

8. What actions does Napoleon take in order to get supplies for the windmill?

9. Who is Mr. Whymper and what does he do?

10. Why do humans hate Animal Farm? Why do they respect it?

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

12. Complete the following tasks now that you’ve finished Chapter 6 (VI).

A. Turn to pages 6-7 in your packet. Fill in as many characters and events from Animal Farm that you can.

B. Turn to page 10 in your packet. Note any changes from Old Major’s original rules that are happening on the farm.

C. Turn to page 13 in your packet. Note any changes to the Seven Commandments.

Chapter 7 (VII)Before Reading: Predict.

1. What do you think will become of the windmill?

2. Do you think that Napoleon will change or will he continue to act like a dictator on the farm? Why or why not?

After Reading: Answer the following questions after having read chapter 7 (VII).

____ 1. What has changed in the plans for the windmill?

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A. They decided not to rebuild the windmill.B. The animals will buy a windmill instead of building one.C. The animals will make the walls thicker than before.

____ 2. Why is life not as good on Animal Farm as before?

A. The animals are always cold and hungry.B. Boxer makes everyone work too hard.C. Benjamin is causing everyone to feel depressed.

____ 3. What do the animal’s find most inspirational?

A. Squealer’s speeches B. The dogs’ barking C. Boxer’s efforts

____ 4. Why did Napoleon order bins to be filled with sand and covered with grain and seed?

A. To poison the animals.B. To keep the food dry by keeping it off the cold and wet ground.C. To fool Mr. Whymper and the rest of the humans into thinking Animal Farm was doing well.

____ 5. “Beasts of England” is replaced by a short song that does NOT praise obedience and duty but ____.

A. encourages the animals to be afraid.B. encourages individual freedomC. suggests that the animals should be prepared to die defending Animal Farm

6. How does Napoleon plan to get more grain for Animal Farm?

7. Why did the hens do to protest the selling of their eggs?

8. Napoleon forced the hens to end their protest by doing what?

9. Of what did Squealer accuse Snowball?

10. When the dogs attack Boxer, he looks at Napoleon to see if he should kill the dog. Why does Boxer do this?

11. What happens after the four pigs and many other animals confess their crimes?

12. What is the reaction of the other animals to this?

13. Why are these killings worse than those that occurred when Jones was in charge?

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14. Why does Squealer say that “Beasts of England” is now abolished?

15. After Boxer questions Squealer’s events of what “really” happened at the Battle of Cowshed, Squealer “cast a very ugly look at Boxer with his little twinkling eyes” (73-74).

A. What literary device is this an example of?

B. Make a prediction about what you think might happen to Boxer.

Chapter 8 (VIII)Before Reading: Answer the following question before reading Chapter 8 (VIII).

1. Why did the executions in Chapter 7 (VII) take place? What message did this event send to the animals about their future roles on the farm?

After Reading: Answer the following questions after having read Chapter 8 (VIII).

1. Turn to page 13 in your packet. Make any changes to the Seven Commandments.

____ 2. What do the men destroy on Animal Farm?

A. the cowshed B. the barn C. the windmill

____ 3. What is the real reason Napoleon thinks he is dying?

A. Snowball poisoned him.B. He was drunk the night before and now has a hangover.C. He was wounded badly by Frederick’s gun.

4. What is wrong with the money Napoleon received from Frederick?

5. What has changed on the barn wall at the end of Chapter 8 (VIII)?

6. Complete the chart.

Animal Farm under Napoleon’s Leadership

Life for the Pigs Life for the Other Animals

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Chapter 9 (IX)

Before Reading: Answer the following question before reading the chapter.

1. Boxer was wounded at the Battle of the Windmill. What do you think will happen to Boxer?

After Reading: Answer the following questions after having read the chapter.

____ 1. First the orchard was promised to the animals. Later, only a small corner of the pasture was promised to them. For what purpose was this piece of land promised?

A. as a place for them to retire when they get oldB. as a place to have horse racesC. As a place to build a second windmill

____ 2. How are the piglets treated?

A. equal to the other animals B. more importantly than the other animals C. poorly

____ 3. Which animal is allowed to return to Animal Farm?

A. Moses B. Snowball C. Mollie

____ 4. Benjamin is upset because ____.

A. The pasture set aside for retirement age has been reduced.B. Napoleon has gotten drunk again.C. He knows Boxer is being taken away to be killed.

____ 5. To where do the pigs say Boxer was taken?

A. Pinchfield Farm B. Willingdon Animal Hospital C. the farmhouse

6. By the end of this chapter, what new privileges have the pigs taken?

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7. What does Napoleon say about Boxer’s maxims (“I will work harder” and “Comrade Napoleon is always right”) following news of his death?

Chapters 8 (VIII) – 9 (IX)

Test your knowledge or give your opinion on the questions below. Add any significant information. Take notes as we discuss the answers.

1. How much would you remember if you had to take a 7th grade history test over again today?

2. A significant amount of time has passed since Old Major got the animals thinking about the revolution. Is their forgetfulness more understandable now? What do you think?

3. In your opinion, did the animals win the Battle of the Windmill?

4. How does Frederick rip off Napoleon?

5. Why does Napoleon make such a big deal about the “victory” at the Battle of the Windmill?

6. Why do the pigs plant barley on the land that originally was to be for retired animals?

7. Why would Orwell have the pigs begin to drink?

8. Why do the pigs talk about a “readjustment” of rations, instead of a “reduction”?

9. When big corporations announce huge layoffs at the end of the year – right around Christmas – why do they always say they are “rightsizing” or “streamlining” their operations?

10. What is ironic about the Spontaneous Demonstrations?

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11. Moses returns. Why do the animals like hearing him?

12. How do the pigs treat Moses?

13. How does Benjamin react when Boxer is loaded into the van?

14. What is the lesson from Benjamin in this section of the book?

15. How did Boxer die?

16. Why does Squealer “dart his eyes suspiciously” when describing Boxer’s death to the animals?

17. How do the pigs pay their respects to Boxer at their banquet?

18. What will happen in Ch. 10?

Chapter 10 (X)

After Reading: Answer the following questions after having read Chapter 10 (X).

1. All Seven Commandments have been erased. What is the new commandment that has replaced them?

2. The new commandment has been true from the start. List ways that we have seen this to be true throughout the novel.

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3. Complete the following tasks.

A. Turn to pages 6-7 in your packet. Fill in as many characters and events from Animal Farm that you can.

B. Turn to page 10 in your packet. Note any changes from Old Major’s original rules that are happening on the farm.

C. Turn to page 13 in your packet. Note any changes to the Seven Commandments.

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