Animal Farm Discussion Questions

Chapter 1 – 2

Vanessa Watson

Chapter 1

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?
The animals arrange themselves with the pigs and dogs in fount. This might show that they will
obey Major’s legacy more than most, though the silly white horse, Mollie, also sits in the front. The
sheep, cows, ducklings and cats are all doing something else, like sleeping purring or eating. This might
mean that they won’t be very obedient to the new resume in the future.
1) Dogs
2) Pigs (in front)
3) Hens (window)
4) Pigeons (rafters)
5) Sheep and cows (behind pigs)
6) Two horses (carefully)
7) Goat
8) Donkey
9) Ducklings (clover)
10) White Mare (near front, flaunting ribbons)
11) Cat (between Boxer and Clover, not listening)
2. According to Major, what is the cause of all the animals’ problems?
According to Major, man is the cause of all the animal’s problems. He does not consider the
drawbacks of not having man.
3. What motto does Major give the animals?
“I have little more to say. I merely repeat, remember always your duty of enmity towards
Man and all his ways. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs,
or has wings, is a friend. And remember also that in fighting against Man, we must not come to
resemble him. Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices. No animal must ever
live in a house, or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or touch
money, or engage in trade. All the habits of Man are evil. And, above all, no animal must ever
tyrannise over his own kind. Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers. No animal
must ever kill any other animal. All animals are equal”
4. What are the commandments Major gives the animals? Can you think of ways each of them could be
considered a vice?
Ss

1) 2 legs - bad 1) what about kangaroos?

2) 4 legs (or wings) - friend 2) what about predators, who need meat to survive?
3) do dens count as a house? A stable? A barn?
3) No house 4) Do stables count as beds? Beds of straw?
 4) No bed 5) Mollie might sneak her ribbons
5) No clothes 6) No complaint here. Animals might break the law
6) No alcohol though.
7) No tobacco 7) No complaint here. Animals might break the law
8) No money though.
9) No trade 8) No complaint here.
10) No animal is above any 9) Without the ability to trade, what is one animal’s
other, do not tyranissise is his forever
your own kind 10) I foresee this backfiring

5. Analyze how Major’s speech is meant to stir the animals to the point that they will actually rebel
against man. What techniques are used to stir up the rebellion?
Major emphasises what man has taken from the animals, milk eggs, ect. He uses bandwagon by
saying things like “we” and “our”.
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? This song is patterned after “Communists Internationale.” Look it up. How do the two songs
compare to each other?
The third stanza is full of imagery. There is also “Bright will shine the field of england” and
several others. The message is that there will come a day when man is gone and everything will be perfect
again. The animals like it so much because it appeals to their feeling of oppression, being overworked and
sorrow. It also appeals to the animals by telling them that they can do everything for themselves without
man. Both songs involve toiling ceaselessly towards the notion of freedom and fighting no one but their
oppressor.

Chapter 2

7. After Major’s death what happens to the idea of rebelling against man?
The intelligent animals had a new outlook on life and set about preparing for the rebellion. The
pigs taught Major’s dream and gave it the name of Animalism. After great difficulty with the more
ignorant masses, the idea started to take hold, despite of Moses’ contentions.
8. Why don’t the pigs like the pet raven Moses’ stories about Sugarcandy Mountain?
The pigs do not like how the raven lures them into a sense of security when the pigs want them to
create that security.
9. What causes the animals to finally rebel against Mr. Jones and his four farmhands?
When Mr. Jones became disheartened, the animals started to be underfed, and his farm into
disorder. One day they were not fed at all, and they broke into the feed storage. Alarmed, Mr. Jones and
his men tried to drive them back, but they were too desperate, so they fought back.
10. When the humans have been chased from the farm, what do the animals do?
The first thing the animals do is to set the boundaries that no man can pass. Then they destroyed
the weapons of torture and remains of humanity, except for a few things, like the house. After sleeping,
they went to a hill so they could see the land that was theirs. Then they renamed it and set up laws.
11. What do the animals decide to do about the farmhouse?
The animals are stunned at the luxury in the den of man and decide to keep it to teach the young
about the tyranny that they overcame.
12. How might the behavior of the pigs foreshadow eventual leadership positions?
The behavior of the pigs likely foreshadows that they will run (and perhaps tyranisise?) the farm.