Name: _____________________________ Block: _____________

Characterization in Animal Farm

In analyzing a character, consider who a character is and what are his or her most
important traits and motivations. Also how the text shapes our opinion or view of the character.
What function does the character serve in the story? What might the character represent?

Evidence to Consider in Analyzing Characters:

 The character’s name
 The character’s physical appearance
 Objects and places associated with the character
 The character’s actions
 The character’s thoughts and speech, including:
o The content (what he or she thinks or says)
o Timing (when he or she thinks or says it)
o Phrasing (how he or she thinks or says it)
 Other characters’ thoughts about the character
 Other characters’ comments to and about the character
 The narrator’s comments about the character

The Different Types of Characters:

Round Characters act from varied, sometimes conflicting motives, impulses, and desires; they have
psychological complexity
List a round character from the book so far and explain how they are round:
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Flat Characters are one-dimensional characters that behave and speak in predictable or repetitive
ways.
List a flat character from the book so far and explain how they are flat:
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Stock Characters are flat characters that represent familiar, frequently recurring stereotypes (mad
scientist, gritty detective, ditzy blonde, etc.)
List a stock character from the book so far and explain what stereotype they represent:
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Foil—a contrasting character that helps reveal the unique qualities of another main character.
List a foil from the book so far and explain what character they contrast and how:
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Indirect Characterization: showing what a character is like through what he or she says, does, or
thinks or what others say about the character
Quote an example from the book of indirect characterization:
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Direction Characterization: telling what a character is like by the narrator explicitly describing the
background, motivation, appearance, or temperament of a character
Quote an example from the book of direct characterization:
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Dynamic characters change as a result of events in the story. Static characters do not change
throughout the story. By the end of the book, you should be able to tell which characters are
dynamic and which are static.
 Characterization in Animal Farm

Orwell characterizes Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer as three different types of leaders,
each with positive and negative traits. Provide two outstanding positive traits and two
negative ones that characterize each pig. Then, underneath the traits, cite an incident,
action, or speech that illustrates each characteristic.

Napoleon
Positive Traits:
1._______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:

2. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:

Negative Traits:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:

2. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:

Snowball:

Positive Traits:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:

2. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:
Snowball continued
Negative Traits:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:

2. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:

Squealer:

Positive Traits:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:

2. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:

Negative Traits:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:

2. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence:

In your opinion, which of the three pigs does Orwell characterize as the strongest
leader and why?