Animal Farm

Chapter 1
1. Why are all the farm animals willing to listen to Old Major?

2. What attributes does Major possess that make him a worthy advisor to the animals for the future?

3. In what way does Boxer command respect despite being described as “somewhat stupid”?

4. What term does Major use to address the animals and unite them?

5. What does Major tell the farm animals in his speech?

6. What rules does Major establish to be followed by all animals following the rebellion from man’s rule?

1. Is Mr. Jones a true enemy to the animals on the farm? Can he be interpreted to represent all of humanity? Why
or why not?

2. How is the arrangement of the animals as they gather in the barn significant?

3. Which animals seem most worthy of admiration? Why? Who seem least worthy? Why?

4. Will Old Major’s call for a vote on whether to include wild animals, such as the rats, as comrades be a unifying
practice or a dividing one? Explain the reasons behind your answer.

5. What ideas , emotions, or associations do you attach to the word “Comrade”? What does Old Major’s use of this
word suggest about how the plot of this novel is likely to develop?
Animal Farm
Chapter 2
1. Why do the pigs become organizers of the Revolution?

2. What is Animalism?

3. Why don’t all of the animals support the ideas of Animalism?

4. What is the ultimate impetus for the rebellion?

5. Who seizes control of farm by assuming leadership? How?

1. How does Orwell illustrate the differences between pigs and suggest the role each will play in the post-Revolu-
tion society?

2. How do Mollie’s treats and the now-abandoned farmhouse assume symbolic significance in this chapter? How
do these symbols help to define the various characters?

3. What might the disappearance of the milk foreshadow?

4. Between Napoleon and Snowball, which of the pigs appears to be the strongest leader of the animals? Why?

Animal Farm
Chapter 3
1. What is the role of the pigs on the farm? How does their role distinguish them from the other animals?

2. What benefits of the freedom do the animals quickly realize?

3. In what ways does Boxer become the most admired worker of Animal Farm?

4. What key differences between Napoleon’s and Snowball’s theories about the operation of the farm become
apparent?

5. By what methods do the pigs begin to manipulate the other animals?

1. How does Orwell create humor and irony in his portrayal of the governing of Animal Farm?

2. What future development is clearly suggested by Snowball and Napoleon’s constant disagreement? How is there
an ominous undercurrent in the apparent humor of their squabbling?

3. What key themes are illustrated by the birds’ objection to, and Squealer’s explanation of, the shortening of the
commandments? What role does language use play in the pigs’ manipulation of the animals?
4. How does the reader know that Squealer is lying in order to validate the pigs’ decision to take the apples and the
milk for themselves? What rhetorical devices or techniques of propaganda does he use to deflect the animals’
concerns?
1. How does Boxer embody the ideals of the Revolution and the principles of Animalism as first spoken of by Ma-
jor and then developed further by the pigs? What characteristics does Boxer possess that make him a commodity
for the pigs?

2. Compare and contrast the characters of Boxer and Benjamin following the rebellion. What is suggested by
Benjamin’s passivity?

1. By now it is fairly clear to the reader that this animal story is an allegory about the Communist Revolution in
Russia. Assuming that interpretation, how effective is Orwell’s portrayal of the pigs’ use of propaganda in
furthering his allegorical theme?