Chapter 1&2 Questions

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?

2. What does Snowball mean when he says to Mollie, "Those ribbons that you are devoted to are the badge of slavery"?

3. What do you think happened to the milk that is missing at the end of Chapter 2?

Chapter 3&4 Questions

1. What further examples of the difference between the pigs and the other animals occur in these two chapters?

2. What clues show that Napoleon and Snowball are beginning to vie for power?

3. What part does Squealer play in the brainwashing of the animals?

Chapter 5&6 Questions

1. After Napoleon takes control of the farm, how does life for the animals compare to the life that they led under Mr. Jones?

2. In what ways does Napoleon bend the rules and commandments of Animal Farm to

benefit himself?

Chapter 7&8 Questions

1. What reason does Napoleon give the other animals for abolishing the song "Beasts of England?" What is Napoleon's real reason for banning the song?

2. Napoleon declares a great victory in the Battle of the Windmill. How do the animals feel about he battle? How have their beliefs been manipulated?

Chapter 9&10

1. What began as a paradise for the animals has now ended as the opposite of perfection. Describe the scene at the end of the book when the transformation from pig to human is complete. What is the new name for Animal Farm?

Chapter 1&2

1. Consider Major's words, "Man is the only creature that consumes without producing." What do you think Major means by those words? Do you agree with him: Why or why not?

2. Why do you think the other animals are so easily lead by the pigs? Would you have been so willing to follow another leader after you had freed yourself of oppression? Give reasons for your answers.

Chapter 3&4

1. How is Squealer able to convince the other animals to accept whatever Napoleon decides? (Squealer uses outright lies, "scientific proof" (false of course), and appeals to the animals' sympathy. he always ends with the threat that Jones will return if the pigs are not obeyed.)

2. What maxim does Snowball use to simplify the Seven Commandments? Why is this maxim a good propaganda technique?

3. Why do you think Napoleon decided to educate the young puppies in seclusion? What purpose might this isolation serve. Talk with your classmates about what the outcome of the puppies' education might be.

Chapter 5&6

1. What argument does Squealer use to keep the animals from protesting Napoleon's takeover? In what way is this argument valuable as propaganda?

2. Because Boxer believes that "Napoleon is always right, " his personal motto becomes, "I will work harder" What does this reveal about Boxer's character?

3. How does Napoleon use Snowball as a scapegoat when the windmill is blown down?

Chapter 7&8

1. How does the poem entitled "Comrade Napoleon" enhance Napoleon's image? What emotions does the poem elicit from the reader?

2. what do you think will happen to the animals on the farm in the future? Think about all that has occurred so far. Consider what you know about political revolutions that have occurred in recent history. Based on clues from the story and your own knowledge, write a brief summary describing how the novel might end.

Chapter 9&10

1. George Orwell subtitled this novel, A Fairy Story. Why do you think Orwell chose that subtitle for Animal Farm? In what ways is the novel a fairy story? In what ways is it very different from conventional fairy stories? What irony is there in this subtitle?

2. How does Orwell make fun of bureaucracy?