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Animal Farm Chapter 1 – Reading Response Questions

DIRECTIONS: On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using complete sentence. Remember I am looking for more depth in your answers; don’t just tell me what the book says – tell me what it means (analysis).

1. Why are the animals unhappy with their situation at Manor Farm?

2. Mr. Jones is a drunk and neglects his duty to the animals. How does this correlate to the Russian Revolution?

3. Why does Old Major assemble the animals? What is his vision?

4. Describe life on the farm for the animals. How is this type of life similar to that led by farm laborers who work on someone else’s land?

5. To what does Old Major point to show that there are opportunities for the animals to run the farm on their own?

6. List the ideals (guidelines) outlined by Old Major that should prevail after the rebellion.

7. Reread the words of the “Beasts of England” song. Which things do animals want to get rid of? Which things do they see as an important part of the utopia to come?

8. What political philosophy in Russian history does Old Major present?

9. To what political figure in Russian history does Jones correspond?

10. Do you think the animals could be successful on their own? Why or why not?

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Animal Farm Chapter 2 – Reading Response Questions

DIRECTIONS: On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using complete sentence. Remember I am looking for more depth in your answers; don’t just tell me what the book says – tell me what it means (analysis).

1. The pigs take over like the Bolsheviks did. Why does his seem natural?

2. Who are the three main pigs? What or who do they represent?

3. The pigs formulate the teachings of Old Major into a system of thought. What is it called? To what does this correspond?

4. What problems are encountered as the animals begin to discuss the coming rebellion?

5. Why is the rebellion so easily accomplished? What point does this prove?

6. What two leaders emerge after the rebellion? If we apply our knowledge of human nature to this situation, what reasonable conclusion can we draw?

7. What is done with the farmhouse? Why?

8. What do the pigs spend three months doing? Why do they do this?

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Animal Farm Chapter 3 – Reading Response Questions

DIRECTIONS: On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using complete sentence. Remember I am looking for more depth in your answers; don’t just tell me what the book says – tell me what it means (analysis).

1. How well do the animals work together?

2. Is the society of Animal Farm a classless one?

3. What is significant about the quarrels between Napoleon and Snowball?

4. How does reducing the Seven Commandments reflect Orwell’s ideas about totalitarianism and what happens after revolutions?

5. Is there anything significant about Napoleon’s taking away the puppies?

6. What incident makes Squealer turn to propaganda to keep the animals “in line”?

7. Did the work on the farm conform to the ideal of “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need”?

8. Who among the workers is most admired? How is he valuable to the pigs?

9. To what do the “hoof and horn” on the flag represent? (Both literally and historically).

10. What will happen to the apples? Why is this important?

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Animal Farm Chapter 4 – Reading Response Questions

DIRECTIONS: On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using complete sentence. Remember I am looking for more depth in your answers; don’t just tell me what the book says – tell me what it means (analysis).

1. Who are Mr. Frederick and Mr. Pilkington? What is their importance?

2. How do they feel about Animal Farm? What is the significance?

3. Why is it strange that Snowball is honored with “Animal Hero, First Class” when the sheep is only honored with “Animal Hero, Second Class” after the Battle of the Cowshed?

4. To what does the Battle of the Cowshed correspond to historically?

5. Where does Mollie go during the battle? Who does she symbolize? (Hint: think about General Zaroff)

6. Where did Snowball learn his battle techniques?

7. Why did Snowball give the sound for retreat?

8. What makes Boxer seem especially human and lovable?

9. How does Napoleon show his ruthlessness?

10. What human rituals did the animals use to celebrate their vicoty?

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Animal Farm Chapter 5 – Reading Response Questions

DIRECTIONS: On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using complete sentence. Remember I am looking for more depth in your answers; don’t just tell me what the book says – tell me what it means (analysis).

1. What does Mollie lose by her actions? What does this tell you about materialism?

2. Describe the power struggle between Napoleon and Snowball. To what does this relate historically?

3. The animals are divided into two groups. What slogans do they make? In whose opinion would life “go on badly, as it always had”?

4. What was the dispute about defense on the farm? Which plan seems the best to you?

5. At the meeting about the windmill, what happens? To what historical event does this correlate?

6. Look back at the Seven Commandments. Which one is no longer in effect on the farm? Why?

7. What is significant about the dogs wagging their tails at Napoleon?

8. What changes are made after Snowball is banished? Why is this important?

9. How does Squealer convince the animals that Napoleon was actually helping them? What phrase always stopped any arguments from the animals?

10. When Squealer explains about the windmill at the end of the chapter, what two things cause the animals to go along with his explanation?

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Animal Farm Chapter 6 – Reading Response Questions

DIRECTIONS: On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using complete sentence. Remember I am looking for more depth in your answers; don’t just tell me what the book says – tell me what it means (analysis).

1.What is ironic about the animals working on the windmill on Sundays?

2. Why were the animals willing to work so hard?

3. What special difficulties did the windmill present? What do you think is the importance of this (both in the story and historically)?

4. Who makes the windmill a possibility?

5. Why is the phrase “even the pigs joined in at critical moments” important?

6. What was the explanation for trading with the other farms? What was the reaction of some other animals? What was the pigs’ answer?

7. What did Napoleon tell the hens about giving up their eggs? What does their rebellion mean for Animal Farm?

8. How is Snowball used as a scapegoat?

9. What commandment is changed and how? Why does this bother Clover?

10. The discovery of pig footprints leading away from the windmill into the hedge is given as proof that Snowball sabotaged the windmill. What is the fallacy (or mistake) in this logic?

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Animal Farm Chapter 7 – Reading Response Questions

DIRECTIONS: On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using complete sentence. Remember I am looking for more depth in your answers; don’t just tell me what the book says – tell me what it means (analysis).

1. What was one of the strongest motivations for completing the rebuilding of the windmill?

2. How were the humans tricked into thinking conditions on Animal Farm were better than they really were?

3. Why did it finally become necessary for the hens to relinquish all their eggs? How do the hens react?

4. What “deal” is Napoleon contemplating?

5. What additional information is revealed about Snowball?

6. Even Boxer does not believe that Snowball was always a traitor. Why is his saying so a dangerous move? What clues are given in the text?

7. What do the confessions and executions of the pigs, hens, goose, and sheep symbolize? Which of the seven commandments does this violate?

8. To what did Boxer attribute the frightening slaughter of fellow animals? What is his solution?

9. What is Squealer’s explanation for forbidding the singing of “Beast of England”? Why?

10. How is the general idea of the new song completely different from “Beasts of England”?

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Animal Farm Chapter 8 – Reading Response Questions

DIRECTIONS: On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using complete sentence. Remember I am looking for more depth in your answers; don’t just tell me what the book says – tell me what it means (analysis).

1. Why did no one mention recalling a commandment about animals killing other animals in the hearing of the pigs or the dogs?

2. How had the sixth commandment been changed?

3. Squealer’s Sunday-morning revelation of the increased production figures is a good example of what?

4. How is language manipulated so the animals give Napoleon the credit for all the good things accomplished on the farm?

5. What were the animals told about Snowball’s medals? Why does this matter?

6. What made the animals fear and hate Frederick? What problem occurred with the wood deal? What does the wood deal represent?

7. Describe the battle with Frederick’s men and explain how the animals felt immediately after the destruction of the windmill. How did the pigs renew the animals’ spirits?

8. What vice (bad habit) have the pigs now adopted? This is against what commandment?

9. Why does Squealer announce the Napoleon’s dying? Why does Napoleon plough up the retired-animal grazing ground?

10. What is the connection between Squealer’s fall from the ladder and the change in the fifth commandment?

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Animal Farm Chapter 9 – Reading Response Questions

DIRECTIONS: On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using complete sentence. Remember I am looking for more depth in your answers; don’t just tell me what the book says – tell me what it means (analysis).

1. How does the prospect of retirement inspire Boxer to work harder? How is this similar to human feeling and reactions toward retirement?

2. What euphemism (phrase) was used to convince the animals that they were not really receiving less food than they had under Jones?

3. Why do the animals think that these days are better than the days under Jones?

4. What is significant about only the young pigs being educated, and their being discouraged from playing with the other young animals?

5,. How were the Spontaneous Demonstrations useful to the pigs? Think of similar examples of crowd events and rituals which please the masses in our world (THINK – HUMAN NATURE!!!).

6. What is significant about the reappearance of Moses at this time?

7. What is the tragedy of Boxer?

8. If Boxer symbolizes the loyal proletariat (blue-collar worker), what was Orwell saying about Communism?

9. Why were the animals willing to believe the stories Squealer told them about the circumstances of Boxer’s death?

10. How did the pigs use Boxer’s death to further promote their aims?

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Animal Farm Chapter 10 – Reading Response Questions

DIRECTIONS: On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using complete sentence. Remember I am looking for more depth in your answers; don’t just tell me what the book says – tell me what it means (analysis).

1. Have any of the animals retired? Do you think they ever will?

2. According to Benjamin, what is the one unalterable law? How does his idea compare to actual conditions in the world today?

3. Although the animals’ living conditions have not improved, what one thing do they feel proud of?

4. What dreams do the animals still have at the beginning of the chapter? What happens to destroy this hope?

5. What does Benjamin read to Clover?

6. The meeting between humans and pigs at the end of the chapter represents what?

7. Describe the irony portrayed at the end of the novel.

8. What does the ending have to say regarding Orwell’s attitude toward both Communism and Capitalism? Does either system treat its lower classes well in the novel?

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Animal Farm:

Propaganda Log

Squealer functions as the pigs’ official propaganda agent. He cleverly convinces the other animals that everything the pigs do is in the best interest of the farm. As you continue to read Animal Farm, you will find more and more obvious uses of propaganda. Use the log below to record them.

Example: p. 42: “Milk and apples are absolutely necessary to the well-being of pigs!” Really means: “We want it all for ourselves.”

|Page No. |What is said or done |What is really happening |

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