RESEARCH THE FOLLOWING:

Orwell's Biographical Information

The Russian Revolution (The February Revolution 1917 and The October Revolution of 1917)

The Ideologies of Socialism and Communism

The Elements of Totalitarianism and Authoritarianism

The Theme of Propaganda (manipulation of language)

The Manipulation of Language: Logical Fallacies

Logical Fallacies are parts of a seemingly reasonable argument that, upon closer inspection, turn out to be erroneous or deceptive. Logical Fallacies have many different names, and some of them are very similar to each other. Some of the most commonly used Logical Fallacies are:

Animal Farm as Allegory

Elements of a Fable

Elements of Irony:

Elements of Satire

RESEARCH / DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Why does George Orwell choose to use animal characters rather than human characters in order to portray his criticism of the Communist regime? Consider the benefits of the fable format.

To what extent is Old Major a character who represents the pure origins of Socialism? To what extent is he a character whose ideas  and actions already pose problems and promise complications?

Examine the idea that history is usually told from the perspective of the winners and explain how it applies to the events of Animal Farm, particularly to the Rebellion, the Battle of the Cowshed, the building of the windmill, and other incidents. What are the implications for the study of history?

What is the role of religion in Animal Farm? How does it change as the text progresses?

Discuss the different elements of irony by stating and analyzing specific examples from Animal Farm. How does the narrative point of view from which Animal Farm is written contribute to the irony?

How does the character of Boxer function as an allegorical representation of the Soviet Union's working classes? What criticism, if any, does Orwell express in his characterization of Boxer?

Which elements of propaganda are most prevalent in Animal Farm? Why would Orwell choose to highlight these?

What is the correlation between the manipulation of language and the education of the animals?

Animal Farm is an allegory portraying the abuse of power and the distortion of Socialism Orwell witnessed in the early-twentieth-century fall of Russia and rise of the Soviet Union. In addition, Animal Farm is a satire and a fable illustrating Orwell's criticism of the weaknesses and faults present in human nature. Which weaknesses and faults does Orwell consider to be the most dangerous?

How and why does the character of Napoleon evolve over the course of the text?

CHAPTER ONE

Why does Major ask the animals to congregate in the barn after Mr. Jones has gone to sleep?

According to Major, what is the source of the animals' "misery and slavery".

According to Major, how do most animals on Manor Farm die, and what does their manner of death indicate about Mr. Jones' attitude toward his animals' value?

Why does Orwell introduce the term "Comrade" in the first chapter? What two purposes does the introduction of this term serve?

What is Major's most significant warning / commandment?

Why does Major's song Beasts of England become an instant success with the other animals?

What does Orwell establish with his decision to capitalize the word "Rebellion" throughout the text?

CHAPTER TWO

Why do the pigs immediately take over the role of organizers and teachers after Major's death?

How and why does Napoleon emerge as a character who seems destined to become a leader?

What allegorical reference is embedded in the philosophy of Animalism?

Why do the other animals not want Mollie to display her ribbons?

According to Moses, Sugarcandy Mountain is a place where it is "Sunday seven days a week." What kind of place or idea does the concept of Sugarcandy Mountain describe?

What information does the narrator reveal in Chapter Two that helps justify the Rebellion?

Why are the pigs the only animals that have the capacity to write the Seven Commandments on the wall of the barn immediately following the expulsion of Mr. Jones?

What is the main purpose of the Seven Commandments? What do they principally achieve to explain?

In the last sentence of Chapter Two, the narrator explains that "when [the animals] came back in the evening it was noticed that the mild had disappeared." This sentence is an example of what literary or narrative technique?

What is significant about Orwell's syntax in the statement about the missing milk?  "When [the animals] came back in the evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared."

CHAPTER THREE

What differentiates the work the pigs complete during hay harvest from the work the other animals complete?

How successful is the animals' first harvest after the Rebellion?

Are all animals required to work the same hours and complete the same kind of work, or work that is equally difficult and exhausting?

In addition to the pigs, which other animal does not actually seem to complete any substantial physical labor and why?

What allegorical significance does the fact that Napoleon and snowball disagree during the animals' meetings carry?

What is Napoleon's attitude toward educating the animals?

How does Squealer explain to the other animals that the pigs have been secretly taking all the milk for themselves?

Why is Squealer successful in explaining to the other animals that the pigs alone deserve the milk? How is he able to silence any doubters? Which theme emerges through his explanations?

How and why is the sentence "The importance of keeping the pigs in good health was all too obvious" an example of Orwell's use of irony?

CHAPTER FOUR

What rumors do Mr. Frederick and Mr. Pilkington spread about Animal Farm?

How do the events on Animal Farm affect the animals on neighboring farms?

How does Snowball prepare for the attack by Jones and his men?

What experience during the Battle of the Cowshed deeply affects Boxer, and how does Snowball attempt to help him?

Why is Snowball's explanation that "the only good human being is a dead one" dangerous with regard to the spirit of the Seven Commandments?

How does the Battle of the Cowshed ultimately serve to inaugurate a series of rituals that help solidify the growing totalitarian state?

CHAPTER FIVE

Mollie's disappearance not only indicates her desire to receive special treatment at the hands of human beings, but also functions as a reminder of the dangers of forced obedience and the requirement of conformity. Explain how her disappearance forms part of Orwell's criticism of the emerging totalitarian structure of Animal Farm.

In the growing dispute between snowball and Napoleon, how does Snowball hope to gain the trust and support of the other animals? What is Napoleon's tactic?

What are Snowball's ideas for defending Animal Farm against possible human attacks? What are Napoleon's ideas?

Why does Snowball so fervently advocate the building of the windmill?

How can you explain the fact that no animal comes to Snowball's defense after Napoleon calls on his vicious attack dogs and chases Snowball out of the barn? Keep in mind that the animals are clearly in the majority compared to Napoleon's gang.

After Snowball's expulsion, Napoleon explains that changes he plans to implement on Animal Farm immediately. How do these changes reflect the principles of a totalitarian / authoritarian state?

Squealer describes Napoleon's suddenly changing attitude toward the windmill as "tactics." What does he mean by that? What might be a more accurate and truthful description of Napoleon's tactics?

CHAPTER SIX

What effect is achieved through the use of simile in the opening lines of Chapter Six, "all that year the animals worked like slaves"? How does the simile help to underline Orwell's criticism?

How does Boxer illustrate his dedication to the work on the windmill, despite all challenges?

Why does Napoleon claim he must begin trading with the neighboring farms?

Every time the animals notice that the pigs are "adjusting" the rules agreed upon after the Rebellion, their thoughts are distracted by the chanting of "four legs good, two legs bad" by the sheep. Why are the sheep so eager to say their slogan? To what extent are the sheep aware of the effect they have on the other animals and on life on Animal Farm by repeating the slogan again and again?

Why was it absolutely necessary for Napoleon to rid himself of Snowball?

How does the attitude of the human beings toward Animal Farm change once Napoleon enters into trade with neighboring farms?

Why do the pigs change the Fourth Commandment from "No animal shall sleep in a bed" to "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets'?

How does Squealer justify the pigs' use of the farmhouse?

Why is the windmill destroyed? What is the pigs' explanation? Why is this explanation necessary?

CHAPTER SEVEN

Why is the following sentence from paragraph two in Chapter Seven ironic? "Out of spite, the human beings pretended not to believe that it was Snowball who had destroyed the windmill."

How does the reader learn that the pigs know the windmill was destroyed in the storm because of poor planning?

Why is it so important for the animals to conceal their starvation from the human beings?

Why do the hens start a rebellion?

After calling Snowball a traitor and claiming that he was in league with Mr. Jones from the beginning, the pigs have a difficult time convincing the other animals -- particularly Boxer -- of the validity of their sudden claims about Snowball's treacherous behavior at the Battle of the Cowshed. How are the pigs eventually able to convince Boxer, and what do they claim in order to ensure no further questions will be asked? Consider common propaganda techniques.

Why does Napoleon convict four pigs of treason and kill them?

How does Boxer react to the mass executions?

Clover is shocked at the events taking place at Animal Farm and believes that the place does not resemble the Utopia that Major and the other animals had initially envisioned. Instead, she recognizes that Animal Farm is driven by fear and terrible oppression. Why does Clover not speak out or al least share her concerns with Boxer and the other animals?

Why are the animals forbidden to sing Beasts of England? What is the pigs' explanation? What is the true reason?

CHAPTER EIGHT

How does Napoleon solidify his leadership cult in Chapter Eight?

What does Napoleon's changing attitude toward his two neighbors, Pilkington and Frederick, signify on an allegorical level?

How do Frederick's men eventually destroy the windmill?

What does Napoleon threaten to do to Fredrick if he is captured?

Why does Napoleon order the gun to be fired after the attack? What are his underlying motives with regard to his reputation?

How is Squealer's announcement that "Napoleon is dying" after a night of drinking an axample of dramatic irony?

How does Napoleon's attitude toward alcohol change on the morning after his night of drinking, and further on throughout the following day?

Why do the animals have difficulty explaining Squealer's fall from the ladder? Which animal is the only one who understands what has happened?

Why does Benjamin not share his wisdom with the other animals? What does his silence tell about Orwell's attitude toward human nature?

CHAPTER NINE

Why does Boxer refuse to rest after he splits his hoof?

What have the animals been told will happen to them when they can no longer work?

What indicates that the retirement plan for the animals is unrealistic and might not be carried through?

What propagandistic euphemism does Squealer use to tell the animals that their rations are going to be reduced?

Which new privileges for the pigs does Napoleon enact in Chapter Nine?

What is Napoleons new official status on Animal Farm?

What is the allegorical significance of Moses' return to Animal Farm?

What does Napoleon promise to do when he hears that Boxer is sick? What are his real intentions?

How are Napoleon and Squealer able to convince the animals that Boxer died peacefully at the hospital instead of being killed by the horse slaughterer?

CHAPTER TEN

What does the last chapter reveal about the new generation of animals that now live on Animal Farm?

Which animals are the only ones who do not produce their own food? How do the descriptions of the animals who do not work support Orwell's criticism of the pigs and ultimately, Stalin's communism?

Why do the pigs invent the slogan "Four legs good, two legs better'?

To what do the human neighbors visiting Animal Farm compare the working animals (all animals that are not pigs)? What does their comment reveal about Orwell's attitude toward Stalin's Communism?

What prediction does the quarrel between humans and pigs at the end of the novel reveal?

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Winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.

Finalist for the 2003 National Book Award, Nonfiction.