Allegory: Events
Napoleon’s betrayal of Snowball parallels this moment in Soviet history.
Napoleon's exiling Trotsky
Squealer represents this institution or tool
Propaganda
What does Apathy mean?
An absence of emotion or enthusiasm
What do the animals, led by Clover, see when they peer into the farmhouse window at the end of chapter 10?
The pigs and humans seems like friends as they are drinking and playing cards. They all look the same.
The farm's changes in commandments, particularly “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others,” symbolizes this idea.
The corruption of the original ideals of equality
The animal's driving Mr. Jones out of Manor Farm symbolizes what historical event? Old Major's speech reflects the rhetoric from what political pamphlet?
The Abdication of the throne from Czar Nicholas II in 1917
Boxer represents this societal group
The working class/proletariat
What does Pervade mean?
spread or diffuse through
Explain how the battle of Cowshed is different from the Battle of the Windmill
The animals suffer greater loses in land and lives in the latter, largely due to Napoleon's lack of strategy as a leader compared to Snowball's.
This song represents the revolutionary hope for a better future but is eventually replaced by a more self-serving anthem.
"The Beasts of England"
Old Major's speech reflects the rhetoric from what political pamphlet?
The Communist Manifesto
Old Major is a combination of these two historical figures who inspired communist ideology
Karl Marx/Vladmir Lenin
What does Capitulate mean?
surrender under agreed conditions
At the end of the novel, this phrase replaces the Seven Commandments on the barn wall.
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”
What does a farm symbolize?
Any human society
The Battle of Cowshed and Battle of the Windmill represent these historical wars.
The Russian Civil War and WWII
The neighboring farms of Pilkington and Frederick represent these two global powers.
England and Germany
What does Skulk mean?
Lie in wait or behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
1. When the pigs begin trading with humans, which group of animals attempts to retaliate against the pigs?
a. Why do they rebel?
b. What do they do?
c. Why doesn't it work?
The hens rebel because Napoleon wants their eggs for trading with the humans. They stay in the trees but their rations get severely reduced. 9 hens die of starvation before they finally cave to the pigs' requests.
What does the windmill symbolize in the story?
The animals’ broken dreams of utopia and the cyclical nature of oppression
Snowball’s and eventually Napoleon's windmill plan is a parallel to this major Soviet policy initiative.
Stalin's 5-year-plan
Benjamin represents what group of people?
Disillusioned intellectuals or skeptics in society who recognize the flaws and injustices in political systems or revolutions but choose not to act against them.
Habitually reserved and uncommunicative
Describe 3 distinct instances in which Squealer manipulates the animals.
Answers will vary:
The milk and applies incident, the revisionist history of the battle of cowshed, the "victory" of the battle of the windmill, the "readjustment" vs "reduction" of rations, false statistics of food production, scapegoating of snowball, sleeping in beds, boxer's death, etc.
This symbol represents the ideals of Animalism and is often seen as a symbol of revolution.
the hoof and horn (flag)
The confessions and executions of animals represent this historical event.
Stalin's Great Purge/Show Trials
Mollie represents this social class that fled or resisted the Russian Revolution due to a loss of privilege.
The middle class/Bourgeosie/capitalists
What word means "to speak unfavorably about"
Malign
List 3 things Napoleon does to consolidate his power in chapters 8-10 after his public executions (other than his use of propaganda (Squealer) and fear (dogs)).
1. Bans Beasts of England --> "Comrade Napoleon" poem
2. Name becomes "Father" and "Leader"
3. "Spontaneous" demonstrations
4. Fake democratic elections
5. Further changing of commandments
6. Changes name back to "Manor Farm"
7. Animals don't call each other "comrade" anymore
(other answers can be Ok if approved by Mr. Pincus)
What does the barn where the Seven Commandments are written, and later altered, symbolize?
Collective/historical memory (the altering symbolizes the power of propaganda and the malleable nature of history and information when the people are ignorant of the facts).
1. What political/economic view did George Orwell have? Be specific.
2. Explain an example of how Orwell uses irony in the story to convey his message that leaders can corrupt revolutionary ideals to establish totalitarian regimes? (Reminder: irony is the difference between what is expected, and what reality is)
1. Democratic Socialist
2. Answers will vary:
Ex. Boxer was the most loyal worker and he was sent to the slaughterhouse, not the hospital, by the pigs, which contrasts with the peaceful retirement he was initially promised by the pigs from the revolution. He even got injured working for the pigs on the impossible task of rebuilding the windmill after the battle of the windmill. He had unwavering faith in the pigs, and they ended up completely betraying and exploiting his hard work and loyalty for their own personal gain only. Boxer was turned into glue in the factory, Boxer himself representing all factory working class people and was the "glue" of the revolution/farm. This is also ironic because it goes against the commandment that no animal shall kill another animal (although this is indirectly).