Power & Leadership
This pig uses trained dogs to violently remove Snowball from the farm and secure control.
Who is Napoleon?
Napoleon secretly trains these animals and later uses them to enforce his rule.
What are the dogs?
This structure represents propaganda and false promises of a better future.
What is the windmill?
Napoleon uses these animals to spread news and slogans around the farm.
What are sheep?
Boxer’s continued loyalty despite exploitation shows this dangerous trait.
What is blind loyalty?
This animal becomes the symbol of blind loyalty with the motto “I will work harder.”
Who is Boxer?
The animals fight humans in this battle when Frederick attacks the farm.
What is the Battle of the Windmill?
The pigs change the Seven Commandments, showing the theme of this being manipulated.
What is truth (or language)?
Squealer often convinces the animals that conditions are improving by using these.
What are statistics?
The pigs slowly changing the commandments represents how revolutions can be corrupted through this.
What is gradual manipulation of language?
This pig becomes Napoleon’s main propagandist, constantly explaining away problems.
Who is Squealer?
This hardworking horse collapses after years of labor building the windmill.
Who is Boxer?
Boxer’s fate represents the exploitation of this group in society.
What is the working class?
The pigs change the commandment about alcohol after getting drunk.
“No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.”
The animals failing to challenge Napoleon highlights this key weakness of the farm society.
What is lack of education / critical thinking?
After the windmill is destroyed the first time, Napoleon blames this former leader.
Who is Snowball?
Boxer is taken away in a wagon supposedly belonging to this type of business.
What is a knacker (horse slaughterer)?
The repeated blaming of Snowball demonstrates how leaders maintain power through this tactic.
What is scapegoating?
Napoleon awards himself this title to glorify his leadership.
What is “Leader, Comrade Napoleon”?
Napoleon selling Boxer despite calling him loyal shows this leadership trait.
What is betrayal?
By Chapter 10, the pigs begin walking on two legs, symbolizing this transformation.
What is the pigs becoming indistinguishable from humans?
In the final chapter, the animals look through the window and cannot tell the difference between these two groups.
What are pigs and humans?
The commandment “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” shows this theme.
What is corruption of ideals / hypocrisy of power?
The pigs begin trading with humans, contradicting this original revolutionary idea.
What is avoiding contact with humans / independence from humans?
The final card game between pigs and humans symbolizes this idea.
What is the pigs becoming the same as the oppressors they replaced?