Characters
Who is the pig that inspired the rebellion?
Old Major
What is the name of the battle where the animals drive out Mr. Jones
The Battle of Cowshed
What phrase does Squealer use to convince animals Napoleon is always right
Napoleon is always right
How many commandments are originally written on the barn wall?
Seven
What does Animal Farm as a whole represent?
The Russian Revolution
Which animal acts as the propaganda spokesperson?
Squealer
What do the pigs do with Boxer after he collapses
Sell him to the knacker/slaughterer for alcohol
What is Boxer's personal maxim?
I will work harder
What happens to the commandments over time?
They are rewritten so the pigs can do as they please without technically breaking them
What does Boxer symbolize
the working class
Who is the hardworking horse known for saying “I will work harder”
Boxer
What major construction project do the animals build twice
The windmill
What original slogan is later changed to “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others
All animals are equal
What was the final commandment left on the wall at the end?
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others
Which historical figure does Snowball represent, and what happened to him in real life?
Leon Trotsky, who was exiled and assassinated under Stalin's orders
Why is Napoleon's use of the dogs significant to his role as a leader?
It shows the use of fear and force to maintain power—parallel to Stalin’s secret police
In what way does the ending of the novel fulfill the allegory of the Russian Revolution?
It shows that despite promises of equality, the new regime becomes just as oppressive as the old one, mirroring the rise of Stalin
How do the pigs manipulate the Seven Commandments without the animals noticing?
They subtly rewrite them at night and exploit the animals’ poor memory and lack of education
How does Orwell use the pigs’ final dinner with humans to represent ultimate betrayal?
It symbolizes the collapse of the revolution’s ideals and the pigs’ full transformation into the corrupt rulers they overthrew
How does the windmill serve as a symbol of Stalin’s Five-Year Plans?
It represents false promises of industrial progress, used to control and exhaust the workers
What personal flaw leads to Boxer's downfall, despite his loyalty
His blind trust in authority and failure to question leadership
How does the farm's name change (from Manor to Animal and back) symbolize the cycle of oppression
It shows that nothing truly changed—the power simply shifted hands, but the same problems remain
What event does Squealer rewrite to make Snowball seem like a traitor?
The Battle of Cowshed
Which animals are fooled by the changes and never learn to read
the sheep
What does the failure of Animalism say about human (or animal) nature?
It suggests that without checks and balances, power will always corrupt, regardless of idealism