Discussion Questions for
Animal Farm
Printable Version (opens in new window).
Please read about these questions here.
Chapters 1-6 / pages 1-83
Why do the animals respond to Major’s speech? Is this an emotional or intellectual response?(27-32)
Does Major offer legitimate reasons to hate the humans?(28-29)
Are the humans evil? Is Mr. Jones evil?
Is Mollie’s question stupid?(“Will there still be sugar after the Rebellion?”)(36)
Why do the pigs dislike Moses so much?
What does Benjamin mean when he says that “God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies”?(26)
What or Who causes the Rebellion? Mr Jones? Lack of Food? Why?
Are the Seven Commandments good? Why or why not?(43)
Do Snowball and Napoleon truly want to do something good for the animals? Are their methods necessary to help the animals achieve independence?
Why are the animals so happy after the Rebellion?(39-40)
When Benjamin is asked “whether he is not happier now that Jones is gone” he answers only, “Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey.” What does he mean by this?(47)
Why is it that Snowball and Napoleon can never agree?
Snowball reduces the Seven Commandments to “Four legs good, two legs bad.” Is this a good reduction? What is lost? What is gained?(50)
Why does Napoleon consider the education of the young far more important than anything that could be done for adults?(51)
Why does Squealer’s explanation about why the pigs need the milk convince the other animals? Is Squealer’s explanation true?(52)
Are Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Frederick better or worse than the pigs? In either case, why?
What does Snowball mean by, “No sentimentality, comrade!” and “War is war”?(59)
Why is Napoleon able to defeat Snowball?
Of the animals it is said, “they always found themselves in agreement with the one[Snowball or Napoleon] who was speaking at the moment.”(66) Why are the animals like that?
Boxer says, “If comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right” then shortens it to “Napoleon is always right” along with “I will work harder.” Why does Boxer adopt these two maxims(or slogans as they later called)?(70 & 75)
What are “tactics?”(72)
What is Squealer’s role in Animal Farm? How does he accomplish it?
Squealer begins calling Napoleon “Leader.”(79) Is this significant? Why or why not? What changes does this title suggest have taken place on Animal Farm?
Chapters 7-10 / pp. 84-139
How important is Squealer to Napoleon? Could Napoleon maintain his power without Squealer?
Why does Napoleon limit his public appearances?(86)
Why do you think the animals confess to things they have not done?(92-94)
Why does Napoleon blame Snowball for all their troubles?
Why do you think Orwell chose to name Napoleon Napoleon?
Why is it important to Napoleon that the humans think Animal Farm is doing well?
Why does Napoleon get rid of “Beasts of England?”
Why does Boxer question that the battle with Frederick is a victory?(109)
What does Boxer’s death represent?
Why is Boxer so loyal?
What does the Windmill represent?
Why do the animals never give up hope?
What does “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL/BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS” mean?(133)
Napoleon and Mr. Pilkington each play an ace of spades causing an argument. What does this represent?(139)
At the end of Animal Farm the pigs and humans look the same. What is Orwell saying?
What are the parallels between Animal Farm and Russian history?
©2005-2012 Glen Draeger (all rights reserved)
Millstone Education: World Literature / http://www.millstoneeducation.com/worldLit |
