Animal Farm Essay Questions – MINIMUM OF 3 PARAGRAPHS. Intro and
conclusion (4 sentences each) and body paragraph (needs to be a minimum
of 9 sentences). TIMES NEW ROMAN 12, DOUBLE SPACED, WITH A PROPER
M.L.A. HEADING (look it up).
Objective: You are required to respond to ONE of the following essay prompts to the best of your
ability. Your response should have a clear introduction, supporting points WITH text evidence support
and a clear conclusion. Writing should explain and elaborate all points and draw an intelligent
conclusion. Your final conclusion should be obvious in a concluding paragraph. Be specific in your
examples by using clear, concise language in your sentences. When using quotations
from the novel, please USE M.L.A. format.
Possible Essay Selections
1. The pigs became the leaders, and the other animals accept them because the pigs are the
cleverest. Should intelligence be the primary qualification for leadership? What other qualities
are important for a leader to have?
2. One of the themes of the novel is that people’s ignorance can contribute to their political and
social oppression. How does the animal’s behavior in the novel support this theme?
3. Another theme of Animal Farm is that power corrupts those who possess it. How does Orwell
bring out this idea through the character of Napoleon?
4. The animals rebel against Jones because he made them work long, hard hours and generally
neglected or abused them. How is all of this IRONIC in light of the end result?
5. Compare the lives of the animals when they live under Jones and under Napoleon.
In what ways has Napoleon proven himself a similar tyrant?
6. Closely examine old Major's speech to the animals in Chapter 1 and discuss the
ways in which he uses language to persuade his listeners.
7. Explain how one of the novel's minor characters (such as Mollie or Moses)
illuminates Orwell's major themes and issues.
8. Examine Orwell's tone when describing the way the animals think of themselves
under Napoleon's rule: How does Orwell's tone add to the novel's humor?
9. Explain how the human characters contribute to the novel's themes and issues.
10. Based upon Animal Farm, what deductions can a reader make about the kind of
political system of which Orwell would approve?