Concept and Vocabulary Analysis for Orwell’s Animal Farm
Purpose of Concept/Vocabulary Analysis
The Purpose of the Concept/Vocabulary Analysis is to give the teacher a vision of where he or
she could go and what items could be covered while teaching a certain novel. A more
condescended version might also be produced and given to the students as a study guide for them
in preparation for reading and testing.
Literary Text: Animal Farm, A Fairy Story by Eric Blair (pen name was George Orwell)—
Centennial Edition.
Organizational Patterns
Animal Farm is divided into ten chapters. The body of the text is preceded by three important
literary items that give important background and detail for the reader of Orwell’s politically
powerful book. A foreword by Ann Patchett, a preface by Russell Baker, and an introduction by
C.M. Woodhouse supply the reader with this much needed detail.
Background Knowledge
A prior understanding of the characteristics of a totalitarian state and of early twentieth century
Russia and the rise of the Communist Party is essential if the reader of Animal Farm is to unlock
the amazing parallels of Communism’s characters to Orwell’s characters.
To understand the idea of the politically repressive totalitarian state is vital in appreciating all of
the happenings on Manor/Animal Farm. Duiker and Spielvogel, in their modern history survey
text World History, write “The modern totalitarian state moved beyond the ideal of passive
obedience expected in a traditional dictatorship or authoritarian monarchy. The new ‘total states’
expected the active loyalty and commitment of their citizens to the regime’s goals. They used
modern mass propaganda techniques and high-speed communications to conquer the minds and
hearts of their subjects. The total state aimed to control not only the economic, political, and
social aspects of life, but the intellectual and cultural aspects as well” (773). With this basic
definition in mind, readers can appreciate how Orwell incorporates these repressive ideals in the
lives of Napoleon, Squealer, and the fanged police force.
A basic knowledge of the rise of Communism (especially after the death of Lenin in 1924) and
the immediate struggles between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin give depth and complexity to
Snowball (representative of Trotsky) and Napoleon (Stalin). The student sees the literal parallels
of how the latter ousts the former and would use the name of Snowball as a national enemy that
would create negative unity among the lower animals. The reader of Animal Farm cannot miss
obvious connection as Snowball is blamed for everything from the destruction of the windmill
(50) to the shortage of food supply (55). The political purges that Stalin performed were done in
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the name of the enemy Trotsky; similarly Napoleon performs his ruthless purges in the name of
Snowball (58-60). Historical understanding allows for a rich harvest of reading.
Issues/Major Concepts
Politics: This is what the book is all about—especially concerning the exposing of a corrupt
totalitarian system of government and its affect on those within its fearful borders. “Every line
of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against
totalitarianism…Animal Farm was the first book in which I tried, with full consciousness of
what I was doing, to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole” (xxiii). And with
the theme of politics come such “sub-themes” as political protest, complacency (the politically
unsavvy lives of the animals), rebellion, oppression (Napoleon’s police force, withholding of
food for minimal labor, etc), corruption of power, etc. If it deals with politics, especially the
negative side of oppressive politics, the reader will discover it during his or her reading of
Orwell. Whether it’s the power of Old Major’s organized ideas that lead to a political uprising
and overthrow of current political thought (5-10), or if it is the compulsory means of policing
(and eradicating) protest (39-40), Animal Farm contains it.
Religion: The raven Moses, “a clever talker,” is the sole voice (and seemingly crazed one) that
proselytes for converts to his “Sugarcandy Mountain” doctrine of bliss in the next life for
ignorant political submission in this life (13-14). Ann Patchett, in her foreword writes “It was
Animal Farm that told me religion may be a hoax perpetuated by a bird named Moses…” (ix).
Literacy: This is a theme throughout the text, emphasizing over and over again the power of both
literacy and ignorance. It was the political elite (the pigs) who learned to read and write, while
the rest of the animals (excepting a few—Benjamin, Clover, Muriel) were fettered in ignorance
by being taught that it was unnecessary that they learn the alphabet, it was sufficient for them to
only know the reaching maxim of Animalism: “Four legs good, two legs bad” (24-25).
Historical Interpretation: The book is laden with the danger of the pigs rewriting history and its
negative psychological impact on the ordinary, politically inactive citizen. Squealer was making
constant “round(s) of the farm, set(ting) the animals’ minds at rest” by assuring them that what
they understood of previous events and traditions were false as he appealed to their illiterate
ignorance insisting that none of what they were saying was written down anywhere and that it
never was like that (46-47).
Propaganda: This is one of the major themes throughout Animal Farm. From Old Major to
Squealer, from Beasts of England to poetic justices that hailed Napoleon as “father,” the power
of propaganda is a powerful idea portrayed by Orwell. Squealer, in every line he utters, is the
ultimate expression of the influence of propaganda on the minds of the “lower animals” and its
power to “beat” them into ignorant submission. This idea can be found in almost every chapter
of the text.
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Setting
The story begins and ends on a small farm (Manor Farm/Animal Farm) in England.
Foreshadowing
The most prominent case of foreshadowing occurs during Old Major’s arousing oratory as he
relates his dream, his prophecy, of an animal uprising and the end to the power of humans—
animals “only real enemy” (6).
Old Major declares “I have little more to say. I merely repeat, remember always your duty of
enmity towards Man and all his ways. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever
goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. And remember also that in fighting against Man,
we must not come to resemble him. Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices.
No animal must ever live in a house, or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or
smoke tobacco, or touch money, or engage in trade. All the habits of Man are evil. And, above
all, no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are
all brothers. No animal must ever kill any other animal. All animals are equal” (8).
As the reader of Animal Farm progress from chapter to chapter (specifically after Snowball is
ousted and Comrade Napoleon ensures his tyranny) he or she will see how Napoleon apostatizes
from Major’s counsel. It would be the adaptation of human qualities that would destroy what the
Rebellion had stood for and land the “lower animals” into a far worse state than they were in
with Mr. Jones. This apostasy is peaked in chapter ten as the animals witness the pigs walking
on two legs and engaging in the “habits of Man.” The last paragraph of the book is most
noteworthy.
Narrative Voice
Animal Farm is told from the third-person. It is reasonable to assume that this third-person
narrative is in fact the narrative of the “lower animals.”
Tone
The tone of Animal Farm is one of cynicism of political movements that promote equality, but
instead produce major class distinctions/stratifications. Orwell, who was himself a socialist, was
very skeptical not only of corrupt socialism, but of most political movements that boasted of
equality but branded oppression to its powerless populace. The authors of the introductory pages
label the text as a “cautionary text” on what possibly could happen if oppressive regimes control
government.
Irony
The irony of the novel is that tyranny replaced tyranny and that by the end of the book the other
animals could not distinguish a man from a pig, or a pig from a man (97).
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Vocabulary Issues
There are a few words such as “scullery,” “ensconced,” and “indefatigable” that the reader may
need to look up in order to understand the connotation of such respective words. Also, students
may need to familiarize themselves with “farm language” if they are unfamiliar with some of the
machinery mentioned. Readers should always seek to understand and expand the vocabulary
they come across in any text. But because Animal Farm uses simpler language, the vocabulary
that I am most concerned with will be the political language that I will bring into the text (i.e.,
totalitarianism, propaganda, etc.). To understand these “outside” words, especially in the
historical context of the Russian Revolution, will aid the students in their reading and
understanding of what Animal Farm really is about.
Affective Issues Related to Work
With what propaganda are students bombarded with each day through the means of media?
What is this propaganda aimed at? Students can become much more aware of the daily doses of
political propaganda that surround them. Have students report each day during the Animal Farm
unit on the rhetoric used today.
If the unit is given during an election year, encourage students to follow the various campaigns
and candidates. What are the issues? How are they addressed?
Assign activities in which students briefly research the political movements of another country
and report on those ideas to their peers. How does this movement affect the political movements
in their own country?
Research Ideas, Essay Questions, and Projects
Study the life of Joseph Stalin. Report on the findings of Stalin using the life of Napoleon as a
guide to present more in-depth findings on the Communist Comrade to peers.
Compare and contrast the lives of Boxer and Benjamin. Who was the better citizen? Why didn’t
Boxer and/or Benjamin become more politically involved? Are you more like Benjamin or
Boxer? Why? Present these finding in whatever form you choose.
“Collect”/find (online, library, books, etc.) popular political propaganda (tracts, flyers, etc.) from
the Revolutionary War through World War II. What does each have in common? Why is
propaganda such a powerful tool? Create your own poster promoting propaganda for either
Snowball or Napoleon.
Discuss the idea Snowball as the “common enemy.” Why was this important for Napoleon?
How did it unite the farm? Research more into how Stalin used this “common enemy” idea with
Trotsky. Has it happened before? What about today? Find examples and incorporate them into
your paper.
Write poetry exalting or exposing Napoleon.
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Discuss the idea of a police force in shaping a political machine.
Write “Chapter 11” to Animal Farm. What happens to the political machine of Napoleon? Is
there a lower animal uprising? Finish the story…
Remember the full title of the book is Animal Farm: A Fairy Story. Did Orwell make a mistake
in calling this piece a “Fairy Story?” What are the elements of a fairy tale? Is Animal Farm
justified in having this subtitle? Why or why not?
What role does Moses the raven play in this story? What is Orwell saying about the role of
religion? Or is Moses irrelevant and is Orwell saying nothing concerning religion?
What symbolism does the windmill have in this story? Discuss this idea as if coming from the
journal of Napoleon.
Supplemental Texts
1984 (Orwell)
The Lord of the Rings (Tolkien)
Lord of the Flies (Golding)
Communist Manifesto (Marx and Engels)
Stalin: The Man and His Era (Ulam)
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