George Orwell; Animal Farm
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Unit: Animal Farm
Propaganda
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS
OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS
To urge
..........................................................................
To classify
.........................................................................
To deceive
.........................................................................
Slanted
.........................................................................
Distortion
..........................................................................
To deaden
..........................................................................
Harsh
.........................................................................
Counterfeit ........................................................................
Concealment .....................................................................
Slogan ...........................................................................
Chief ...........................................................................
To exert ...........................................................................
Busing ...........................................................................
1. Explain in your own words what propaganda is.
2. What is the difference between propaganda and education?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
3. Describe the ideal educator.
4. Which two camps are there in what people consider as propaganda?
5. What danger does propaganda hold for the public?
6. When does propaganda mostly occur?
7. Describe using your own words, the three ingredients of propaganda.
8. What techniques do propagandist use?
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George Orwell; Animal Farm
Goebbels
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS OF
THE FOLLOWING WORDS
To lack
..........................................................................
Bayonet
..........................................................................
Rank
..........................................................................
To anchor
..........................................................................
Abyss
..........................................................................
Treacherous ..........................................................................
Bourgeois ..........................................................................
Latter
..........................................................................
Façade ..........................................................................
Indecisiveness .................................................................
Grotesque ..........................................................................
Swindle ..........................................................................
Scorn ..........................................................................
1. How should a dictator treat the masses?
2. Are weapons necessary for a dictator? Explain.
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
3. Name 2 good characteristics a dictator needs according to Goebbels.
4. In what way is Goebbels being too positive? Name at least 3 aspects and
explain.
3
Unit: Animal Farm
Gebreselassi
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS
Audacity
...........................................................................
Trait
...........................................................................
Disdain
...........................................................................
Intent
...........................................................................
To subdue
...........................................................................
Headstrong ...........................................................................
Ridicule
...........................................................................
Jeering
...........................................................................
Bleachers ...........................................................................
Multistory ........................................................................
Frown ...........................................................................
Flimsy ...........................................................................
Grueling ........................................................................
Excruciating .................................................................
Persevere ......................................................................
1. Is the article a true story? Explain.
2. Why didn’t Haile’s father support his son?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
3. Which two aspects were against Haile according to the public during the
first race?
4. What was Haile’s reaction to Addis Abeba?
5. What lesson did Haile learn during his first marathon?
6. Was his first marathon heroic?
7. What was Haile’s sacrifice for his community?
8. What does Haile mean with his last words?
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George Orwell; Animal Farm
The Wave
1. When and where did this experiment occur?
2. What was Mr. Ross’ motive for the experiment?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
3. What was the first reaction of the class to Mr. Ross?
4. What were the effects on the class? On Robert? On Laurie? On Mr.
Ross?
5. What was Mrs. Ross’ attitude about the movement?
6. State at least two reasons why Laurie was troubled by the experiment.
7. What were the three key words or concepts of the movement?
8. List two positive and two negative effects of the concepts.
9. What rules did Mr. Ross and the movement use to motivate people?
10. What other methods can be used to unit a group?
11. What made Mr. Ross realize that he must bring the experiment to an end?
12. What effect did The Wave have on the relationship between David and Laurie?
13. Who did Mr. Ross say is the actual leader of The Wave?
14. Why did David believe it is all right to hurt a few people?
15. How can movements such as The Wave be defeated?
16. Discuss the difference between having an interest in something and fanaticism?
17. Mr. Ross said, “It is amazing how much they like you when you make their decisions for them.”
Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Why is decision-making so difficult?
18. Was Mr. Ross right or wrong in manipulating his students as he did? Defend your answer.
19. What does this experiment say about the causes of the Holocaust?
20. What does this film say about authority and power?
21. Is authority necessarily evil? Why? Why not?
22. Are there situations where obedience is necessary? Explain.
23.What techniques of propaganda does Mr. Ross use in his experiment? Give examples
5
Unit: Animal Farm
1. I could never follow a dictator
2. Peer pressure plays a big role in my life
3. You can always trust teachers
4. Everyone should make up their own mind
Writing Prompts
5. It is nice when people make decisions for you
6. I always believe what the media tells me
7. Educators should always present both sides of a case.
NME
ASSIG
NTS
1. Search for examples of 2 different ingredients of propaganda and take
them to school. All sources must be in English!
2. Make a list of five things you think a dictator should do or be, to become
successful.
3. Research your top ten dictators from the last 110 years. Explain why each
specific person is on your list.
4. What can people do to escape from dictatorships? Find some examples
from the past.
ESSAY
6
Compare and contrast the movie ‘The Wave’ with the rules of Goebbels
and the use of propaganda. How did Mr. Ross build his dictatorship? (500
words)
George Orwell; Animal Farm
Chapter 1
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS
scullery
...........................................................................
mincing
...........................................................................
tyranny
...........................................................................
dissentients ...........................................................................
enmity .............................................................................
1. What is significant about how the animals arrange themselves as they
gather to hear Major? What might this arrangement say about future
meetings or events?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
2. According to Major, what is the cause of all the animals’ problems?
3. What motto does Major give the animals
4. What are the commandments Major gives the animals? Can you think of
ways each of them could be considered a vice?
5. Examine the song “Beasts of England” as poetry. What imagery is
present? What is the message? Why do the animals like it so much that they
memorize it on the spot? To what emotions and needs does it appeal?
Chapter 2
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS OF
THE FOLLOWING WORDS
pre-eminent
.............................................................................
expounded .............................................................................
spinney .............................................................................
unalterable .............................................................................
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Unit: Animal Farm
1. After Major’s death what happens to the idea of rebelling against man?
2. Why don’t the pigs like the pet raven Moses’ stories about Sugarcandy
Mountain?
3. What causes the animals to finally rebel against Mr. Jones and his four
farmhands?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
4. When the humans have been chased from the farm, what do the animals
do?
5. What do the animals do about the farmhouse?
6. How does the behavior of the pigs foreshadow their eventual leadership
positions?
7. Describe how the rebellion takes place. How does the animals’ behaviour during the rebellion suggest both human and animal characteristics?
Chapter 3
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS OF
THE FOLLOWING WORDS
.............................................................................
parasitical .............................................................................
obstinate .............................................................................
cryptic .............................................................................
grudging
1. What further examples of the difference between the pigs and the other
animals occur in this chapter?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
2. What are Napoleon’s ideas about education?
3. How does the original vision of Animalism become the slogan ‘four legs
good, two legs bad’? Do you think the animals want rules in simple
language?
4. How is Squealer able to convince the other animals to accept that the pigs
have the sole right to the cow’s milk?
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George Orwell; Animal Farm
Chapter 4
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS OF
THE FOLLOWING WORDS
.............................................................................
irrepressible .............................................................................
ignominious .............................................................................
posthumously .............................................................................
tractable
1. Describe the Battle of the Cowshed.
2. What was Snowball’s part in this battle?
3. Where is Napoleon during the battle?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
4. What is the significance of the gun’s placement at the foot of the flagpole?
5. What technique does Orwell use to cast doubt on the likelihood of a
succesful revelution?
Chapter 5
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS
OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS
..........................................................................
publican ..........................................................................
manifestly ..........................................................................
factions ..........................................................................
eloquence ..........................................................................
sordid ..........................................................................
articulate ..........................................................................
disinterred ..........................................................................
pretext
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Unit: Animal Farm
1. Why does Mollie run away from the farm?
2. What changes have been made in the weekly meetings over the last year?
3. Explain the windmill controversy from Snowball’s point of view.
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
4. Explain the windmill controversy from Napoleon’s point of view.
5. What changes does Napoleon make after his dogs chase Snowball off the
farm?
6. Why don’t the other animals protest Napoleon’s decisions?
7. Note how the animals now arrange themselves when they enter the barn
to receive their orders as compared to the description in Chapter I.
8. What is the importance of the dogs accompanying Squealer when he
comes to talk to the animals?
Chapter 6
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS
.............................................................................
arable .............................................................................
repose .............................................................................
perpendicularity ....................................................................
flagstaff
.............................................................................
malignity
.............................................................................
laborious
1. How much work are the animals now doing?
2. Why does Napoleon decide to engage in trade with neighboring farms?
3. How do the animals react?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
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4. How is the windmill destroyed? Why does Napoleon blame Snowball?
5. Why does Napoleon insist the windmill must be rebuilt immediately?
George Orwell; Animal Farm
Chapter 7
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS
OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS
..........................................................................
mangels ..........................................................................
infanticide ..........................................................................
capitulated ..........................................................................
coccidiosis ..........................................................................
stupefied ..........................................................................
categorically ..........................................................................
Countenance ..........................................................................
chaff
1. Why does Napoleon order that the hens’ eggs be sold?
2. How does Napoleon react when the hens’ rebel against his orders?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
3. Why does Napoleon revive the threat of the farm being sabotaged by
Snowball?
4. Explain why the animals confessed to being traitors. Or is there any
explanation?
5. Why does Napoleon order the animals to stop singing “Beasts of England?”
6. How does Orwell compare Animal Farm under Napoleon’s rule, to its
exploited state under Farmer Jones’s rule? What might this say about
Orwell’s ideas on totalitarian governments?
7. Do you think it’s fair that those who are more educated or more skilled
have more influence in decision making?
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Unit: Animal Farm
Chapter 8
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS
.............................................................................
surmount .............................................................................
skulk .............................................................................
machination .............................................................................
forgery
.............................................................................
retinue
1. What purpose is served by the production figures Squealer reads to the
animals?
2. How is Napoleon becoming more and more like a typical dictator?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
3. Describe the sale of the stack of lumber. How does Napoleon outwit
himself?
4. What makes the battle against Frederick’s men different from the Battle
of the Cowshed?
5. Why do the men blow up the windmill?
6. The animals celebrate a victory, but at what cost?
7. Describe the whisky incident. Why would Orwell make this scene
somewhat humorous?
8. Why are the animals so easily fooled, even when they find Squealer with
a ladder and white paint beside the barn at night?
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George Orwell; Animal Farm
Chapter 9
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS OF
THE FOLLOWING WORDS
..........................................................................
..........................................................................
..........................................................................
superannuated
complicity
knacker
1. What is happening to Boxer?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
2. What are living conditions like for all of the animals except the pigs and
dogs?
3. Why does Napoleon allow Moses to return and to tell his stories about
Sugarcandy Mountain?
4. What happens to Boxer? How do the animals accept it?
5. Of what kind of person does Benjamin remind you? Give some examples.
What is your opinion of such people?
Chapter 10
V O C A B U L A RY
WRITE DOWN THE DEFINITIONS OF
THE FOLLOWING WORDS
.............................................................................
filial .............................................................................
frugally .............................................................................
incumbent .............................................................................
morose
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Unit: Animal Farm
1. What changes have the years brought to the farm?
2. How does Orwell make fun of bureaucracy?
3. How do the animals no feel about their social order, their farm?
S T U DY
QUESTIONS
4. What drastic actions do the pigs use to shatter the animals’ complacency?
5. All seven commandments are erased. What is the new commandment and
how has it been true from the beginning?
6. At the conference with neighboring farmers, what new changes does
Napoleon point out?
7. What happens to the pigs’ appearance?
8. Some critics relieve that, at the end of the book, Orwell suggests that the
pigs and human political leaders are interchangeable. Do you agree with
this statement? Explain why.
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George Orwell; Animal Farm
DISCUSSIONS
1. Look back at the list of good leadership qualities made at the beginning of the novel. How do the pigs fit the list? Were there any attributes
that the pigs lacked? Did they have some that were not on the list?
2.What importance does education have throughout the novel? How
does it evolve? What are the differences between education and indoctrination?
3. Explain why an enemy or scapegoat is necessary for the animals.
4. “Surely there is no on among you that wants to see Jones come
back?” Throughout the animals’ reign on the farm Napoleon and Squealer dangle the possibility of Jones’
return as a constant danger, keeping most of the other animals in fear, and thus, submission. Do you think
that this was a valid threat? Do you feel that, overall, the animals were better or worse off once they were
in control of the farm?
5. Throughout the novel, the natural characteristics of each animal figure heavily in their motives and
pronouncements. How do the actions of Napoleon (a pig), Boxer (a horse), Benjamin (a donkey) and the
dogs and sheep reflect the traits normally associated with the animal? Do your feel that Orwell purposely
chose certain types of animals to assume certain roles?
6. Repeatedly, the animals sacrifice themselves in order to complete the windmill, only to see it destroyed
time and again. What, if any, symbolic role does the windmill play? How do you account for the pigs’
insistence that it be built and re-built?
7. In one of the first scenes in the novel, Old Major sings Beasts of England, effectively bringing the animals together under a common purpose. Indeed, throughout the initial struggle against Man, it is a wildly
popular and inspirational song. Yet later on, when the animals have successfully conquered the humans,
Squealer, “attended by two dogs,” announces that Beasts of England had been abolished and “was no
longer needed.” Why? Can you cite other examples where what was once held “sacred” and “necessary”
to the common cause was later banished by decree?
8. Although Napoleon is considered the absolute Leader of Animal Farm, it is Squealer who is most adept
at conveying the “party line” to the animals, often convincing them to disbelieve their own eyes. What
methods does Squealer employ to deceive and/or placate the other animals? How does the concept of
memory (or lack thereof) figure in Squealer’s pronouncements and dealings with them?
9. Who were the villains of the story? Are they the same as you thought at the beginning of the novel?
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Unit: Animal Farm
A
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1. Write down at least 3 reasons why a government might be overthrown.
2. Identify two or three revolutions that occurred more then 10 years ago.
What circumstances, of any, do these revolutions have in common? What
sort of goals were the revolutionaries seeking to accomplish? In retrospect,
were the revolutions successful?
3. Who has the power to make changes in a democracy? How do people
make those changes happen?
4. Generalize the behavior of the following animals: pigs, sheep, raven,
horse, chicken, dog, cat, donkey, goat, pigeons. Ex. a wolf is normally smart
and cunning; a deer is easily scared and careful.
5. Make a short list of the qualities a good leader should possess.
6. The major characters in Animal Farm are introduced in the first four
chapters. As you read think about the purpose of each of Orwell’s characters. Complete the chart by noting details that describe each character or by
listing key actions:
Character
Character Details
Key actions
Old Major
Inspires hope for
real change
Gets the revolutions
started
7. Orwell’s characters and narrator use language to communicate hidden
agendas. Sometimes Orwell hints that language should be carefully questioned, other times it’s up to us readers to notice it. As you read Chapter 5,
6 and 7, complete the chart below by filling in some examples of manipulative communication. Then state what you think the language really means.
(min. 5 boxes).
The words
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In future all questions to
the working of the farm
would be settled by a
special committee of pigs
presided over by himself
Napoleon
is going to
make all he
decisions
from now on
In future all questions to
the working of the farm
would be settled by a
special committee of pigs
presided over by himself
George Orwell; Animal Farm
8. As Napoleon takes over leadership of the farm, a new social and political structure
emerges. This restructuring leads to many changes in power and privilege among the
animals. As you read chapters 8, 9 and 10, use the diagram below to record and compare the living conditions of the pigs with the living conditions of the other animals.
Pigs live in
the farmhouse
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Unit: Animal Farm
9. The animals’ initial revolution has faded into the official legend written by Squealer. What if the animals had the same knowledge and insight that you as a reader have? Identify places in chapters 8-10
where this knowledge might change the course of events. Then predict what might have happened had the
animals possessed such knowledge.
10. On pages 3 - 10 of the novel, Old Major expresses his vision of a society free of human influence and
control. Compare and contrast this against what eventually plays out on Manor Farm once the animals
have taken over. What, if any, concepts or goals remain the same?
11. Identify the parallels between the historical figures and the characters in the novel.
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George Orwell; Animal Farm
Historical Figure
Character
Describe Parallel
Karl Marx
Old Major
Old Major is the originator of the idea that becomes the
basis of the animal rebellion- however, like Marx,
the ideals behind it are soon forgotten.
Czar Nicolas II
Josef Stalin
Leon Trotsky
The Proletariat
“laboring working class”
Pravda- the newspaper
that worked as the
propaganda organ
of the Party ”
The KGB, or secret police
1. Why do you think revolutions occur? What circumstances would lead people to
overthrow the daily political and economical structure of their lives?
2. Have you ever felt peer pressure?
Writing Prompts
3. The school gets a new principal and she changes the old rules, some in ways
that seems unfair. Some students organize a protest and ask for a voice in setting
rules. She rejects this without explanation. What will you do? What guidelines
will you follow to determine how far your protest should go to gain equality?
4. You are reading 2 different newspapers and both have different versions of the
same event. How do you decide which one to believe?
5. What methods do some people have to persuade others to follow particular
rules of behavior. Consider ways in which this persuasion relies on bias and manipulation of information.
6. Do you think revolution is worth the upheaval and damage it inevitably causes?
Can it bring about real and lasting change? Why or Why not?
7. What do you look forward to? What will make your life better or more enjoyable?
8. What would it mean for a society to have no enemies?
9. Has the novel Animal Farm had any influence on your view of the world?
19
Unit: Animal Farm
Out of the following list of projects choose two projects to complete.
The first project has to be chosen from 1-4, the second one from 5-8.
PROJECTS
1. Write the eleventh chapter of the book. It is either 10 minutes after
the end of chapter 10 or 10 years.
2. Suppose the animals revolt again, this time against Napoleon. Map
out plans for a successful revolt. Include at least a new leader, new
commandments, plans for feeding the troop and a campaign strategy
for gaining the support of the sheep.
3. Write a dialogue between Snowball and Napoleon as it might have happened over the need for a windmill. Be consistent with the characters of the book.
4. Make a symbol-bag for one of the animals. Choose 7-10 objects that have a symbolic value or meaning. The symbols cannot be to concrete (ex. NO animal figurines). All items need to be accompanied by
an explanatory card.
5. Select major events from the book and present each as part of a series of televised news reports.
6. Convert the novel in a puppet show.
7. Convert the novel into a song, write lyrics and music or adapt words to an already existing melody.
8. Governments like businesses need to convey a particular image to their citizens and to other nations of
the world. They use public relations experts to craft that image and communicate it through electronic and
print media, word of mouth, and specific policies. Play the role of a public relations planner and analyze
how Napoleon might best present the farm to its neighbors.
Persuasive speech unit.
A
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1. In teams of 4 students present arguments why your team should win
today’s price.
2. Persuasion is all around you
PERSUASION IS ALL AROUND YOU
You might be surprised at how many people and businesses are trying to convince you to do things every
day. You only have to watch commercials, read the paper, look at the ads in your magazines, or read the
billboards as you‛re driving home to see that persuasion is all around you.
Tonight for your homework find a persuasive piece to bring to or share about in class. It can be an article in
the newspaper, a letter to the editor, a movie or book review, a commercial, or an advertisement in a
magazine or newspaper. Once you have found your persuasive piece, answer the questions below.
1.
Where did you find your persuasive example? ________________________________________
2. Who is trying to persuade you? ___________________________________________________
3. What are they trying to persuade you to do? ________________________________________
4. Do you think their argument is convincing? Why or why not? _____________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
20
George Orwell; Animal Farm
CHECK
THE
STRATEGIES
Take another look at the persuasive piece that you chose to share with the class from the Persuasion Is All
Around You assignment. What strategies does the author use to try to persuade you? Read through each
strategy and decide whether the author used that strategy by writing yes or no in the second column. If
you write yes, then explain how the author used that strategy.
Persuasive Strategy
Yes/No
How the Author Used It
Claim – States the main
point or stance
Big Names – Mentions experts and
important people to support the
argument
Logos – Uses logic, numbers, or
facts to support the argument
Pathos – Appeals to the audience‛s
emotions
Ethos – Tries to build trust and
credibility
Kairos – Builds a sense of urgency
for the cause
Research – Uses studies and
information to make the
argument seem more convincing;
this can be in the form of words,
graphs, tables, or illustrations
21
Unit: Animal Farm
4. Choose one of the IB writing assignments and fill out the persuasion map.
Persuasion Map
Facts of Examples:
Main Reason #1
Goal or Thesis
Facts of Examples:
Main Reason #2
Facts of Examples:
Main Reason #3
You can also fill out this map using the following link:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/persuasion_map/
22
ESSAY
George Orwell; Animal Farm
1. What do you think of the way Napoleon runs the farm? Would
you support his leadership? Imagine you are a newcomer on the
farm. Write a political speech advocating either support or opposition to Napoleon’s views and methods.
2. Write a description of school policy. Then turn it into a persuasive speech for new students.
How to organize your persuasive essay:
Introduction
• Your introduction should hook your reader’s attention and provide background information on your topic or controversy.
• The paragraph should end with a clear statement of your main idea or point of view.
Body paragraphs
• Your body paragraphs should present the points in support of your main idea.
• Each body paragraph should focus on one point.
• Be sure to provide evidence or examples for each point.
Conclusion
• Creatively restate your main idea and supporting points.
• Try to leave your audience even more connected to your topic and persuaded by your
main idea or perspective.
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