Animal Farm Reading Schedule/Due Dates
Week of
Jan. 21
Jan. 28
Day 1
Day 3
Novel Intro Con’t
No School
Novel Intro
Vocabulary #1 Due
History Background Quiz
Vocab. Quiz #1
HW: Read Ch 1-4
Chapters 1-4 Reading and
Questions Due
HW: Finish reading 5-7
Study for History Background
Quiz
Feb. 4
Day 2
HW: Start Reading Chapter 57
Study for Vocab Quiz #1
Vocabulary #2 Due
Chapters 5-7 Reading and
Questions Due
HW: Start Reading Chapters 810
HW: Vocabulary #1
History Background
Questions
Define Vocabulary #2
Vocab. Quiz #2
HW: Finish Reading Chapters
8-10
Chapters 8-10 Due
HW: Study for Character
Parallels Quiz
Feb. 11
Character Parallels Quiz
Essay Topics Out
Feb 18
No School—President’s Day
Themes/Test Review
Essay Writing Work Time
HW: Study for Novel Test
Essay Draft due for
Revision
Novel Test
Essay
Final Draft Due
Name_______________________________________________________ Class___________________
Animal Farm Background Notes
Keep these! They will be helpful with writing assignments, quizzes, and the unit test.
Background Information about George Orwell:
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Animal Farm is a story of revolution
Think about leadership. What are the qualities of a good leader? Can you think of any specific examples?
What are the qualities a bad leader? What might make a good leader turn bad?
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Revolutions occur for two reasons:
1.
2.
Define the following:
1. Allegory—
2. Fable—
Animal Farm is a (n) _______________________ because_______________________________________
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There are four main themes in Animal Farm that we’ll explore throughout the unit including:
1. Corruption of Utopic Ideals
What this means:
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How it applies to the novel:
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2. Tendency toward Class Stratification
What this means:
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How it applies to the novel:
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3. Importance of Education
What this means:
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How it applies to the novel:
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4. Abuses of Language and Power
What this means:
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How it applies to the novel:
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History Notes of Animal Farm
Part 1: Karl Marx--The Father of Communism
What objections did Marx raise about capitalism in the Communist Manifesto?
What solution did Marx propose?
Describe what this new world would look like.
Part 2: A Country in Turmoil--Russia 1900-1918
Describe Russia’s political system at the turn of the 20th century.
Who was the leader of Russia? Where did his power come from?
How did WWI impact the social/economic situation in Russia?
What happened in February of 1917?
Part 3: All Power to the Soviets--The Communist Takeover
What were two shortcomings of the Provisional government?
Who was Vladimir Lenin? What changes did he want to make in Russia?
What happened in Russia in October of 1917?
Part 4: The Aftermath--Communism’s First Years 1917-22
What was the goal of the communist era? How was this accomplished?
How did the wealthy feel about these changes?
What was the role of the Red Army?
What happened to Lenin?
Part 5: Trotsky and Stalin—1922-40
Describe Leon Trotsky.
Describe Joseph Stalin.
How does Stalin gain control?
How does the Soviet Union grow as an economic power? What is the cost of this growth?
What occurred during the Blood Purges?
What happened to Stalin?
Parallels between Animal Farm and Actual Historical Events
Character/Idea
Animal Farm
Boxer
Old Major
Napoleon
Animalism
Squealer
Moses
Mr. Jones
Animal Rebellion
Hoof and Horn
Flag
Benjamin
Snowball
Description
Parallel
Foxwood Farm
Mr. Pilkington
Pinchfield Farm
Mr. Fredrick
Battle of the
Cowshed
Mollie
Napoleon’s Dogs
Old Major’s Skull
Confessions and
Executions
Battle of the
Windmill
Propaganda:
One way that power is maintained is by using propaganda. Propaganda is the manipulation and control of
language. Define the following types and give an example of each.

Euphemism

Oversimplification

Bandwagon
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Internal contradiction

Faulty cause-and-effect reasoning

Begging the question
There are a few other ingredients needed for power to be held. These include:
 Supporters
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Ignorance of followers

Scapegoat
Essential Questions: Use these questions to guide your reading. If you are unsure of how to answer them,
please ask in class.
Chapters 1-4:
1.
Describe how the Rebellion takes place. How does the animals’ behavior during the Rebellion
suggest both human and animal characteristics?
2. How do the pigs gain the rights to the cow’s milk? Why do the other animals allow this to occur?
What does this suggest about the power of hierarchy on the farm?
3. How does the original vision of Animalism become the slogan “Four legs good, two legs bad”? In
your opinion, do the animals want rules with simple language? What kind of language do the pigs
use?
4. What technique does Orwell use to cast doubt on the likelihood of a successful revolution?
5. Characterize Snowball as a leader. Do you think his reaction to the stable boy’s death is the
appropriate reaction to have during a revolution?
Chapters 5-7:
1. What happens to Snowball during the meeting about the windmill? What events in Soviet history
does this scene suggest?
2. Identify three ways that Napoleon tries to solidify his leadership position on the farm. How does the
process of decision-making on the farm change under Napoleon’s leadership?
3. Why do the executions take place? What message do these events send to the animals about their
role in a future society?
4. How does Orwell compare Animal Farm under Napoleon’s leadership to its exploited state under
Farmer Jones’s rule? What attitude about totalitarian government do you think Orwell conveys?
5. Do you think it’s fair that those who are more educated or more skilled—like the pigs in Animal
Farm—have more influence in decision making? Why do you think this often occurs?
Chapters 8-10:
1. What dealings does Napoleon have with Fredrick and Pilkington? How does the battle over the
windmill affect the animals? What events from Soviet history is Orwell highlighting?
2. What happens to Boxer and how do the other animals learn of his fate? How do they come to a final
conclusion about these events?
3. What changes are made to the Fifth and Sixth Commandments? How is the entire list of
Commandments ultimately refashioned? What point is Orwell making about the role of
communication in society?
4. In Chapter 10, the pigs begin to walk on two legs. In your opinion, is the evolution a sign of
progress? Explain.
5. Some critics believe that, at the end of the book, Orwell suggests that the pigs and human political
leaders are interchangeable. Do you think that most government rulers are interchangeable? How
might power change those who have it?
Animal Farm —Vocabulary #1
1. Dissenter
2. Benevolent
3. Ensconced
4. Enmity
5. Factitious
6. Preeminent
7. Expounded
8. Posthumously
9. Parasitical
10. Ignominious
11. Factions
12. Sordid
13. Infanticide
14. Stupefied
15. Impending
Vocabulary #2
1. Conciliatory|
2. Disinterred
3. Arable
4. Capitulated
5. Coccidiosis
6. Vengeance
7. Superannuated
8. Complicity
9. Morose
10. Taciturn
11. Filial
12. Imperishable
13. Deputation
14. Eminent
15. Poultice