ANIMAL FARM

1. ANIMAL FARM Test Review

2. Characters For each character, you should know: • Description • Important Actions • Friends/allies or enemies of importance • Who they parallel in Russian history • How they parallel Russian history Characters: Old Major, Napoleon, Snowball, Boxer, Clover, Benjamin, Mollie, Squealer, Moses, Minimus, Frederick, Pilkington

3. Old Major • Is a very important character in the story, although he is only present in the first chapter. • He came up with the idea of Animalism and gave the big speech in the beginning of the novel. • Declared all men enemies and all animals comrades. • He inspired the revolution, but died before it happened. • He symbolizes Marx and Lenin because they came up with the idea of Communism

4. Napoleon • A large pig who became the tyrant leader of Animal Farm. • He was a “behind the scenes” type of leader. • Napoleon had a pack of dogs around him at all times for protection. • He was responsible for many changes on the farm that went against Animalism. • He had Snowball run off the farm and killed other animals for associating with Snowball (used him as a scapegoat). • At the end of the novel he changed the name of the farm back to Manor Farm • He represents Stalin • He drove out Snowball, like Stalin exiled Trotsky

5. Snowball • Other pig lead during the revolution. • Snowball is a good leader who makes lots of speeches and is a military mastermind • Commanded Battle of Cowshed • He wanted to build the windmill and to make the farm better • Doesn’t like Napoleon – competes with him for leadership until he is run off the farm • Parallels Trotsky

6. Boxer • Hard working horse and is very loyal to whoever the leader is, kind of stupid • Worked overtime to build windmill – nearly worked himself to death • Friends with Benjamin and Clover • Works hard for the communist goals • Says, “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right” • Is sent to the slaughter house instead of the hospital • Represents the blind followers of Communism and the working class

7. Clover • Clover is a kind horse who questions some of the pigs’ behavior. • She notices when the commandments change, but can’t read them • Close friends with Boxer

8. Benjamin • Old, stubborn donkey who doesn’t believe in Animalism • He doesn’t think Animalism will make any difference. He does not change his behavior after the revolution. • He is the only one who realizes that Boxer is being sent to the slaughter house. • He finally reads the single commandment to Clover at the end of the novel • The only friend he had was Boxer • He represents the cynics who don’t believe in communism

9. Mollie • Mollie is a horse who only cares about herself. • She did not want to rebel and did not help during the Battle of Cowshed. • She only cares about being able to wear ribbons and eat lump sugar • She does not work for Animal Farm, and finally runs away • She represents the upper class people in the Russian revolution who do not support communism – they want to keep their money and luxuries for themselves

10. Squealer • Pig who is in charge of explaining changes to the other animals • Get excited very easily – skips around and moves his tail when talking to the other animals • Tells animals to always believe in Napoleon. • Changes commandments as the pigs change the rules • Is faithful to Napoleon • Represents the use of propaganda during the Russian revolution (the pigs need the milk and apples, instilling fear that Jones might come back, etc)

11. Moses • Moses is a raven who spreads the good word of Sugar Candy Mountain – where he believes animals go when they die • Represents the Russian Orthodox Church – neutral toward the idea of Animalism • In the revolution the priests dreamed of good things like mosses dreams of a good place. • He does no work but he still gets food and beer

12. Other Animals to Know • Minimus - Pig who writes songs and poems for Napoleon • Frederick – neighboring farmer who pays counterfeit money for the timber, then blows up the 2nd windmill • Pilkington – neighboring farmer who gets mad at Napoleon when he sells timber to Frederick – tells Napoleon, “Serves you right,” when the windmill is attacked

13. Class Discussion Topics • What changes occur on Animal Farm? • Why can the pigs get away with these changes? • How are Napoleon and Jones alike? • What does “some animals are more equal than others” mean? • Explain the last line of the book – why is it difficult to distinguish the pigs from the men?

14. Changes on Animal Farm • 7 commandment arrive, but get changed throughout the novel • Farm changed from Manor Farm to Animal Farm, then back again • At first, more food/successful harvests; then things change for the worse • New Flag (flag with horn and hoof representing the communist hammer and sickle); later is just a green flag • All the animals are happier at first, then just happy to be working for themselves and free of humans • The pigs were not considered equal to other animals – they had many privileges • Committees • Reading and writing classes • Building the windmill and rebuilding it • Doing business with outside farms through Mr. Whymper • Taking eggs from the hens • More work, less leisure time • No one ever retires

15. Why can the pigs get away with these changes? • Because the pigs are smarter and can trick the other animals • The other animals can’t remember the past very well • Squealer is extremely convincing and uses propaganda • The pigs told the animals that if they were not in power that Jones would return • Things are still better than when Jones was on the farm and in charge • The animals are happy to be working for themselves even if the conditions aren’t great

16. How are Napoleon and Jones alike? • They are both Tyrants and need power • They are both get more food, rest, luxuries and power • They are both do less work than the rest of the farm workers • They are both wear clothes, and walk on two legs, carry a whip, and are tyrants • They are both cruel leaders.

17. What does “some animals are more equal than others” mean? • That some animals are “BETTER” than other animals such as the pigs and dogs • Not every animal is equal because the pigs get many more privileges (eat apples, milk, drink alcohol, sleep in beds, walk on their hind legs) • Some animals are more the same than others and deserve more than others

18. Explain the last line of the book – why is it difficult to distinguish the pigs from the men? • That the pigs have become so corrupt with power that they look exactly like man, fat drunk and tyrannical • This passage is also saying how humans can act like pigs by being greedy, rude, etc.

19. Terms • Be able to define these terms and explain how they relate to Animal Farm • Allegory • Fable • Symbolism • Satire

20. Allegory • A symbolic story where the characters and plot are to be understood as representing something else that occurred. There is a hidden meaning behind the story. • Animal farm is symbolic of the rise and decline of communism and the Russian revolution. The animals represent specific people from history. The story is not really about animals on a farm.

21. Fable • A short story meant to teach a lesson and usually end with a moral. Characters are usually animals. • Animal farm is a fable – the characters are animals and the author is teaching lessons not only about communism, but about human nature and the desire for power and greed.

22. Satire • The use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, to expose or criticize human vices. • Animal Farm exposes the thoughtless, reckless behavior of humankind in general and specific to the rise and fall of Communism

23. Symbolism • The use of people or objects to represent other real-life objects, ideas or themes • Animal Farm uses TONS of symbolism • animals symbolize people (ex. Snowball symbolizes Trotsky) • objects symbolize past struggles (ex. The windmill symbolizes the desire for industrialization in Russia) • Pigs and political leaders interchangeable

24. Propaganda Know each the following techniques, decide if they are used in the novel and when: • Rhetorical Questions • Emotional Appeal • Logical Lies • Fear • Finger Pointing • Lying • Using confusing/complicated language