Animal farm revising the novel

Literary Heritage Prose A664

Animal Farm
George Orwell

You will have a choice of two questions and 45 minutes to answer. This is
one half of the exam – the other being unseen contemporary poetry.

How is this part of the exam marked?
AO1 Respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant
textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations.
AO2 Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation
of ideas, themes and settings.
Quality of Written Communication is assessed in this paper. Candidates are expected
to:
•ensure that text is legible and that spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate
so that meaning is clear;
•present information in a form that suits its purpose;
•use a suitable structure and style of writing.
A band 1 response:
AO1 AO2 QWC
•sophisticated critical •sensitive understanding of •text is legible
perception in response to and the significance and effects of •spelling, punctuation and
interpretation of text(s) writers’ choices of language, grammar are accurate and
•cogent and precise structure and form assured
evaluation of relevant detail •meaning is very clearly
from the text(s) communicated

GEORGE ORWELL: Animal Farm
Past Questions
• In what way does Orwell powerfully depict the
relationship between the pigs and the other
animals in this extract? One extract based
• How does Orwell vividly portray the importance
of the sheep and dogs in Animal Farm?
Remember to support your ideas with details
from the novel. One general

This is an open book exam so you will have clean
copies of the text in front of you.

In what way does Orwell powerfully depict the relationship between the pigs and the other
animals in this extract?
They had won, but they were weary and bleeding. Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm. The sight of their dead comrades
stretched upon the grass moved some of them to tears. And for a little while they halted in sorrowful silence at the place where the
windmill had once stood. Yes, it was gone; almost the last trace of their labour was gone! Even the foundations were partially destroyed.
And in rebuilding it they could not this time, as before, make use of the fallen stones. This time the stones had vanished too. The force of
the explosion had flung them to distances of hundreds of yards. It was as though the windmill had never been.

As they approached the farm Squealer, who had unaccountably been absent during the fighting, came skipping towards them, whisking his
tail and beaming with satisfaction. And the animals heard, from the direction of the farm buildings, the solemn booming of a gun.

‘What is that gun firing for?' said Boxer.

'To celebrate our victory" cried Squealer.

'What victory?' said Boxer. His knees were bleeding, he had lost a shoe and split his hoof, and a dozen pellets had lodged themselves in his
hindleg.

'What victory, comrade? Have we not driven the enemy off our soil - the sacred soil of Animal Farm?'

'But they have destroyed the windmill. And we had worked on it for two years!’

'What matter? We will build another windmill. We will build six windmills if we feel like it. You do not appreciate, comrade, the mighty
things that we have done. The enemy was in occupation of this very ground that we stand upon. And now - thanks to the leadership of
Comrade Napoleon - we have won every inch of it back again!'

'Then we have won back what we had before,' said Boxer.

'That is our victory,' said Squealer.

They limped into the yard. The pellets under the skin of Boxer's leg smarted painfully. He saw ahead of him the heavy labour of rebuilding
the windmill from the foundations, and already in imagination he braced himself for the task. But for the first time it occurred to him that
he was eleven years old and that perhaps his great muscles were not quite what they had once been.

The Story Structure
Plot each of the events onto a story structure graph
• Major tells the other animals on the farm about a dream he has had in which animals live free from human slavery.
• Major’s speech inspires the animals to rebel and they drive Mr Jones from the farm.
• The farm is renamed ‘Animal Farm’ and the seven commandments are written on the barn wall.
• The animals work hard to bring the harvest in
• They discover the pigs have been taking all the apples and milk for themselves and the puppies are taken away by
Napoleon to be educated privately.
• The two neighbouring farmers are frightened that the revolution will spread to their own farms. They help Mr Jones
attack Animal Farm.
• The animals fend off the attack from the farmers and Mollie vanishes from the farm.
• After he disagrees with Napoleon about the building of the windmill, Snowball is attacked by the dogs and driven from
the farm.
• The pigs move into Mr Jones’s house and sleep in beds, and Napoleon decides to trade with humans.
• The animals build the windmill.
• The animals face starvation. Napoleon takes his solicitor around the farm and tricks him into thinking that gossip about
a famine is untrue.
• Napoleon holds a show trial, accusing his opponents of ludicrous crimes. The accused animals are publically executed.
• The pigs begin to alter the commandments on the wall of the barn to justify their actions.
• Napoleon’s trade with his neighbour causes problems and the humans destroy the windmill.
• Boxer collapses in the quarry. The pigs sell Boxer to the knacker’s yard as he is too weak to work.
• The pigs begin to walk on their hind legs and the commandments are replaced with just one.
• The animals look through the farmhouse window and can no longer see the difference between the pigs and the
humans.

Does it fit into the traditional three-part story structure?

Structure
• What are the main factors that influence the
structure of the story?
As befits an allegory, the sequence of events in
Animal Farm mirrors those of the Russian
Revolution and its history under Stalin. The novel
is divided into ten chapters and the farm’s decline
into tyranny is marked by the gradual violation of
each of the seven commandments.
• Can you add these points to your graph?

Structure
• In Chapter 2, the new dawn (page 27) is
symbolic as well as literal. What might it
stand for?
It is as if the animals have woken up from a
sleep. Chapter 2 makes us aware of just what
the animals have fought for and how happy
they are with the equal society that they think
they have created after the revolution.

Structure
The book charts the corruption of Major’s
ideal in stages: Chapter 1 sets out the
rebellion’s high ideals and acts as a marker by
which we judge the pigs’ subsequent actions.
• Look again at Major’s ideas in Chapter 1.
Create a list.
• How do the pigs’ actions live up to these?
Provide evidence to support your answers
(PEEEE)

Structure
The turning point comes once Napoleon orders
the execution of the pigs and the hens. Then
there is a speedy descent into further betrayal –
Boxer’s death and tyranny. Life deteriorates
quickly once life has been taken – and it is not
long before the pigs are walking on their hind
legs, installing a phone and dressing in human
clothing.
• Plot this point onto your structure graph as the
‘turning point’.

Structure
• Are there any similarities between the beginning
and the end of the novel? If so what?
By the end of the book, Napoleon sleeps in Jones’
bed, dines from his crockery and drinks alcohol.
The circular nature of the plot is used by Orwell
to highlight the depth of Napoleon’s descent and
the irony of the revolution. He is worst than
Jones as he has betrayed the animals’ trust.

Structure
• What is the novel’s subtitle? What does having this
add to the way we might respond to the novel?
• “Animal Farm is still popular because of its apparent
simplicity.” What features might collaborate this view?
The book is set in a farmyard, its storyline progresses in
clear stages, its main characters are animals: it seems
at first to be a perfect children’s book. The simplicity of
the book supports its subtitle ‘A Fairy Story’. The
simple storyline; straightforward, sometimes comic
characters and seemingly naive tone stop Animal Farm
from being seen as a dry political pamphlet and allow
Orwell’s message to reach the widest possible
audience in a readable form. Even so, the book was
rejected by publishers numerous times because of its
anti-Stanlist message.

Structure
• How does Orwell subvert the fairytale genre?
• How is the ending of the novel ambiguous? What is the
effect of this on the reader?
We expect fairytales to be about the battle between
good and evil – as in Animal Farm – but in this book,
good is seen to be punished rather than rewarded. The
ending’s ambiguity leaves the reader thinking the
worst – that there is no possible happy ending to the
story. We don’t expect fairytales to be nightmares.
• If Animal Farm is not a fairy story, what is it?
Animal Farm is not really a fairy story at all, but a bleak
political satire.

Structure
• What is the narrative voice used in the novel?
What reasons might Orwell have had to use this?
Orwell uses a third person narrator to tell us the
story of Animal Farm. A third person narrator is a
god-like, omnipotent figure who sees everything
that happens in the story – and can even tell us
what each character is thinking.

Structure
Most fairy stories and fables have a third person narrator, but there are
also other reasons why Orwell uses this technique:
 Detachment: Orwell’s narrator seems detached and gives the reader a
similar distance from the events in the book. Although we are often
given the animals’ interpretation of events, Orwell is careful to use
phrases that leave us in no doubt about what is happening. For
example, when Squealer is found at the bottom of the ladder in the
middle of the night, it is described as ‘ a strange incident which hardly
anyone was able to understand’ (page 94). The animals might not be
aware of what is going on but it is obvious to us that Squealer has been
caught red-handed changing the Commandments, and has fallen off
the ladder as he is drunk. The gap between what is really happening
and what we are told is exploited by Orwell to make a satirical point.
 Trust: We trust the narrator. We do not question his interpretation of
the characters and we believe that he is telling the truth and showing
us all that happens on the farm. This relationship between the reader
and narrator is problematic and perhaps ironic in a book that is itself
about the way in which language can be distorted.

Structure
A Shift in Tone
In the final scene in the book there is a shift away
from Orwell’s detached narrator to the tone of a
dream or vision. This shift is emphasized by
Orwell’s repetition of the animals’ trust in the
pigs and that the promised utopia will arrive
some day (page 111-12), followed by Clover
seeing the pigs walking on their hind legs, and the
acceleration towards the final scene. The
contrast highlights the extent of the pigs betrayal
and exploitation of the animals.

Structure
Fable
The story has similarities to another genre – the beast
fable – in which animal characters are used to make
serious moral points. In these works, such as Aesop’s
Fables, the characters do not behave in a realistic way
but are symbolic of certain attitudes. Animals are
often the main characters in children’s books (such as
The Wind in the Willows or The Jungle Book) for a
similar reason. They do not have to be as ‘realistic’ as
characters in other books and can be given one single,
overriding personality trait.
• Choose six of the characters in Animal Farm and
identify the personality trait given to them by Orwell.
What is each symbolic of?

Structure
Unlike most beast fables, though, the ending of Animal Farm is
ambiguous. There is no clear sense of how life will turn out for the
animals. No clear moral is stated, although Orwell’s message
throughout the text is clear.
• What is Orwell’s message?
Orwell was a life-long socialist whose political beliefs led him to
fight for the Republicans against Franco’s fascists in the Spanish Civil
War (1936-9). When the Second World War broke out, ill-health
prevented him from signing up.
Orwell’s experiences in the Spanish Civil War are relevant to the
explicitly political Animal Farm. He became disillusioned with
revolutionary politics after seeing the in-fighting between people
who were meant to be on the same side.
Orwell wasn’t just making a point about events in Russia in Animal
Farm. He stated that the book was an attack on dictatorships in
general and the way in which they seized and held onto power. He
was not against revolutions but he did want to show people what
happened when the people who led the revolution were allowed to
do as they pleased.

Review the Structure
List five features of structure in
Animal Farm. For each explain
the effect of the feature on the
reader/story.

A longer practice question about the
structure of the story:
To what extent is Animal Farm a satire?
Think about: Satire: literature that targets an issue,
– Orwell’s use of allegory institution or idea and attacks it in such
– The sequence of events a way as to make it look ridiculous or
worthy of contempt. It is not the same
– The genre
as simply making fun of something, as
– The book’s subtitle satirical writer has a purpose in
attacking the target, other than making
people laugh

For a grade C: convey your ideas clearly and appropriately (you
could use the words from the question to guide your answer)
and refer to details from the text (use specific examples).
For a grade A: make sure you show that you understand Orwell’s
purpose in writing the story and how the structure and use of
character, language and form drive this home to the reader.
There points need to be woven into your answer.

Model Answer
Orwell’s use if allegory in Animal Farm helps to create satire. In
Orwell’s novel the lead characters of Napoleon and Snowball act as
representations of the Russian Revolution’s key figures: Stalin and
Trotsky. The presentation of these characters is made satirical
through Orwell’s choice of animal to represent these key figures.
He chooses pigs to represent the political leaders, animals that are
often thought of as intelligent but greedy and unclean. This tells
the audience about the characters; they are greedy and
underhand – particularly Napoleon, who becomes a dictator. This
is of course allegorical and represents the rise of Stalin to the role
of dictator in the Russian Revolution. Orwell’s intention in using
an allegory was to highlight not just the wrongs of the Russian
Revolution but the perils of allowing leaders to become too
powerful. The satirical element to the storytelling helps to
portray the disgust he felt towards dictators.

Animal Farm

How does Orwell use historical
events in Animal Farm?
Think about your answer to this question.
Now share your answer with your group.


Band AO1 AO2 QWC
1 •sophisticated critical perception in response to •sensitive understanding of the •text is legible
and interpretation of text(s) significance and effects of •spelling, punctuation and grammar are
•cogent and precise evaluation of relevant detail writers’ choices of language, accurate and assured
from the text(s) structure and form •meaning is very clearly communicated

2 •critical engagement and insight in response to •critical insight into the •text is legible
•evaluation of well-selected reference to detail of writers’ choices of language, accurate
text(s) structure and form •meaning is very clearly communicated

3 •clear, sustained responses to the text(s) •clear understanding of some of •text is legible
•support from careful and relevant reference to the effects of writers’ choices of •spelling, punctuation and grammar are
detail of the text(s) language, structure and form mainly accurate
•meaning is clearly communicated

4 •reasonably developed personal response to the •overall understanding that •text is legible
text(s) writers’ choices of language, •some errors in spelling, punctuation and
•use of appropriate support from detail of the structure and form contribute to grammar
text(s) meaning/effect •meaning is clearly communicated for
most of the answer

Band AO1 AO2 QWC
1 •sophisticated critical perception in response to •sensitive understanding of the •text is legible
•cogent and precise evaluation of relevant detail writers’ choices of language, accurate and assured
from the text(s) structure and form •meaning is very clearly communicated

2 •critical engagement and insight in response to •critical insight into the •text is legible
•evaluation of well-selected reference to detail of writers’ choices of language, accurate
text(s) structure and form •meaning is very clearly communicated

3 •clear, sustained responses to the text(s) •clear understanding of some of •text is legible
•support from careful and relevant reference to the effects of writers’ choices of •spelling, punctuation and grammar are
detail of the text(s) language, structure and form mainly accurate
•meaning is clearly communicated

4 •reasonably developed personal response to the •overall understanding that •text is legible
text(s) writers’ choices of language, •some errors in spelling, punctuation and
•use of appropriate support from detail of the structure and form contribute to grammar
text(s) meaning/effect •meaning is clearly communicated for
most of the answer

Think about your answer to the starter question.
What band would your response be in if you wrote it now?

Context
(no using the study guide this lesson please)
1. Match up the Russian historical events with the correct event in Animal Farm
(cut them up and rearrange). Use the glossary and information sheet
provided to help you. Stick it down when you are happy.
2. Using the worksheet, complete the short summary of the parallels between
the Russian Revolution and Orwell’s Animal Farm.
3. Why do you think Orwell chose to use an allegory to show his feelings about
revolution and dictatorships? Fiction is an indirect method of political
commentary; if Orwell had written an academic essay, he could have named
names, pointed to details, and proven his case more easily. Think about:
– The events of the time in which he was writing (1943)
– Who he wanted to hear his message
– The way he wanted his readers to feel about the people and events
– Is it about just the one historical event?
4. Do you think Animal Farm’s message would come across effectively to
someone who knows nothing about Soviet history or the conflict between
Stalin and Trotsky? What might such a reader make of the story?

The Parallels between the events of Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution
In the novel, Orwell portrays Lenin’s and the communist’s rise to power, seizing
control from the Tsars through the character of ............ and the animals’ ..............
against ..............
Napoleon and Snowball, ............ and ................. in Orwell’s allegory, establish a
Communist society which is represented by .................. which echoes .............
ideas.
After ........... death there is a struggle for power between ................. and ................
and ............. is exiled; the historical parallels being ........... death followed by a
power struggle between ........... and ................. which .......... won.
Stalin slowly established his role as a dictator: taking more for himself and leaving
the people without enough, rewriting history, purging anyone who opposed him.
In Orwell’s novel ............... establishes his role as a dictator by: .................,
........................, .....................
Trying to protect the farm, Napoleon makes deals with .............. and ................. but
is tricked with forged notes just as .................in an effort to protect the Soviet
Union from attack negotiated with .......... and ................ but .........................
At the Tehran Conference the Soviet Union, Britain and the USA claimed to be allies
but a few years later the .................. ... began which placed the Soviet Union
against its wartime allies. Orwell’s novel ends with ............. and ................... having
dinner together but Orwell hints at discord in .....................................................

Context
(no using the study guide this lesson please)
1. Match up the Russian historical events with the correct event in Animal Farm
(cut them up and rearrange). Use the glossary to help you. When you are done
matching, use the ‘Brief bit of history...’ to check and add to your comparison.
Stick it down when you are happy.
2. Write a short summary (150 words or less) of the parallels between the Russian
Revolution and Orwell’s Animal Farm. Make sure to include the key words:
allegory, communism, animalism, capitalist, proletariat, cult of personality,
purges, show trial and the comparable characters/key historical figures and
events.
3. Why do you think Orwell chose to use an allegory to show his feelings about
revolution and dictatorships? Fiction would seem a rather indirect method of
political commentary; if Orwell had written an academic essay, he could have
named names, pointed to details, and proven his case more easily. Think about:
– The events of the time in which he was writing
– Who he wanted to hear his message
– The way he wanted his readers to feel about the people and events
– Is it about just the one historical event?
4. Do you think Animal Farm’s message would come across effectively to someone
who knows nothing about Soviet history or the conflict between Stalin and
Trotsky? What might such a reader make of the story?
Extension:
To what extent is the novel nothing more than an allegory for the Russian Revolution?

Political Terms Explanation
The radical wing of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Party. Founded by Lenin, the Bolsheviks came to power in the 1917
Bolsheviks October Revolution and eventually changed their name to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

According to Karl Marx, a capitalist is someone who has money and invests in business. This person then makes a profit if the
Capitalist business does well.

The period from 1949 to 1989, which was marked by a diplomatic and political standoff between the Soviet Union and Western
Cold War powers.

A government that is elected by the people or their representatives.
Democracy
A ruler whose decisions do not need anyone else’s agreement. Often, in dictatorships, any form of opposition has ben
Dictator abolished, leaving the ruler with absolute power.

Brainwashing someone into believing a particular opinion.
Indoctrination
A land-owning peasant. After the Russian Revolution, the kulaks did not want their farms to be collectivised. From 1929, Stalin
Kulak began to exterminate them as a class.

A follower of the ideas of Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Marxist
The lower or working class, especially those living in industrial societies whose only possession (according to Marx) was the
Proletariat value of their work.

A form of government where the people – or the people they elect – have power
Republic
Description of someone or something that is working to destroy something, particularly a government (often behind the
Subversive scenes/in secret)

Description of a government that has absolute control over its citizens’ lives and does not allow them to raise any opposition.
Totalitarian Most dictatorships are totalitarian.

The emperor of Russia until 1914. the word is also used to mean tyrant, or autocrat, or – more generally – a person with
Tsar authority

A person who governs in an unjust and violent way. Someone who uses their power in an unreasonable or selctiv way to
Tyrant oppress others can be said to be tyrannical.

A brief bit of history...
Animal Farm is an allegory of Russian history. In 1917 the February Revolution overthrew the
Tsar, but within months the Provisional Government was itself overthrown by the Communist
Party, led by Lenin.
Karl Marx and Communism
Marx believed that in a capitalist society workers were exploited by the people they worked for. Workers were
paid a wage to produce goods that were then sold at a higher price than they cost to make. Marx argued that
the capitalists kept this profit and that if they paid the workers lower wages, they could increase their profit.
For this reason, the capitalists and the workers would never see eye-to-eye, or have each other’s best interests
at heart. According to Marx, this situation created a class struggle. Marx said that eventually the workers
would rebel against the capitalists and overthrow them. They would then establish a more equal society.
Marx wrote Das Kapital, which stated that society should be free and equal, and the Communist Manifesto
which called for workers to unite. Lenin took Marx’s ideas and adapted them to form his own brand of
Communism.
The Struggle of Power
Lenin died in 1924. A struggle for power between Trotsky and Stalin followed. Trotsky believed that to protect
the Soviet Union, the revolution had to spread throughout the world in a ‘Permanent Revolution’, a slogan that
encapsulated his beliefs. Unlike Trotsky, Stalin felt that the country’s security lay in building its defences:
‘Socialism in one Country’ was his competing slogan.
The Soviet Union under Stalin
By 1928, Stalin had become a dictator. His rule seemed to have little in common with the ideas of either Lenin
or Marx.
Propaganda was a frequently used tool that further emphasised the control Stalin had over Soviet life. Stalin
frequently reinvented his history and that of the Soviet people. Past enemies were presented to the people as
allies and vice versa. Those who were thought to oppose him were exiled or executed. In many cases ‘show
trials’ were staged in which people confessed to crimes that they had not committed. These purges (the official
name given to Stalin’s elimination of his opponents) created a climate of fear.
Stalin exiled Trotsky in 1929. In Trotsky’s absence, Stalin blamed him for the country’s problems and claimed
Trotsky was working with the country’s enemies to overthrow the government.

Animal Farm
How does Orwell use historical
events in Animal Farm?
Think about the answer you gave to this question at the
beginning of the lesson. Is your answer any different now?
Share your new answer with your group and discuss together if
you have been able to expand on your knowledge of the novel’s
context to answer this question more thoroughly.
Are you working in a higher band now?

Orwell wasn’t just making a point about the events in Russia in
Animal Farm. He stated that the book was an attack on
dictatorships in general and the way in which they seized and
held onto power. He was not against revolutions but he did
want to show people what happened when the people who
led the revolution were allowed to do as they pleased.

Examiner’s Tip: Writing about Context
As the table you created shows, the historical context for
Animal Farm is very important. It is also fair to say that the
book is Orwell’s own creation, and that it is possible to write
interestingly about it without making reference to the context.
But understanding the history of the early twentieth century,
and how Orwell responded to it, will enrich your answers and
impress the examiner!

• Orwell claimed his purpose in writing Animal
Farm was ‘to fuse political and artistic
purpose into one whole’. To what extent do
you think he succeeded?

Character
You should ensure you know:
• Who they are
• What they do in the book
• What their role in the story is
• How they are described and what this means
• How they contrast/compare with other
characters in the book
• What the readers’ reaction to the character is and
how this is shaped
• Who their comparable historical figure/group is

Who is he?

Major is a highly regarded pig, who is also a natural
leader who is : “Wise and benevolent”

How does Major contrast/compare
with the other characters?

In the book, Major is the main perpetrator and the start
of the novel.

“Is it not crystal clear, comrades, that all the evils of this life
of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings?”

What is his role in the story?

Major is the character that gets the ball
rolling. He instigates the rebellion by
telling the animals about life: “This is my
message to you comrades: Rebellion!”

His ideas are referred to the whole way
through the novel.

How is he described in the novel?

Major is described a majestic looking pig with
a wise and benevolent pig.

“Benevolent” “Majestic looking pig”

Readers reaction to Major.

The reader trusts Major.

Writing tips.
Major represents the ideas of Marxism and
Lenism.

What Major believes in in the novel is what
Orwell believes in but Major’s ideas are
subverted by the pigs later in the novel.

Napoleon
Brave comrade. Noble leader.
Brutal Dictator.

Who is Napoleon?
Napoleon is the leader of Animal Farm. He is a
large and controlling Berkshire Boar who
becomes the leader of Animal Farm after
getting rid of Snowball. He has a controlling
personality and a murderous lust for power.
He shows no qualms with stealing and
murdering to secure his station just a little
more.

Not only that, he shows a disregard for the
very tenants which and the other pigs laid
down at the beginning of the book. He:
• Sleeps in a bed
• Trades with humans
• Drinks alcohol
• Murders other animals
• Walks on two legs
• And wears clothes.

How he’s described
“And finally there was a tremendous baying of
dogs and a shrill crowing from the black
cockerel, and out came Napoleon himself,
majestically upright, casting haughty glances
from side to side, and with the dogs
gambolling around him.
He carried a whip in his trotter”

This description is probably one of the most
effective in the book. We see it from the point
of view of the animals, and it seems to cast
him in a positive light, with the dogs
“gambolling” and him being “Majestically
upright”. But when the audience pictures it, it
is imposing. It is scary, it is wrong and it is in
direct violation of that which Napoleon once
seemed to uphold.

Who does he represent?
Napoleon represents Stalin in Animal Farm.
He is the greedy leader who is completely
uncaring for the people he leads, and instead
only cares for his own power, his own wealth
and keeping himself in alcohol. He is brutal,
powerful and is almost worshipped by the
proletariat.

Quotations
The game is simple. We will give you a quote
said by another animal about Napoleon. You
will have to tell us who said it.

Napoleon is always right
-Boxer

Two legs good, four legs better.
-The Sheep

Thanks to the leadership of Comrade
Napoleon, we have won every inch of
it back again!

-Squealer

Who is Snowball?
• Snowball is one of Orwell's main characters in
Animal Farm.
• He is the farm’s intellectual and tries to rival
Napoleon for the overall running of the farm.

What does he do in the book?/what is his role
in the story?
• Energetically promote the revolution and teaches the
animals new skills.
• Although he appears to care about the well being of
the other animals, he supports Napoleon’s seizure of
the apples.
• Brave in battle and a brilliant strategist.
• He is the mastermind behind the windmill.
• For all his brilliance, he does not appear to notice
Napoleon’s steady climb to power, or the use he
makes of the dogs.
• Snowball is nearly killed by Napoleon’s dogs and
flees from the farm.

How is Snowball described and what
does this mean?
• Snowball is described as a charismatic and brilliant thinker
‘Snowball was...quicker in speech and more innovative’. He
communicates his ideas very well to the other animals. He
is dedicated to spreading Major’s revolution ideas, he along
with the other pigs wrote out the 7 commandments which
were expressed in Old Major’s dream and he is adament on
spreading them and also making sure they are put into
practice.
• Snowball uses his skills to teach the animals to read and
write. Snowball understands that the other animals are not
as intelligent as him and he simplifies the rules ‘four legs
good, two legs bad’.
• Snowball is also described as being ruthless as he states
‘the only good human is a dead one’.

How does Snowball compare with
other characters in the book?
• Snowball and Napoleon are the main comparison because they both fight for leadership. Snowball has similarities with
Napoleon:
– In their appearance, Orwell chose for both of them to be pigs
– Their leadership qualities: Orwell describes Snowball as a pig very similar to Napoleon— at least in the early stages.
Both pigs wanted a leadership position in the "new" economic and political system (which is actually contradictory to
the whole supposed system of equality). But as time goes on, both eventually realize that one of them will have to
step down. Orwell says that the two were always arguing. "Snowball and Napoleon were by far the most active in the
debates. But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement: whatever suggestion either of them made, the
other could be counted to oppose it." Later, Orwell makes the case stronger. "These two disagreed at every point
disagreement was possible."
– Snowball shares and follows most of Major’s ideas. Snowball is one of the main animals that writes up the 7
commandments that were dreamt by old Major. Snowball also shares the commandments more than any other
animals.
– He can also be compared to Boxer because they are both very hard working and dedicated to the farm. The windmill
was Snowballs idea, he worked long and hard to make the plans for it and put it into action, Boxers motto is ‘I will
work harder’ and he puts this into action when working in the fields and on the windmill.

How does Snowball contrast with
other characters?
• Snowball’s ideas and views to the running the
farm contrast with Napoleon, the most obvious -
the windmill.
• Snowball contrasts with other characters such as
Boxer in that Snowball is very intelligent and good
with communication.
• Snowball contrasts with Napoleon as Napoleon is
lazy and cowardly but as is shown in the Battle of
the Cowshed Snowball is brave and works hard in
designing the windmill.

What is the readers’ reaction to
Snowball?
The reader feels that Snowball is a genuine character
who tries to do the best for his “comrades” and for the
farm. This idea is founded at the Battle of the Cowshed
when the reader sees how passionate he is about the
idea of a human-free farm and his support of the
revolution. Snowball had planned for this attack for a
long time. Snowball’s great bravery helped the animals
defeat the humans. ‘Without halting for an instant,
Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones's legs'

Who is Snowballs comparable
historical figure?
Snowball’s represents Trotsky (Leon Davidovich Trotsky 1879-1940)
in Orwell’s allegory.
Trotsky was an early leader in communism. He helped lead the
“October Revolution,” to get rid of Czar Nicolas II. Trotsky was a
“true communist,” which means he followed Marx. Trotsky really
wanted to improve life for every Russian, but he was chased away
by Stalin and the KGB after a power struggle. But Trotsky was not
only exiled in body, he was also exiled from the minds of the
Russian people - His historical role was altered; his face cut out of
group photographs of the leaders of the revolution. In Russia he
was denounced as a traitor and conspirator and in 1940 a Stalinist
agent assassinated him in Mexico City.

Comparably, Snowball is an early leader in Animalism. He has an
important part in getting rid of Mr. Jones, and is a leader in the
Battle of Cowshed. He is a follower of Old Major, and wants to
improve life for all animals. Snowball is chased away by Napoleon's
dogs, and he is blamed for all of the problems on the farm.

• Before Snowball is expelled from the farm he is liked by
the animals, they think he’s a good leader because of
the commandments and because he is likeable and
hard working. As soon as he is banished Napoleons
propaganda turns Snowball into a hated figure
‘Whenever anything went wrong it became usual to
attribute it to Snowball. If a window was broken or a
drain was blocked up, someone was certain to say that
Snowball had come in the night and done it, and when
the key of the store-shed was lost, the whole farm was
convinced that Snowball had thrown it down the well.
Curiously enough, they went on believing this even
after the mislaid key was found under a sack of meal.’

Who is Squealer?
“ A small, fat pig" known for being a smooth
talker, who reportedly "could turn black into
white.“(35) Squealer was Napoleon’s
propagandist, his “spin doctor”, who justifies
napoleon’s seizure of power.

What does Squealer do
in the book?
•Squealer is responsible for the devious changed to
the seven commandments.

•He confuses the animals and makes them doubt
there own memories, persuading them that he is right.

•Squealer give the animals meaningless lists of
statistics to convince them that life under Napoleon is
getting better.

•He uses his own eloquence and Napoleon’s brutal
dogs to enforce Napoleons message

•Squealer grows fatter as the story progresses, as he
benefits from working for Napoleon.

Squealer’s role in the story
Squealer represents the propaganda
newspaper Pravda rather than a person. The
statement that Squealer can “turn black into
white” was intended to refer to Pravda's
ability to turn lies into truth. Squealer also
carries the messages from Napoleon to the
other pigs who simply take what Squealer
says. Squealer is a method of
communication from the top to the bottom
with the ability to put the proper spin on the
information.

Quotes

We are told that he is a “brilliant
talker” who can “turn black to
white” (p.23)

He dishonestly defends the pigs’
actions in the brilliant pieces oh
rhetoric, which is often underlined by
the threat of Jones's return. The
animals therefore have little opinion
but to agree to the pigs’ actions.

He is “unaccountably...
Absent “ (p.92) from
the fighting.

The quote implies that
squealer is a coward.

“No one believes more firmly
than comrade napoleon. He convinces that
That all animals are animals that
equal...that sometimes you napoleon is acting
might make the wrong
decisions, comrades, and in there best
then where would we be?” interests. Despite
(p.56) the fact that
napoleon is doing
the complete
opposite.

“squealer, temporarily
stunned, was sprawling
Squealer has been caught
beside it, and near at
altering the
hand there lay a lantern,
commandments on the
a paint brush and over
wall to fit the pigs’
tanned pot of white
actions-as he has done
paint.” (94-5)
throughout the story. He
has fallen off his ladder
and or well suggests he is
drunk-thus breaking the
very commandment he is
altering.

“ He cast a very ugly look at boxer” (p.77)

This- and the attack on the
gentle boxer that follows-
highlights the sinister side to
squealer’s character. His role
is to ensure that any
opposition to napoleon is
eliminated.

Squealer-to other characters
The animals all think that Squealer is one of them.
They think he wants to protect them and that he is
ever so loyal to him. They also think that Squealer
likes them and works for them and they don’t think
he is bad and that he breaks the rules. Napoleon
uses Squealer more like a weapon of
communication and propaganda. But Squealer
knows that Napoleon is using him, and he makes
the best of it. He doesn’t care that Napoleon is
manipulating him because he knows that while
Napoleon is still in power he will still get the Milk,
apples and the other beneficial goods.

Readers response to Squealer

The reader’s think that Squealer is intelligent
but quite twisted. For example he gives boxer
a really dirty look, This shows he doesn't care
who he hurts, also he is a coward as he
doesn't fight at all. He is never around. Its
shaped by the attitude and the language
Orwell creates when writing about him. He
uses certain words to crate the effect of being
sneaky.

Who is Boxer?
Boxer is an enormous carthorse who has been around for a
few years. He is respected by all the other animals for his
incredible strength and unbreakable work ethic: ’I will work
harder’. When everyone else runs out of energy boxer still
ploughs on. A prime example of this is when Boxer carries
on with the construction of the windmill , despite the fact
that every other animal had stopped.

In the novel Animal Farm Boxer represents the working
classes, whose only possession is the value of their labour.
He shows this throughout the novel by his commitment to
the completion of the windmill, as he ploughs on, until he
collapses.

What does he do in the book and what
are his roles within the story?
Boxer is a devout supporter of the revolution and has total faith in the pigs
and their ability to lead the animals into “Animalism”. Throughout the
book, he always works to help support the revolution, often repeating:
“Napoleon is always right”; he uses his unmatchable strength to help build
the windmill and to help maintain the farm. He insists on working until the
job is done and no one can tell him otherwise.
His devotion to the pigs is ultimately his downfall as he lacks intelligence
and cannot realise when the pigs are exploiting him and the other
animals. Right until his death, he still trusts the pigs and calls for them
when he collapses in the quarry.
The pigs end up selling him off to the knackers yard.

Boxer represents the working class – the proletariat – in the allegory. He
has similarities to the Soviet worker Alexander Stakhanov who was highly
praised by the government for his high productivity.

How is he described?
Orwell portrays Boxer as being unintelligent, hard-working, and caring. His
personal motto is, "I will work harder!“.
Boxer is described as being naive throughout the novel, he believes
everything Napoleon says-one of his sayings being: ‘if Comrade Napoleon
says it, it must be right’-all of this, inevitably ,leading to Boxer being
slaughtered.

The novel describes the horses as being the pig's "most faithful disciples"
and that they "absorbed everything that they were told [by the pigs], and
passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments".

Boxer is described as being caring when he says: “I have no wish to take
life, not even human life” p.45 after the battle of the cowshed. The fact
that his eyes filled with tears clearly show his emotions on the killing of a
living being.

How Boxer compares/contrasts with
other characters
In comparison to the other animals boxer is of relatively
low intelligence. He never doubts or opposes the pigs as he
doesn’t have the intelligence to comprise an argument
against them, because of this he is venerable to
exploitation. He shows his devotion to the pigs: “It must be
due to some fault in ourselves” he believes that if
something has gone wrong it must be that animals at fault.
He is a harder worker than any of the others and uses his
size and strength to aid his work-he nether gives up and
uses them until they fail, like when he collapsed whilst
building the windmill. He, like the others, is for the
downfall of Jones and his cruel reign. He, along with the
other animals, is under the authority of Napoleon and
shares equal rights with them.

The readers reaction to Boxer
The reader warms to Boxer from the beginning due to his hard-
working attitude, kind heart and non-complaining attitude. ‘I will
work harder’ shows willingness and devotion to work-which
instantly makes the reader warm to him. This quote also shows that
Boxer believes that no matter how hard he is working, he can
always put more effort in.
The emotional climax of the book is when Boxer collapses and gets
sold to the Knackers’ yard. This is emotional because the reader has
warmed to him and to see is lack of intelligence be exploited, the
reader feels emotional towards this character-after all he hadn’t
done anything to deserve what he got. The evilness of Napoleon's
rule is highlighted by this event, especially when the proceeds from
Boxer are spent on whiskey. We become aware that he cares for no
animal other than himself and will do anything to gain more money
and more power.

Boxer
Who is Boxer? How Boxer compares/contrasts with other characters
Boxer is an enormous carthorse who has been around for a few years. He In comparison to the other animals boxer is of relatively low
is respected by all the other animals for his incredible strength and intelligence. He never doubts or opposes the pigs as he
unbreakable work ethic. When everyone else runs out of energy boxer doesn’t have the intelligence to comprise an argument against
still ploughs on. them, because of this he is venerable to exploitation. He
In the novel Animal Farm Boxer represents the working classes, whose shows his devotion to the pigs: “It must be due to some fault
only possession is the value of their labour. in ourselves” he believes that if something has gone wrong it
must be that animals at fault.
What does he do in the book and what are his roles within the story?
He is a harder worker than any of the others and uses his size
Boxer is a devout supporter of the revolution and has total faith in the
and strength to aid his work. He, like the others, is for the
pigs and their ability to lead the animals into “Animalism”. Throughout
downfall of Jones and his cruel reign.
the book, he always works to help support the revolution, often
repeating: “Napoleon is always right”; he uses his unmatchable strength Reader’s Reaction to Boxer
to help build the windmill and to help maintain the farm. He insists on The reader warms to Boxer from the beginning due to his
working until the job is done and no one can tell him otherwise. hard-working attitude, kind heart and non-complaining
His devotion to the pigs is ultimately his downfall as he lacks intelligence attitude.
and cannot realise when the pigs are exploiting him and the other The emotional climax of the book is when Boxer collapses
animals. Right until his death, he still trusts the pigs and calls for them and gets sold to the Knackers’ yard. Boxer is one of the most
when he collapses in the quarry. likeable characters and when he is sent to his death the
The pigs end up selling him off to the knackers yard. reader feels very sad. The evilness of Napoleon's rule is
Boxer represents the working class – the proletariat – in the allegory. He highlighted by this event, especially when the proceeds from
has similarities to the Soviet worker Alexander Stakhanov who was highly Boxer are spent on whiskey. We become aware that he cares
praised by the government for his high productivity. for no animal other than himself and will do anything to gain
more money and more power.
How is he described?
Orwell portrays Boxer as being unintelligent, hard-working, and caring. His
personal motto is, "I will work harder!“.
The novel describes the horses as being the pig's "most faithful disciples"
and that they "absorbed everything that they were told [by the pigs], and
passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments".
Boxer is described as being caring when he says: “I have no wish to take
life, not even human life” p.45 after the battle of the cowshed. The fact
that his eyes filled with tears clearly show his emotions on the killing of a
living being.

Mollie seems to be
envious of the luxuries
that she had when under We know that Mollie is selfish
the commands of Mr as she leaves the farm as soon
Jones and when the as life there becomes more
animals enter the house demanding unlike Boxer Mollie When the bourgeois were asked to
Mollie is seen looking at is incapable of making any make sacrifices many of them
Mrs Jones’s ribbons. sacrifice. abandoned the cause and fled to the
west. This is the same as what Mollie
does when she is asked to give up her
ribbons and sugar cubes she cannot
apply to the rules and disappears to
the neighbouring farm.
Mollie ‘s character
represents the white
Russians who were the
bourgeois class.
( the richer class). About Mollie
Mollies ribbons and sugar cubes
represent the
luxuries that Russia had before the
rebellion. Also the luxuries they had
to give up for the rebellion.
She has a selfish personality – only wants to
learn the first few letters of her own name.
Also she doesn’t care about anyone other
than herself as she constantly turns up to
work late and also leaves 5 minutes earlier
then the other animals then she complains of Mollie is not entirely committed to
mysterious pains to get out of doing any the revolution as she is perceived as
work. ‘work shy’ and lazy.

Quotes from Mollie
1. Mollie is caught by clover letting one of Mr. Pilkington’s workers stroke her nose , but
Mollie denies all acknowledgement of it and took to her heels and galloped away.
2. (Page 49).
3. “on every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool,
where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water.
4. (page 49).

4. “Mollie it was true, was not good at getting up in the morning, and had a way of
leaving work early on the ground that there was a stone in her hoof.
(Page 34).
1. “She had taken a piece of blue ribbon from Mrs. Jones dressing table, and was holding
it against her shoulder and admiring herself in the glass in a very foolish manor.”
(Page 28).
Mollie refused to learn any but the six letters which spelt her own name. She would
form these very neatly out of pieces of twig, and would then decorate them with a
flower or two and walk around admiring them.
( Page 37).

Tips on what to write about Mollie
Mollie oversleeps and she complains of ‘mysterious pains’ to get herself out of helping to
bring in the harvest , she then does this again when they build the windmill to get out of
working and often oversleeps for work. Also she leaves 5 minutes before the rest of the
animals this shows us that Mollie is workshy.
Mollie seems to be extremely envious of the luxuries that the humans have and cannot
commit to the revolution as she cannot give up her ribbons and is one of the main reasons
as to why she fled to the other neighbouring farm.
Mollie leaves the farm as soon as life there becomes more demanding. Unlike Boxer she is
incapable of making any sacrifice. She gives up her luxuries at first, but then later deceives
the other animals by hiding her ribbons and sugar cubes under her bed.
Mollie’s selfishness and the other animals selfishness is perhaps another reason as to why
the revolution failed.
Orwell portrays mollies as selfish and a coward as when the animals are fighting in the
battle of the cowshed for the farm , Mollie hides in her barn as she is to afraid to fight
along with her other comrades.

The ribbons Mollie complains of
and sugar mysterious pains to get
represent the out of work - this shows
luxuries that us that Mollie is
Russia had workshy
before the
rebellion. Represents
Mollie’s Character.
the White
Russians (the
Mollie is selfish as she richer class).
This is also shown in
leaves the farm as
the battle of the cow
soon as life there
Mollie. shed, Mollie hid instead
becomes more
of fighting. This shows
demanding unlike
that she is a bit of a
Boxer, Mollie is
coward, by hiding it
incapable of making
tells us that mollies
any sacrifice.
personality is selfish
The selfishness of both Mollie and because she it to afraid
some of the other animals is a to go out and fight like
reason as to why the revolution the other animals do
failed, as they simply could not
give up their old luxuries that they
had before the revolution.

Quotes for Mollie
1. Mollie is caught by Clover letting one of Mr. Pilkington’s workers
stroke her nose , but Mollie denies all acknowledgement of it and
took to her heels and galloped away. (Page 49).
2. “On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to
the drinking pool, where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own
reflection in the water. (page 49).
3. “Mollie it was true, was not good at getting up in the morning, and
had a way of leaving work early on the ground that there was a stone
in her hoof.
(Page 34).
4. “She had taken a piece of blue ribbon from Mrs. Jones dressing table,
and was holding it against her shoulder and admiring herself in the
glass in a very foolish manor.”(Page 28).
5. Mollie refused to learn any but the six letters which spelt her own
name. She would form these very neatly out of pieces of twig, and
would then decorate them with a flower or two and walk around
admiring them. ( Page 37).

Profile

• A tame raven that is Mr Jones’s “especial pet.” He is a spy, a
gossip, and a “clever talker”.
• Moses disappears for several years during Napoleon’s rule. Only
to come back to the laid-back lifestyle he was used to.
• When he returns, he still insists on the existence of Sugarcandy
Mountain. "up there, just on the other side of that dark cloud that
you can see– there it lies, Sugarcandy Mountain”
• Moses is tied to Mr. Jones by his love for alcohol, the same drink
that later ties the pigs to Mr. Jones.

Evidence
• The animals hated Moses because he told tales and did no
work, but some of them believed in Sugarcandy Mountain,
and the pigs had to argue very hard to persuade the Just as
Squealer later deceives the animals as to the state of Animal
Farm, Moses spins tales of a place too good to be true that
there was no such place.
• All the animals were now present except Moses, the tame
raven, who slept on a perch behind the back door. When
Major saw that they had all made themselves comfortable
and were waiting attentively, he cleared his throat and began.
From the moment he is first introduced, Moses is an outsider,
separate from the other animals.

What He Represents
• In Orwell’s allegory Moses represented the
Russian orthodox church.
• He is banished during Napoleons reign as the
church was under Stalin's reign.
• Just like in the Russian revolution when
towards the end when Stalin realised the
church could be useful to him he wanted the
country to embrace religion.

His role

• Mr Jones’s favourite of all the animals as he was
his personal spy.
• Moses role was to deceive the other animals
into thinking all their hard work would be
rewarded as one day they will go to Sugar
Candy mountain. Sugarcandy Mountain, that
happy country where we poor animals shall rest
for ever from our labours!"
• Sugar Candy mountain represents heaven and
is used as a pacifier – to get the animals to
accept their situation now on the promise of
something better in the next life.

What his role does
• Moses role is to keep the animals compliant so
that the orders of Jones’ and then at the
beginning of Napoleon’s regime aren't
questioned (at first). They once again see a need
for the raven to go on and on about Sugarcandy
Mountain, and they’re all too happy to buy him
off for “a gill of beer a day”
• ‘Sugar Candy Mountain’ is a promise to the
animals that of all their work will pay off. In
actuality it is an attempt to brainwash them into
believing in a capitalist society.

Contrast and Compare
• Orwell's allegorises the church through the
character of Moses. In the beginning Mr Jones
(Tsar) and Moses (the church) are closely allied.
Tsar Nicolas II wanted religion to be a priority for
Russia.
• Whereas when Napoleon (Stalin) comes into
power, Moses (the church) is banished for many
years before Napoleon realised he could be of
some use if he is kept onside – even give a ration
of beer. The church has historically played a part
in subduing the people.

The Reader’s Reaction
• As Orwell writes Animal Farm in third person narrative voice it
allows the reader to make their own mind up about whose
view is correct or if they agree with something or not.
• However when Moses starts feeding the other animals
information about the existence of Sugar Candy Mountain, the
reader feels an affinity with the animals as he/she is
sympathetic towards their naivety.
• One must consider however different reactions to Moses’
character based on a reader’s personal religious feelings. A
reader who believes in the existence of heaven may find
Moses’ telling of a better place a comforting action – one
designed to allow the animals hope in something better than
what they have. A non-religious reader may find Moses’
character divisive and underhand.

Tips for writing
• Refer to Moses representing the church.
• Write about Moses's alliance with Mr Jones
and Napoleon.
• Include how he is treated as well on his return
by Napoleon who needs him to subdue the
other animals with promises of something
better to come.

Activity
• Moses is a t _ _ _ raven and is represents the R
_ _ _ _ _ _ O _ _ _ _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ _. He
speaks of a place called s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _. This place represents h _ _ _ _ _. He
leaves the farm when M _. _ _ _ _ _ is kicked
off the farm but returns when Napoleon offers
him a G _ _ _ O_ B _ _ _ a day if he gets the
other animals to not q _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ his
decisions.

Answers
• Moses is a tame raven that represents the
Russian Orthodox Church. He speaks of a
place called Sugarcandymountain. This place
represents heaven. He leaves the farm when
Mr. Jones is kicked off the farm but returns
when Napoleon offers him a gill of beer a day
if he gets the other animals to not question
his decisions.

Who are they?
What they do in the book?
• “Mr Jones of the Manor farm” page 13 is the dictator
of the farm before the animals “chased Jones and his
men out onto the road” page 26
• He represents the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas
. Alexandrovich Romanov (Nicholas II).

How they contrast/compare with
other characters in the book?
• Mr Jones compares to the pigs as they both steal.
“Nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is
stolen from us by human beings” page 16. This
implies that Mr Jones is stealing from the animals
just like the pigs steal the apples and milk. “The
mystery of where the milk went to was soon cleared
up it was mixed everyday into the pigs mash” page
38. This infers that the pigs were stealing the milk for
themselves which makes them just as bad as Mr
Jones

•Mr Jones contrasts Boxer because Mr Jones is a cruel
man who cares about nobody or nothing but himself .
“Jones ties a brick around the necks and drowns them into
the nearest pond” page 17. Unlike boxer who is loyal and
hard working. “Sometimes the long hours on insufficient
food were hard to bear, but Boxer never faltered” page
101. This infers that he was loyal to all the animals even
though some gave up.

What the readers’ reaction to the
character is and how this is shaped?
• The reader sees Mr Jones as a cruel leader of the
animals on his farm. This is shown in majors speech
given to the animals he states that life on the farm is
one of “misery and slavery” page 13 this implies that
the animals are exploited by man there only real
enemy who “consumes without producing” page 16
and doesn't reward them for anything he takes. He is
not someone who is caring of the animals instead he
doesn’t feed his animals enough or take care of them
the way they should.

How they are described and
what this means?
• Mr Jones was once a capable farmer but after a
damaging lawsuit he turns to drinking and becomes a
harsh leader of the animals that he is meant to care
for. “Had locked the hen houses for the night but was
to drunk to remember to shut the pop holes” page
13 This means that the animals will have enough of
his ways which then leads on to the animals to take
over the farm

Animal Farm.
Getting to know the
humans.

Mr Pilkington
• He is an ‘easy-going gentlemen farmer’ (page 41).
• He owns Foxwood Farm, which is described as ‘overgrown
and neglected’ (page 41).
• He ‘spent most of his time in fishing or hunting according to
the season’ (page 41).
• He is shown to often argue with Mr Frederick ‘These two
disliked each other so much that it was difficult for them to
come to any agreement, even in defence of their own
interests’. (page 41)
• In Orwell’s allegory, Mr Pilkington represents the leaders of
Great Britain. He doesn't represent one person in particular,
but rather is a composite of all of the leaders of England. He
is portrayed as a ‘gentleman’, much as England is seen by
Orwell. He is gentle and yet has his part to play in the events
that play out on Animal Farm.

Mr Frederick
• He is a ‘tough, shrewd man, perpetually involved in lawsuits
and with a name for driving hard bargains.’ (page 41).
• He owns Pinchfield Farm, which is ‘smaller and better kept’
than Manor Farm and Foxwood Farm.
• He started rumours about Animal Farm: ‘the animals there
practiced cannibalism, tortured one another with red-hot
horseshoes, and had their females in common’. (page 42).
• He is cruel, underhanded and uses forged notes to pay for
Napoleon's timber. ‘Frederick had got the timber for
nothing!’ (page 89).
• Allegory – Mr Frederick stands for Germany under Hitler’s
rule. It is said that Frederick had ''flogged an old horse to
death (A reference to Hitler's euthanasia program), he had
starved his cows (A reference to the Jews), he had killed a
dog by throwing it into the furnace (Most likely a reference
to Night of Knives), and that he amused himself in the
evenings by making cocks (French /Children?) fight with
splinters of razor-blade tied to their spurs.''

Readers response to the farmers
• All the farmers in Animal Farm are repulsive. They
exploit their workers just as the Tsar did in the
years before the Russian Revolution.
• The pigs become versions of the farmers in the
final scene of the book.
• They are portrayed as dictators just like Stalin and
Hitler.

All of this leads the reader to respond negatively
to the Farmers. When the animals revolt, the
reader feels that life without men like these will
be better – and for a time it is. Orwell portrays
these men as selfish and ineffectual.

Mr Whymper
• Mr Whymper becomes the solicitor of Animal Farm;
‘an intermediary between Animal Farm and the
outside world’. (page 64)
• He is described as ‘a sly-looking little man’. (page 64)
• He is ‘sharp enough to have realised earlier than
anyone else that Animal Farm would need a broker
and that the commissions would be worth having’.
(page 64) He is in it for the money.
• He is the first human that the animals come in
contact with after the rebellion. He is used to make
contact with the outside world. He represents the
capitalist who did business with the Soviet state.

Mrs Jones
• Mrs Jones is the wife of Mr Jones. She is only
mentioned in the first chapter of the book.
• When the animals revolt against Mr Jones, Mrs
Jones ‘hurriedly flung a few possessions into a
carpet bag’ (page 26) and ‘ slipped out of the
farm by another way.’ (page 26)
• When she is mentioned in the book she is
mentioned in an unfavourable light.
• In Orwell’s allegory, she represents Tsar Nicholas
II’s wife, Alexandra.

Tips for writing about the humans
• None of the human characters are seen as
attractive, appealing or trustworthy people.
• Even the man that takes Boxer to his death is
described as ‘a sly-looking man in a low-
crowned bowlers house’. (page 104)
• The fact that the humans are shown in an
unfavourable light tells the reader that even
though the revolution failed, the animals were
right to rebel against the humans.

Who are they?
They are minor characters in the book. In the beginning of the book, they vote against accepting
the rats & rabbits as 'comrades'. Shortly after the revolution, several 'pups' are stolen from their
mothers. Later in the book, these pups (now fully grown - and fully trained) protect Napoleon from
a second potential revolution, and help to enforce his decrees.
"Silent and terrified, the animals crept back into the barn. In a moment the dogs came bounding
back. At first no one had been able to imagine where these creatures came from, but the problem
was soon solved: they were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and
reared privately. Though not yet full-grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as
wolves. They kept close to Napoleon. It was noticed that they wagged their tails to him in the same
way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. Jones."
This quote is evidence of how Napoleon uses the dogs to create terror within the other animals also
this helps to gain power and control over the others.

Jessie, Bluebell, Pincher - The only three dogs that are mentioned by name. They do not have a
very active role in the novel. All three are mentioned as being present at old major's meeting, but
Pincher is never mentioned again (except in the 'epilogue', when it is mentioned that all three dogs
are dead) - Jesse and Bluebell are the mothers of the represent the military/police. They are used
to portray the KGB Stalin's secret police. 'pups' which serve as Napoleon's bodyguards (and
assumedly Pincher is the father). Jesse and Bluebell also participate in the 'Battle of the Windmill'.

How are described and what this means? They are described as very aggressive but loyal
animals, this is meant to compare with the secret police as they are serious characters and
doing every order set straight away and quickly. Orwell shows this by making the characters
rip the other animals to shreds e.g. pigs, hens, sheep. Also when sent to attack Boxer, the
fight turns around so while one of the puppies is in danger, Napoleon quickly orders the
attack to stop and for Boxer to release.
“The Dogs promptly tore there throats out, and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded
whether any of the other animal had anything to confess.” (78)
This shows the audience how violent the dogs are towards the other animals when
commanded by Napoleon.
How they contrast/compare with other characters inthe book? The dogs contrast within
themselves; the puppies are aggressive and the farm dogs (Jessie and Bluebell) are described
by Orwell to be peasants who were oppressed and whose children were indoctrinated and
became part of and upholders of the regime.

What the readers ‘reaction to the character is and how this is shaped?
The readers reaction to the dogs changes throughout the book; they start of being seen as
very cute puppies but they turn into very cruel animals this shocks the reader as they don’t
expect it. This is shown when Napoleon first sent them to run Snowball out of the farm as
they were taken from Jessie to be taught to be linguistic like the other animals on the farm
then suddenly they re-appear from being kept safe to be angry characters.
Who their comparable historical figure/group is?
There historical comparison is Stalin’s secret police.

Who are they?
The sheep are the lower class characters representing the masses at large.

What they do in the book?
The sheep are portrayed as the workers doing lower class jobs and chanting "Four
legs good, two legs bad! Four legs good, two legs ba-a-a-a-d!“ This shows that the
sheep are made to be lazy and do the dirty work comparing to those jobs of that a
soldier would carry out.

How are they described and what this means?
They are described as the most simple, dumb element of the farm. This means that
they are easily persuaded by others such as Napoleon. They did not “understand” the
long version of the 7 commandments so they “would all start bleating “four legs
good, two legs bad.”

How they contrast/compare with other characters in the book? They are loyal
animals, they have a comparison with Boxer on that. They have a contrast to
snowball as he is a very intelligent animal and they are dim.

What the readers reaction to the character is and how this is shaped?
The readers reaction isn't drastic towards the character as they know
sheep aren’t the sharpest of animals. Also they don’t play a huge role
towards the book but they do chant their version of the 7 commandments
creating irony in itself.

Who there comparable historical figure/group is? The sheep characters
are shown to be the soldiers of the revolution that are told to do tasks and
missions when set and are lead easily.

The dogs play a small part in the story of Animal
Farm or the Russian Revolution. Their main role
in the story for them was to drive snowball out of
the farm as Napoleon had been training them to
do everything and anything he says to do.
The dogs are described to be very aggressive ,
they are the animal farm version of the KGB
(Stalin s secret police).
The dogs are very loyal animals, they are closely linked the pigs. They start to wag
there tails at napoleon in the same way they waved there tails at Mr Jones.

During majors first speech, the dogs chase the rats – Old majors stops them from
harming them as it is against the new Animalism rules.

The dogs murder objectors and opposition to napoleon, they are rewarded by
napoleon for this

They produce a simple version of the seven
commandments just for the sheep to remember
and chant to.
Which napoleon later changed.

The sheep represent the most dumb/stupid
elements, they are generally referred to as an
anonymous group – there is no named sheep.

The sheep are portrayed to have very little knowledge of the aims of revolution

They stifle only moment of protest when napoleon is seen walking along with a whip
in his totter (p.113)
The sheep are also known for being very loyal, they often chant during snowballs speeches

“at that moment, as though at a signal, all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of –
four legs good two legs BETTER.” (113)

Dogs
"Silent and terrified, the animals crept back into the barn. In a moment the dogs came bounding back. At first
no one had been able to imagine where these creatures came from, but the problem was soon solved: they
were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately. Though not yet
full-grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves. They kept close to Napoleon. It was noticed
that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. Jones."
“The Dogs promptly tore there throats out, and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any of the
other animal had anything to confess.” (78)
KEY POINTS
Along with the pigs, the dogs are rewarded for dealing ruthlessly with any objectors and murdering napoleons
opposition
During majors speech the dogs chase the rats and are prevented by major from harming them as he says it is
contrary to the rules of animalism
From the start they are loyal animals. They are closely linked to the pigs, and later wag their tails at Napoleon in
the same way that they did at Mr Jones.
The dogs are the counterpart of Stalin's secret police.
Sheep
"Two legs bad, four legs good.”
“at that moment, as though at a signal, all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of – four legs good
two legs BETTER.” (113)
KEY POINTS
The sheep represent the most stupid elements of society, the 'mob'. They are generally referred to as an
anonymous group - there is no named individual who stands out.

The Cat – Her Role in the Novel
• Voted both sides of rat comrade question.
• Represents shadier characters in Russian
Society such as the con men, gypsies and
circus folk.
• The cat disappears before the ‘purges’.
• Talks to the sparrows on the roof and tells
them all animals are allies.

The Hens – Their Role in the Novel
• The hens are used in Animal Farm to represent
the peasant farmers in Russia who revolt. (Kulaks)
• In Major’s speech he criticises taking of the Hens
eggs.
• Under Napoleon the eggs are taken.
• The Hens retaliate by smashing their eggs just as
the farmers did to their crops.
• The only group that tried to rebel against
Napoleon.
• Napoleon has the hens executed.

Quiz
1. Who does the Cat represent?
2. What do the Hens represent?
3. What do the Hens do to revolt against
Napoleon’s orders to produce more eggs to
sell to the humans?
4. When does the Cat disappear?
5. What happens to the Hens because of their
actions?

What are the important objects in
the novel
• Animalism – This is the idea of communism.
• “Beasts of England” – It is a metaphor for the ideology of communism.
It is a song the animals repetitively sing throughout the novel to inspire
them after they became independent from the humans.
• Windmill – This represents Stalin’s “5 year plan”. Which was
introduced to improve the quality of life for the proletariats.
• Drinking of alcohol – This is a metaphor for the intoxicating effects of
power.
• Milk and apples – This was the first time in the novel the animals were
not treated equally, by the pigs taking the milk and apples for
themselves.

What are the important settings in
the novel
• Animal farm/Manor farm – This is the setting of the novel.
• Foxwood – This is the neighbouring farm in the novel, it
represents Britain
• Pinchfield – This is the other neighbouring farm and it
represents The Soviet Union
• England – The farms represent countries, England represents
the entire of the world.
• The farmhouse – Mr. Jones’ house, in the end of the novel the
pigs sleep and live there, Stalin lived in the Tsars home after
the revolution also.
• Sugar candy mountain – Is a reference to heaven, which Moses
who represents the church preaches to the animals and its also
encourages the hardworking animals to maintain their
enthusiasm for working on the farm.

Objects and Setting
Object Places
• Animalism – This is the idea of communism. • Animal farm/Manor farm – This is the setting of
• “Beasts of England” – It is a metaphor for the the novel.
ideology of communism. It is a song the animals • Foxwood – This is the neighbouring farm in the
repetitively sing throughout the novel to inspire novel, it represents Britain
them after they became independent from the • Pinchfield – This is the other neighbouring farm
humans. and it represents The Soviet Union
• Windmill – This represents Stalin’s “5 year plan”. • England – The farms represent countries,
Which was introduced to improve the quality of England represents the entire of the world.
life for the proletariats. • The farmhouse – Mr. Jones’ house, in the end of
• Drinking of alcohol – This is a metaphor for the the novel the pigs sleep and live there, Stalin
intoxicating effects of power. lived in the Tsars home after the revolution also.
• Milk and apples – This was the first time in the • Sugar candy mountain – Is a reference to
novel the animals were not treated equally, by heaven, which Moses who represents the
the pigs taking the milk and apples for church preaches to the animals and its also
themselves. encourages the hardworking animals to
maintain their enthusiasm for working on the
farm.

TASK: Put Animal Farm’s themes,
symbols and motifs in order of
importance.
Write a 3 PEARL response to the
question: How do Orwell’s themes and
motifs enhance Animal Farm?
HINT: YOU MAY CONSIDER HOW THEY STRENGTHEN ORWELL’S
INTENDED MESSAGE OR MORAL

Themes, Motifs and Symbols

Themes
Themes are the fundamental and often
universal ideas explored in a literary
work.

Themes in Animal Farm
The Corruption of Socialist Ideals in the Soviet Union
Retelling the story of the emergence and development of Soviet
communism in the form of an animal fable, Animal Farm allegorizes
the rise to power of the dictator Joseph Stalin.
Orwell’s novel creates its most powerful ironies in the moments in
which Orwell depicts the corruption of Animalist ideals by those in
power. For Animal Farm serves not so much to condemn tyranny or
despotism as to indict the horrifying hypocrisy of tyrannies that
base themselves on, and owe their initial power to, ideologies of
liberation and equality. The gradual disintegration and perversion of
the Seven Commandments illustrates this hypocrisy with vivid force,
as do Squealer’s elaborate philosophical justifications for the pigs’
blatantly unprincipled actions.

The Danger of a Naïve Working Class
One of the novel’s most impressive accomplishments is its portrayal
not just of the figures in power but also of the oppressed people
themselves. Animal Farm is not told from the perspective of any
particular character, though occasionally it does slip into Clover’s
consciousness. Rather, the story is told from the perspective of the
common animals as a whole.
Gullible, loyal, and hardworking, these animals give Orwell a chance
to sketch how situations of oppression arise not only from the
motives and tactics of the oppressors but also from the naïveté of
the oppressed, who are not necessarily in a position to be better
educated or informed.
When presented with a dilemma, Boxer prefers not to puzzle out
the implications of various possible actions but instead to repeat to
himself, “Napoleon is always right.” Animal Farm demonstrates how
the inability or unwillingness to question authority condemns the
working class to suffer the full extent of the ruling class’s
oppression.

The Abuse of Language as Instrumental to the Abuse of Power
One of Orwell’s central concerns is the way in which language can
be manipulated as an instrument of control.
In Animal Farm, the pigs gradually twist and distort a rhetoric of
socialist revolution to justify their behaviour and to keep the other
animals in the dark.
The animals heartily embrace Major’s visionary ideal of socialism,
but after Major dies, the pigs gradually twist the meaning of his
words. As a result, the other animals seem unable to oppose the
pigs without also opposing the ideals of the Rebellion.
By the end of the novel, after Squealer’s repeated reconfigurations
of the Seven Commandments in order to decriminalize the pigs’
treacheries, the main principle of the farm can be openly stated as
“all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than
others.” This outrageous abuse of the word “equal” and of the ideal
of equality in general typifies the pigs’ method, which becomes
increasingly audacious as the novel progresses.

Intelligence and Education as Tools of Oppression
From the very beginning of the novel, we become aware of education’s role in stratifying Animal
Farm’s population. Following Major’s death, the pigs are the ones that take on the task of
organising and mobilizing the other animals because they are “generally recognized as being the
cleverest of the animals” (35). At first, the pigs are loyal to their fellow animals and to the
revolutionary cause. They translate Major’s vision of the future faithfully into the Seven
Commandments of Animalism. However, it is not long before the pigs’ intelligence and education
turn from tools of enlightenment to implements of oppression. The moment the pigs are faced
with something material that they want—the fresh milk—they abandon their morals and use their
superior intellect and knowledge to deceive the other animals.
The pigs also limit the other animals’ opportunities to gain intelligence and education early on.
They teach themselves to read and write from a children’s book but destroy it before the other
animals can have the same chance. Indeed, most of the animals never learn more than a few
letters of the alphabet. Once the pigs cement their status as the educated elite, they use their
mental advantage to manipulate the other animals. For example, knowing that the other animals
cannot read the Seven Commandments, they revise them whenever they like. The pigs also use
their literacy to learn trades from manuals, giving them an opportunity for economic specialization
and advancement. Content in the role of the intelligentsia, the pigs forgo manual labour in favour
of bookkeeping and organizing. This shows that the pigs have not only the advantage of
opportunity, but also the opportunity to reject whatever opportunities they like. The pigs’
intelligence and education allow them to bring the other animals into submission through the use
of propaganda and revisionism. At the book’s end, we witness Napoleon’s preparations to educate
a new generation of pigs and indoctrinate them into the code of oppression.

Violence and Terror as Means of Control
In Animal Farm, Orwell criticizes the ways that dictators use violence and terror to frighten their
populaces into submission. Violence is one of the yokes from which the animals wish to free themselves
when they prepare for the Rebellion. Not only does Jones overwork the animals and steal the products
of their labor, but he can whip or slaughter them at his discretion. Once the pigs gain control of the
animals, they, like Jones, discover how useful violence and terror can be. They use this knowledge to
their full advantage. The foremost example of violence and terror in the novel is the pattern of public
executions. The executions can be said to represent both the Red Terror and the Great Purge, but they
stand more broadly for the abuse of power. For example, they are also similar to the Taliban’s public
executions in Kabul’s soccer stadium in modern Afghanistan.
Capital punishment for criminals is a hotly debated issue. Killing suspected criminals, as Napoleon does,
is quite another issue. The executions perhaps best symbolize the Moscow Trials, which were show trials
that Stalin arranged to instill fear in the Soviet people. To witnesses at the time, the accused traitors’
confessions seemed to be given freely. In fact, they were coerced. Napoleon likely coerces confessions
from many of the animals that he executes. Orwell’s use of the allegory genre serves him well in the
execution scene. Execution with weapons is a violent and horrifying act, but many people have become
desensitized to it. Orwell’s allegorical executioners, the dogs that kill cruelly, portray the bloody and
inescapably animalistic side of execution.
Terror comes also in threats and propaganda. Each time the animals dare to question an aspect of
Napoleon’s regime, Squealer threatens them with Jones’s return. This is doubly threatening to the
animals because it would mean another battle that, if lost, would result in a return to their former
lifestyle of submission. Jones’s return is such a serious threat that it quashes the animals’ curiosity
without fail. The other major example of fear tactics in the novel is the threat of Snowball and his
collaborators. Napoleon is able to vilify Snowball in the latter’s absence and to make the animals believe
that his return, like Jones’s, is imminent. Snowball is a worse threat than Jones, because Jones is at least
safely out of Animal Farm. Snowball is “proved” to be not only lurking along Animal Farm’s borders but
infiltrating the farm. Napoleon’s public investigation of Snowball’s whereabouts cements the animals’
fear of Snowball’s influence. In modern language, Snowball is pegged as the terrorist responsible for the
infringements on the rights and liberties instigated by the pigs.

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