ANIMAL FARM

Test Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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?

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

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

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.

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

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.

Terms

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

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.

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.

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

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)

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