Answers

Animal Farm
Answers to the AQA exam-style questions are indicative only and
highlight the key things that should be included in your response. You
may cover other points. It’s how your answer is written and how it fits
with the mark scheme that will determine the quality of your answer.

CHRONOLOGICAL SECTION CHAPTER 1

p.12 Do it!

 rwell emphasises the importance of secrecy. The animals meet when the humans are asleep to
O
hear about old Major’s vision. This shows they live in fear of Jones.

p.13 Stretch it!

‘Man’ – 12 times; ‘comrades’ – 16 times; ‘our’ – 18 times; ‘he’ – 12 times. The focus on the
collective pronoun ‘our’ and collective noun ‘comrades’ is clear. The higher frequency of these
words implies the animals have more collective power than the humans. The 12 references to
‘Man’ suggest he is powerful but can be overpowered. The use of ‘he’ mostly refers to Man but
sometimes to the animals, suggesting the animals can seize power from Man.

p.13 AQA exam-style question

What ideas about the power of propaganda does Orwell explore in the novel Animal Farm?
Possible points include:
• the power of old Major’s speech
• the bias and use of persuasive devices within propaganda
• the intentions of propaganda to create division and inspire rebellion
• the willingness of populations to believe propaganda without question
• the power of propaganda to unite populations
• the use of lyrics, slogans and songs to create unity
• the dangers of wilful ignorance
• the use of emotive language, direct address, triples, rhetorical questions, inclusive
pronouns, hyperbole, etc.

p.15 REVIEW IT!

1 The animals gather in the barn at night, once Jones is asleep.
2 Clover and Boxer represent the working class.
3 Old Major is an old boar. He is wise and respected by the animals; he introduces them to
his vision of the future.
4 Benjamin the donkey is the cynical character.
5 Clover looks after the orphaned ducklings.
6 Moses the raven
7 comrades

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p.15 REVIEW IT!

8 Examples: ‘What is the nature of this life of ours?’ ‘Is this simply part of the order of
nature?’ ‘Why then do we continue in this miserable condition?’ ‘How many thousands of
gallons of milk have you given during this last year?’ ‘How many eggs have you laid, and
how many of those eggs hatched into chickens?’
9 producing
10 Man drinks the cows’ milk rather than giving it to the calves.
11 The rats enter the barn and are listening when the dogs attack them. This shows animals
naturally eat each other and are brutal. It is ironic as it takes places during a speech about
the brutality of Man.
12 It will be precious.
13 harness, bit, spur, whip, rings
14 Both are caring carthorses. Boxer is larger and more powerful. Clover is smaller and more
caring. They represent the male and female aspects of the working class.
15 Major warns against living in a house, sleeping in a bed, wearing clothes, drinking alcohol,
smoking tobacco, touching money, trading.
16 Mr Jones is cruel, neglectful and a heavy drinker.
17 He uses violence to control his animals.
18 Orwell uses rhyme and repetition. It is important so the animals can learn the song and
spread the messages of Animalism.
19 Mollie. She is vain and obsessed with material possessions (sugar and ribbons). She is
used to represent the middle classes, who might not have seen the need for revolution.
20 For example: Yes – it is impossible to achieve equality and difficult to unite different
species, as suggested by the different behaviours of the animals in the barn. No – working
towards equality is possible. A revolution is possible because collective pressure against
the establishment can result in lasting change.

CHRONOLOGICAL SECTION CHAPTER 2

p.17 Stretch it!

Moses describes Sugarcandy Mountain as a place full of food, rest and reward. Under Jones’s
rule, the animals have to work hard, are underfed and never get rewarded. After the Rebellion,
the animals receive extra food, rewards and rest and the promise of retirement. However, later
(under Napoleon’s rule) the rewards are eroded and the animals are worse off than before. Orwell
is implying that Moses’ vision is something that remains a fantasy for the animals. The vision of
a blissful afterlife should be possible on Earth but is prevented from becoming a reality by cruel
leaders driven by greed.

p.18 Stretch it!

Napoleon and Snowball both lead the way into the house. This foreshadows their battle for
leadership. The animals willingly follow them which shows they will be content with being led by
dominant animals.
Boxer’s strength is demonstrated as he destroys the barrel of beer. This foreshadows his
determination to remove potential pollution from the farm.
Although the animals agree at this stage that the house should never be inhabited by animals, the
portrayal of luxury shows that temptation will be within reach.

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p.19 Do it!

Here are some points you may want to consider:

Agree: the rebellion was inspired by old Major’s depiction of an unfair society ruled by cruel and
evil dictators. The luxuries present in the farmhouse justify the Rebellion.
Disagree: the animals are scared to enter the farmhouse. The farmhouse symbolises the horrific
use and abuse of animals by humans. The animals find objects made from animal products and
hams in the kitchen. It represents the ways in which animals are disrespected both in life and
death.

p.19 AQA exam-style question

What ideas about the consequences of revolution does Orwell explore in the novel
Animal Farm?
Possible points include:
• new leadership (juxtaposed leadership styles)
• ceremony and remembrance
• the discovery of dark truths of the old regime (luxuries of the farmhouse/bodies of pigs)
• uniting of populations behind a common goal
• a chance to write new rules/laws/create a constitution (the Seven Commandments)
• the opportunity to create equality (the meetings)
• ecstatic bliss in the immediate aftermath
• the importance of planning, roles and responsibilities
• the eventual erosion of ideals and the restoration of dictatorship
• violence and loss of dignity and life.

p.21 REVIEW IT!

1 Major dies three nights later. He is buried in the orchard.
2 Snowball, Napoleon, Squealer
3 Sugar and ribbons
4 Sugarcandy Mountain is a heaven-like place some animals believe they will go to after
death. Moses the raven preaches about it.
5 The Rebellion takes place on Midsummer’s Eve.
6 Jones does not feed the animals.
7 Mrs Jones packs a bag and secretly leaves the farm.
8 Whips, reins, nose-rings and other contents of the harness room
9 theirs
10 The mattresses are full of feathers and the sofa is full of horse hair. These are animal
products.
11 The hams are taken out of the house and buried.
12 Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
No animal shall wear clothes.
No animal shall sleep in a bed.
No animal shall drink alcohol.
No animal shall kill any other animal.
All animals are equal.
13 Snowball
14 Both are pigs and leaders. Snowball is intelligent, imaginative, quick in speech. Napoleon
is fierce, large, mostly silent.
15 The cows’ milk disappears.
16 Napoleon is strong, stubborn and aggressive.
17 Snowball is intelligent and a good communicator.

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p.21 REVIEW IT!

18 Napoleon shouts an order and calls them comrades. It shows leadership and greed. It also
shows how things are moving away from old Major’s idealism: he complained about Jones
stealing the cows’ milk, which is what Napoleon is now doing.
19 Napoleon: he is clearly powerful and selfish.
Snowball: he can persuade the animals to follow him.
20 This question requires your personal response. You could consider these points:
Doomed: there is already inequality; Mollie wants to wear ribbons.
Not doomed: the animals work together for the greater good. Snowball and Napoleon are
working together as leaders. They are united in disgust at humans and their lifestyle.

CHRONOLOGICAL SECTION CHAPTER 3

p.22 Do it!

Education is vital if you are to participate actively in society and understand laws and literature.
Snowball wants full participation as he believes this allows animals to become equal. Education
also makes us less likely to be fooled by propaganda and allows us to identify injustice.

p.22 Stretch it!

The animals’ inability to read and write is used against them in several ways. 1. The
commandments are rewritten. 2. The pigs refer to ‘documents’ to justify their decisions, which
only they are able to read. 3. The animals are unable to read the books that the pigs do. They
have to receive all information second hand. 4. Boxer cannot read the writing on the knacker’s van
that he willingly gets into. He is literally killed by illiteracy.

p.23 Stretch it!

The pigs use and abuse their higher intelligence to take and maintain power over the other
animals. However, Benjamin can read as well as the pigs but chooses not to. Muriel reads but
only the trashy newspaper articles she finds. Boxer and Clover are both dedicated to learning but
struggle to do so. However, Boxer’s physical strength makes him powerful in other ways as does
Clover’s caring and maternal nature. Unfortunately, the higher levels of literacy amongst the pigs
and their willingness to manipulate the animals using propaganda make them too powerful to
overcome (at least that’s what the animals believe).

p.23 AQA exam-style question

What ideas about the power of the written word does Orwell explore in the novel
Animal Farm?
Possible points include:
• the use of propaganda by old Major and Squealer
• the commandments
• the books read and used by the pigs (defensive strategy/blacksmithing/home brewing)
• the contracts with humans that are then broken
• the plans for the windmill
• the words of ‘Beasts of England’ and other songs/poems
• Orwell’s novel itself
• the writing on the side of the knacker’s van.
• the writing on the farm’s sign: ‘Manor farm’ and ‘Animal farm’.

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p.25 Do it!

1 Orwell presents Napoleon as brutal, strong and determined. Snowball is presented as

intelligent, inspirational and forward-thinking. Boxer is loyal, powerful and a hard worker.
2 Orwell suggests that power comes in many forms and that these skills, when combined, create
a force that can be used for good or evil. Unfortunately, without the balance created through
cooperation, the brutal Napoleon becomes a cruel dictator.

p.25 REVIEW IT!

1 Everyone works together and nothing is stolen.
2 Boxer
3 Mollie is lazy and avoids work.
4 Benjamin is unchanged and expresses no opinions.
5 On Sunday there is no work, breakfast is an hour later and they have a ceremony.
6 The flag has a green background with a white hoof and horn. The green represents the
‘green fields of England’ while the hoof and horn signified the future Republic of the
Animals’.
7 Snowball and Napoleon
8 Egg Production Committee; Clean Tails League; Wild Comrades Re-education Committee
9 two legs bad
10 Benjamin the donkey
11 The puppies
12 The milk and apples are given to the pigs to eat. Squealer tells the animals.
13 The birds are upset because they only have two legs.
14 Napoleon and Snowball both take the milk and apples. Snowball sets up committees and
is determined to educate everyone. Napoleon focuses on educating the puppies in private.
These differences are significant because they indicate the growing conflict of interest
between Snowball and Napoleon.
15 The pigs study and plan. The animals do hard labour. Only the pigs get milk and apples.
16 The animals’ abilities are listed. The most important animals are named (Clover, Boxer,
Muriel, Benjamin and Mollie). The pigs are collectively described as very able. Orwell
shows their intelligence by their ability to read the alphabet, words and learn the
commandments.
17 The pigs are reading books on skills such as blacksmithing and carpentry. These books are
significant because they allow the pigs to become skilled in important trades whereas the
other animals are only taught basic literacy.
18 The pigs gather in the harness room, or headquarters, to study and plan.
19 Napoleon’s private education of the puppies in seclusion shows he is plotting against
other rival leaders. The sinister purpose of this plan is revealed in Chapter 5 when they are
released to chase Snowball off the farm.
20 A success – the harvest is a bigger success than they predicted, the animals know the
land well and are able to harvest effectively, almost every animal works hard for the
collective good, no wastage, no theft, more food, more leisure, no quarrelling, planning
and debates are collaborative, everyone is educated. A failure – the pigs are superior and
do no work, which is against the principles of Animalism. Mollie avoids work. The pigs
always propose the motions in debates and the animals are easily swayed. The pigs have
their own room. Most animals are poorly educated. The pigs keep the milk/apples for
themselves. Napoleon privately educates the puppies.

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CHRONOLOGICAL SECTION CHAPTER 4

p.26 Do it!

Orwell is suggesting that the Rebellion inspires other animals beyond the farm to challenge the
authority of humans. They begin to act defiantly and rebel against their human masters. The
farmers are scared that they will lose control of their own populations and end up in exile like
Jones.

p.26 Stretch it!

For: similar rebellions could succeed with sufficient planning, resources and sources of
inspiration. The support of the animals on Animal Farm (in terms of physical strength and
intelligence) would be crucial.
Against: human leaders are horrified by what has happened on Animal Farm. They are therefore
far more likely to be prepared for such attacks and be armed and ready to destroy any attempts at
rebellion.

p.27 AQA exam-style question

How does Orwell portray ideas about leadership in the novel Animal Farm?
Possible points include:
• Jones’s leadership and its failings
• old Major’s leadership; inspiration
• Napoleon’s use of violence and propaganda
• Snowball’s use of intelligence and forward-thinking plans for the farm
• Frederick and Pilkington
• benevolent leaders and cruel dictators
• his portrayal of absolute power corrupting leadership
• the animals’ desire and need for strong leadership
• leadership in battle
• leadership in the construction of the windmill
• leaders working together
• conflict in leadership; rivalry.

p.28 Do it!

Agree: Snowball is brave and confident. Having planned the defensive strategy, he shows
confidence in his own abilities as a leader and is willing to risk his life for the cause. His actions
are admiral and worthy of recognition.
Disagree: While Snowball’s bravery was significant, the motivation behind it could be questioned.
Perhaps this act was an attempt to win over the animals, distinguish himself from Napoleon and
convince the animals to back him for future sole leadership.
Orwell is suggesting that leaders who unite with their population and are willing to put themselves
on the front line will be popular with people. However, Snowball’s popularity does not result in him
eventually triumphing over Napoleon. He may have won this battle, but he loses the war. Indeed,
later, the events of this battle are rewritten and Snowball’s legacy is almost forgotten.

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p.28 Stretch it!

Snowball identifies the different strengths of groups of animals and uses them to his advantage.
He also considers the psychological aspects of winning a battle by allowing Jones and his men
to believe that the animals are retreating. He uses the buildings and spaces of his territory to
his advantage too. The animals are united in following Snowball’s orders, which makes victory
much more likely. There is no mention of Napoleon, and Mollie hides in her stall. Apart from
this, however, Orwell emphasises how well planned the strategy is and portrays Snowball as
wise and capable. In addition, it is clear that Jones lacks both manpower and firepower. His
underestimation of the animals leads to his downfall (again!).

p.29 REVIEW IT!

1 The pigeons spread the message. They are sent by the pigs.
2 Jones has been spending his time in the local pub.
3 Frederick (Pinchfield) and Pilkington (Foxwood) are the two neighbouring farmers.
4 They are frightened by the Rebellion.
5 They spread rumours that the animals practise cannibalism, torture and share their
females.
6 Manor Farm
7 The Battle of the Cowshed begins in early October.
8 Jones brings all his men and five others.
9 Julius Caesar
10 First line of attack: the pigeons (fly and drop excrement) and the geese (peck the men’s
legs).
11 Second line of attack: Muriel, Benjamin and all the sheep (with Snowball) charge and prod
and butt the men.
12 Snowball charges at Jones.
13 Jones shoots him.
14 Boxer. Boxer is very strong and can kick with iron-shod hoofs.
15 The animals are taking revenge for their cruel treatment over the years.
16 Boxer paws at the boy and explains that he regrets his actions.
17 A sheep
18 Mollie hides in her stall because she is scared.
19 Animal Hero, First Class to Boxer and Snowball for bravery. Animal Hero, Second Class is
awarded to the dead sheep.
20 The humans will be unlikely to recapture the farm. The animals are strong and well-
prepared. They are willing to risk their lives to protect Animal Farm.

CHRONOLOGICAL SECTION CHAPTER 5

p.30 Do it!

Orwell is heavily criticising the use of fear to control populations. Although very effective, it
results in collective paranoia and misery. Napoleon is an awful but effective leader, just like most
dictators.

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p.31 Do it!

Napoleon is power hungry, cunning and vicious. He will stop at nothing to seize absolute power
and then maintain it. Orwell presents him as a cruel dictator. The slogan ‘Vote for Napoleon and
the full manger’ taps into the animals’ primal fear that they may go hungry without Napoleon’s
leadership. His use of his dog army shows he will use violence to remove opposition to his
leadership and is happy to rule by fear. Having criticised the windmill when Snowball was
responsible, he then completely changes his mind and claims to have always been in favour of
the project. This shows he will happily take credit for others’ ideas and he is primarily driven by
greed and power. He uses propaganda to persuade the animals he is powerful and without fault.

p.31 Stretch it!

Squealer is essential. He is used to spread misinformation and propaganda. He is also used to

create and maintain distance between the animals and Napoleon. Napoleon is not an effective
or powerful speaker and uses Squealer as a means of communication. Their propaganda is used
to create fear which results in animals conforming to the wishes of the leadership. They are too
scared and too unsure what the truth is to rebel.
Orwell presents Squealer as using direct address, repetition, rhetorical questions and emotive
language. He also uses emotive language to portray Snowball as an enemy and Napoleon as a
hero. He is highly effective. He is able to answer the animals’ questions and very effectively shut
down debate. Without Squealer, Napoleon’s reign of tyranny would fall apart.

p.31 AQA exam-style question

How does Orwell use the character of Napoleon to explore ideas about propaganda in
Animal Farm?
Possible points include:
• Propaganda is used by old Major to inspire revolution.
• Propaganda is used by Napoleon to rewrite history.
• Propaganda is used by Napoleon to reassure the animals.
• Propaganda is used by Napoleon to scare the animals.
• Squealer’s speeches are full of persuasive language techniques such as repetition,
rhetorical questions, emotive language and direct address.
• Propaganda comes in the form of speeches, songs and poems.
• Orwell’s novel can be seen as anti-Soviet propaganda.

p.32 Do it!

Orwell is suggesting Animalism is over as Napoleon has now seized absolute power. He has
used violence against the animals, debates have been banned and the animals are living in fear.
Equality is no longer possible and no one dares to challenge Napoleon’s authority.

p.32 Stretch it!

Major describes human tyrants as those who consume without producing and force animals to
live miserable, short lives full of hard labour and fear. Napoleon has, in effect, made slaves of all
other species. Humans have been replaced by pigs. This is hugely ironic. Orwell is saying there
is no point in revolution if the new leaders become corrupted by their lust for absolute power.
Napoleon can be compared with Stalin as he also banished his rival, claimed absolute power and
created a slave race of ordinary Russians. He also used propaganda to control his population and
re-write history.

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p.33 REVIEW IT!

1 Mollie. She misses luxuries and escapes to live under human rule again.
2 Snowball. Napoleon sees him as a threat and challenge to his leadership. This represents a
dictator’s intolerance of rivals.
3 Napoleon objects to it and urinates on it.
4 ‘Vote for Snowball and the three-day week’; ‘Vote for Napoleon and the full manger’.
5 The main purpose is to supply the farm with electric power. This represents the
industrialisation of Russia.
6 The windmill is popular because Snowball promises that, through the electricity it
generates, they will have heated stalls that have lighting.
7 Snowball draws his plans in a shed that was used for incubators.
8 A year
9 Two years
10 Napoleon wants to obtain more weapons.
11 Snowball wants to spread the Rebellion.
12 Napoleon
13 Snowball is passionate, eloquent and inspirational, giving the animals a clear vision of the
future.
14 The dogs (Napoleon’s army) wear collars.
15 Snowball is almost caught and killed by the dogs. This represents the willingness of
dictators to eliminate rivals and use violence to achieve their aims.
16 Napoleon is more cunning and cruel than the other animals. He develops a strategy and
uses both violence and propaganda as methods of control. He is ambitious.
17 Debating
18 Four young pigs
19 Minimus
20 Napoleon has absolute control. The animals risk their lives if they object to his orders. He
is now a dictator. This suggests there is no hope of equality on Animal Farm.

CHRONOLOGICAL SECTION CHAPTER 6

p.35 Do it!

1 This first amendment of the commandments is significant as it shows Napoleon’s willingness

to rewrite the laws of the farm without consulting the animals. The written word is used to
control the population. As so few can read, the pigs have free rein to rewrite the laws without
being challenged. The commandment has been rewritten to benefit the pigs, who now sleep in
the farmhouse in beds. This shows that laws are often rewritten to benefit those in positions of
power and authority.
2 Over the course of the novel, all the commandments are either changed or broken by the pigs.
The overall irony is that the animals are effectively living under a leader who acts like a human
and allows the pigs human-like privilege.

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p.35 AQA exam-style question

How does Orwell portray ideas about equality in the novel Animal Farm?
Possible points include:
• The aim of the Rebellion is to achieve equality amongst all animals.
• The animals are treated badly by Jones and his men and are therefore seen as less
powerful, less important and less worthy.
• The animals are treated badly by Napoleon and his pigs/dogs and are therefore seen
as less powerful, less important and less worthy.
• Snowball believes in and fights for equality among all animals.
• Education is presented as a way to create equality.
• Absolute equality is presented by Orwell as an impossible dream.

p.36 Do it!

Principle/commandment After Napoleon seizes power in Chapter 5

‘No animal must ever live in • In Chapter 6, the pigs ‘suddenly moved into the farmhouse and took up their
a house, or sleep in a bed’ residence there’. Squealer justified this to the animals by saying that the
‘pigs, who were the brains of the farm, should have a quiet place to work in’.
• Squealer also states that it is ‘also more suited to the dignity of the Leader
[Napoleon]…to live in a house than in a mere sty’.
Commandment 4 • The animals are disturbed when they hear that the pigs are not only living in
‘No animal shall sleep in a the farmhouse but sleeping in the beds: Clover asks Muriel to read her the
bed’ Fourth Commandment to confirm her memory of this rule. However, when
Muriel reads out the Fourth Commandment she finds it now reads, ‘No animal
shall sleep in a bed with sheets.’ – unbeknown to them, the commandment
has been altered. Napoleon has asked Squealer to amend it.
‘No animal must • In Chapter 6, Napoleon announces that he has decided on a new policy that
…ever engage in trade’ ‘from now onwards Animal Farm would engage in trade with neighbouring
farms…’: on hearing this the animals are ‘conscious of a vague uneasiness’.
• Napoleon even goes as far as to engage Mr Whymper to broker trade deals
on behalf of Animal Farm.
Commandment 6 • The nine enormous dogs Napoleon has trained since puppies chased
‘No animal shall kill any Snowball with the intention of killing him, on Napoleon’s orders.
other animal’ • At the end of Chapter 6, Napoleon pronounces a death sentence on
Snowball, charging all the animals with the responsibility of capturing or
killing him.
• From now on, as long as there is a reason justified by Napoleon, through
Squealer, no animal’s life is safe.
Commandment 7 • The decision that the pigs would sleep in the farmhouse because they are
‘All animals are equal’ the ‘brains’ of the farm implies that intelligence is valued more highly than
physical strength and brute force.
• As well as being permitted to sleep in comfortable beds, albeit without
sheets, the pigs are also allowed to get up an hour later than the other
animals, again reinforcing the idea that intelligence is valued – and rewarded
– as a superior quality.

p.37 REVIEW IT!

1 60 hours
2 Boxer. The workers work disproportionately harder compared to the leaders. All animals
are not equal.
3 The animals have to first break up the stone.

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p.37 REVIEW IT!

4 They drag the boulders up to the top of the quarry and smash them by pushing them over
the side.
5 Whymper is the human lawyer that Napoleon hires to help him trade with the other
farmers.
6 Paraffin oil, nails, string, dog biscuits, iron for horse shoes, seeds and artificial manure
7 Napoleon intends to sell the hens’ eggs.
8 Squealer says that the resolution against trade with humans and using money was never
passed or suggested.
9 ‘Leader’
10 The pigs now sleep in beds in the farmhouse.
11 Muriel re-reads the commandments to Clover.
12 It has been changed from ‘No animal shall sleep in a bed’ to ‘No animal shall sleep in a
bed with sheets’.
13 The pigs get up an hour later each day.
14 Boxer completes extra work at night.
15 The windmill is destroyed.
16 Napoleon blames Snowball.
17 Napoleon offers the title ‘Animal Hero, Second Class’ and half a bushel of apples to any
animal who captures Snowball alive.
18 The windmill must be rebuilt.
19 Napoleon
20 The animals will face challenges and have to work very hard to achieve their dreams.
Potentially, Animal Farm could fail if the workers do not maintain their levels of dedication
to hard work and Animalism.

CHRONOLOGICAL SECTION CHAPTER 7

p.38 Do it!

For example: fear of being attacked; too busy with the daily grind; unawareness of the situation
due to propaganda; wilful ignorance; trust in leadership

p.39 Do it!

For example: cruel leadership; very heavy workload; a lack of food and rest; the weather; living in
fear

p.39 Stretch it!

Boxer and Clover throw themselves into their work. They focus on rebuilding the windmill and
inspire the others with their work ethic, especially Boxer. Orwell repeats Boxer’s motto ‘I must
work harder’ to show his resilience. Boxer, however, also begins to question Squealer when he
rewrites the account of the Battle of the Cowshed. He lies down, closes his eyes and says he
does not believe Squealer. This is an act of defiance and shows that the excessive workload is
taking its toll. However, when attacked by the dogs, Boxer stops short of killing them, looking to
Napoleon for orders. Despite his exhaustion, he still trusts Napoleon. Following the purges, Clover
retreats to the knoll and reflects on the horrors of the day, comparing them with Major’s vision.
Orwell depicts her as lost and confused. She tries to unite the animals by singing ‘Beasts of
England’ but is silenced by Squealer. Orwell presents the animals as hopeless and powerless.

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p.39 AQA exam-style question

How does Orwell portray ideas about protest and rebellion in the novel Animal Farm?
How is the novel a critique of the Russian Revolution and its consequences?
Possible points include:
• the reasons for protesting and overthrowing Jones
• the inspiration – old Major
• the planning of the Rebellion and its aims
• the vision of life after the Rebellion versus the reality
• the Rebellion itself and the Battle of the Cowshed
• the ecstatic aftermath of the battle
• the debates and formal meetings
• the hens’ protests and the consequences
• the purges
• Orwell’s heroic portrayal of rebellion juxtaposed with the tragic long-term
consequences of removing Jones.

p.40 Do it!

Your answer could refer to the following points:

The animals fear the consequences of challenging authority. They want to believe in their leaders.
Orwell suggests propaganda is a vital tool in maintaining powerful leadership.

p.41 Stretch it!

a A very hard worker: Boxer keeps working relentlessly on rebuilding the windmill.
b An inspiration: the other animals look up to Boxer and abide by his motto.
c A challenge to Squealer/Napoleon’s authority: he defends Snowball’s honour when Squealer
rewrites the events of the Battle of the Cowshed.
d An animal capable of destroying Napoleon’s army: he pins one dog to the floor and the others
flee.
e A fool who cannot accept the reality of Napoleon’s tyrannical rule: eventually Boxer accepts
anything he is told if Napoleon has said it.

p.41 REVIEW IT!

1 The walls are three feet thick rather than 18 inches.
2 Boxer is an inspiration to the other animals.
3 The animals are short of food.
4 The animals are accused of cannibalism and infanticide.
5 Whymper makes weekly visits and is shown ‘full’ bins. The animals are prepped to remark
that their rations have been increased.
6 The hens do not want to give up their eggs for sale. It shows that some animals are
prepared to challenge the authority of their dictator.
7 The hens’ protest ends because Napoleon stops their rations. Nine hens starve to death.
The rest give up.
8 Pilkington and Frederick want to buy the timber.
9 Snowball is the farm’s scapegoat.
10 Squealer claims that: Snowball was on Jones’s side in the battle; he turned and fled;
Napoleon attacked Jones and bit him on the leg. In effect, Squealer is saying that Snowball
is no longer the hero: Napoleon is.
11 Boxer believes Snowball was a hero and good comrade in the battle.
12 Squealer says that this information is true because Napoleon has said it; Boxer trusts what
Napoloen says.

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p.41 REVIEW IT!

13 The dogs first attack the four pigs who protested against Snowball’s expulsion. They are
‘traitors’.
14 Boxer is attacked second and defends himself.
15 They confess to plotting against Napoleon and helping Snowball.
16 They go to the knoll.
17 Clover remembers that the vision promised peace and equality.
18 She is very upset. She cries.
19 She lacked the words.
20 Your answer could refer to the following points:
They sing it slowly, tunefully and mournfully. It is sung as if this is a funeral or memorial.
This shows they understand this is the end of Animalism. Squealer arrives and tells them
the song is banned as it is no longer relevant.

CHRONOLOGICAL SECTION CHAPTER 8

p.43 Do it!

The Battle of the Cowshed The Battle of the Windmill

Injuries • Snowball is injured by pellets from • Almost all the animals are injured.
Jones’s gun streaking his sides. • One man is gored in the belly.
• A stable boy is knocked • Boxer’s knees are bleeding, he has
unconscious. lost a shoe, split a hoof and has
pellets in his hind leg.
Deaths • One sheep • A cow, three sheep and two geese
• Three men
Similarities • The animals win the battle.
• The animals are directed by a pig.
• Dead animals are given funerals.
• Food is given as a reward to the animals.
Differences • The losses and deaths are much more severe, on both sides, in the Battle
of the Windmill.
• The humans destroy the windmill in the second battle. Morale is low after
the second battle.
• Boxer and Snowball are awarded commendations at Cowshed whereas
only Napoleon is awarded a commendation at Windmill.

p.43 Stretch it!

Napoleon’s leadership is minimal. He waits behind the animals and does not direct operations.
His tail is chipped by a pellet but he does not fight on the front lines. This is different to Snowball’s
well-planned and executed manoeuvres in the Battle of the Cowshed. Snowball also led the
charge and personally attacked Jones, who was armed. Snowball was brave and Napoleon
cowardly, however both receive commendations for the efforts. Orwell is criticising leaders who
take the glory for the bravery of their populations.

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p.43 AQA exam-style question

How does Orwell portray ideas about conflict between leaders in the novel Animal Farm?
Possible points include:
• conflicting values and ideas
• conflicting methods of leadership
• physical conflict (Napoleon setting the dogs on Snowball)
• conflict between Napoleon and the human farmers driven by greed
• conflicting methods of controlling a population.
• the card game and conflict in the final chapter.

p.45 Do it!

Napoleon is driven by greed and selfishness. He is driven by his personal experience and happy
to change his views to benefit himself and his fellow pigs. His alteration to the commandment
shows he is willing to rewrite the farm’s laws for his own benefit.

p.45 REVIEW IT!

1 ‘No animal shall kill any other animal’ becomes ‘No animal shall kill any other animal
without cause’.
2 ‘Father of All Animals’; ‘Terror of Mankind’; ‘Protector of the Sheepfold’; ‘Ducklings’
Friend’. Napoleon is all powerful. He can both destroy and create. He is god-like.
3 ‘Comrade Napoleon’. The poem conveys the message that Napoleon is a great provider
and worthy of adoration.
4 The poem is painted on the wall, at the opposite end from the Seven Commandments.
5 Napoleon is trying to sell a pile of timber.
6 Napoleon is paranoid someone will poison him.
7 Autumn
8 The money bank notes are forged.
9 Napoleon pronounces a death sentence on Frederick.
10 Frederick brings fifteen men.
11 The men have half a dozen guns (six).
12 It is blown up.
13 A cow, three sheep and two geese are killed. Nearly everyone is wounded.
14 Boxer breaks three men’s heads.
15 Boxer’s knees are bleeding. He has lost a shoe. He has split his hoof. He has a dozen (12)
pellets in his hind leg.
16 Boxer is now 11 years old.
17 The pigs find a case of whisky.
18 Napoleon is hungover.
19 The Sixth Commandent is now: ‘No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.’ This
is significant as it shows Napoleon will now use violence (including his dog army) to control
his population. The end of peace and trust among the animals has arrived and with it the
death of Animalism. The Fifth Commandment is also amended to allow the pigs to drink
alcohol. This shows they are becoming increasingly human in their lifestyles and attitudes.
20 After the Battle of the Cowshed the animals hold a funeral for the dead and they spend
two days celebrating. There are songs, speeches and a gift of an apple is given to every
animal. Napoleon gives himself an award (the Order of the Green Banner). The second
battle, Battle of the Windmill, is much bloodier, more dangerous and although they win
both battles, the second victory is more harmful to both morale and the animals’ well-
being. Boxer’s bravery is not celebrated in the second battle.

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CHRONOLOGICAL SECTION CHAPTER 9

p.47 Do it!

The pigs see Moses as a useful way to control the animals using the hope of an afterlife to
alleviate their present suffering. It is worth investing in organised religion to keep the population
hopeful and prevent them rebelling.

p.47 Stretch it!

Orwell uses Boxer’s death to expose the reality of life on Animal Farm by showing that the
animals will never retire and will be sold for slaughter/knackers when they are no longer useful.
The profits will be used by the pigs for the pigs and other animals will work all their lives and then
be destroyed. This means Moses’ messages about the afterlife are very important because if
retirement is no longer possible, only the afterlife can serve as motivation.

p.47 AQA exam-style question

How does Orwell portray ideas about class division in the novel Animal Farm?
Possible points include:
• how classes that are initially unified in the face of a common enemy (the
humans) may become internally divided when the enemy is removed
• how the pigs establish themselves as the ruling class in the new society
• the natural division between intellectual and physical labour being expressed
as a new set of class divisions
• whether class division is inevitable in any community
• whether class division always poses a threat to democracy and freedom.

p.48 Do it!

Squealer explains that the van used to belong to the knackers but was bought by the vet. He
claims they simply did not paint over the letters. This outlandish lie convinces the animals and
shows the continuing power of propaganda, even when it is so obviously a lie.

p.49 Do it!

1 Freedom:
Jones – the animals are forced to work all their life until death. They have no freedom.
Napoleon – Despite promises otherwise, the animals are forced to work all their life until death.
They have no freedom.
Work:
Jones – the animals work excessively long hours and are destroyed after they become useless
as workers.
Napoleon – despite initially having time off on Sundays, by the end the animals work
excessively long hours and are destroyed after they become useless as workers.
Food:
Jones – the animals are fed but often late and Jones sometimes forgets to feed them.
Napoleon – despite initially increasing rations and giving the animals extra food as rewards, by
the end the animals work for very little and rarely receive any rewards.
Comfort:
Jones – the animals sleep in stalls.
Napoleon – the animals sleep in stalls.
Violence: Jones uses whips, collars, knives etc. to control his animals.
Napoleon – he and his pigs use whips, as well as a dog army, to control the animals.
2 Napoleon – due to the purges, appalling living conditions and near starvation. They work
harder for less reward under this dictator, which is ironic.

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p.49 REVIEW IT!

1 His split hoof
2 Boxer is due to retire on his twelfth birthday. He expects to receive a pension of five
pounds of corn in summer and fifteen pounds of hay in winter. He will get his own field.
3 All animals’ rations are reduced, except the pigs’ and dogs’.
4 Jones. This suggests leaders become irrelevant and powerless once removed from their
position of authority.
5 Napoleon has fathered thirty-one piglets.
6 Napoleon educates them in the farmhouse kitchen (although a schoolroom is to be built).
7 The pigs wear green ribbons.
8 They are using it to brew beer.
9 The pigs receive an extra ration of a pint of beer every day.
10 In April; Napoleon
11 Moses the raven returns to preach, suggesting that life has returned to the way it was
before the Rebellion.
12 Boxer collapses and falls onto his side.
13 Blood is coming out of Boxer’s mouth.
14 Benjamin the donkey keeps the flies off Boxer.
15 Squealer says that Napoleon has arranged to send Boxer to hospital in the nearby town.
16 He stays in his stall. Clover and Benjamin visit him after work in the evenings.
17 Benjamin. ‘Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler, Willingdon. Dealer in
Hides and Bone-Meal. Kennels Supplied.’ 
18 “Boxer! Get out! Get out quickly! They are taking you to your death!”
19 Squealer claims Boxer said, ‘Forward, comrades!…Forward in the name of the Rebellion.
Long live Animal Farm! Long live Comrade Napoleon! Napoleon is always right.’
20 Suggested answer:
The animals do not want to believe that their leader Napoleon is just as bad as Jones. They
also worry about their own futures and want to believe they will be cared for at the end too.
They ignore all the evidence against this belief.

CHRONOLOGICAL SECTION CHAPTER 10

p.50 Do it!

They were promised the chance to retire, warm stalls, freedom from violence, equality.

p.51 Stretch it!

The pigs have gained authority and control as a consequence of the Rebellion but, through the
corrupting combination of power and greed, they have lost their sense of identity: they walk
upright like Man and dress in Man’s clothes. Orwell suggests that it is inevitable that power
corrupts: the use of foreshadowing throughout the novel creates the sense that the events in the
story are unavoidable.

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p.51 AQA exam-style question

How does Orwell portray ideas about hopes and dreams in the novel Animal Farm?
Possible points include:
• the dream set out by old Major
• the hope for equality
• the animals’ desire to make their dreams come true through rebellion
• the continued hopes and dreams of animals throughout the novel
• Sugarcandy Mountain as a hope for the afterlife
• the power of songs, poetry and slogans to reinforce the dream
• Napoleon’s dream of total power
• Snowball’s dream of the windmill and heated stalls
• the end of the animals’ hopes for retirement and equality
• the end of Animalism; the failure of Major’s dream to become reality.

p.52 Stretch it!

Leaders will use flattery and speak in riddles to ease negotiations. Nothing they say should be
taken at face value and it quickly descends into arguments when they discover someone is
cheating. This dispute over cards implies that it will be almost impossible to create lasting peace
and cooperation due to a lack of trust.

p.53 REVIEW IT!

1 Napoleon, Squealer, Clover, Benjamin, Moses and some of the pigs
2 They have become old and overweight.
3 It has been built and is used for milling corn.
4 The pigs (Napoleon) and dogs have become richer.
5 The pigs write lots of reports and then burn them. In effect, they do not work.
6 It is the only farm run by animals for animals.
7 ‘Four legs good, two legs better!’ They drown out any protest/objections within the crowds
as the pigs parade.
8 They parade to show they can walk on two legs.
9 Squealer leads the parade.
10 Napoleon comes out last and holds a whip.
11 The Seven Commandments have been removed from the wall. Only one remains: ‘All
animals are equal but some are more equal than others.’
12 Napoleon smokes his pipe in the garden and strolls around.
13 Napoleon wears a black coat, ratcatcher breeches and leather leggings.
14 They play cards and drink beer.
15 Pilkington
16 The farm will be called Manor Farm, calling each other ‘Comrade’ will be banned, the skull
of old Major is buried and the flag will be plain green.
17 The faces of the pigs seemed to be ‘melting and changing’.
18 They argue because they have both played the ace of spades playing card.
19 They cannot tell which is human and which is pig.
20 Suggested answer:
The cyclical structure shows that one evil ruler has been replaced by another. The
Rebellion was well-intentioned but ultimately unsuccessful in achieving equality and
putting Animalism into practice.

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CHARACTERS SECTION

p.55 Stretch it!

Orwell is suggesting that there are many types of leader and often conflicts arrive when politicians
with different priorities and ways of leading are in opposition. Snowball is intelligent and brave but
too trusting. Napoleon is strong and cold but too cruel. Both want productivity to increase and to
lead Animal Farm. Orwell presents Snowball’s style of leadership in a significantly more positive
light and overtly criticises Napoleon’s rule, portraying him as a tyrannical dictator. However, even
Snowball is happy to take the milk and apples and give them only to the pigs. Orwell shows that
no leader is beyond greed and selfishness.

p.56 Do it!

This question requires your personal response. You could refer to the following points:
Snowball is described very positively by Orwell. He is a hero due to his actions in the Battle of
the Cowshed. He is also passionate about equality and Animalism, which is evidenced by his
desire to educate and involve all animals. However, Squealer and Napoleon describe him as
a traitor in hiding after he is expelled from the farm. He was supposedly a spy for the humans
on neighbouring farms and is now too ashamed to return to the farm. They describe him as a
menacing influence because he is blamed for anything that goes wrong on the farm. Snowball’s
reputation is irretrievably tarnished by their propaganda.

p.57 Do it!

STRENGTHS – Clear focus on the question. Evidence used to support points. Engagement with
text is clear.
TO IMPROVE – Make explicit links to contextual factors. Consider what the defeat of Snowball
means in terms of the fall of Communism. Step away from the narrative and explore the
significance of this event in relation to the themes of the novel and Orwell’s message.

p.58 Do it!

He complains about: cruelty; Man consumes without producing; Man is weak; Man steals the
animals’ labour; Man steals the animals’ children and products; eventually Man sends the animals
to the knacker or kills them on the farm when they are no longer of use.
Almost all of these complaints are attributable to Napoleon as well as humans.

p.58 Stretch it!

Suggested answers:
‘Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours? – rhetorical question
‘The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth.’ – emotive language
‘Man is the only real enemy we have.’ – inclusive pronoun and juxtaposition
His speech is rousing, powerful and highly persuasive. He unites the animals and causes
revolution.

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p.59 Do it! (top)

Issue Squealer’s response

Snowball’s expulsion • Napoleon had to expel Snowball to protect the other animals.
(lies) • He was a criminal.
• He came up with insane ideas, such as the windmill.
Napoleon’s decision to • It was his idea all along.
build the windmill • He had pretended to oppose it to get rid of Snowball. It was tactical.
(lies)

Napoleon’s decision • No commandment ever stated they should not trade.

to trade with other • They will not have direct contact with humans.
farmers • It is for the greater good.
(half-truths)

Moving into the • There was never a ruling against beds.

farmhouse and • The commandment states that animals cannot sleep in beds with
sleeping in beds sheets.
(lie)

The destruction of the • Snowball did it.

windmill. • Snowball began entering the farm at night to cause destruction.
(lie)

p.59 Do it! (bottom)

Agree – Squealer is able to convince the animals that Napoleon is working in their best interests.
His ability to manipulate language and his unwavering loyalty to his leader is fundamental to
Napoleon remaining in power.
Disagree – Even without Squealer, Napoleon would have remained in power by ruling through fear
through use of the dogs.
Propaganda is important as it allows leaders to easily influence the opinions, ideas and thoughts
of the people. Propaganda can be used to trick people, as they are often not made fully aware of
the situation/implications.

p.60 Do it!

Suggested answers:
1 ‘I will work harder.’
2 ‘Napoleon is always right.’
3 ‘an enormous beast, nearly eighteen hands high, and as strong as any two ordinary horses’
4 ‘the most terrifying spectacle of all was Boxer, rearing up on his hind legs and striking out with
his great iron-shod hoofs like a stallion’
5 ‘the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power, Jones will send you to the
knacker, who will cut your throat and boil you down’
Boxer represents the working-class majority. He is used and abused by humans and pigs in
positions of power.

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p.61 Do it!

Suggested answers:
• Boxer is no longer useful alive.
• The pigs will not pay for a vet.
• The pigs are happy to sell his body.
• The pigs use the money to buy whisky.
• The pigs do not care about the animals.
1 ‘There lay Boxer, his neck stretched out, unable even to raise his head.’
2 ‘His eyes were glazed, his sides matted with sweat.’
3 ‘A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth.’
4 ‘“It is my lung,” said Boxer in a weak voice.’
5 ‘He was trying to kick his way out.’

p.61 Stretch it!

Squealer tells the other animals that Boxer’s final hours were spent praising Animal Farm and
Napoleon, and that his only regret was to have passed on before finishing the windmill. Squealer
uses this as propaganda to inspire the animals by encouraging them to work hard in Boxers
honour. This is disturbing because it highlights Squealer’s lack of conscience as well as show he
is willing to lie about whatever means necessary to protect Napoleon and keep the animals on his
side. Boxer continues to be exploited, even after death.

p.62 Stretch it!

Similar: cruel and dispassionate leaders; selfish and money orientated; both use fear and violence
as methods of control.
Different: Napoleon uses propaganda to control his population as well as his dog army; Napoleon
maintains the animals’ loyalty.
It is only at the very end that the animals realise Napoleon has become Jones. Old Major would
have been horrified.

p.62 Do it!

This question requires your personal response but you may include the fact that the luxuries
symbolise the horrific use and abuse of animals by humans. Many of the objects are made from
animal products which represent how animals are disrespected both in life and death.

p.63 Do it! (top)

Similarities: they put profit before people/animals; they use fear and violence as methods of
control; they see animals as lesser than themselves and treat them badly.
Differences: attitudes to violence, trade and negotiations; success in controlling their populations;
ability to prevent revolutions.

p.63 Do it! (bottom)

Suggested answers:
1 ‘stout motherly mare approaching middle life, who had never quite got her figure back after her
fourth foal’
2 ‘Clover warned him sometimes to be careful not to overstrain himself’
3 ‘Clover looked down the hillside her eyes filled with tears. If she could have spoken her
thoughts; it would have been to say that this was not what they had aimed at when they had
set themselves years ago to work for the overthrow of the human race.’
4 ‘Only Boxer and Clover never lost heart’
5 ‘Their most faithful disciples were the two carthorses’

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Clover represents the maternal aspects of the working class. She is the feminine aspect of Boxer.
She lives a long life and remains loyal and caring to her friends and all animals on the farm. She is
treated badly, which shows that there will never be equality under Napoleon’s regime.

p.64 Stretch it!

Yes: they have choices; they could attack Napoleon.

No: they have been brainwashed; they may be killed if they do not obey; their instincts are to kill.

p.64 Do it!

Suggested answers:
Benjamin is caring: ‘He was devoted to Boxer.’
Benjamin is cynical: ‘Windmill or no windmill…life would go on as it had always gone on – that is,
badly.’
Benjamin is intellectual: ‘hunger, hardship, and disappointment being, so he said, the unalterable
law of life’.

p.65 REVIEW IT!

1 Old Major
2 Napoleon
3 Snowball
4 Squealer
5 Clover and Benjamin
6 After work, both animals spend their evenings with Boxer in his stall. Clover feeds him
medicine and talks to him. Benjamin keeps the flies off him.
7 Benjamin
8 Mollie
9 Moses. He is fed bread and beer.
10 The cat
11 Frederick
12 Pilkington
13 Jones
14 Minimus
15 They are worried that their own animals will revolt.
16 Clover
17 They both walk on two legs, wear clothes, drink alcohol, smoke, use whips, live in
farmhouses and so on.
18 Whymper
19 Napoleon. He wants to create his own private army.
20 The cat

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THEMES AND CONTEXTS SECTION

p.66 Do it! (top)

Suggested answers:
Snowball: intelligent, heroic, brave, caring, vivacious, thoughtful
Napoleon: strong, cruel, sneaky, manipulative, brutal, cold
Jones: neglectful, drunk, indifferent, violent, cruel
Old Major: wise, benevolent, visionary, confident, inspirational
Frederick: sneaky, cold, cruel, devious, sinister, two-faced
Pilkington: selfish, grasping, cold, sneaky, neglectful
Snowball and old Major are portrayed more positively but perhaps their optimism is unrealistic. A
good leader needs to be wise, strong, intelligent and brave. They also need to be realistic about
what can be achieved and work towards these goals.

p.66 Do it! (bottom)

The animals fail to create old Major’s utopian society because: Napoleon seizes power; they do
not foresee some of the hardships of running a farm; they need to trade with humans; not all
animals are willing/able to be educated; animals are not all equal in terms of physical/emotional/
intellectual strength; their windmill is destroyed.

p.66 Stretch it!

The animals could have challenged the pigs when they take the milk and apples. They could
have driven Napoleon out and stood up for Snowball. The animals who could read could have
challenged the pigs’ amendments to the commandments.
Animal Farm was not doomed but true equality was never achieved.

p.67 Do it!

• You shall have no other gods but me. 1 Napoleon is god-like because he rules supreme,
is distant, allows life to be created and destroyed,
and establishes the laws of the farm.
• You shall remember and keep the 2 Sundays after the Rebellion are days of rest and
Sabbath day holy. reward. However, after Snowball is expelled,
Napoleon forces the animals to work on Sundays.
• You must not commit murder. 3 Napoleon commits murder. The purges are used to
remove challenges to his authority.
• You must not steal. 4 The animals ‘steal’ Animal Farm from Jones.
Napoleon and the pigs steal the farmhouse,
clothes and luxuries from Jones. Mollie steals
ribbons from Mrs Jones.

p.68 Stretch it!

The long, complex sentence mirrors the long, intense events of the purges. The relentless
extended imagery represents the enormous bloodshed.

p.68 Do it!

1 Orwell shows the horrific reality of Napoleon’s decision to use violence by using gruesome
imagery and a long, complex sentence that highlights the horror. Napoleon stands over the
corpses like some evil god.
2 Napoleon and Jones are both responsible for the death of animals who are no longer of use to
them.

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p.69 Do it!

Suggested answers:
• ‘Napoleon sat on the front of the raised platform’
• ‘The windmill was Napoleon’s own creation’
• ‘Napoleon is always right’
• ‘the sight of Napoleon roused their pride’
• ‘The Leader’
Old Major is also god-like as he preaches to the animals and is revered by all.

p.69 Stretch it!

‘Beasts of England’ is very successful. It has a clear message, a focus on the benefits of a world
free from humankind and a clear sense of intention. It spreads across the farm and even to other
nearby farms. This hymn was taught to the animals by Old Major and therefore has additional
nostalgic significance. However, the relative failure of ‘Animal Farm Animal Farm’ shows that in
order to become anthemic, hymns need to have a rousing tune, catchy refrain and be presented
to the audience as a summary of the vision of revolution.

p.70 AQA exam-style question

How does Orwell use Moses and Napoleon to explore ideas about faith and religion in
Animal Farm?
Possible points include:
• Napoleon’s god-like status
• Moses preaching
• hymns and poems praising the god-like pigs
• the promise of an afterlife in Sugarcandy Mountain
• the animals’ relentless faith in Animalism and Napoleon
• Orwell’s cynical portrayal of organised religion.

p.70 Do it!

Suggested answers:
For: the dream of absolute equality seems unobtainable; some animals will always seek power
and abuse it.
Against: the Rebellion is a success; with greater cooperation and holding leaders to account,
Animalism could have become a lasting reality.

p.73 Do it!

Suggested answers:
1 Jones and Nicholas II are similar because they both own/rule their territories and are both
forced out by their populations. They both believed they had absolute power and could abuse
their populations.
‘Surely comrades, you do not want Jones back?’
‘The animals had destroyed everything that reminded them of Mr Jones’
‘Jones was expelled and Manor Farm was theirs’
2 Animalism and communism are similar because in both cases the workers rebel against the
elite, overthrow them and try to create a truly equal society.
‘All animals are equal’
‘work night and day, body and soul for the overthrow of the human race’
‘All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.’

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p.75 Stretch it!

This answer requires your own research. You may find more about the following points:
• Attitudes to Animal Farm in 1945 in the UK – Orwell struggled to get Animal Farm published. It
was said to be overly critical of Soviet Russia and calling communist leaders pigs was deemed
bad taste. However, when published, the novel was a great success.
• Attitudes to Animal Farm in 1945 among the Russian working class. The Russian working
class passed copies of Animal Farm around but readership was low. Russians did not respond
positively to such satire as they were living with the reality of Stalinist Russia, which was rarely
amusing.
• Attitudes to Animal Farm in 1945 of Stalin and his government. The book was banned until the
1980s.
• Attitudes to Animal Farm in 1953, after Stalin’s death. In the 1950s, the Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA) in the USA funded an animated film of Animal Farm. It became increasingly
popular in schools, universities and within the general population in Western nations. Between
1952 and 1957, the CIA sent millions of balloons carrying copies of the novel into Poland,
Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
• Attitudes to Animal Farm today. Today, Animal Farm continues to be a bestseller and has
been made into two films. It has been recognised as one of the finest works of literature in the
English-speaking world.

p.75 REVIEW IT!

1 Snowball, Napoleon, Jones, old Major, Frederick, Pilkington
2 Jones is cruel, selfish, neglects his animals and drinks excessively.
3 A philosophy is a system of thought, for example: Animalism.
4 The Rebellion results in one cruel leader being replaced by another.
5 Christianity and Judaism
6 Clothing, sleeping in beds, wearing clothes, drinking alcohol, smoking
7 Jones slaughters his animals to sell as meat or because they are no longer useful. He also
uses whips, chains, etc. to control them.
8 The air is ‘heavy with the smell of blood’.
9 The bourgeoisie is the ruling class. The proletariat is the working class.
10 It aims to remove the bourgeoisie to allow the proletariat greater freedom and equality.
11 Sugarcandy Mountain represents hope for a peaceful, restful afterlife.
12 It has commandments, the church-like barn, singing of hymns (‘Beasts of
England’/‘Animal Farm, Animal Farm’), prophets (old Major) and a god-like authoritarian
figure (Napoleon).
13 The animals hope that the Republic of England will be ruled by animals, not humans, one
day.
14 Orwell believed in equality and socialism.
15 Animal Farm is an allegory of the Russian Revolution and Stalinist Russia.
16 The small farmers were forced to give their land to Stalin to create huge farms. They were
then made to work on these state farms.
17 70–90 per cent of them died.
18 Stalin murdered those who protested or disagreed with him.
19 Orwell was against, for example, dictators, inequality and hypocritical leaders.
20 Orwell wanted to show: how power corrupts individuals; the inequality within society; how
leaders exploit their populations; the brutality of life under Stalin; that revolutions can be
successful.

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LANGUAGE, STRUCTURE AND FORM SECTION

p.77 Do it!

For example: Boxer – ‘an enormous beast’, powerful and strong. The working class is important
and should be respected.

p.81 Do it!

Within old Major’s speech, several predictions come true, such as: the Rebellion; productivity
increases; Boxer is sent to the knacker. Orwell suggests leaders can be visionary but
underestimate the greed and power-hungry nature of others.

p.82 Do it!

Suggested answers:
For: simple plot; animals are engaging; clear sense of good versus evil.
Against: the mechanisms of power are complex; the allegory takes time to unpick and the irony is
better understood with life experience.

p.82 Stretch it!

• Who tells stories: old Major, Squealer, Napoleon, Snowball, Orwell

• Who listens and believes: the animals, the reader
• Why the stories are told: to persuade, educate, inform and inspire
• The impact of the stories: leads to revolution, empowerment, disempowerment, manipulation,
etc.

p.83 REVIEW IT!

1 True equality is a fantasy.
2 Orwell ridicules power-hungry dictators by setting his satire on a farm and portraying the
cruel leader as a greedy pig.
3 The whole of society
4 Orwell uses a simple, direct style in Animal Farm which makes his messages clear
and accessible. Description and dialogue are kept to a minimum and Orwell avoids
sentimentality – even the most heart-breaking sections of the text are very direct in style.
He focuses on telling the story, allowing the reader to concentrate on the lessons he wants
us to learn. 
5 For example: Boxer’s death is foreshadowed in Chapter 7 when Napoleon’s dogs ‘go quite
mad’ and attack Boxer. In this instance, Boxer retains the upper hand and allows the dogs
to go free, but it leaves the reader with a sense of unease: if Boxer has been attacked
once, could it happen again and could it have a different outcome?
6 Orwell uses dramatic irony to encourage us to question what leaders tell their populations.
7 This is used by Orwell to show the hypocrisy and unfairness of life on Animal Farm.
8 Appearance, how they move, how they speak, what they say
9 Direct speech is when we read the words as spoken. Reported speech is when we hear
what has been said but not directly from the character.
10 Orwell uses a third person narrator.
11 At key moments, Orwell chooses to tell us about important events from the perspective of
one of the animals.
12 Orwell presents propaganda as being the method that unites populations.
13 Orwell encourages us to laugh at the foolishness of the animals in order to learn from their
mistakes.
14 Mollie trying on ribbons represents the vanity of humanity.

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p.83 REVIEW IT!

15 Sugarcandy Mountain is described hyperbolically to imply it does not exist.
16 ‘Comrade Napoleon’ represents Napoleon as a benevolent leader whereas ‘Beasts Of
England’ represents the rebellion and freedom.
17 The second line, ‘Never through me shalt thou come to harm’ is hugely ironic. It is
introduced immediately after the purges!
18 Orwell uses this logical and straightforward way of organising events to show clearly the
erosion of Animalism.
19 Orwell uses a cyclical structure to show that the pigs have become as bad as the humans.
20 Old Major’s speech is full of warnings about the future. These include Boxer being sent
to the knacker, the animals being forced to work until death and the chickens having their
eggs stolen from them. This is ironically foreshadowing life under Napoleon.

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DOING WELL IN YOUR AQA EXAM SECTION

p.88 Do it!

Student A demonstrates impressive vocabulary, precise expression and formal language in a

professional introduction that clearly summarises the argument.

p.91 REVIEW IT!

1 5–10 minutes preparing the question and planning; 35–40 minutes writing
2 This will depend on your school/college! Check with your teacher.
3 Two questions
4 One question (You choose one of the two.)
5 [Create your own exam question.]
6 [Create your own exam question.]
7 [Create your own exam question.]
8 5–10 minutes
9 ‘Pinning the question down’ makes sure you have really thought about what the question
is asking.
10 It is a brief mention of an event or what a character says or does.
11 You get four marks for accuracy. Make sure that you use a range of vocabulary and
sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect. Accurate spelling and punctuation is
important.
12 30 marks
13 AO1. Can you read, understand and use evidence? 12 marks.
14 AO2. Can you analyse Orwell’s use of language, form and structure and use subject
terminology? 12 marks.
15 This will not allow you to match your knowledge to the specific focus of the question.
16 True. Write them only if they help you to answer the question.
17 In the month leading up to the exam, all your revision should be based on planning and
writing answers to exam questions.
18 [Plan your answer.]
19 [Plan your answer.]
20 [Write your answer.]

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AQA EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS SECTION

p.92 Practice question 1

How does Orwell use events in Animal Farm to explore ideas about the consequences
of rebellion?
Possible points include:
• overthrowing the establishment
• the chance to make a dream a reality
• uniting populations
• leadership contests emerge
• death, injury and fear.

p.92 Practice question 2

How does Orwell use Boxer and Benjamin to explore attitudes to revolution in Animal
Farm?
Possible points include:
• Contrast Boxer’s optimism with Benjamin’s pessimism.
• Intellect determines attitude.
• Both attitudes remain steadily opposed.
• Despite their differences, they are loyal to each other.
• Boxer is dedicated to the cause and risks his life to defend Animalism and Animal
Farm.
• Both participate in the initial rebellion.
• Boxer tries hard to read whereas Benjamin squanders his talents.

p.92 Practice question 3

How does Orwell explore the use of propaganda by leaders?
Possible points include:
• Squealer and his lies
• commandments and the rewriting of them
• songs, poems and ceremony
• rewriting history
• Orwell’s novel as propaganda.

p.93 Practice question 4

How does Orwell present the consequences of old Major’s vision in Animal Farm?
Possible points include:
• Positive: overthrowing Jones, Animalism becomes a reality, equality is aimed for
• Negative: Napoleon’s rise to power, the purges, the cruelty
• Ending: the inhabitants of Manor Farm are still treated badly by a cruel leader
• Hope: that one day Animalism will succeed never fades.

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p.93 Practice question 5

How does Orwell present the importance of birds on the farm?
Possible points include:
• the use of pigeons as messengers
• the geese in the Battle of the Cowshed
• Moses the raven
• the hens and their revolt
• the ducklings and Clover
• how they (in theory) have greater freedom and could choose to leave.

p.93 Practice question 6

In Animal Farm, Boxer says ‘Napoleon is always right’. How does Orwell explore
attitudes towards leaders in the novel?
Possible points include:
• comparing Snowball, Napoleon, old Major and Jones
• exploring Boxer as the leader of the workforce
• Pilkington and Frederick
• corrupt and power-hungry leaders
• leaders as forces for positive change
• leaders’ methods of control.

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