1. The windmill is supposed to grind the grains that the animals harvest.

It is a labor-saving
machine. Repeatedly, the animals sacrifice themselves in order to build it, only to see it
destroyed time and again. Does modern technology similarly fail to free people from labor? Are
people working less? Why might Napoleon want to keep the hope alive but prevent its
fulfillment? In what way is the windmill like a religious hope?

The windmill in “Animal Farm” represents industry and technology in the Soviet Union.
Snowball represents Leon Trotsky who had big plans on how to increase productivity and make
life better for the rest of the animals who represent the working class. On the other hand,
Napoleon, who opposed Snowball, represents Stalin, who wanted to lessen the workload. The
vote between Napoleon and Snowball was similar to the vote between Stalin and Trotsky, as
Napoleon/Stalin won by chasing Snowball/Trotsky away. Modern technology succeeds in
freeing people from labour by making their jobs and lives easier. No longer do we have to do
mathematics in our heads, no longer do we have to wait weeks for long range communications.
Because of modern technology, people are being freed from the intense labour that they would
have had to do without it. Keeping the hope alive benefits Napoleon as the other animals see
him as someone who has foresight and always plans for the future. This way, the animals would
continue to accept Napoleon as their leader.

2. The natural characteristics of each animal determine their motives and pronouncements. How
do the actions of Napoleon (a pig), Boxer (a horse), Benjamin (a donkey) and the dogs and
sheep reflect the traits normally associated with the animal? Do your feel that Orwell purposely
chose certain types of animals to assume certain roles?

Orwell definitely chose the actions and roles of these animals on purpose, but not
because their actions reflect the traits normally associated with the animal. Each and every
character in animal farm was a reflection of someone in real life. Old Major represents
Vladimir Lennin or Karl Marx, who started the rebellion. Snowball represents Leon Trotsky,
who had plans to industrialize so that productivity could be increased. Napoleon represents
Joseph Stalin. He did not get along with Snowball/Trotsky and decided to get rid of him, and
then took advantage of the uprising to become the president of the animal farm, which he later
turns into a dictatorship. Boxer is a very strong and loyal horse who always listens to Napoleon.
Because of this, Boxer represents the working class. Squealer was a clever pig who always
defended Napoleon whenever his moves were questioned by the animals. He always made the
excuse that Napoleon sacrificed his whole life for animalism. Because of this, Squealer is
Vyacheslav Molotov, who was the head of propaganda and Stalin’s protege. Mr. Jones is Czar
Nicholas II as he doesnt care about the animals. Mr. Pinklington, who owns the neighbouring
Foxwood farm is a representation of the neighbouring capitalists (USA and UK). As Mr.. Fredriks
is a very untrustworthy neighbour, he can be seen as Adolf Hitler.
3. Surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back? Throughout the
animals' reign on the farm, Napoleon and Squealer dangle the possibility of Jones’ return as a
constant danger, keeping most of the other animals in fear, and thus, submission. Do you think
that this was a valid threat? Do you feel that, overall, the animals were better or worse off once
they were in control of the farm?

I do think that the return of Jones was a valid threat to the animals on the farm.
Especially since Jones possessed the power to completely take back the farm. This, again
relates to soviet Russia where there was the possibility that the capitalist countries would take
reign over the USSR. However, I think that constantly reminding everyone of this threat was
also a tactic for Napoleon and Squealer to gain more control over the animals as it would show
that they have foresight and always have plans for what to do in case of any scenario. I think
that the animals were better off once they were in control of the farm. Even though there was a
lot of debate and a lot of uncertainty, at least the animals had a little more freedom and were
happy with who took charge of them.

4. On pages 3 - 10 of the novel, Old Major expresses his vision of a society free of human
influence and control. Compare and contrast this against what eventually plays out on Manor
Farm once the animals have taken over. What, if any, concepts or goals remain the same?

Even though Old Major's dream of evicting the humans from the farm and getting rid of human
control came true, they faced another problem. Most of the animals were still under control,
though this time, they were under control not by the humans, but by the pigs Napoleon and
Snowball. The only goal that remained the same was the eviction of humans.

5. In one of the first scenes in the novel, Old Major sings Beasts of England, effectively bringing
the animals together under a common purpose. Indeed, throughout the initial struggle against
man, it is a wildly popular and inspirational song. Yet later on, when the animals have
successfully conquered the humans, Squealer, “attended by two dogs”, announces that Beasts
of England had been abolished and “was no longer needed.'' Why? Can you cite other
examples where what was once held “sacred” and “necessary” to the common cause was later
banished by decree?

I believed that Napoleon abolished beasts of England because he did not want the animals to
believe that the animal farm was not an ideal society. As the lyrics to the song explain how the
animals have miserable lives full of hard work, Napoleon feared that the animals would realise
that life under his rule was also terrible and rebel against his rule. The song also encourages
independence, which goes against Napoleon's status as the dictator.
6. Following the massacre of "guilty" animals at the hands of Napoleon and the other pigs,
Clover reflects sadly on what she thought life should have been like on Manor Farm: "If she
herself had had any picture of the future, it had been of a society of animals set free from
hunger and the whip, all equal, each working according to his capacity, the strong protecting the
weak, as she had protected the lost brood of ducklings with her foreleg on the night of
Major's speech." Is Clover overly idealistic in feeling this way? Do you feel that such a
community can exist?

7. Initially, the seven commandments issued by the animals were deemed unalterable, and
symbolized a code by which the animals could live peacefully and equally among themselves.
How
and by what means were the commandments eventually changed? Choose and discuss one or
two
individual commandments. Who benefited in each instance and how?
8. Animal Farm is replete with subtle and not so-subtle lessons on blind conformity and the
misuse
of power. What are some of the lessons you've personally taken away from the novel
regarding
education of the masses, knowledge of history, idealist thought and class structure? Has the
novel
changed your worldview in any way?
9.Can you account for how the pigs ascended so quickly to power and dominion over all other

animals? What key steps did they take, or more specifically, which elements did they make
certain
to control?
10. Although Napoleon is considered the absolute Leader of Animal Farm, it is Squealer who is
most adept at conveying the "party line" to the animals, often convincing them to disbelieve their
own eyes. What methods does Squealer employ to deceive and/or placate the other animals?
How
does the concept of memory (or lack thereof) figure in Squealer's pronouncements and
dealings with
them?
11. The novel ends with a chilling passage, wherein Clover notices something odd about the
humans
and pigs meeting in the farmhouse: "Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all
alike.
No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked
from pig
to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say
which
was which. What is Orwell saying here? How do you interpret this final scene?
12. Discuss Napoleon's interaction with the humans after the animals have taken control of
the farm.
What does Napoleon's dealings with Whymper say about the self-sufficiency of the
animals? What
is at the root of Napoleon's interplay with Pilkington and Frederick?
13. In reading Animal Farm, Lord Acton's famous pronouncement "Power tends to corrupt,
and
absolute power corrupts absolutely" may come to mind. How and why is this statement
applicable to
the course of events in the novel?
14. When first published, Animal Farm was seen as a direct attack on Stalinism and the
communist
regime in Russia. The novel has direct parallels to actual players in Russian history. However,
Napoleon’s name belongs to the famous general and emperor of post-revolutionary France, and
other names refer to England. Discuss parallels between the novel and modern, capitalist and
democratic states like Canada and England.
15. In the aftermath of the rebellion against Mr.. Jones, Snowball and Napoleon emerge as the
predominant figureheads-yet it is Napoleon who eventually consolidates and assumes power as
unquestioned leader. Snowball, now banished from the farm, goes on to assume a newer and
possibly more powerful role. Describe the differences between Snowball and Napoleon. What
actions taken by Napoleon ensured his ascension to power and "victory" over Snowball? Why
does
Snowball play so heavily in the decisions and actions on Manor Farm even after he's no
longer
there?
16. Among the various characters in the novel, whom do you feel is the noblest or most worthy?
Which animal would be best suited to lead a group against Napoleon and the pigs? What
qualities
would this animal need to posses to do so?
17. Why do Napoleon and Squealer consistently emphasize ceremony, tradition and rank? Do
you
feel that titles such as "Animal hero, second class," or the "Order of the Green Banner" (page
87)
mean as much to the rest of the animals as they do the pigs?
18. Do you find it strange that Molly, the narcissistic and lazy horse, successfully leaves the farm
and goes to live among humans, even though she is fully aware of the "evil" that Man
represents?
What deeper meanings or symbolisms do Molly's actions hold?

19. The animals successfully repel a second human attack on the farm. As a consequence of
the
battle, however, the windmill is destroyed. Squealer considers this outcome an unmitigated
victory.
Why is Boxer so reluctant to agree?
20. Benjamin, the dour and unflinching Donkey, frequently assumes a sort of "middle ground"
regarding events on Animal Farm. He repeatedly states that "Donkeys live a long time," and that
regardless of political outcomes, "life would go on as it always had-badly (page 41)." Discuss
the
symbolism of Benjamin and his various pronouncements. What role does this character serve in
Animal Farm?

Summary:
 At the beginning of the story, we are presented with the cruelty of Mr. Jones and his
mistreatment of the animals. A couple of days later, Old Major, a prize winning boar, gathers all
of the animals in the barn to tell them of his dream, depicting all of the animals living in freedom
with no humans to oppress or torture them. He also teaches the animals that they must work
together towards this goal and teaches them how to sing “Beasts of England.” In the wake of his
death, the three younger pigs named Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer formulate Old Major’s
idea into a concept that they called “Animalism.”
Late one night the animals manage to defeat Jones in battle and force him off the farm.
They then rename the farm “Animal Farm'' and take it for themselves. To begin with, Animal
Farm was prosperous. Snowball was teaching the animals how to read and Napoleon was
teaching a group of young puppies about the concept of animalism. When Mr. Jones came back
to the farm, the animals defeated him again, thus empowering the animals, making them all
optimistic for the future of the animal farm.
However, as time passed, Napoleon and Snowball began to argue about the future of
Animal farm. Snowball wanted to make a windmill to lessen the workload for the animals while
Napoleon wanted the animals to relax and was against the idea of a mill. The two pigs began to
try and win influence over the farm. The animals decided to vote for a leader. Snowball gives a
passionate speech while Napoleon only retorts briefly. As Snowball was about to win, nine
attack dogs burst into the barn and chased Snowball away from the farm. These nine dogs were
the puppies that Napoleon took in order to “teach them animalism.”
Later in the story, Napoleon, with the support of Squealer, changed his mind about the
windmill and decided that he wanted to build it. They devoted their full efforts to building the
windmill and one day, they finally completed it. However on a fateful day, after a storm, the
animals find the windmill toppled as the walls were too thin, but Napoleon claims that Snowball
came back to sabotage the windmill. He stages a great purge in which he kills all animals that
supported Snowball. During this time, Napoleon also began to act more like a human being by
sleeping in a bed and drinking whisky, all of which would have been banned by animalism.
Mr. Fredriks, a neighbour to Animal Farm, cheated Napoleon in the purchase of timber
and blew up the recently repaired windmill. This triggered a battle in which Boxer got heavily
wounded. One day, Boxer was nowhere to be found and Napoleon claimed that he died
peacefully. Albeit very reluctantly, the animals decided to believe him.
Years passed on Animal Farm, and the pigs became more and more like human beings.
The seven principles of animalism became reduced to a single principle reading “all animals are
equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Napoleon entertains a human farmer
named Mr. Pilkington at a dinner and reveals his intent to ally himself with the humans. He also
changed the name of Animal Farm back to the Manor Farm, claiming that it was the “correct”
one. Looking through the farmhouse window at the party of elites, the common animals could no
longer tell which were the pigs and which were the human beings.