Reading Guide for ​Animal Farm​ by George Orwell
For use by CCLS Regional Read "Beyond Human: Animals in Literature" Participants
Written by Jeff Lamparelli
English Senior Seminar Student at SUNY Fredonia
Summary​:
When the animals on Mr. Jones farm begin to feel like they are being overworked and
underappreciated, they stage a revolt against the human farmers. The animals successfully
drive the humans out, and proclaim the farm for themselves, calling it “Animal Farm”. Snowball
and Napoleon, a pig and boar, respectively, vie for control of the farm. The passive and caring
Snowball is soon driven out of the farm by the cunning Napoleon and his pack of dogs. While
the farm adopted anti-human commandments and equality for all in Snowball’s care, Napoleon
runs the farm like a dictatorship, gradually phasing out the rights of the animals and adopting a
humanistic nature of working hard to make the farm better. By the novel’s conclusion, the farm
is prospering, but the animals have lost their animality, walking on two legs, wearing human
clothing, and collaborating with humans on the success of the farm.
Characters:
Old Major​ – An old boar who first suggests the uprising to all of the other animals on Jones’s
farm. He teaches the animals the song “Beasts Of England,” before it's abolished years later by
Napoleon.
Snowball​ – An idealistic pig, and the first one to run Animal Farm, Snowball is a character who
believes in equality for all animals, and embraces animality as a whole. He comes up with “The
Seven Commandments Of Animalism,” believing that animals shouldn't adopt human actions.
Snowball becomes a scapegoat during Napoleon’s rule, as many of the failures of the farm are
based on lies that Snowball is collaborating with the humans.
Napoleon​ – A boar who runs Animal Farm after Snowball is driven out, Napoleon is cunning
and ruthless, as he freely executes any animal that he believes is working with Snowball. He
gradually adapts and changes the Seven Commandments to his will, whenever it will suit
himself or productivity on the farm. Napoleon gradually becomes something of a human dictator,
as the animals believe that “Comrade Napoleon is always right.” By the novel’s conclusion, he
walks on two legs, carries a whip, and handles money, all of which are human traits.
Boxer​ – A sturdy horse who constantly spouts the mantra “I will work harder,” Boxer is
responsible for much of the heavy duty work found at Animal Farm. He injures his leg while
working on the windmill, and is soon dragged off to a human van, presumably by Napoleon. He
is never seen again after this incident.
Squealer​ – A pig who acts as Napoleon’s right hand animal, he is aware of many events that go
on at the farm. He often tells lies and misconceptions to the other animals, who believe him, as
they cannot read or write.
Mr. Jones​ – The previous owner of the farm before the animals revolted. He is exiled, but then
attempts to take the farm back along with other humans. The animals dub this “The Battle Of
The Cowshed.” Mr Jones is often used as a scare tactic by Squealer, who threatens that Jones
will come back if certain orders aren't followed, a completely false claim.
Themes:
A huge theme of ​Animal Farm ​is transformation from animal to human. In the beginning of the
novel, the animals and humans are separate creatures, mostly due to the “Seven
Commandments Of Animalism,” which Snowball decrees. These include such aspects as
animals not walking on two legs, not wearing human clothing, and not collaborating with
humans in any way. These are followed until Napoleon takes power, which sees him change all
of the rules so they fit more with his views and humanity as a whole. Soon, the animals are
handling money, wearing human clothing, and collaborating with humans, all in attempt to make
the farm better.
Another theme that is explored is democracy vs. dictatorship. Under Snowball’s leadership, all
animals are considered equal, while the differences between animals and humans are clearly
defined and appreciated. Animals are shown to be divided into their ideal jobs. The cows
produce milk, the horses move heavy objects, and so on. Humans, such as Mr. Jones, are
seen as rulers who live an idealistic life while the animals do all of the work to keep the farm
running. When Snowball is permanently exiled, Napoleon takes over. In his rule, he becomes a
full dictator, changing the Commandments to suit himself, forcing everyone to call each other
comrades, and executing animals to stay in power. This is when the animals adopt human
characteristics, and become tyrannical rulers themselves.
Reviews:
Peters, Michael. 'Animal Farm' Fifty Years On By:, Contemporary Review, 00107565, August 1,
1995, Vol. 267, Issue 1555. Database: MLA International Bibliography.
“Few books are as well-known as Animal Farm. Published fifty years ago, in August 1945, as
the Cold War was about to begin, the novel with its mixture of simple fairy-tale and historical
allegory, still has the power to charm and provoke, even though that war now seems to be part
of a previous age. The novel, while frequently taught in schools to thirteen and fourteen year
olds, is rarely to be found in sixth form or university syllabuses. Like the author, the book
occupies an ambiguous place in the literary world. Yet its fame amongst the reading and, to an
extent, the non-reading public is indisputable; the slogan, 'All animals are equal, but some are
more equal than others', is one that has become part of the language.”
Paden, Frances Freeman, Literature in Performance: A Journal of Literary and Performing Art
(LPer) 1985 Apr.; 5 (2): 49-55.
“The shifting modality of the animals keeps the world of the novel in constant disruption. Change
is at the very heart of the novel. Is it proposed by Old Major, the white boar, when he first
gathers the animals together for revolution; it is carried out in the seeming defeat of man at the
Battle Of The Windmill; and in the final chapter it is perverted by the pigs in their transformation
into people. The pigs are in the very act of metamorphosing into men when Orwell brings his
tale to an abrupt halt. The reader closes the book with a feeling of futility heightened by a strong
visceral sense of arrested motion.”
Discussion Questions:
1. When the Old Major rounds up all the animals for a speech, he laments that "The life of an
animal is misery and slavery, that is the plain truth." (7) Is there truth to this statement? Is there
a sort of "master-slave" dynamic that humans often use without realizing it?
2. Old Major seems adamant that Man is the source of all problems. He claims that "Remove
Man, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever." (7) Do you think that if
the animals were to rid themselves of the humans, that they'd create a perfect society? Why or
why not?
3. The uproar of Old Major's song awakens Mr. Jones, who quiets all the animals with the firing
of his shotgun. Do you think that Mr. Jones can comprehend animal speech? If so, what are the
implications for the novel?
4. Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer soon come up with the concept of "Animalism" which they
begin teaching to the other animals. While this may seem like a good idea, does it limit the
animal’s views on the world overall? What is the author trying to say by including this way of life
in the novel?
5. The animals successfully drive the humans from the farm, and mark it as theirs. Do you think
that they'll be able to maintain it as a decent settlement? Why or why not?
6. Animal Farm is shown to be an "anti-humanity" novel, and yet the animals still utilize a human
settlement in order to survive. Given the satire that the novel is know for, do you think the author
did this intentionally? Why or why not?
7. Snowball soon abandons the “Seven Commandments Of Animalism” in favor of just one to
sum it all up: "Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad." (34) What does this change say about the
nature of animals at the farm? Do you think there's any chance of redemption for them?
8. The pigs make the claim that if they failed their duty to eat the apples and milk that are
provided for them by the other animals, "Jones would come back!" (36) Does this lie imply that
all is not well at the farm? What do you think this lie will do to the animals?
9. After the “Battle Of The Cowshed,” Boxer expresses regret about killing a human, saying "I
have no wish to take a life, even a human life." (43) Could this be seen as a possible callback to
the standard human-animal bond? Why or why not?
10. Mollie, in an act of insubordination, runs away to a "fat, red-faced man in cheek breeches,
who strokes her nose and feeds her with sugar. She appeared to be enjoying herself, and none
of the other animals ever mentioned Mollie again." (46-47) Do you sympathize with Mollie? Is
the act of animals having no contact with humans taking things too far?
11. Squeaker explains that Napoleon used "tactics" in order to get rid of Snowball. (58) The
animals appear to use several human traits in order to run and control the farm. Do you think
this was intentional by the author? Is it pure satire of humanism and animalism, or something
more?
12. Napoleon uses blind ignorance to assure the other animals that there was no suggestion of
not trading goods with humans, even though Snowball insisted upon it. What does this way of
thinking say about how Animal Farm is run by the animals? Is it a democracy, or pure
dictatorship?
13. Napoleon orders Snowball's death, even though he wasn't the one to cause the windmill to
collapse. Seeing Animal Farm descend into an anarchy, do you think it has any chance for
redemption? Why or why not?
14. Many of the animals admit to collaborating with Snowball, even though he's nowhere to be
seen, and are put to death for this action. Why do you think the animals would admit to this if
there's no truth to it? Why didn't they just say that they hadn't been in league with Snowball?
15. By abandoning the commandments of Animal Farm, Napoleon has essentially become a
tyrannical human, and even worse than Mr. Jones. What unique spin does this put on the
human-animal relationship that animal literature often demonstrates?
16. Napoleon is seen handling real money, which was previously forbidden by the “Seven
Commandments,” as it was considered “too human.” How much further do you think Napoleon
can develop into a "human-esc" character?
17. The humans attack Animal Farm again, and this time the animals are driven back, with the
windmill collapsing, and many animals killed and injured in the battle. Do you think the battle
would have gone differently, if Snowball had been in charge? Why or why not?
18. With Boxer's mantra being "I will work harder," does his death signify that there's no more
work to be done on Animal Farm? What do you think?
19. At the very end of the novel, the animals are shown to be completely transformed, walking
on two legs, wearing human clothing, and even meeting with other humans in celebration. Is the
author trying to establish human superiority over animals, or does the ending have more
meaning​?
Movie Clip​: ​Ending (1954 Animation) ​https://youtu.be/wthOgMsKYj4