Pre-AP English I
Denise Fuller
[email protected]
Please see the following page for more information about the summer work for
Pre-AP English I.
The attached work is due back to Azle High School by:
June 23rd 10:00 – 12:00 & 1:00 – 3:00
Work will not be accepted after the dates listed above. If you are out of town on
the above listed dates, all assignments must be submitted to the AHS
counseling office prior to June 23rd.
Summer counseling office hours are 7:30 - 11:30 & 12:30 – 4:00
Denise Fuller
Attach this completed form to the front of summer work.
Student Name:___________________________________________
Student Email:___________________________________________
Parent name:_____________________________________________
Parent Email:_____________________________________________
Parent Phone Number:______________________________________
Summer 2016
Dear Student:
Welcome to the challenge of Pre-AP English I! I am very excited about this
upcoming year and working with you all! Your summer work will include the
following:


purchasing and reading George Orwell’s Animal Farm,
answering and turning in the reading guide questions
Animal Farm is a dystopian novel written about the Russian Revolution and the
rise of Joseph Stalin to power. It is considered a dystopian novel because, even
though the intention of the government is to create a perfect society, the
opposite occurs. I have provided some background information on Orwell as
well as the political climate in Russia/Soviet Union during this time. However,
keep in mind that he wrote Animal Farm during World War II while he was a
reporter for the BBC. This is why the book is written using animals to
represent real people. Since Russia was an ally to both the United States and
Orwell’s country, England, during this war against Germany, Italy, and Japan,
he could not be openly critical of Stalin.
I suggest looking at Half Price Books for an inexpensive copy of this novel
although Target and Walmart often carry copies of this book. If you are unable
to purchase one, please email me at [email protected] so that we can make
other arrangements.
Again, I am very excited to work with you during your first year at Azle High
School! Have a great summer, and I will see you when you turn in your work!
Denise Fuller
Please read through this Power Point before you
start reading the novel!
Please refer to this chart frequently!



Summer Work for Animal Farm
First, read through the notes provided to you regarding George Orwell, Animal Farm,
and the political climate surrounding the Russian Revolution through the rise of Stalin.
Next, you need to frequently refer to your chart that correlates the animals in the story
to actual characters and events they represent. Otherwise, this story will seem be
about a bunch of pigs who go crazy on the other animals for no apparent reason!
As you read, answer the following reading guide questions on your own sheet of paper.
You will turn your answers into me.
o Chapter One:
(Note: The notes in bold are for your information and clarification. You do not need to
rewrite these!
 First off, in the feudalist system of Russia before the Russian
Revolution, only a handful of people owned land and had any type of
wealth. . . this is what prompted the desire to overthrow the
government and institute a communist society.
 Orwell had an extreme fondness of horses and that is why they
represent the heroes in this story . . . especially Boxer. Unfortunately,
Boxer and Clover, who represent the unskilled labor of Russia, are
unable/unwilling to question authority and this condemns them to
oppression once the dictatorship is formed.
 Notice that, at first, the only unifying song/chant/ritual is Beasts of
England . . . as this society heads towards a dictatorship, these rituals
multiply to enforce loyalty.)
1. How does Mr. Jones (aka Tsar Nicholas II) treat his animals? Be specific.
2. What type of government does Old Major (aka Karl Marx) advocate?
What is a tenet of this type of government?
3. What type of government do the humans represent (ie: Humanism)?
4. What does Old Major say the animals must do?
5. How does Old Major establish friends/foes?
6. Whom does Benjamin represent?
7. Whom does Mollie represent?
o
Chapter Two:
(Note:


Snowball and Napoleon represent Trotsky and Stalin. These
communists struggled to become the leader of the communist party.
Trotsky was a true Marxist and was a vivacious, convincing speaker.
Stalin did not actually contribute to the Russian Revolution. He was
interested only in his power; he was a terrible dictator once he came to
power. Even the name Napoleon refers to Napoleon Bonaparte who
betrayed the democratic principles he used to rise to power.
Squealer represents the Propaganda Department in the Soviet Union.
He either simplifies or complicates language to suit his purpose. Think
about how ‘squeal’ can mean ‘to betray’.)
1. Which group of animals takes control of teaching and organizing the
others after Old Major’s death?
2. Why do you think the pigs dislike Moses?
3. Who were the most faithful workers?
4. When the animals stage the rebellion, who leaves with Mr. Jones (other
than his wife)?
5. What is one thing that is destroyed by the animals after the Rebellion?
What does this item (as well as the others) represent?
6. Which character do you think will have the most trouble adjusting to the
Rebellion? Why?
7. What are the original 7commandments?
o Chapter Three:
(Note: A few important quotes to tie to the ideology of socialism/communism . . . “Every
mouthful of food was an acute positive pleasure . . . produced by themselves and for
themselves.” “But everyone worked according to his capacity.”)
1. Which animal does not actually participate in the manual labor?
2. What is Boxer’s maxim (or saying)?
3. Name an animal that shirked his or her duty. For this particular animal,
why did he/she shirk the duty?
4. How does Squealer explain away the various ways that the pigs are
receiving extra advantages such as milk and apples?
5. What threat does Squealer offer to help ‘encourage’ all to believe his
explanations?
o Chapter Four:
(Note: The Battle of the Cowshed that happens in this chapter references the
Antirevolutionary Invasion of Russia which happened when pro-Czarist/anti-communist
as well as foreign allies of these guys tried to overthrow the new communist regime.)
1. What was the purpose of the pigeons?
2. How do the neighboring farms feel about Animal Farm?
3. What does Boxer’s behavior during and after the Rebellion reveal about
his character? How does that compare to Snowball’s character?
o
Chapter Five:
(Note:


From this chapter on, the pigs (really one pig) are making all of the
decisions for the ‘good’ of every animal; this represents the government
taking over all property and controlling industrialization in the Soviet
Union.
The four young porkers represent the new ruling class. . . even they are
not permitted to question Napoleon and his dogs {Stalin and his police
state}.)
1. What happens to Mollie? Why do you think she (as the representative of
the ruling class) didn’t like to live in the communist state?
2. Once Snowball introduces the idea of building the windmill, the farm
becomes divided. What promises do both Napoleon and Snowball make
to the animals if they side with him?
3. When Napoleon gets rid of Snowball, what do we discover about the
missing puppies? What is their new role?
4. How does Squealer justify the fact that there are no more public debates?
5. What does Squealer say is better than bravery? How do these two
qualities fit into the way Animal Farm is changing?
6. What surprise announcement does Napoleon spring on the animals?
7. What is Boxer’s new maxim?
8. What is another ceremony that has been added within the last three
chapters (several have been mentioned)?
9. What is one way that history is re-written during this chapter regarding
Snowball?
o Chapter Six:
(Note: From here on out, Snowball will be the scapegoat for anything that goes wrong.
This allows Napoleon to be “always right”.)
1. Read the first paragraph of this chapter. What are some words with
positive connotations? What are some words with negative
connotations?
2. One of the tenets of communism is that each would work to his/her
ability. How has this tenet been ‘tweaked’ at Animal Farm?
3. What is the most important task for the animals at this point in time?
4. Read the paragraph concerning Boxer. What do you think about Boxer’s
beliefs and behavior?
5. How and why is the 1st commandment altered?
6. Take note of the two farms that Napoleon entertains the thought of
entering into trade with. Which two countries do these farms represent?
7. How and why is the 4th commandment altered?
8. What is one lie that is told about Snowball in this chapter (either a
‘tweaking’ of history or an instance of placing blame)?
o Chapter Seven:
(Note: Remember that Boxer represents the uneducated, unskilled working class in
Russia and the four porkers represent those who had risen to power with Stalin. Pay
attention to how each reacts to decisions that Napoleon makes in this chapter and how
each is treated by Napoleon.)
1. Compare the first paragraph of chapter three to the first paragraph of
this chapter. What is the shift between the two paragraphs (e.g.: in why
the animals are working or in overall tone)?
2. What is one way that history is re-told in this chapter?
3. What is one thing Snowball is blamed for in this chapter?
4. Why do the animals believe these obvious lies?
5. How does Napoleon handle those that he felt had questioned his
authority?
6. Look back at the song, Beasts of England. Why do you think Napoleon
forbids the animals to sing that song anymore?
o
Chapter Eight:
1. How and why is the 6th commandment altered? (What is Napoleon’s
purpose in altering this commandment?)
2. How does Napoleon fight the reality that the animals are (at times, at
least) worse off than they were under Jones?
3. Name one example of yet another ceremony that is performed in honor of
Napoleon (note. . . the ceremonies were once in honor of Animalism).
4. The things that are occurring at Pinchfield Farm are a reference to which
event in history?
5. What does Napoleon do that shocks the animals based on what they
knew about Pinchfield Farm?
6. Which event in history does Frederick’s attack on the windmill
represent?
7. How and why is the 5th commandment altered?
o
Chapter Nine:
1. What are some hardships faced by the animals at this point in time?
2. Why are the pigs segregated/distinguished from the other animals?
3. What tenet of communism is broken with this segregation?
4. Why do you think Moses is allowed to come back?
5. What happens to Boxer? How does Squealer ‘spin’ this?
o
Chapter Ten:
1. How is the new generation of animals on Animal Farm described?
2. Now that Animal Farm is richer and more successful, how is a tenet of
Animalism broken?
3. Which animals do not produce but merely consume?
4. Only the 7th commandment remains. How is that commandment an
oxymoron?
5. The sheep, who have spent years chanting, “Four legs good, two legs
bad!” now change their chant to “Four legs good, two legs, better!” What
is their purpose throughout this story?
6. Think about the attributes of the pigs in this last chapter. What point is
Orwell making about the pigs, specifically, and ‘new ruling classes’, in
general?