George Orwell (1903-1950), Animal Farm
ELA 11 (2016-17)
Animal Farm Study Guide—chapter I
1. What kind of animal is each of the following characters?
Old Major (as known as
“Willingdon Beauty”)
Boxer
Clover
Muriel
Benjamin
Mollie
Moses
2. What three details describe Clover to be a kind, caring mother figure?
3. What three details depict Boxer as a respected, mighty animal?
4. What flaw seems to control Mollie’s actions?
5. According to Old Major, who is the only real enemy of animals?
6. Old Major points out examples of Mr. Jones’s cruelty. Name three terrible things that Mr. Jones
does to the animals.
7. What anthem does Old Major teach the animals, and what does the song promise?
8. Orwell subtitled this novel as a fable. What is the definition of fable as it applies to this book?
George Orwell (1903-1950), Animal Farm
Animal Farm Study Guide—chapter II
1. What event begins this chapter, and why is this significant to the animals?
2. Which animals assume leadership of the others? What are the leaders’ names?
3. Describe Animalism. What parallel to Animalism exists in the real world?
4. What story does Moses continually tell? Why do you think he repeats this story?
5. How does the Rebellion begin, and how does it end?
6. What happens to the “last traces” of Mr. Jones?
7. What “resolution” about the farmhouse is immediately passed?
8. What disappears at the end of the chapter? What do you think has happened?
9. Write the Seven Commandments here.
ELA 11 (2016-17)
George Orwell (1903-1950), Animal Farm
ELA 11 (2016-17)
Animal Farm Study Guide—chapter III
1. What is the animals’ first task in this chapter? How do the pigs help?
2. What is Boxer’s motto? Why does he repeat it?
3. What is Benjamin’s “cryptic answer” to the new situation at the farm? Judging by this animal’s
words, what do you predict will happen by the end of the book?
4. What routines are reserved for Sundays?
5. Only a few animals on this farm can read and write. Imagine you are a teacher visiting Animal Farm.
Rate the reading and writing skills of the following characters:
ANIMAL
Benjamin
READING SKILL
WRITING SKILL
Boxer
Clover
the dogs
Mollie
Muriel
the pigs
6. What maxim do the sheep take great pleasure in bleating? Why do you think Snowball creates this
maxim?
7. According to Squealer, why do the pigs deserve special privileges?
George Orwell (1903-1950), Animal Farm
Animal Farm Study Guide—chapter IV
1. Who are Mr. Frederick and Mr. Pilkington?
2. Describe the first attack on the farm. Who leads the attack once the men invade?
3. How many animals die in the Battle of the Cowshed? Why is Boxer sad?
4. Where is Mollie during the battle?
5. Who receives the decoration, “Animal Farm, First Class”?
6. Who receives the decoration, “Animal Farm, Second Class”?
7. Where is Napoleon during the battle?
8. Do you think the men will try another attempt? Why?
ELA 11 (2016-17)
George Orwell (1903-1950), Animal Farm
ELA 11 (2016-17)
Animal Farm Study Guide—chapter V
1. What does Clover discover in Mollie’s stall? What happens to Mollie?
2. Who takes on the responsibility for deciding all farm policies? How do the animals participate in
policy-making?
3. What are Snowball’s and Napoleon’s opinions about the windmill?
4. Complete this quote: Windmill or no windmill, Benjamin says, “life would go on as it had always
gone on—that is,
5. What surprise does Napoleon unleash on Snowball?
6. Following Napoleon’s orders, what is Boxer’s new motto?
7. Why does Napoleon change his mind about the windmill? What else might he change his mind
about, and why?
George Orwell (1903-1950), Animal Farm
ELA 11 (2016-17)
Animal Farm Study Guide—chapter VI
1. When Napoleon increases the workweek to sixty hours, how does he convince the animals to
volunteer half a day on Sundays?
2. Who works hardest on the windmill? Who warns this character against exhaustion?
3. Who is Mr. Whymper, and what does he do for the animals?
4. What is done with the farmhouse? What change is made to the fourth commandment?
5. How long do the animals take to finish half of the windmill?
6. What disaster happens during the violent storm? Who is blamed for the disaster? Whom do you
suspect is really to blame?
George Orwell (1903-1950), Animal Farm
ELA 11 (2016-17)
Animal Farm Study Guide—chapter VII
1. Why are the hens upset? How do they retaliate?
2. How does Napoleon deal with the hens?
3. What did Old Major say about Mr. Jones, which caused the hens to become rather disturbed?
4. According to Squealer, what was Snowball’s role in the Battle of the Cowshed?
5. According to Squealer, what was Napoleon’s role in the Battle of the Cowshed?
6. Who are the traitors that Napoleon exposes? What is their punishment?
7. Why do Clover’s eyes fill with tears when she again stands on the knoll?
8. What tradition has Napoleon abolished? Why?
George Orwell (1903-1950), Animal Farm
ELA 11 (2016-17)
Animal Farm Study Guide—chapter VIII
1. What change has been made to the sixth commandment?
2. Find three clues suggesting that Napoleon is taking more precautions for his safety.
3. Match each concept with one neighboring farm.
Mr. Pilkington
(@ Foxwood)
Mr. Frederick
(@ Pinchfield)
trades goods with Napoleon
tortures animals on his farm
represents a U.S. president
represents Adolf Hitler
symbolizes capitalism
symbolizes Fascism
4. To whom does Napoleon eventually sell the timber pile? What happens as a result of this?
5. How long does construction of the Napoleon Mill take? When is it finished?
6. Why is Napoleon dying? What change is made to the fifth commandment?
George Orwell (1903-1950), Animal Farm
ELA 11 (2016-17)
Animal Farm Study Guide—chapter IX
1. Explain the symbolism of the windmill.
2. Find three examples of how the next generation of pigs is treated better than other animals.
3. Why are the pigs growing so much barley?
4. Find three details that prove Napoleon has become the Supreme Commander of the animals.
5. Explain the symbolism of Moses the raven. Why do the pigs allow Moses to stay on the farm?
6. Paraphrase Boxer’s fate. Why does Benjamin show excitement over this?
7. How does Napoleon use Boxer’s maxims to his advantage?
8. Where do the pigs acquire the money for their next case of whisky?
George Orwell (1903-1950), Animal Farm
Animal Farm Study Guide—chapter X
1. When does this chapter take place? How many windmills stand on the farm?
2. What dream do the animals share?
3. How does Squealer terrify Clover? What is the sheep’s new maxim?
4. What is the new commandment?
5. What changes are made to the following items?

Old Major’s remains:

the green flag:

the use of the word “comrade”:

the name of the farm:
6. Describe the metamorphosis that occurs before Clover’s “old dim eyes.”
7. What message do you think Orwell intends in this final chapter?
ELA 11 (2016-17)