Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
Chapter I
Vocabulary
abolished: ended, stopped
benevolent: compassionate, kindly
brood: a litter
confinements: periods when pregnant females are restricted to a space or room in preparation for
giving birth
cynical: pessimistic, sarcastic
enmity: hostility, hatred
ensconced: settled, entrenched; concealed
feebly: weakly
hands high: a four-inch measurement (roughly the size of a human hand) used to calculate the height
of a horse or a pony
hideous: repulsive, gruesome
knacker: a person who slaughters animals no longer fit for work and unfit for human consumption
laborious: difficult, painstaking
lest: for fear that
mincing: in a dainty or delicate manner
popholes: small doors on the side of a poultry house, normally connected to the ground with a ramp
regarded: viewed, thought of
scullery: a room for cleaning and storing dishes
trap (cart): a light carriage usually pulled by one horse
tremendous: incredible, remarkable
trotter: a pig’s foot
tushes: long, pointed teeth, especially an animal’s canine teeth
unison: at the same time; in perfect agreement
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
1. How is the farmer, Mr. Jones, described as the novel opens? How is this description meant to affect the reader?
2. Describe Old Major and his dream. How is Old Major’s dream important?
3. Other than his dream, what prompts Old Major to gather the animals and encourage their revolt
against Man?
4. How are Clover and Boxer described? What effect does the personification of the animals, or their
being given human characteristics, have on your perception of the text?
5. What makes Benjamin distinct from all the other animals? Contrasting Benjamin’s description with
the descriptions of the other animals, what might the reader intuit about Benjamin and his role in the
book?
6. What does Old Major entreat the animals to do? Why does he urge them to take this action? What
is the intended effect?
7. What philosophical question do the farm animals wrestle with once they have established that Man
is the enemy? What is the outcome?
8. What are the elements of the doctrine laid out by Old Major?
9. What breaks up the meeting?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
Chapter II
Vocabulary
apathy: a lack of interest; unconcern
carpet bag: a traveler’s bag made of carpet fabric
castrate: to remove the male testes (reproductive organs)
contrary: conflicting, disagreeing
disheartened: discouraged, dismayed
expelled: ejected, banished
expounded: explained, talked about
gambolled: skipped, frolicked
knoll: a hill, a mound
linseed: flaxseed (a seed used especially as a source of oil)
lithograph: an authorized copy of an original work of art made with metal plates or a stone table
maltreating: mistreating, abusing
nimble: sprightly, quick
preeminent: most distinguished, having the greatest rank or importance
rabbiting: hunting for rabbits
reproached: scolded, rebuked
rubbish: garbage
shrill: piercing, high-pitched
stove in: smashed inward
thrashing: beating, whipping
tormentors: oppressors, persecutors
unalterable: permanent, unchangeable
1. What happens to open the chapter?
2. What is the first hint that Old Major’s doctrine was too idealistic as the animals plan for the Rebellion? What literary device does Orwell use to give that hint?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
3. Describe in detail Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer. What do they do with Old Major’s teachings?
4. Why do the animals hate Moses? Explain the significance of Sugarcandy Mountain, and describe
what Moses might represent as an allegorical figure.
5. How would you describe Orwell’s point of view and narrative style in telling the story? How do the
author’s point of view, style, and tone affect the reader’s attitude toward the different characters and
contribute to the reader’s perception of the novel?
6. What precipitates the Rebellion, and how is it carried out? How would you characterize Orwell’s
tone in describing how the Rebellion occurs and the preceding and subsequent actions?
7. How is the farmhouse perceived by the animals when they tour the interior, and what might the
farmhouse symbolize? What decision do the animals make following the tour?
8. What does Mollie do when she is inside the house? How do her actions support our understanding
of her character?
9. What is the original name of the farm, and what new name do the animals give it? What does
changing the name of the farm signify?
10. What are the Seven Commandments that make up the “unalterable law by which all the animals
on Animal Farm must live for ever after”?
11. After the pigs milk the cows, Chapter II concludes with the animals marching down to the hayfield
to begin bringing in the crops. When they return, “it was noticed that the milk had disappeared.”
What do we infer happened to the milk? What effect do the language used and the placement of this
mystery at the end of the chapter have on the reader?
12. To this point in the book, explain the attributes that make Animal Farm a fable, or a story or narrative intended to teach a lesson, especially one in which animal characters are given human attributes.
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
Chapter III
Vocabulary
conceived: imagined, considered
cryptic: obscure, puzzling
hoisting: raising, erecting
indefatigable: untiring, determined
maxim: a saying, a proverb
obstinate: stubborn, pigheaded
parasitical: freeloading, living off another’s work
propulsion: force, momentum
quarrelling: fighting, disagreeing
shirking: avoiding a job/task
spelt: spelled
1. What roles do the different animals have in harvesting the hay? In what ways is the harvest similar
to or different from harvests controlled by the farmer?
2. How is Boxer idealized as a worker?
3. What utopian features does Animal Farm seem to possess? What does the author’s ironic tone
indicate about the animals’ perfect society?
4. Describe the weekly rituals the animals engage in. How do the rituals serve the animal community?
How do they serve the pigs?
5. Describe the cat’s involvement in the Wild Comrades’ Re-education Committee, one of the committees set up by Snowball. Which education effort orchestrated by Snowball is successful?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
6. How and why are the Seven Commandments simplified? How is the simplification significant?
7. What does Napoleon do with the puppies? What human historical precedents might his actions
represent?
8. How and why does Squealer tell the other animals that the pigs are being fed both the missing milk
and the windfall apples? How might Squealer symbolize propaganda—persuasive speech or writing,
often containing misinformation, issued by a government to influence the attitude of the community?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
Chapter IV
Vocabulary
conferred: deliberated; bestowed
din: a group of noises, a commotion
exploits: deeds, achievements
hobnailed: constructed with short nails (hobnails) to create durability (such as in shoe soles)
ignominious: shameful, humiliating
manoeuvre: a military move or operation; an evasive movement
monstrous: horrific, terrible
posthumously: following or occurring after death
scorn: to ridicule
smithies: the workshops of blacksmiths
stone: an official British unit of weight equivalent to fourteen pounds
1. Why don’t the surrounding farmers help Jones when he is first overthrown?
2. Describe Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Frederick. What misinformation do they issue about Animal Farm,
and why? How is their issuing misinformation significant in the text?
3. What is the most effective tool in spreading word of Animal Farm? What is its effect?
4. Describe the long-awaited act that takes place in early October. What is the result?
5. How do Boxer’s and Snowball’s different reactions to the boy’s death underscore their different
characters? What becomes of the stable-lad?
6. In what patriotic and militaristic ways do the animals react to the battle? How does the mood
change at Animal Farm? Considering the change in mood, how might life change for the animals?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
Chapter V
Vocabulary
blithely: merrily, without a care
chaff-cutter: a machine for cutting up straw or hay for fodder
cog-wheels: mechanical gear, wheels with cogs
contemplating: considering, envisioning
disinterred: unearthed, dug up (from the ground)
disputes: arguments, quarrels
dogcart: a light one-horse carriage with two seats arranged back to back
eloquence: persuasiveness, expressiveness
fantastic: bizarre, incredible
gruff: rough, brusque, stern
mangel-slicer: a machine that slices mangels (reddish-orange beets grown chiefly as cattle food)
pretext: a pre-contrived reason for an action, an excuse determined before acting
publican: the keeper of a public-house or tavern
sordid: despicable, wretched
1. What transpires so that “none of the animals ever mentioned Mollie again”? Who might Mollie
symbolize?
2. What stands in the way of farm policy being made? What broader issue does the problem signal?
3. Describe the dispute over the windmill and the consequences of the disagreement on Snowball and
Napoleon and on the greater animal community. What critical shift occurs at Animal Farm?
4. Explain the significance of Squealer’s response to the claim that Snowball was not a criminal but
was instead a hero who “fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed”:
“Bravery is not enough,” said Squealer. “Loyalty and obedience are more important. And
as to the Battle of the Cowshed, I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball’s part in it was much exaggerated.”
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
5. What decision does Napoleon make that shows his and Snowball’s differences were about control,
not what was best for Animal Farm? What explanation are the animals given for the decision?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
Chapter VI
Vocabulary
arable: fit for growing crops (used in reference to land)
inscribed: engraved, carved, written
malignity: malicious behavior, evil/mean action
matted: disheveled (often in regard to being covered in sweat)
perpendicularity: the state of standing exactly upright
quarry: an open excavation where building stone, slate, or limestone can be obtained
roused: stirred, revived
shrewdly: cleverly, insightfully
solicitor: a lawyer, an attorney
superintendence: supervision
1. Describe the animals’ work and general mood at the farm as the chapter opens.
2. In The Odyssey, Homer tells the story of Sisyphus, the former king of Corinth, whom Odysseus sees
in the Land of the Dead suffering an eternal punishment; Sisyphus struggles relentlessly to roll an
enormous boulder up a hill only to have it roll down again to the bottom. How does Orwell make an
allusion to this myth? What is he suggesting by alluding to it?
3. What limitations does Animal Farm’s self-sustaining model run up against? What bit of irony does
the description of the animals’ needs include?
4. What happens to cause the animals to feel “a vague uneasiness”? How is their doubt handled to
keep them under control?
5. Who is the “Leader” who moves into the farmhouse? What does this move signify?
6. What terrible event is ascribed to Snowball? Why?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
Chapter VII
Vocabulary
capitulated: surrendered, relented
coccidiosis: an infestation or disease caused by a parasite
countenance: facial expression
envious: jealous, covetous
expulsion: removal, the act of expelling, the state of being expelled
fidgeted: fiddled, made nervous movements
grazed: fed on growing herbage (such as grass)
hitherto: previously, up till now/then
lumbering: awkward or cumbersome (movement)
spinney: a small wood with undergrowth
stupefied: dazed, astonished
toiled: labored, worked hard
treachery: deceit, betrayal
unanimously: done while having the agreement and consent of all
1. What do the human beings say “out of spite” toward the animals? What is revealed in analyzing the
truth about the windmill’s failure?
2. Who continues to work hardest on the windmill with what motivation?
3. What befalls the animals, and why must they hide it from the rest of the world?
4. What happens to make the chickens rebel? Describe their rebellion and its consequence.
5. What fresh acts are attributed to Snowball? Why? What portion of these lies does Boxer not believe?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
6. What dictatorial actions does Napoleon carry out in response to Boxer’s doubt, and to what effect?
7. How does Boxer’s response to the killings reward Napoleon’s violence? How does Clover’s response contrast with Boxer’s?
8. How is Napoleon’s banning Beasts of England symbolic of the animals’ failed vision?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
Chapter VIII
Vocabulary
beatifically: radiantly, serenely
censured: faulted, criticized
chinks: cracks, slits (often in a wall)
clamoured: shouted, bellowed
conciliatory: peacemaking, pacifying
cunning: sly knowledge, shrewdness
flogged: beaten, whipped
forgeries: fakes, imitations
gored: pierced, stabbed through with a horn or horns
impending: forthcoming, approaching, about to occur
magistrates: judges, officials
meddle: to interfere, to intrude in some matter
paddock: a pen, an enclosure
pensioner: a person who receives a fixed sum paid regularly (as by a government)
privy: aware of
reposed: reclined, relaxed
sallied: went forth, charged
sentinels: guards, watchmen
skulking: lurking, creeping
slain: killed
vile: despicable, awful
1. What happened to the Commandment, “No animal shall kill any other animal”? What was the
result?
2. What numerous changes reflect Napoleon’s transition into a true dictator?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
3. What does it say about Napoleon when he decides to sell the timber to Frederick after previously
planning to sell it to Pilkington?
4. What happens in the timber deal that enrages Napoleon? What is the reaction from each side?
5. What does Squealer claim as their victory? How does Boxer’s reaction demonstrate the changing
tide of sentiment?
6. What “poisons” the pigs, including Napoleon? What are the results?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
Chapter IX
Vocabulary
accumulated: collected, gathered
affecting: moving, touching
canter: a gait between a trot and a gallop in speed
demeanour: manner, appearance
faltered: wavered
indignantly: in the manner of feeling or showing anger because of something unjust or unworthy
lamented: mourned, grieved
littered: gave birth
piebald: composed of different colors
poultices: dressings used for medicinal/healing purposes (often made out of herbs)
readjustment: a modification, a rearrangement
stratagem: a trick/ruse in war used to deceive the enemy
superannuated: elderly, incapacitated
1. What was Boxer’s one ambition?
2. How does Squealer describe the reduction of rations during the harsh winter?
3. Why does Squealer’s constant lying about the animals’ quality of life relative to their lives when
Jones was in charge seem to work?
4. In what new ways are the pigs treated like upper-class citizens?
5. What might Sugarcandy Mountain represent to the animals? Why would the pigs dislike
Sugarcandy Mountain?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
6. What happens to Boxer? Describe the sequence of events.
7. The pigs obtain money to buy more whisky. How might we infer they get it? How does the pigs’
behavior relate to Old Major’s words to Boxer in Chapter I?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
Chapter X
Vocabulary
bon mot: a clever remark
deputation: a delegation, a group of representatives
enquiry: a request for information
filial: of, relating to, or befitting of a son or daughter (such as in duty or obedience)
haughty: proud, self-important
imperishable: enduring, not subject to decay
indiscipline: unruliness, disorderliness
memoranda: written communications
pampering: spoiling, indulging
proprietors: landowners, landlords
rheumy: marked by a watery discharge from the eyes or nose
taciturn: reserved
wireless set: a wireless radio transceiver that can send and receive messages
witticism: a clever remark
1. How has the prosperity of Animal Farm affected the various animals’ lives?
2. If their lives are of poor condition, why do the animals not lose hope?
3. Why does Squealer take the sheep away? What is the significance of his actions?
4. What single Commandment replaces all the others? Why?
5. What new human traits do the pigs employ?
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Animal Farm
Chapter Guide - Student Edition
6. For what purpose do the humans come to the farm? What do the other animals overhear at their
meeting with the pigs?
7. What is Napoleon’s response to Pilkington’s speech, and what are the speech’s implications for
Animal Farm?
8. To what state does the farm return at the conclusion of the novel? What surprising observation is
made by the lower animals?
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