Animal Farm Study Guide Questions
Goals: The study guides are designed to assist students in their preparation for class discussions and future tests/quizzes. Students will answer study guide questions to the best their abilities using references to the book and any links to additional information. Students are expected to thoroughly answer at least five (5) study guide questions per chapter. Students are encouraged to thoroughly answer all study guide questions—extra credit will be given for that chapter if all questions are answered satisfactorily.
1.
Describe
Mr. Jones the farmer.
2.
Describe
the importance of Old Major’s dream.
3.
Begin a Character
Chart for each major character and/or update as you read each
chapter.
4.
According
to the animals, what is life like for them?
5.
According
to Old Major, what is the cause of all their problems?
6.
What
has happened to all the milk?
7.
What
are the first steps of the Rebellion?
8.
What
are some of the basic rules Old Major dictates to the other animals?
9.
Summarize
the song.
10. How does the meeting end?
1.
What
affect did Old Major’s speech have on the other animals?
2.
What
types of questions do the less intelligent animals ask at the first Animalism
meetings?
3.
Describe
Sugarcandy Mountain and the significance it has to the animals?
4.
Begin a Character
Chart for each major character and/or update as you read each
chapter.
5.
Recount
the steps leading up to the Rebellion.
6.
How
is “The Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session” an example of
alliteration? What dark imagery/
foreshadowing does this title suggest?
7.
List
the first acts of freedom the animals took following the Rebellion.
8.
List
the Seven Commandments of Animalism.
9.
What
is the first problem that arises that the animals must deal with following the
Rebellion?
10. What is the solution reached
regarding the milk? Make an educated
guess.
1.
What
is the position of the pigs on the farm?
Provide examples.
2.
Describe
the format for the Meetings each Sunday.
3.
Draw
a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting Old Benjamin and Boxer.
4.
Discuss
the attempts to Re-educate the sparrows.
5.
Character
profiles: Create/modify a character profile for the main characters.
6.
Why
do the birds object to the new maxim?
How are their concerns alleviated?
7.
When
the sheep continuously bleat “Four legs good, two legs bad!” what affect does
it have on YOU as the reader?
8.
Predict
the possible effect(s) of Napoleon’s private education of the puppies.
9.
What
subtle threat convinces the majority of the farm animals to comply with the
pigs’ thoughts?
10. Who is receiving the milk
and “windfall” apples? Why?
1.
Why
do the other farmers agree to help Mr. Jones reclaim Manor Farm?
2.
Why
won’t the other farmers call Manor Farm “Animal Farm”?
3.
How
has Snowball prepared for Mr. Jones’ expected attack?
4.
Character
profiles: Create/modify a character profile for the main characters.
5.
Recount
the events of the Battle of Cowshed.
6.
Describe
Snowball’s valor.
7.
How
does Boxer react to the “stable-lad who lay face-down in the mud”? What does this tell us about Boxer’s
character?
8.
Discuss
the foreshadowing of the brass medal conferred on Snowball.
9.
How
are their dead comrades honored?
10. Discuss Mollie’s actions and
predict how she might behave in the future.
1.
What
happened to Mollie? Why? How do the others respond?
2.
Discuss
the benefits of the proposed windmill.
3.
How do Snowball’s political practices differ from Napoleon’s? What qualities of leadership do both
possess? Who is the better leader? Why?
4.
Character
profiles: Create/modify a character profile for the main characters.
5.
How
did Napoleon respond to Snowball’s Windmill drawings? Why?
6.
Why
was Napoleon bidding his time? How did
he defeat Snowball and his plans for a windmill?
7.
How
do the “puppies” behave towards Napoleon?
Why?
8.
In
what ways can Squealer, the sheep, and the pigeons be viewed as vessels of propaganda? What role do the dogs play in the pigs’
propaganda?
9.
Why
don’t the animals do something to stop Napoleon or help Snowball?
10. What did Napoleon intend to
do with Snowball’s plans for the windmill?
For Napoleon, what benefit(s) were there in waiting?
1.
Describe
the process of the windmill’s construction.
2.
What
are some of the unforeseen needs of Animal Farm? Which needs are valid according to the ideals and Commandments of
Animalism?
3.
What
is Whymper’s role on the farm?
4.
What
is happening to the Commandments written upon the wall? Why?
5.
Character
profiles: Create/modify a character profile for the main characters.
6.
Explain
the pigs’ position on the farm in chapter 6.
7.
What threat(s) does Napoleon use to keep the animals in line?
8.
Who/
what actually destroys the windmill?
Who/ what is blamed?
9.
How is scapegoating
used by Napoleon?
10. How does
Napoleon “encourage” the animals to keep working?
1.
What
was the winter like for the animals on Animal Farm?
2.
Why
did the hens rebel? What was the end
result?
3.
Discuss
Snowball’s secret visits to the farm.
4.
Character
profiles: Create/modify a character profile for the main characters.
5.
Why
won’t Boxer initially believe Squealer’s claims? How does Squealer finally convince him?
6.
What
does Squealer’s ugly look foreshadow?
7.
Recount
the crimes the animals admit to. What
is the punishment?
8.
Discuss
the truth to the rumors mentioned at the beginning of the chapter.
9.
What
is Clover’s impression of Animal Farm as it is currently?
10. According to Squealer, why
has Beats of England been abolished?
What is the real reason?
1.
What
is the animals’ concern regarding the Sixth Commandment?
2.
What
other titles have the lesser pigs bestowed upon Napoleon?
3.
Recount
the circumstances surrounding the timber pile.
4.
Character
profiles: Create/modify a character profile for the main characters.
5.
Who
is given credit for every piece of good luck on the farm?
6.
How
are the animals’ memories altered?
7.
What
major accomplishment is achieved in this chapter?
8.
What
damage does Frederick inflict upon the inhabitants of Animal Farm?
9.
What
is the new purpose of the retirement paddock?
10. What did Old Benjamin
comprehend about the wall that the other animals did not?
1.
Discuss
the concept of retirement as it pertains to Animal Farm.
2.
Draw
a Venn diagram comparing the piglets with the offspring of the other animals.
3.
Why
did the animals endure their hardships without protest?
4.
Character
profiles: Create/modify a character profile for the main characters.
5.
Recount
the Spontaneous Demonstration and discuss its purpose.
6.
How
has the legend of Snowball altered over time?
7.
What
role does Moses serve on the farm?
8.
What
happened to Snowball and how did Napoleon plan to help?
9.
According
to Benjamin, where is Boxer being taken?
According to Squealer, what happened to Boxer? Whom do you believe? Why?
10. How is Boxer’s death
honored? Dishonored?
1.
How
much time has passed? How have things
progressed at Animal Farm?
2.
The
windmill was finally constructed, but how did its actual usage differ from its
intended usage?
3.
What
is Benjamin’s ever-steady view of life?
4.
Character
profiles: Create/modify a character profile for the main characters.
5.
Why
do the animals still feel that all animals (even pigs) are equal on Animal
Farm?
6.
What
causes Clover to neigh in a terrified voice?
7.
How
do the sheep quell any possibility of protest from the other animals?
8.
What
remains of the Seven Commandments?
9.
What
does Napoleon call Animal Farm? What do
the human guests think of the farm now?
10. Based on Napoleon’s comments
to the humans, how do you predict the animals’ lives will change in the next
few months?