Chapter 1

First, we watch this trailer and begin filling out a character analysis.

Then, we read the first chapter. 

While reading:

• Highlight information about the main characters. You may want to use the highlight function and the different colours.

• Focus on Old Major's speech, actions and words which may indicate what will happen in the story.

Chapter 2

Homework

Read chapter 2, reading focus: understanding the power of commandments. 

 Comprehension Questions

1. Describe the situation on the farm and the animals' work load. Include the following quotes:

This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half. George Orwell: Animal Farm. Project Gutenberg, 1945.

Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer, whose strength seemed equal to that of all the rest of the animals put together.  George Orwell: Animal Farm. Project Gutenberg, 1945.

2. What major changes happen in paragraphs 6 and 7 and what are the consequences?

3. Add to your characterization of Napoleon concerning the changes you meet in chapter 6.

4. List any other changes you find relevant in this chapter and be ready to argue why they are relevant.

Chapter 8

Presentations

Comprehension questions

1. How does Napoleon trade with Pilkington and Frederick and what is the outcome?

2. How has the tone changed from Beasts of England to the poem written by Minimus?

3. Describe briefly the changing role of Napoleon. Use information from this chapter and from your word document. Remember to include signs of Napoleon changing his behaviour in a more human-like way.

4. Find your commandments from chapter 6 and update them with the latest changes.

5. What are the most significant changes to the commandments and what is the effect of these changes?

6. What do you consider the most surprising element of chapter 8 and why?

Comparison of the Russian revolution and Animal Farm 

Extra materials

The Cold War and Ideologies

Study group work

Animal Farm was published at the beginning of the Cold War and, as you discovered in the last chapter, draws references to e.g. Communism.

1. Half of the groups do an internet research about the Cold War

2. The other half about the two primary ideologies of the Cold War.

3. Use at least 3 different sources.

4. Be prepared to present your research to another group.

The Use of Animal Farm as Propaganda

In 1998, documents concerning governmental use of Animal Farm were declassified and became available to the public.

Here it was revealed that in the early 1950s, a department of the British Foreign Office, the Information Research Department (IRD), bought the strip cartoon rights for Animal Farm.

By then, Animal Farm had been translated into many languages and the IRD saw the cartoon strips as an effective propaganda tool in the Cold War. The cartoon strips were published in newspapers in e.g. Brazil, India, Mexico, Thailand and Venezuela through their international network of Information Officers.

1. Look at a few of the cartoon strips to be found in the British National Archives.

2. Use your knowledge about the Cold War from the previous exercise and discuss how these cartoon strips could be used as propaganda.

3. The documents do not say whether the cartoon strips were a success. Do you think cartoon strips are an effective propaganda tool and why/why not?

Literary Criticism

Chapter 7

George Orwell's style of writing

For George Orwell it was very important that his writing style was direct and accessible for all. Therefore, the language used in Animal Farm is simple and direct and description and dialogue are kept to a minimum. Furthermore, Orwell avoids sentimentality and instead focuses on telling the story and the lessons to be learned from the story.

1. Try to rewrite the quote below using as many extra words as possible (you can use these lists of linking words and phrases and adjectives and adverbs).

Out of spite, the human beings pretended not to believe that it was Snowball who had destroyed the windmill: they said that it had fallen down because the walls were too thin. The animals knew that this was not the case. Still, it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before, which meant collecting much larger quantities of stone. For a long time the quarry was full of snowdrifts and nothing could be done. Some progress was made in the dry frosty weather that followed, but it was cruel work, and the animals could not feel so hopeful about it as they had felt before. They were always cold, and usually hungry as well. Only Boxer and Clover never lost heart. Squealer made excellent speeches on the joy of service and the dignity of labour, but the other animals found more inspiration in Boxer's strength and his never-failing cry of "I will work harder!"

George Orwell: Animal Farm. Project Gutenberg, 1945

2. Discuss what happens to the text.

   • Is it harder/easier to understand?

   • Is it more subjective?