Character Brief Description in your own
words illustrates character. Include
Mr. and Mrs. Jones Own The Manor Farm; Mr.
Jones is selfish in that he does
not always take good care of
his animals.
Old Major Prize-winning boar; old;
respected by the other
animals.
Bluebell, Jessie, Farm dogs; Pincher is male.
and Pincher The puppies of Bluebell and
Jessie will become Napoleon's
personal guard and hit-squad.
Boxer Work horse who can do the
work of three horses; not
intelligent, but faithful to
principles of Animalism and
does what he is told. Has
amazing self-discipline and
loyalty.
Clover Motherly mare; has given birth
to four foals but they were
sold. Faithful follower of
Animalism. Can read only a
few letters.
Muriel White goat; she can read
better than the horses can, so
she reads the Commandments
for Clover.
Benjamin Cynical donkey; oldest animal
on the farm; refuses to get
involved in either side of
debates; loyal friend to Boxer.
Quote from the text that
page number
Mr. Jones spent his time "sitting
in the taproom of the Red Lion in
Willingdon complaining… of the
monstrous injustice he had
suffered in being turned out of
his property by a pack of good-
for-nothing animals."(33)
"Remember... in fighting against
Man, we must not come to
resemble him."
"I will work harder;Napoleon is
always right; I have no wish to
take life, not even human life."
"Clover's eyes filled with
tears…these scenes of terror and
slaughter were not what they
had looked forward to on that
night when old Major first stirred
them to rebelion." (77)
"…it appears to me that that
wall looks different. Are the
Seven Commandments the same
as they used to be?"
"God had given him a tail to keep
the flies off… he would sooner
have had no tail and no flies" (3)
"Fools!...They are taking Boxer
to the knacker's!"
Mollie Vain and silly mare who pulls
the Jones's carriage whenever
they ride into town. She
enjoys a life of luxery; leaves
Animal Farm to escape the
work (traitor).
Moses Mr. Jones's pet raven; a spy
and tattle-tale. Animals hated
him because he tells silly
stories and does no work
The Cat Is interested only in what is
best for herself; not
trustworthy; totally selfish.
Snowball Lively boar being raised by
Jones for sale. Ardent believer
in Animalism, organizes
committees to accomplish
goals; reads Mr. Jones's books
and comes up with idea for the
windmill. Leads animals in The
Battle of the Cowshed and is
wounded.
Napoleon Large, fierce-looking boar
being raised for sale. He
doesn't talk much but works
behind the scenes to get his
way. (He's a sneaky plotter.)
Squealer Most persuasive speaker; can
tell animals that black is white
and they believe him. Hops
from side to side and whisks
his tail when he talks. Serves
as mouthpiece for Napoleon.
The sheep Act as a group and have no
individual character. They are
totally controlled by Napoleon,
who uses them to harass
anyone who would argue
against him.
Mr. Pilkington Owns Foxwood farm. Lives a
life of leisure, hunting and
fishing, and is careless about
his farm.
Mr. Frederick Owns Pinchfield farm.Tough
shrewd man constantly
"Will there be sugar after the
rebellion?"
"…on the other side of that dark
cloud…lies Sugarcandy
Mountain"
Joined the Re-education
Committee; was seen talking to
some sparrows, telling them that
all sparrows were comrades and
any sparrow who chose could
come and perch on her paw (27)
"A bird's wing is an organ of
propulsion…therefore it should
be regarded as a leg."
"Ribbons should be considered
as clothes. All animals should go
naked."(17)
"Gentlemen, here is my toast: To
the prosperity of The Manor
Farm!" (123)
"We pigs are brain workers…It is
for your sake that we drink that
milk and eat those apples." (31)
"Bravery is not enough. Loyalty
and obedience are more
important." (50)
"four legs good; two legs bad"
"four legs good; two legs
better!"
"If you have your lower animals
to contend with, we have our
lower classes!" (121)
"The animals distrusted
Pilkington, but greatly preferred
 involved in lawsuits; manages
his farm very efficiently.
Cheats Animal Farm; blows up
their windmill.
Mr. Whymper A solicitor (lawyer)Liaison
between Napoleon and the
neighboring farms.
him to Frederick, whom they
both feared and hated." (84)
"a sly-looking little man with
side whiskers…sharp enough to
to have realized earlier than
anyone else that Animal Farm
would need a broker…" (59)

1. Identify Old Major, Boxer, Clover, Benjamin and Mollie.

Old Major was an old pig highly regarded by the other animals. He began the whole idea of the
revolution. Boxer was a huge, strong horse, not very smart but of good character. Clover was a
motherly, middle-aged mare. Benjamin was a donkey, the oldest animal on the farm. He was
skeptical, cynical, and never laughed. Also, he was friends with Boxer. Mollie was a "foolish,
pretty white mare" who liked sugar and pretty ribbons.

2. For what purpose did Major call the meeting of the animals?
He wanted to tell them about his vision of a happier time for animals, a time when the animals
can live together and have a much better life without Man.

3. After they vote and decide rats are comrades, Major summarizes his points for the animals to
remember. What are they?
"Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a
friend. And remember also that in fighting against Man, we must not come to resemble him.
Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices. No animal must ever live in a house,
or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or touch money, or engage
in trade. All the habits of Man are evil. And above all, no animal must ever tyrannize over his
own kind. Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers. No animal must ever kill any
other animal. All animals are equal."

4. What is "Beasts of England"? For what does it stand?

"Beasts of England" is the song of the revolution. It stands for the hopes and dreams of the
animals for having a better life.

What is significant about how the animals arrange themselves as they gather to hear Major?
Some animlas stick with their herds and others find a spot to stay warm. People are going to stick with their
people.

According to Major, what is the cause of all animals' problems?

Humans/MAN

What motto does Major give the animals?

If you get rid of Jones you will have freedom and happiness.

Why do animals like the song "Beasts of England" so much that they memorize it on the spot? To
what emotions and needs does it appeal?
The animals like it so much because it talks about freedom and what it would be like after the rebellion.
Also it makes them feel strong. It appeals happiness, confidence, and excitement.
Form, Structure, Plot: The structure of the story is short and simple. Linear. The story takes place over
the time of a few seasons. There is foreshadowing at the beginning of the Revolution as the pigs slowly
begin to manipulate the other animals without their noticing. There are ten chapters. There is a da capo
ending, as the pigs become worse than the original oppressors and indistinguishable from the humans.

Concrete Detail/ Imagery: imagery does not play a large role in this novel. The major recurring idea is
the painting of the seven commandments, which appears several times in increasingly mutilated forms. The
most emotionally gripping moments are the major battles, the slaughter of the animals thought to be traitors
to the Rebellion, the death of Boxer, and the final scene.

Symbolism: Mr. Jones – Czar Nicholas II, Old Major – Carl Marx, Animalism – Communism, Snowball
– Trotsky, Puppies – KGB, Napoleon – Stalin, Squealer – Propaganda department, Moses – church, Mollie –
defectors, vain, selfish people, Romanov family, Boxer – dedicated followers of Communism, Benjamin –
skeptical intellectuals.

Figurative Language: the animals are personified as people. The entire book is an allusion to the
Russian Revolution. There is not a heavy emphasis on figurative language throughout the book, making the
story seem more universal and easier to transplant to other times and situations. The lack of figurative
language also makes the story feel somewhat bare and prevents the reader from being caught by the
romantic fantasy that seizes the majority of the animals—it keeps the reader at a distance from the events in
the story.

Ironic Devices: the pigs become more repressive than the humans, and change the rules of Animalism in
order to suit their own needs, thus killing the original idealism and high expectations behind the Revolution.
Those who claim to be the most noble, such as Napoleon, are actually cruel, and use language as a
manipulating device. The hardest working character, Boxer, meets the worst fate whereas Mollie, who is not
loyal to anyone gets exactly what she wants. Irony is used consistently to point out the failures of the
Revolution and the futility of idealism. Verbal irony is used most often by the pigs, especially Squealer.

Tone: Most situations are treated in an objective way, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. The
novel is intended to be a satire, but does not play for humor. The events in the book are serious, but the tone
on the whole is distant and unemotional.

Theme: Any attempt to change how the world works is futile. No matter how hard someone works or how
hard they dream, everyone inevitably ends up just as bad as they began. There is no such thing as an ideal
world or perfect society, the only way we can have on is to imagine it. this is because people are imperfect—
they are either selfish and power-hungry or are not capable of understanding the world around them. People
are the ultimate destroyers of themselves, and of their own dreams. Nothing that seems perfect can survive
them.

Significance of Title: Informs the reader that the novel is about animals on a farm. The name of the farm
mirrors the state of the Rebellion.
NAME:
DATE:

1. Name and Owner of the Farm?

2. Give the order in which the animals arrived?
3. Which animal didn’t make it to the meeting?
4. What is the purpose of addressing the animals as comrades?
5. Identify Old Major, Boxer, Clover, Benjamin and Mollie.
6. For what purpose did Major call the meeting of the animals?
7. After they vote and decide rats are comrades, Major summarizes his points for the
animals to remember. What are they?
8. What is "Beasts of England"? For what does it stand?
9. What is significant about how the animals arrange themselves as they gather to hear
Major?
10. According to Major, what is the cause of all animals' problems?
11. What motto does Major give the animals?
12. Why do animals like the song "Beasts of England" so much that they memorize it on
the spot? To what emotions and needs does it appeal?