by george orwell reading guide - murphy's classes and...

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Animal Farm

By George Orwell

Reading Guide

Summaries, Vocabulary, Responses and Discussion Logs

Expectations and Directions

Major Events and Ideas: Similar to The Book Thief, you will be asked to write down 3-5 key

ideas or events from each chapter in the box provided. Make sure these are specific

enough that you will be able to use it as both a study reference and a reference for an

essay we will be writing.

Vocabulary: Each student will be responsible for looking up 1-2 words on their own. You

will ALL be required to write down the part of speech (noun, adverb, verb etc.) in the

parentheses and then write down the definition for each vocabulary word when it is shared

in class. These will be tested on and used in writing, so make sure you copy them down.

My words: _____________________________ ______________________________

Reader Response: This is a section where, after each reading, you are able to write what

you are thinking/feeling. This is a place for questions you may have, frustrations,

predictions etc. If you don’t know what to write here, here are a FEW ideas of what you

could put here:

o What are you feeling emotionally at the end of this chapter? Why?

o How did a character change or grow here?

o What surprised you in this chapter?

o Do you see something the characters don’t? Why do you think that is?

o What is your prediction about the future?

o Do you wish anything in this chapter had happened differently? What and why?

Discussion Log Questions:

o For each chapter, you will be required to answer ONE discussion log question from

the list provided. These will be graded on format (organization) as well as ideas and

content. You are expected to use all of the guidelines for GREAT SHORT ANSWERS,

and you should always include evidence from the text to support your claim.

o You should also write ONE question that could be used to begin a discussion.

Discussion questions that ask “Why” or “How” more than simple recall or yes or no

questions. These can ask people to evaluate, analyze, predict, or take a side. Yes or

no questions or simple recall questions will not earn you any points.

What you need to know before you read...

About that Author:

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Terms to Know…

o Rhetoric: ________________________________________________________________

o Fable: __________________________________________________________________

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o Propaganda: _____________________________________________________________

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o Satire: __________________________________________________________________

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o Allegory:___________________________________________________________ _____

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o Irony: __________________________________________________________________

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Chapter 1 Major Events and Ideas Vocab

comrade ( ) –

enmity ( ) –

abolish ( ) –

Reader Response: __________________________________________________________________________

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Discussion Log

1. Choose one of the discussion questions for chapter 1 and answer it below. Be sure to make it a GREAT

SHORT ANSWER and add EVIDENCE from the text when necessary.

QUESTION #: _________ ____________________________________________________________

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2. Write your own discussion question (cannot be the same as the questions provided on discussion log).

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preeminent( ) –

apathy ( ) –

gambol ( ) –

Reader Response: __________________________________________________________________________

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Discussion Log



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toil ( ) –

acute ( ) –

maxim ( ) –

Reader Response: __________________________________________________________________________

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Discussion Preparation

1. What does the word implements mean in the following passage?

Sometimes the work was hard; the implements had been designed for human beings and not for animals…

A. Ideas

B. Processes

C. Tools

D. Actions

2. What sentence from the passage best supports your answer to question 1?

A. But the pigs were so clever they could think of a way round every difficulty.

B. It was a great drawback that no animal was able to use any tool that involved standing on his hind

legs.

C. How they toiled and sweated to get the hay in.

D. As for the horses, they knew every inch of the field, and in fact understood the business of mowing

and raking far better than Jones and his men had ever done.

Discussion Log



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perpetual ( ) –

tractable ( ) –

ignominious ( ) –

Reader Response: __________________________________________________________________________

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Discussion Logs



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articulate ( ) –

What does the word articulate mean in the following passage?

Some of the pigs themselves, however, were more articulate.

A. afraid

B. fluent in speech

C. intelligent

D. surprised

Which sentence from the passage best supports your answer

above?

A. …but in the end he could not think of anything to say.

B. …the animals were dismayed by this announcement.

C. Suddenly, the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep,

menacing growls, and the pigs fell silent and sat down

again.

D. Even boxer was vaguely troubled.

pretext ( ) –

restive ( ) –

Reader Response: __________________________________________________________________________

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Discussion Logs



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What Do They Really Mean? Orwell’s characters use language to communicate hidden meanings. Sometimes Orwell hints that

language should be carefully questioned; other times it’s up to the reader to notice. Look through

Chapters 1-5 and complete the table by filling in one more example of manipulative communication. Then

state what you think the language really means. You may paraphrase the passages from the text.

The Words What they really mean…

In the future, all questions relating to the

working of the farm would be settled by a

special committee of pigs presided over by

himself.

Napoleon is going to make all the

decisions.

“No one believes more firmly than Comrade

Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would

be only too happy to let you make decisions for

yourselves. But sometimes you might make the

wrong decisions, comrades, and then where

would you all be?”

Chapter 6

Major Events and Ideas Vocab

vague ( ) –

malignity ( ) –

intermediary ( ) –

Reader Response: __________________________________________________________________________

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Discussion Logs



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Chapter 7


capitulate ( ) –

countenance ( ) –

incited ( ) –

Reader Response: __________________________________________________________________________

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Discussion Logs



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Chapter 8


censure ( ) –

machinations ( ) –

cunning ( )

Reader Response: __________________________________________________________________________

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Discussion Logs



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Chapter 9


complicity ( ) –

demeanor ( ) –

Reader Response: __________________________________________________________________________

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Discussion Logs



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Chapter 10


morose ( ) –

taciturn ( ) –

insoluble ( ) –

Reader Response: __________________________________________________________________________

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Discussion Logs



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DISCUSSION LOG QUESTIONS

CHAPTER ONE

1. Look closely at the song “Beasts of England” – What messages does this song convey? What persuasive

appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) does it use? Give specific evidence from the text to support your claim.

2. Why did the animals want to rebel against Mister Jones? Use evidence from the text.

3. Choose two of the commandments given to the animals by Old Major. Discuss WHY these were the

commandments given and what they would prevent the animals from doing (dig deep). Can you think of

parallels to our day?

CHAPTER TWO

1. What are the teachings included in the system of thought that the animals title “Animalism”? Are these

good teachings? Will they stand the test of time (will they last?)? Why or why not?

2. Why don’t the pigs like the pet raven Moses’ stories about Sugarcandy Mountain?

3. The animals change the name of the farm from Manor Farm to Animal Farm. Why is this important? What

does changing a name do for ideas, behavior, power, etc.? Can you think of any examples in the real

world?

CHAPTER THREE

1. How is Squealer able to convince the Animals to believe whatever Napoleon says? What persuasive

techniques does he use (Ethos? Pathos? Logos? Give specific examples!)?

2. What shows that there are already problems in the leadership of the new government?

3. Considering the pigs are in charge, do you think it is fair that only the pigs are allowed to drink the milk

produced? Why or why not?

CHAPTER FOUR

1. Choose a character and discuss their contribution (or lack thereof) in The Battle of Cowshed.

2. How does The Battle of Cowshed affect Animal Farm, both literally and symbolically? What does it do to

the animals’ ideals/thinking?

3. Read the following quotations from after the Battle of the Cowshed and compare Snowball’s and Boxer’s

reactions. What does this say about their characters? “’I have no wish to take life, not even human life,’

repeated Boxer, and his eyes were full of tears.” “‘No sentimentality, comrade!’ cried Snowball, from

whose wounds the blood was still dripping. ‘War is war. The only good human being is a dead one.’”

CHAPTER FIVE – This is also the “What do they really mean?” section…

1. Would you side with Snowball or Napoleon on the Windmill debate? Why?

2. Snowball and Napoleon use different techniques to make sure their ideas are believed. What techniques

do they use?

3. Why don’t the animals protest Napoleon’s changes to the farm after Snowball is chased off the farm?

4. . “[Squealer] repeated a number of times, ‘Tactics, comrades, tactics!’ skipping round and whisking his tail

with a merry laugh. The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so

persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they

accepted his explanation without further questions.” If the animals didn’t understand Squealer’s words,

why do you think they accepted his explanation?

CHAPTER SIX

1. How is Snowball used as a scapegoat (person who takes blame for another’s action)?

2. Who do the animals believe is responsible for the windmill? Do you agree with them? Why or why not?

3. Why does Napoleon decide to engage in trade with the other farmers? How does he convince the other

animals to agree? How do the animals react?

4. Why does Napoleon insist the windmill must be rebuilt immediately? Can you see any hidden motives?

What persuasive techniques does he use to convince them?

CHAPTER SEVEN

1. Why did the animals confess to be traitors? Are their confessions true or fabricated (made up)?

2. Do you believe that Squealer really has secret documents that prove Snowball was a traitor? What is your

evidence?

3. What is Boxer’s solution to the bloodshed (killing, violence) and what does this say about Boxer?

4. Why does Napoleon order the animals to stop singing “Beasts of England?”

CHAPTER EIGHT

1. Compare/Contrast the poem “Comrade Napoleon” and “Beasts of England”. How do they differ in tone

and in message?

2. How is Napoleon becoming more and more like a typical dictator?

3. What purpose is served by the production figures Squealer reads to the animals?

4. Why are the animals so easily fooled, even when they find Squealer with a ladder and white paint beside

the barn at night?

CHAPTER NINE

1. Why do you think that only the young pigs are being educated? Should everyone be educated at the farm,

or would this lead to any problems?

2. Was it fair what happened to Boxer? If you were the leader, what would you have done with Boxer?

3. Why does Napoleon allow Moses to return and to tell his stories about Sugarcandy Mountain?

4. .Of what kind of person does Benjamin remind you? Give some examples. What is your opinion of such

people? What makes people behave this way?

CHAPTER TEN

1. What is the new commandment? How has it been true from the beginning?

2. How do the animals no feel about their social order, their farm? Why do they believe this, even when

everything around them suggests otherwise?

3. At the conference with neighboring farmers, what new changes does Napoleon point out? What is

significant about these changes?

4. What is significant about Napoleon’s decision that they will stop calling each other “Comrade”?

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