animal farm 6-10

What is the basic situation of this chapter? (chapter 6)

The animals are trying to build a windmill.

What complication is introduced when Napoleon first violates the original Seven Commandments?

Trading with humans

What is always Squealer’s most effective argument?

None of the animals want Jones to come back

What literary device does Orwell use when he describes how humans finally begin to respect Animal Farm?

Allegory

When does the climax occur in this chapter? (chapter 6)

When the windmill falls down

Why is the windmill difficult to build?

The animals are unable to use available tools.

What causes Napoleon to change his policy and begin trade with neighbors?

Certain necessities cannot be produced on the farm

How does Orwell indicate that Squealer’s repeated warning about Jones returning is an empty threat?

He reveals Mr. Jones has given up hope of regaining his farm and has moved.

Why does the windmill really collapse?

A windstorm blows it down

What do you think the windmill – the animals’ exhaustive work – represents, or symbolizes, to the animals?  To Orwell?

The windmill symbolizes a hope for a better, easier life and an achievement beyond the ability of ordinary animals. For Orwell, it symbolizes the grand ambitions of a tyrant

Whose attitude is more influential – Boxer or Squealer’s?

boxer

Who suspects there is a food shortage on Animal Farm?

no one

Is Snowball ever seen on the farm?

no

Who do the animals believe is responsible for the mischief that takes place?

snowball

Does Squealer respect Boxer’s honesty and willingness to work

no

What happens to the animals that confess crimes?

they get killed

Do you think the animals are really guilty of the crimes they confess to in the barnyard?  If not, what horrifying assumption can we make about why they confess anyway?

the confessions are probably false since there is no evidence of the animals guilt. the confessions may be a public suicide. life at the farm has become so painful and intolerant that these animals choose the open escape they see open. They deliberately lie about their crimes, so they will be put out of their misery.  another possible reason is that terror and propaganda have so effectively brainwashed these animals that they not only accept napoleons version of history, but they also accept his version of their own actions and motives.

Does Boxer’s faith in Napoleon ever falter?

no

Who plans to overthrow Napoleon?

no one

Who forbids the singing of “Beasts of England”?

napoleon

Do the animals like the new song better than the old one?

no

What is the main point of this chapter? (chapter 7)

 the animals must find a sufficient food supply

Who instigates a rebellion against Napoleon?

the hens

What is Squealer’s insistence that Snowball betrayed them at the battle of the Cowshed an example of?

 foreshadowing of danger

What is the mood of the novel?  What does it shift to?

at first acceptance then horror

Which animal shows the clearest understanding of how things have gone wrong?

clover

Look back at Old Major’s speech on pages three and four.  Which of his statements about life on Manor Farm under the rule of Mr. Jones are now true of life on Animal Farm?  Explain the irony in this situation.

Statements include: animals are given just enough food to stay alive, they are worked to death, they are not free, they are miserable, they are exploited by creatures that consume without producing, the hens eggs are sold at market to bring in money for the exploiters, the cows milk goes to feed the exploiters, the young porkers are executed, other animals are slaughtered too, and if the explorers were gotten rid of, the produce of the animals labor would be their own. the irony in this situation is the animals rebelled to end these conditions.

What do you suppose is Napoleon’s real reason for outlawing the singing of “Beasts of England”?  Why is it ironic that the animals sing this song at the end of Chapter VII?

 the song reinforces the ideas of the rebellion, and napoleon does not want the animals to rebel against him. at this point the animals are so beaten down, they have no thoughts of rebellion.

What technique is Orwell using when Napoleon sells the timber pile to Frederick?

reversal

The line _____ is an example of irony.

“lord of the swill bucket”

What is Squealer’s proclaiming victory even though he was absent during the fighting an example of?

dramatic irony

What is the scene in which Frederick and his followers attack Animal Farm an example of?

external conflict

What is the tone of the scene of Orwell description of the Battle of the Windmill?

somber

Why does Napoleon first say he is going to sell the wood to Pilkington?

he wants Frederick to offer more money

How does Napoleon’s plan backfire?

frederick cheats him with counterfeit money, and pilkington refuses to help

How do the animals indicate they will support Napoleon at the end of this chapter?

they express sorrow bc he appears to be dying

What does Benjamin realize when Squealer falls off the ladder in the middle of the night?

he has been secretly changing the commandments

Name at least four ways in which the pigs’ are different from those of the other animals on the farm?  In what ways has the pigs’ behavior come to resemble human behavior?

the pigs do no manual labor, live in the farmhouse, give orders to the other animals, interact with humans, drink whiskey, have servants, enjoy privileges such as wearing green ribbons, and get more and better food. in almost all these respects, the pigs are acting like humans. in addition, like some humans, they are greedy, ambitious, and deceitful.

does Napoleon like whiskey

yes, and plans to make his own

When is Boxer due to retire?

the following year

What animals are at the top of the hierarchy?

the pigs

do the animals complain about the lack of food?

nope

How does Moses feel about the pigs?

he accepts their leadership

Where is Boxer taken after he collapses?

to the glue factory

Where are the other animals when the van arrives for Boxer?

working in the fields

Who claims to be present at Boxer’s death?

squealer

Do the animals believe Squealer’s explanation?

not at first

Where do the pigs get the money for the whiskey

selling boxer to the knacker

Does Boxer try to escape the van?

yea

Explain how Boxer is betrayed by the pigs.  What happens to his body?

1.  when boxer collapses, instead of transporting him to the vet as they claim, the pigs sell boxer to a knacker. boxers body is sold to produce glue, hides, and bone meal.

How does Boxer’s death ironically fulfill Old Major’s prophecy in chapter one?

old major says that jones will sell boxer to the knacker. the irony is that boxer meets his terrible fate not through jones malice but through that of a fellow animals, napoleon

Why is it ironic that the pigs begin to wear green ribbons on their tails

the third commandment decrees that no animal shall wear clothes. it is ironic that the pigs who condemned mollie for her ribbons after the rebellion are now themselves wearing ribbons. it is also ironic that the ribbons are green, the color of animalism and the rebellion.

What event turns the animals’ world “upside down”?

the pigs walk on their hind legs and napoleon carries a whip

Explain why Squealer had to teach the sheep a new song before this event could take place.

the old chant attacked those who walk on two legs

Describe Orwell’s resolution of the novel.

pessimistic

Throughout the novel, the pigs change the Seven Commandments to suit their purposes.  How do they further modify the commandments?

“all animals are equal” becomes “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” the new commandment replaces all the other commandments