Animal Farm- Freshmen Honors ELA`

Maxim

a saying that is widely accepted on its merits

Pretext

a fictitious reason that conceals the real reason

Cryptic

having a secret or hidden meaning

Disinter

dig up for reburial or for medical investigation

Blithe

carefree and happy and lighthearted

Shirk

avoid one’s assigned duties

Procure

get by special effort

Subversive

in opposition to an established system or government

Apathy

an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

Ensconce

fix firmly

Canibalism

the practice of earing the flesh of your own kind

Gambol

play or run boisterously

Ignominious

deserving or bringing disgrace or shame

Indefatigable

showing sustained enthusiasm with unflagging vitality

Parasitic

relating to an animal or plant that lives in or on a host

Vivacious

vigorous and animated in a lively and spirited manner.

Enmity

A state of deep-seated ill-will

Expound

Add details to clarify an idea

Toil

Work hard

Shrewd

Marked by practical hardheaded intelligence

Din

A loud, harsh, or strident noise

Posthumously

After death

Obstinate

Marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield

Contemptible

Deserving of scorn or disrespect

Embolden

Give encouragement to

Malign

Speak unfavorably of

Taciturn

Habitually reserved and uncommunicative

Demeanor

The way a person behaves towards other people

Machination

A crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends

Faction

A dissenting clique

Sordid

Foul and run-down and repulsive

Repose

Freedom from activity

Thwart

Hinder of prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire

Capitulate

Surrender under agreed conditions

Pervade

Spread or diffuse through

Countenance

The appearance conveyed by a persons face

Contrive

Make or work our a plan for; devise

Retinue

The group following and attending an important person

Privy

informed about something secret or not generally known

Superannuated

Too old to be useful

Morose

Showing a brooding ill humor

Frugal

Avoiding waste

Subsist

Support oneself

He will work harder

Boc

Represents the Russian Orthodox Church

Moses

To be informed of a secret

Privy

Upset/Brooding

Morose

Stubborn

Ostinate

Napoleon’s doppelganger

Stalin

Revolutionaries

Bolshevik

Boxer and Clover represent the…

People

The real Mr. Jones

Czar

Avoid one’s work

Shirk

The key to controlling youth

Education

Russian press that ‘squealed’

Prauda

Snowball’s obsession

Committees

Those who refuse to play by the rules

cat

Goat who is as smart as the pigs

Muriel

Not the BFF of Communism

Orwell

The number of letters boxer knows

four

Believes nothing will ever change

Benjamin

Values comfort over revolution

Mollie

To make a plan

Contrive

Old Major

Karl Marx

Outsider who serves as propaganda

Mr. Whymper

Deserving of shame

Ignominious

It was all his fault

Snowball

Sire of Orwell’s political education

India

A comedic glance at serious things

Satire

Napoleon/Stalin’s strong suit

Brutality

State of hatred

Enmity

A story that has many levels

Allegory

Repulsive

Sordid

Communism’s Animal Farm equivalent

Animalism

Carefree and happy

Blithe

Old Major—>

Tells of a dream that leads to the rebellion; Karl Marx

Boxer—>

Stalin’s supporters, loyal, not bright, working class

Napoeleon—>

Stalin, ruthless and paranoid leader

Squealer—>

Propaganda; tricks everyone,

Frederick—>

Symbol for Hitler, owns Pinchfield

Pilkington—>

Winston Churchill, FDR, Western capitalist countries: profits from Animal Farm

Clover—>

female laborers

Mollie—>

rich people, comfort over revolution

Jessie, Bluebell, Pincher—>

their kids turn into KGB; dogs

Benjamin—>

Skeptical people

Moses—>

Russian Orthodox Church; religion; hope

Animalism—>

Communism

Snowball—>

Trotsky; wants better life for everyone

Why is Animal Farm considered an allegory?

Because it uses the story of farm animals to represent the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism. Characters like Napoleon symbolize historical figures such as Joseph Stalin, and events on the farm mirror real historical events .

What is the significance of the Seven Commandments?

They represent the core principles of Animalism. Over time, the pigs alter them to justify their actions, reflecting how those in power can manipulate ideologies for personal gain .

Why is the windmill important?

The windmill symbolizes industrial progress and the manipulation of the working class. Its repeated destruction and reconstruction reflect the empty promises of the ruling class

What is the significance of the final commandment change?

The alteration to "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" highlights the hypocrisy and the betrayal of the revolution's original ideals

. How does the anthem change reflect the farm's transformation?

The original anthem, "Beasts of England," is replaced with "Comrade Napoleon," signifying the shift from collective ideals to a cult of personality around Napoleon

Why Animals?

They are exploited

One Theme

Power over others can destroy one’s concept of right/wrong

Double Speak

Language that deliberately obscures, disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words; makes unpleasant sound pleasant

Review of Chapter 1:

In Chapter 1 of Animal Farm, Old Major, a wise old pig, gives a powerful speech urging the animals to rebel against their human oppressors. He dreams of a future where animals live free and equal, inspiring them with the song "Beasts of England." The chapter sets the stage for revolution.

Review of Chapter 2

In Chapter 2 of Animal Farm, Old Major dies, and the pigs—especially Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer—begin organizing his ideas into a system called Animalism. The animals revolt, drive out Mr. Jones, and take over the farm, renaming it “Animal Farm.” They establish rules, but the pigs quickly take leadership roles.