George Orwell: Animal Farm
1. How does Orwell present the importance of the human characters on the farm?
Write about:
• the ways human characters affect what happens on the farm
• how Orwell presents the importance of the human characters.
2. How does Orwell present ideas about inequality in Animal Farm?
Write about:
• what happens in the novel that suggests inequality
• how Orwell presents ideas about inequality.
3. How does Orwell use Moses and Benjamin to explore attitudes to revolution in Animal Farm?
Write about:
• what Moses and Benjamin say and do
• how Orwell uses Moses and Benjamin to explore attitudes to revolution.
4. How does Orwell present the failure of the rebellion in Animal Farm?
Write about:
• the ways the rebellion fails
• how Orwell presents the failure of the rebellion.
5. Explain Why for most of the animals life under Jones and life without a human master was note
really different.
6. Discuss the way George Orwell uses minor characters such as Moses and Mollie to illustrate the
major issues or themes in the novel.
7. A fable is a story that expresses a moral, a life lesson. With close reference to the novel, write about
two life lessons that we can learn from Animal Farm.
, 8. Discuss the importance of education as it is explored in Animal Farm.
9. “Squealer could turn black into white.” Examine the factors that allow this animal to lie so openly in
Animal Farm.
10. By referring to some events in the novel, explore how George Orwell warns humanity against
certain behaviours.
11. Without the presence of Boxer, the other animals would not have been able to work together. With
close reference to the text discuss this character’s contribution to the novel.
12. Compare and contrast the different styles of leadership in Animal Farm.
13. How far does Orwell present Napoleon as a character who is only interested in power?
Write about:
• what Napoleon says and does
• how far Orwell presents Napoleon as only interested in power.
14. How does Orwell present relationships between the humans and the animals in Animal Farm?
Write about:
• the relationships between the humans and the animals
• how Orwell presents the relationships between the humans and the animals.
15. How does Orwell create different impressions of Napoleon? What does Napoleon’s behaviour tell
you about leadership in society?
EXTRACT FROM AN EXAMINERS REPORT: “The question asks the candidates to discuss the
character of Napoleon. Common areas discussed were Napoleon’s violent and manipulative control
of the farm, his physical appearance, his relationship with Snowball and his transformation as he
takes on human characteristics. Some more able responses discussed in depth his turning against
Animalism and presented good evidence from the text. Some saw that the more 'human' he became,
the more the others get treated like 'animals' again. A number of responses were extremely strong
on context and their knowledge of the Russian Revolution and there were well-informed, integrated
1. How does Orwell present the importance of the human characters on the farm?
Write about:
• the ways human characters affect what happens on the farm
• how Orwell presents the importance of the human characters.
2. How does Orwell present ideas about inequality in Animal Farm?
Write about:
• what happens in the novel that suggests inequality
• how Orwell presents ideas about inequality.
3. How does Orwell use Moses and Benjamin to explore attitudes to revolution in Animal Farm?
Write about:
• what Moses and Benjamin say and do
• how Orwell uses Moses and Benjamin to explore attitudes to revolution.
4. How does Orwell present the failure of the rebellion in Animal Farm?
Write about:
• the ways the rebellion fails
• how Orwell presents the failure of the rebellion.
5. Explain Why for most of the animals life under Jones and life without a human master was note
really different.
6. Discuss the way George Orwell uses minor characters such as Moses and Mollie to illustrate the
major issues or themes in the novel.
7. A fable is a story that expresses a moral, a life lesson. With close reference to the novel, write about
two life lessons that we can learn from Animal Farm.
, 8. Discuss the importance of education as it is explored in Animal Farm.
9. “Squealer could turn black into white.” Examine the factors that allow this animal to lie so openly in
Animal Farm.
10. By referring to some events in the novel, explore how George Orwell warns humanity against
certain behaviours.
11. Without the presence of Boxer, the other animals would not have been able to work together. With
close reference to the text discuss this character’s contribution to the novel.
12. Compare and contrast the different styles of leadership in Animal Farm.
13. How far does Orwell present Napoleon as a character who is only interested in power?
Write about:
• what Napoleon says and does
• how far Orwell presents Napoleon as only interested in power.
14. How does Orwell present relationships between the humans and the animals in Animal Farm?
Write about:
• the relationships between the humans and the animals
• how Orwell presents the relationships between the humans and the animals.
15. How does Orwell create different impressions of Napoleon? What does Napoleon’s behaviour tell
you about leadership in society?
EXTRACT FROM AN EXAMINERS REPORT: “The question asks the candidates to discuss the
character of Napoleon. Common areas discussed were Napoleon’s violent and manipulative control
of the farm, his physical appearance, his relationship with Snowball and his transformation as he
takes on human characteristics. Some more able responses discussed in depth his turning against
Animalism and presented good evidence from the text. Some saw that the more 'human' he became,
the more the others get treated like 'animals' again. A number of responses were extremely strong
on context and their knowledge of the Russian Revolution and there were well-informed, integrated
