Chapters 1

Animal Farm Chapters 1-5 Review

Question

Who does Old Major parallel in Russian history?

Karl Marx or Vladimir Lenin Marx was the original revolutionist, like Old Major. Their ideas inspired others to rebel. Lenin’s body was put on display in Red Square of Moscow like Old Major’s skull was displayed at the foot of the flagstaff next to the gun in Chapter 5.

Question Who is Farmer Jones in the Russian Revolution?

Czar Nicholas II Both were poor leaders, leaving for periods of time and treating their people (animals) poorly.

Question In Chapter 1, Mr. Jones takes his gun and shoots it 6 times into the darkness after Old Major incites the animals to rebel. What is this like in Russian history?

Bloody Sunday (Revolution of 1905)

Czar Nicholas II shot at the people who were petitioning for more food and rights on Jan. 22nd, 1905 at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.

Question Who is Napoleon in the Russian Revolution?

Joseph Stalin Napoleon and Stalin were ruthless dictators who became worse leaders than their predecessors, Farmer Jones and Czar Nicholas II.

Question Who is Snowball in the Russian Revolution?

Leon Trotsky Both were original revolutionaries. Trotsky was the leader and the hero of the Red Army, just like Snowball was the leader and the hero of the Battle of Cowshed.

Also… Snowball gets kicked off of Animal Farm by Napoleon like Trotsky gets exiled from Russia by Stalin. Both were more intelligent than Stalin and Napoleon. Both were made out to be traitors.

Question Who are the pigs in the Russian Revolution?

The Intelligentsia They were the educated Russians. They encouraged others to rebel.

Question

Who does Boxer parallel in the Russian Revolution?

The Proletariat or the Working Class The proletariat were the uneducated and easily manipulated people who only wanted more land and an end to the war. Most of the animals were uneducated and wanted to be free from the clutches of Man.

Question What is Animalism in the Russian Revolution?

Marxism, Communism, and / or Socialism

All promoted an equal, classless society

Also…The Beasts of England is like…

the song, The Communist Internationale. They are both the anthems that favored an equal and bright future for all.

Question What do Sugarcandy Mountain and Moses parallel in the Russian Revolution?

The Russian Orthodox Church All provided hope for the people / animals. Stalin and the pigs were threatened by these ideas. The church was dejected, just like Sugarcandy Mountain and Moses were.

Question What does the overthrow of Farmer Jones parallel in the Russian Revolution?

The February Revolution The people and the animals were starving and decided to riot. Czar Nicholas II and Farmer Jones were both overthrown.

Question Who does Mollie represent in the Russian Revolution?

The Bourgeoisie and possibly the White Army Mollie was the upper middle working class. Neither were in favor of the revolution because luxuries would be lost. Mollie actually leaves the farm, but she is never heard from again. Did she join the White Army?

Question Who is Squealer in the Russian Revolution?

The Media He represents Stalin’s ideas via the newspaper and media outlets. Using propaganda, the media manipulated the Russian people and took advantage of their low intelligence.

Question Manor Farm, later Animal Farm, parallels which place?

Russia and / or the USSR USSR stands for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, aka the Soviet Union.

Question What type of propaganda is used here? “ ‘Our sole object in taking these things (milk and apples) is to promote our health.’”

Bad Logic Bad logic- An argument based on false premises The pigs don’t really need milk and apples to promote their health. They are just being selfish.

Question What type of propaganda is being used here? “ ‘ Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well being of a pig.’”

Transference and / or Bad Logic

Squealer is trying to transfer the authority of science to his argument that the pigs need the milk and apples. Bad logic because this just doesn’t really make sense.

Question What kind of propaganda is being used here? “ ‘ We pigs are the brainworkers.’”

Loaded Words or Stereotyping “Brainworkers” is a loaded word, creating a certain reaction in the animals. It is also stereotyping the pigs as the smartest of the animals.

Question What kind of propaganda is being used here? “ ‘ Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples.’”

Bad logic It is not for the animals’ sakes that the pigs eat the apples and drink the milk. They do it because they are selfish.

Question What kind of propaganda is used here? “ ‘Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back!’”

Fear Squealer is taking advantage of the animals’ fears that Jones will come back. Things will go back to the way they were before if they don’t listen to the pigs.

Question What kind of propaganda is used here? “ ‘…surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?’”

Fear and Bandwagon Fear about Jones coming back Bandwagon because Squealer says they should all feel this way

Question Snowball and Napoleon try to stir up ideas of rebellion to neighbouring farm animals. What is this like in the Russian Revolution?

Lenin spreading his ideas before he and the Bolsheviks take over

Lenin told the people what they wanted to hear…he could get them land and stop the war

Question Who is Pilkington and what is his farm, Foxwood, in the Russian Revolution?

Winston Churchill of England He is a combination of all the leaders of England.

Question Who is Mr. Frederick and his farm, Pinchfield?

Adolf Hitler of Germany He, like Frederick, was a “tough, shrewd” man who didn’t get along with many.

Question What kind of propaganda is being used here? Frederick and Pilkington “began to talk of the terrible wickedness that now flourished on Animal Farm.”

Demonizing the Enemy Animal Farm is being described as worthless and immoral because they are the enemy of these 2 men.

Question When Jones and his men come back in Chapter 4 to try to retake their farm, what is this compared to in Russian history? (This is the Battle of the Cowshed.)

The October Revolution This is when the Bolsheviks, and the pigs, solidify their presence and their status on the farm and in the country. Both were expected to occur.

Question What is the symbol that is used to represent and remember the victory at the Battle of Cowshed?

The gun at the foot of the flagstaff

It would be fired “twice a year, once on the anniversary of the Battle of the Cowshed, and once on Midsummer Day, the anniversary of the Rebellion.”

Question Who are Clover, Benjamin, and Muriel most like in the Russian Revolution?

The are most like the intelligentsia

They are smart enough to figure out what is going on, but they choose not to get involved.

Question Snowball and Napoleon disagree about the building of the windmill. What is this similar to in history?

The 5 year plans Trotsky wanted to develop Russia’s industry. His 5 year plans were stolen by Stalin, like Napoleon stole Snowball’s plans for the windmill at the end of Chapter 5.

Question What kind of propaganda is being used here? “Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease…”

Glittering Generalities Creating an illusion on no particular grounds

Question Napoleon uses what kind of propaganda here? “Napoleon argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production, and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death.”

Fear Like Stalin, Napoleon favored agriculture and wanted to scare the animals into believing they would die if they didn’t follow him.

Question In addition to fighting over the windmill, what were Snowball and Napoleon’s views on the defence of the farm?

They disagreed about war. Napoleon wanted to get firearms and train all to use them. Snowball said weapons would not be necessary if rebellions occurred everywhere. They would have no need to defend themselves with weapons.

Didn’t the Russian people want the end to war? Yes. This is ironic because this is probably what Napoleon and Stalin both really wanted. Yet they used a platform of peace to become a leader.

Question Why do you think Napoleon did not exile Snowball sooner?

He wanted to steal his ideas for the windmill.

Just like Stalin, Napoleon wanted to use Trotsky until his brains were no longer necessary.

Question Who are the puppies of Jessie and Bluebell that are being “educated” by Napoleon compared to in Russian society?

The KGB, or secret police They were trained to carry out Stalin’s dirty work. As grown dogs, they force Snowball into exile, as the KGB had a role in Trotsky’s exile and assassination, too.

Question How is Napoleon becoming a dictator?

Many things: No more Sunday meetings A special committee of pigs, run by Napoleon, would make all decisions. Animals would only receive orders and salute the flag on Sunday mornings.

In the upcoming chapters, watch for these things: the problems the farm will encounter, especially with the windmill the arrival of Mr. Whymper the changes to the 7 commandments

Also, watch for… the business arrangements between Napoleon, Frederick, and Pilkington how Snowball is involved the hens rebellion

And don’t forget to read… Chapter 7- the best (and most brutal) chapter of them all, in my opinion  The sale of the timber The Battle of the Windmill Make sure you know what all of these are in history!

And finally…  Boxer’s decline The return of Sugarcandy mountain The meeting between Napoleon, Pilkington, and Frederick

Chapters 5-10 These chapters are post Russian Revolution, but they still parallel Russian history. Happy reading!