Animal Farm Group Discussion: Chapters 6-7

Directions: Skim through chapters 6&7 as you work with these questions. With your group, discuss the following questions. Take notes on your discussion in your notebook.

Chapter 6:

1. (p 37, paragraph 2) Read the sentence that begins “This work was strictly voluntary…” What is problematic about this statement? What propaganda technique is being used?

2. (pg 40) How does Squealer convince the animals that it is okay to engage in trade? What do you think Orwell is trying to say about the nature of history and truth?

3. What other significant changes are made to “The Commandments”? What does this reveal about Napoleon’s motives?

4. Read the paragraph in which Napoleon denounces Snowball carefully. What type of diction does he use? (Try out different adjectives in your group until you arrive at one that describes it well.) What important change to the commandments does he slip in under the guise of danger? How will this change be realized in Chapter 7?

Chapter 7:

1. (p 47) What does the event with the eggs reveal about Napoleon? What does he care about?

2. (p 48) Read the sentence that begins “Curiously enough…” What technique is Orwell using here? What does he reveal about the animals?

3. How does Napoleon “rewrite” Snowball’s history? For what purpose?

4. (pg 51) Read the exchange between Boxer and Squealer. What do you think Squealer is suggesting when he says that “secret agents are lurking among us?” What events later in the chapter does this foreshadow? How is Squealer subtly undermining Boxer? Why would he want to do that?

5. Describe the mood at the end of the chapter. What is symbolic about Napoleon’s ban on singing “The Beasts of England”? What do you think that song represents? What does this moment tell you about the direction that animal farm is likely to go?