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A) Squealer B) Clover C) Moses D) Benjamin E) Boxer F) Napoleon G

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A) Squealer B) Clover C) Moses D) Benjamin E) Boxer F) Napoleon G Animal Farm by George Orwell Familiar with the farm Look at the list below. Connect the character’s name to the descriptive quotation. 1. ‘... a stout motherly mare approaching a) Squealer middle life, who had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal.’ 2. ‘He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout, but he was still a b) Clover majestic-looking pig, with a wise and benevolent appearance ...’ 3. ‘He was a brilliant talker, and when he was arguing some difficult point he had a way c) Moses of skipping from side to side and whisking his tail which was somehow very persuasive.’ 4. ‘... a large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, the only Berkshire on the farm, not d) Benjamin much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way.’ 5. ‘... Mr. Jones’s especial pet, was a spy and a e) Boxer tale-bearer, but he was also a clever talker.’ 6. ‘... the oldest animal on the farm, and the worst tempered. He seldom talked, and f) Napoleon when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark.’ 7. ‘... an enormous beast, nearly eighteen g) Snowball hands high, and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together.’ 8. ‘... the foolish, pretty white mare who drew h) Old Major Mr. Jones’s trap’ 9. ‘... a more vivacious pig than Napoleon, quicker in speech and more inventive, but i) Mollie was not considered to have the same depth of character.’ © www.teachit.co.uk 2010 14048 Page 1 of 9 Animal Farm by George Orwell Familiar with the farm Work in pairs and find or draw a picture of each of the main characters. Stick the picture in the middle of a sheet of paper and surround it with speech bubbles in which you write quotations from that character, or about the character and your own notes on their actions. Alternatively, you could do this on a computer, if you wish. Look at the exemplar below. He is quite cynical about the He lies down next to Boxer after his revolution. It is almost as though he collapse and keeps the flies off his knows what will happen and that it friend with his tail. This is a won’t be to the animals’ benefit. thoughtful act which shows he cares. Oldest animal on farm: ‘None of you has seen Fights bravely at a dead donkey.’ Best reader but the Battle of the refuses to use skill, Cowshed alongside the other animals: except when Boxer is taken away and ‘Benjamin turned around and lashed he calls the others at them with his ‘fools’. small hoofs.’ His only philosophy is ‘things never His friendship with Boxer is his only had been nor ever could be much feeling. ‘… they were astonished to better or much worse – hunger, see Benjamin come galloping from the hardship and disappointment being … direction of the farm buildings, the unalterable law of life.’ braying at the top of his voice’. After Boxer’s death, he is ‘He said God had given described as ‘more him a tail to keep the flies morose and taciturn than off, but that he’d sooner ever’. have no tail and no flies.’ If you prefer you could share out the characters and then make a class display of the character sheets, or print off enough copies for the whole class, so that everyone has access to the information. © www.teachit.co.uk 2010 14048 Page 2 of 9 Animal Farm by George Orwell Familiar with the farm Imagine you are either Clover or Napoleon and write entries in your diary for at least three of the following events: Old Major’s speech and the singing of ‘Beasts of England’ the Revolution and how the animals felt the pigs keeping the milk and apples the Battle of the Cowshed the arguments between Napoleon and Snowball, and Snowball’s expulsion from the farm the building of the windmill and the pigs’ move into the farmhouse the trading with the neighbouring farms the executions and the banning of ‘Beasts of England’ the rebuilding of the windmill and the battle of the windmill Boxer’s collapse and removal from the farm the pigs’ appearance walking on two legs and with whips the final scene in the farmhouse. Test each other using the cards below. You should agree your answers and write them down. Then check with another pair, and eventually look up your answers in the novel. When you have checked your answers, work with a partner and find appropriate evidence from the novel to support each one. Make brief notes about your quotations. Show how your chosen evidence is relevant to the point you are making and how it may suggest an underlying meaning. © www.teachit.co.uk 2010 14048 Page 3 of 9 Animal Farm by George Orwell Familiar with the farm Card 1 – Napoleon Card 2 – Squealer 1. What does his name suggest? 1. What does his name suggest? 2. What contribution does Napoleon make to 2. What role does he have after the rebellion? the revolution? 3. How does he teach the sheep about 3. How does he behave towards Snowball? Animalism? 4. How does he explain the missing milk and 4. How does he communicate with the other apples? animals? 5. What does he tell the animals about the 5. How does he finally seize power? reason for building the windmill? 6. What is his view of the farm and the other 6. How and why does he change the animals? commandments? 7. How does he behave over the windmill? 7. What is his explanation for the windmill’s destruction? 8. Why does he make Animal Farm a republic? 8. How does he create an atmosphere of fear 9. How does he behave towards his neighbours and mistrust about Snowball’s supposed over trade? visits to the farm? 10. How does he treat Boxer when he becomes 9. How does he present Napoleon to the other ill? animals? 11. What human behaviour does he imitate 10. How does he prevent the animals towards the end of the novel? questioning their situation? 11. Where does his loyalty lie? 12. What is his final act of betrayal? 12. Why do the other animals believe him? Card 3 – Boxer Card 4 – Snowball 1. What does his name suggest? 1. What is his role in the rebellion? 2. What part did he play in the rebellion? 2. What is his personal motto? 3. What was his role in the Battle of the 3. How does he set an example to the animals Cowshed? after the rebellion? 4. How does he use his writing and drawing 4. What is his main asset? skills? 5. What is his main drawback? 5. How does he make use of the books in the 6. How does he respond to Napoleon? farmhouse? 7. What is his attitude towards Snowball’s 6. Why does he suggest a windmill would be expulsion? useful? 8. How does he defend Snowball against 7. What is his vision for the farm? Squealer? 8. Why does he pose a threat to Napoleon? 9. What is his relationship with Clover? 9. How does Napoleon get rid of him? 10. How does he feel about Benjamin? 10. How do Napoleon and Squealer use 11. What is the final reward for all his loyalty Snowball after he has gone? and hard work? 11. How do the other animals think of Snowball 12. How is his death presented to the other a) at the Battle of the Cowshed? animals? b) after Napoleon links him with Jones? © www.teachit.co.uk 2010 14048 Page 4 of 9 Animal Farm by George Orwell Familiar with the farm Card 5 – Clover Card 6 – Moses 1. What does Clover’s protection of the lost 1. What does his name suggest? ducklings at the first meeting suggest about 2. What is his relationship with Jones? her? 2. What does she tell Mollie? 3. What is his role on Manor Farm? 3. How does she question the changing 4. What promises does he make to the animals? commandments? 5. How does Jones reward him? 4. What is her relationship with Boxer? 6. What happens to him after the rebellion? 5. How does Clover react to the executions? 6. What doubts does she have about where the 7. When and why does he return to the farm? revolution has taken them after the deaths? 8. What is his relationship with the pigs after he 7. How does she help Boxer with his wounds comes back? after the Battle of the Windmill? 9. What does he tell the animals he has seen on 8. What does she try and persuade Boxer to do his travels? then? 9. How does she react to Boxer’s collapse? 10. Why does she lead the way to the farmhouse at the end of the book? © www.teachit.co.uk 2010 14048 Page 5 of 9 Animal Farm by George Orwell Familiar with the farm Suggested answers 1. His name is the same as that of Napoleon Bonaparte who was a dictator and Emperor. 2. He makes little or no contribution to the rebellion except to enter the farmhouse and send for paint. He and Snowball are mentioned together and it is Napoleon who prevents them touching the milk. 3. Snowball does the organisation and Napoleon ignores it all, except to collect the puppies and hide them away. Gradually there are many arguments between them and Napoleon trains the pigs to start bleating when he is losing an argument.
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