Animal Farm: Chapters 5-7
Background
Did You Know?
One of Orwell’s concerns about the Soviet state was that it used language to distort historical events. After Stalin bullied Leon Trotsky out of the country, he systematically removed any trace of Trotsky from Soviet history—took him out of photographs, censored his papers, and so on. He also used Pravda, his news agency, to control the information people received. In chapters 5 through 7, Orwell repeatedly calls readers’ attention to both napoleon’s manipulation of information and the animals’ willingness to believe him.
Power Struggle
In chapters 5 through 7, the battle for power between Snowball and Napoleon comes to its climax. In Soviet history, a similar battled raged between two very different men, Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Stalin exercised power through regulations and rules. As its leader, he controlled the Communist Party bureaucracy. Trotsky had proven himself a masterful military strategist and inspirational leader during the Russian Civil War. He wanted to limit government power. The two also disagreed about how to industrialize and whether to focus on Soviet or worldwide socialism. Stalin took control in 1925—control he kept largely through tactics of terror.
Active Reading
Orwell’s characters and narrator use language to communicate hidden agendas. Sometimes Orwell hints that language should be carefully questioned, other times it’s up to the reader to notice. As you read, complete the chart below by filling in strong examples of manipulative communication. Then state what you think the language really means.
In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs presided over by himself. / Napoleon is going to make all the decisions from now on.
1. What happens to Mollie?
2. What are Napoleon’s strengths? What are Snowball’s strengths?
3. What idea did Snowball have to improve the conditions on the farm?
4. The animals divide into two factions. What are they? What slogans did they come up with?
5. At the meeting about the windmill, Snowball begins to win over the animals. What does Napoleon do about this? What happens to Snowball? To what event does this relate historically?
6. Look at the original Seven Commandments. Which one(s) is no longer in effect?
7. Identify three ways that Napoleon tries to solidify his position on the farm.
8. What phrase always stops any arguments form the animals?
9. What two phrases does Boxer use frequently?
10. What do the dogs symbolize?
11. What is ironic about the animals working on the windmill on Sundays?
12. Why is the windmill so hard to build? Who makes the work possible?
13. What commandment/resolution is changed and how? Why do the animals accept this?
14. How is Snowball used as a scapegoat?
15. What is one of the strongest motivations/sources of inspiration for completing the rebuilding of the windmill?
16. Explain the issue with the hens and their eggs.
17. What else is revealed about Snowball in chapter 7?
18. List all of the confessions and executions. What do these symbolize?
19. What message do these events send to the animals about their role in a future society?
20. Which commandment is violated?
21. What does Boxer think is the cause of the slaughter of fellow animals? What is his solution?
22. What do the animals realize on page 62?
23. What is banned? Why?