Animal Farm

Could the message of Animal Farm be appreciated by readers who did not know about the history of the Soviet Union and the real-life prototypes of the characters? Why or why not?

Who is the real hero of Animal Farm? Is there one? Why or why not?

Why do most of the animals not recognize the tyranny that is forming around them? Why do those who see it not act against it?

Does the novella argue that the Bolshevik Revolution was a good idea betrayed by bad leaders, or that the communist system is bad at its core? Support your argument with examples from the text.

What attitudes do humans exhibit toward the animals of Animal Farm? What do the humans hope to gain from them?

Would the farm have been a success under Snowball? Why or why not?

Orwell has the animals give Major a special burial, fire off guns on special days, and celebrate anniversaries of the Rebellion and the Battle of the Cowshed. What is Orwell saying about the human need for symbols and commemorating events?

What function do the outsider animals Moses and Mollie play in the book?