Animal Farm Discussion Questions

Chapter 7 & 8

Chapter 7

1. Why does Napoleon insist the windmill must be rebuilt immediately?

Napoleon insist the windmill be rebuilt immediately. One of the reasons he could want this is that
the animals are easier to control when they are working. Another reason would be to prove to that
“Snowball” couldn’t keep them down. He also wanted to impress the other farms and show them that
Animal farm could be just as successful as any other farm.
2. Why does Napoleon order that the hens’ eggs be sold?
Napoleon needs money to buy the machinery for the windmill. The first thing he does is sell some
excess wood. Then he tells the chickens that their eggs should be sold so that they can build the windmill.
The hens do not like this.
3. How does Napoleon react when the hens’ rebel against his orders?
First they protest that taking away the eggs now would be murder. They flew up to the rafters to
lay their eggs which then smashed on the floor. Napoleon decreed that the hens would have no food. After
five days the hens surrendered their eggs. Nine hens were dead.
4. Why does Napoleon revive the threat of the farm being sabotaged by Snowball?
Napoleon used the threat of Snowball as a scapegoat. If it is Snowball’s fault, it certainly isn’t
Napoleon’s, he’s a great and kind leader.
5. Explain why the animals confessed to being traitors. Or is there any explanation?
The animals confessed to being traitors because of fear. This confession is a lot like the 18th
century witch hunts. The person is put under pressure and told it will stop when they confess. If this
doesn’t work they threaten something they love, ex: family member. To save the thing they love, they
confess and are put to death.
6. Why does Napoleon order the animals to stop singing “Beasts of England?”
Napoleon claims the beasts of england was the revolution song and now that it is over, the song
should go too. One of the more probable reasons is that he does not want the animals thinking about the
words of the song and rebelling against him.

Chapter 8

7. What purpose is served by the production figures Squealer reads to the animals?
The purpose of the food production figures that Squealer reads to the animals is to manipulate
them. The “animals saw no reason to disbelieve him” (p. 27). Squealer is leading them to believe that they
are more successful since the revolution and Napoleon’s takeover.
8. How is Napoleon becoming more and more like a typical dictator?
Napoleon is coming out less in public. He sends Squealer to talk to the animals. He is always
surrounded by his guard. He is making the animals work like slaves on very little food, for his and his
elite’s gain.
9. Compare/contrast the poem “Comrade Napoleon” to “Beast of England.”
Beasts of England focuses on what will disappear with man and how their lives will be better
without man. Comrade Napoleon focus on the safety and joy that Napoleon brings. They both talk about
the perfect life that comes from revolution/Napoleon. Napoleon fears the idealistic song of a utopian
society and replaces it with propaganda.
10. Describe the sale of the stack of lumber. How does Napoleon outwit himself?
Napoleon differs between the two farms for who he wants to sell it to. This makes the farms raise
their price and both become REALLY made at him. At first he differs between the two, then seems to
come to a deal with Pilkington. He changes the mantra to “Death to Frederik” and rumors are spread
about Frederick’s evil. Then Napoleon announces an agreement with Frederick and the animals are
shocked. The propaganda is changed to “Death to Pilkington”. It turns out that Frederick paid for the
wood with fake bills. Then he attacks.
11. What makes the battle against Frederick’s men different from the Battle of the Cowshed?
There were more men and more guns at the Battle of the Windmill than at the Battle of the
Cowshed. The animals sustain great injuries in the recent battle, more than in the Battle of the Cowshed.
The men also destroy the infrastructure of Animal Farm, namely the windmill. The animals are victorious
but at a heavy price.
12. Why do the men blow up the windmill?
The men want to destroy the structure of animal farm. This is a display of how they can destroy
anything the animals build with little more than thought. This discourages and enrages the animals
leading them to drive the men off.
13. The animals celebrate a victory, but at what cost?
The animals celebrate the victory by breaking the fifth commandment; no alcohol. This leads the
animals to believe that Napoleon is dying and the pigs get addicted. THey buy machinery to make alcohol
and change the commandment so they can get drunk.
14. Describe the whisky incident. Why would Orwell make this scene somewhat humorous?
The pigs find some whiskey in the cellar. The pigs use it to celebrate and become drunk.
Napoleon is hungover and the pigs think he is dying. Orwell makes this humorous because he is poking
fun at Russia's. With the five year plan, Stalin tried things that other countries enjoyed but did not quite
know how to handle them. This is represented by Napoleon thinking he is dying when he is really just
hungover.
15. Why are the animals so easily fooled, even when they find Squealer with a ladder and white paint
beside the barn at night?
The animals have poor education, literacy and memory. This makes it easier for Napoleon to
control them. He sent Squealer to change the commandments in the middle of the night. THe animals
come to see what is happening, but thanks to their previous brainwashing, none of them can figure out
what was happening.

Your pre-planning contribution:

1. Scholarly Question (open-ended and no Google)

What government system would ensue if Napoleon was overthrown? Will interaction with
humans become permanent?
2. Comment – what was the most interesting observation you made in these chapters?
Boxer almost asked Napoleon whether or not to kill the dog and Napoleon still wants to
kill him.
3. Best Quote – most interesting, prophetic, confusing, amusing, annoying, cool, etc.
“ALL that year the animals worked like slaves. But they were happy in their work; they
grudged no effort or sacrifice, well aware that everything that they did was for the benefit of
themselves and those of their kind who would come after them, and not for a pack of idle,
thieving human beings. “ (p. 18)