Animal Farm Flashcards
How does snowball direct the battle of cowshed?
Snowball studied Julius Caesar’s campaign. During the battle, he sends out rounds of attacks at a time to take the opponents by surprise.
Compare snowball and boxer’s attitude towards war
Snowball’s attitude towards war is that war means killing, and he showed no signs of sympathy when a human died, while Boxer’s attitude is the opposite. He said that he didn’t want to kill the humans just scare them.
What typical organizational steps are taken after the victory in the battle of cowshed?
They had a funeral for the sheep that died and awarded “Animal Hero, First Class” to Boxer and Snowball.
Why are the pigs accepted as the planners of farm policy? What important qualification is placed on their power?
The pigs were accepted as the planners of the farm policy because they were “manifestly cleverer than the other animals,” but all decisions had to be approved by majority vote.
On what issues do Snowball and Napoleon disagree? How does each try to win out in such disputes?
Napoleon and Snowball disagree on everything possible to disagree on. Snowball often persuaded the animals with his clever speeches, but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself. He was also very good with the sheep.
How do Napoleon and Snowball handle the bitter controversy over the windmill?
They both created a mantra, and some animals rallied for Snowball, others for Napoleon. Also, at the actual voting session, Napoleon has his dogs chase Snowball off of the farm.
What was the first right Napoleon takes away from the animals? How do the animals respond to this?
Napoleon decides that Sunday meetings aren’t important anymore, so they can no longer vote or debate on farm issues. The animals were distressed and upset, but didn’t protest. Those who did speak up were scared by Napoleon’s dogs
What is Squealer’s explanation of the abolishment of the animal vote?
He explains that loyalty and discipline is extremely important for Napoleon to lead effectively or else the animal union will falter and Jones would overthrow them and take his farm back
Why is boxer’s reaction important?
Boxer states that whatever Napoleon says is right, showing his loyalty to him. Boxer is the centre of the working animals, and without his support, it would be difficult for Napoleon to continue his leadership.
Why did Napoleon change his mind and decide to have the animals build the windmill? How does Squealer explain Napoleon’s decision to build after all?
Napoleon did not state his reason for changing his mind, but it was possibly a plan to reduce rations. Squealer said that Snowball actually stole Napoleon’s ideas of building a windmill and Napoleon only pretended to reject the plans get rid of Snowball, who is dangerous and a bad influence.
What contradictions appear on animal farm, for example, in the voluntary Sunday work?
The Sunday work is called voluntary, yet the dogs would attack them if they protest. Also, Napoleon breaks a commandment by sleeping in the beds
Why do the animals continue to slave away to make animal farm succeed?
Because if they don’t, they are afraid that either Mr. Jones will come back, or that Napoleon’s dogs will attack them
How is squealer able to allay the fears of the other animals and convince them that the decisions being made are for the best?
Squealer tells the animals that they had been mistaken and that the resolution had never been made. He asked them if they dreamt it instead.
How are the pigs able to fulfill their own desires without violating the original commandments?
The pigs want to sleep in a bed, and they say that the commandment states the rule against sheets and not beds, therefore them sleeping in a bed is okay.
Although Snowball has been banished, how is he still valuable to Napoleon?
Napoleon can blame all his mistakes and unfair rules on Snowball, so that the animals gain even more faith and trust in Napoleon
