Snowball

Question 1

What does Snowballs name suggest about him?

Answer 1

• Snowballs name suggests snow itself which gathers momentum but which melts away quickly - something with instant impact but disintegrates just as quickly.
• This is nomenclature of how following the Revolution Snowball took up the position of leader alongside Napoleon but was removed quickly by his rival.
• The coldness of snow relates to Snowballs attitude towards other animals and humans especially.
• Like Trotsky, Snowballs equivalent in the Russian Revolution, he is an idealist with big plans to the advantage of the animals.

Question 2

Why is Snowball the first victim of Napoleon?

Answer 2

Snowball is Napoleon’s enemy and doesn’t anticipate being so or think of removing Napoleon. Unlike Napoleon he isn’t concerned with the power struggle between them and only the ideology of Animalism, which Napoleon doesn’t intend on enforcing.

Question 3

How does Snowball take the initiative after the rebellion?

Answer 3

• He paints out the name Manor Farm and renames the farm Animal Farm
• He writes up the commandments
• He designs the flag
• He develops much of the ideology of Animalism by inventing the maxim “Four legs good, two legs bad”

Question 4

Give quotes for these qualities:

• A good organiser
• Intelligent
• Brave
• Believes In the education of all animals
• He is an idealist
• An intellectual who generates ideas readily
• Frank

Answer 4

• “Snowball also buried himself with organising the other animals into… Animal Committees… besides instituting classes in reading and writing.”
• “Snowball who had studied an old book of Julius Caesar’s campaign was in charge of defense operations.”
• “Snowball now gave the signal for the charge… he himself dashed straight for Jones.”
• see first quote
• “The flag was green, snowball explained…. signified the future Republic of the Animals which would arise when the human race had been finally overthrown.”
• After surveying the ground, Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill, which could be made to operate a dynamo and supply the form with electrical power.”
• “We have no means of making sugar on this farm. Besides, you do not need sugar.”

Question 5

Name some critiques of Snowball

Answer 5

• He doesn’t consider the animals themselves, only the idea of making their lives better. He lacks compassion
• He is also a pig, and it is noticed that he doesn’t protest when the milk and the apples are reserved by Napoleon exclusively for the pigs. He is content with a ruling elite
• He is narrow minded and naive to believe that humans are his only enemy. This is due to him being oblivious to possible enemies within Animal Farm or due to such assurance that none would oppose his ideas.

Question 6

Describe Snowball and his character during the battle of the cowshed (5)

Answer 6

• He was clever and forward thinking, having anticipated the attack from the humans (Ironic that he couldn’t see Napoleon’s attack. Snowball is open about his thinking and Napoleon keeps his plans to himself)
• He was an exemplar military leader, formulating strategy and fighting alongside the other animals and leading from the front during battle. (Contrast with Napoleon’s notable absence)
• He sticks to his ideals and has selfless dedication to his cause “…Need for all animals to be ready to die for Animal Farm if need be.”
• Snowballs plans are successful and the animals are victorious
• Afterwards, as blood drips from his wounds, he makes a speech, patriotically inspiring the animals.

Question 7

Make a contrast between Snowball and Napoleon in their attitudes to power (3)

Answer 7

• It is ironic that Snowball is expelled just when he seems the most successful. He pushed for his plans for the Windmill and has instilled democracy into the animals, however Napoleon disposes him using his dogs when he makes his bid for power.
• Snowball works with open plans to better the animals, Napoleon works by himself with his plans to better himself and the pigs.
• Snowball thought that power was the ability to communicate ideas and carry them out and Napoleon believes power lies in who instills fear and control over the populous.