George orwell animal farm
(1944)
ACTIVITIES
As you read the book, make a list of the characters, their characteristics and their roles in the story.
For example,
Mr Jones
He is the drunken and brutal manager of Manor Farm, who is immediately seen as unfit to look after his business or his animals. He believes in the suppression and domination of "inferior" beasts through violent means, as well as in their exploitation.
Mr Jones can be seen as representing the tsarist regime of Imperial Russia.
Major
Major is the eloquent and inspiring dreamer at the beginning of the novel, an elder of the farm. His advocacy of freedom from tyranny inspires the subsequent events.
He represents the ideals of government in Russia laid down by Lenin.
STUDY QUESTIONS
As you read the book, try to find the answers to the following questions:
1. How and why does the word "comrade" change in the course of the novel?
2. What is the significance throughout the novel of the Seven Commandments?
3. With reference to Animal Farm, discuss what you understand by the term "political allegory".
4. Why is the subtitle to Animal Farm "a Fairy Story"?
5. What happens to the sheep and cows in the novel? Go through the book finding references to these two animals. What do these animals represent?
CHAPTER 1. ACTIVITIES
Focus
As you read, note down all the things Major tells the other animals to do and say whether you think his ideas are good or bad.
Follow-up
In the first two paragraphs, what impression do you have of Mr and Mrs Jones? Why is it important to the animals that the farmer is "safely out of the way"?
What does Major appeal to while speaking to the animals? When he addresses them as "Comrades", what does he mean? Do you know of any similar appeal in any other human situation?
What differences does Major make between animals and human beings? And between farm animals and "wild creatures"?
Make a list of what Major tells the other animals to do and not to do.
Have you ever read or listened to the words of a song similar to "Beasts of England"? If so, what are the points of comparison? If not, what these words might inspire you to think of a new life?
Why did the meeting break up?
Vocabulary
(not) to be of first-rate intelligence
a common interest
a decent life
a miserable, laborious life
to abolish
to acquire
to admit
an overwhelming majority
benevolent appearance
to come to an end
to communicate
to conceal / reveal - скрывать / раскрывать, обнаруживать
to conquer
to consume
cruel; cruelty
devoted; faithful; loyal
dignity
to emerge; to appear
engage in trade - заниматься торговлей
enormous; vast; tremendous; immense; huge; gigantic; colossal
to escape
evil - зло
the evils of this life
face (a problem; a challenge); Let's face it.
to falter
fate
fertile (soil)
to flee the country; flee across the border; flee (fled)
fruitful
future generations
to get rid of
highly regarded
I feel it my duty to ...
in abundance
in order to
in spite of the fact
in succession - один за другим
successive governments - сменяющие друг друга правительства
justice
majestic
make (oneself) comfortable; settle down; lay down; nestle down
manslaughter ; slaughter; bloodshed; bloodbath
to overthrow
to pass on
preliminary - предварительный
to prosper; prosperity
to put (an issue) to the vote
to put an end to (slavery)
rebellion
resolution - решимость
to seize (power, control of) - схватить, захватить
to serve the interests of
to settle (a conflict)
to squeeze (oneself) in between
to starve; starvation
to stir - шевелиться, двигаться
stout
the plain truth
to slaughter; to kill; to slay
tyranny
to vanish; to disappear
vices and virtues
wisdom
TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH USING THE VOCABULARY FROM THE CHAPTER:
Посмотрим правде в глаза. Нам необходимо урегулировать этот вопрос как можно скорее.
Они хотели захватить власть в стране и создать тиранию.
Конгресс поставил вопрос на голосование, но подавляющее большинство членов было против этой идеи.
Мы должны свергнуть старый режим и отменить рабство.
Это приведет к процветанию нашего государства.
Нам необходимо избавиться от зол нашего общества.
Истинная правда состоит в том, что наша жизнь несчастна и многотрудна.
Хотя он был небольшого ума, но его сильно уважали на ферме.
Несмотря на то, что он был очень старым и тучным, он выглядел величественно и доброжелательно.
Почва наша плодородна, поля - плодотворны, пруды и озера полны рыбы, и еды у нас в изобилии. Мы не будем голодать в следующем году.
Самое важное - не утратить чувство собственного достоинства. И я считаю свои долгом передать эту мудрость будущим поколениям.
Мы должны признать, что наступило время положить конец насилию и кровопролитию.
Я больше не могу скрывать правду.
Мы заслуживаем более достойную жизнь и лучшую участь.
Ваша решимость никогда не должна поколебаться.
Предварительные документы были готовы.
Чтобы избежать жестокости, ему пришлось бежать из страны.
Эти страны решили заняться торговлей, поскольку у них были общие интересы.
Человек потребляет, ничего не производя. Нам нужно избавиться от человека. Но не перенимайте его пороки и привычки после восстания.
Кажется, что нет справедливости в этом мире.
CHAPTER 2. ACTIVITIES
Focus
In this chapter find as many words as you can which suggest violence or rebellion. If possible, compare your list with those of other students.
Make a list of the verbs describing various types of movement (for example, to halt, balance, walk, tiptoe, race, rush, skip, spring, leap, pursue, chase, roll, gallop, slip, climb, etc) and looking (survey, gaze, stare etc).
Follow-up
Which animals resumed Major's talk of rebellion and how long did it take them after Major's death?
What are "the lies put about by Moses, the tame raven"? What role do you think he plays in the story?
Snowball says that "Ribbons should be considered as clothes". As your reading continues, start a table or list in which you contrast animal and human behaviour. For example,
'the pigs ... had taught themselves to read and write'.
What is Animalism? What is it similar to?
Describe reactions of different animals to Animalism and the new way of life on the farm.
What do the Seven Commandments remind you of? Are the commandments difficult to keep to? Do you think all animals will be faithful to the commandments?