good hook for animal farm essay

A Summary and Analysis of George Orwell’s Animal Farm

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Animal Farm is, after Nineteen Eighty-Four , George Orwell’s most famous book. Published in 1945, the novella (at under 100 pages, it’s too short to be called a full-blown ‘novel’) tells the story of how a group of animals on a farm overthrow the farmer who puts them to work, and set up an equal society where all animals work and share the fruits of their labours.

However, as time goes on, it becomes clear that the society the animals have constructed is not equal at all. It’s well-known that the novella is an allegory for Communist Russia under Josef Stalin, who was leader of the Soviet Union when Orwell wrote the book. Before we dig deeper into the context and meaning of Animal Farm with some words of analysis, it might be worth refreshing our memories with a brief summary of the novella’s plot.

Animal Farm: plot summary

The novella opens with an old pig, named Major, addressing his fellow animals on Manor Farm. Major criticises Mr Jones, the farmer who owns Manor Farm, because he controls the animals, takes their produce (the hens’ eggs, the cows’ milk), but gives them little in return. Major tells the other animals that man, who walks on two feet unlike the animals who walk on four, is their enemy.

They sing a rousing song in favour of animals, ‘Beasts of England’. Old Major dies a few days later, but the other animals have been inspired by his message.

Two pigs in particular, Snowball and Napoleon, rouse the other animals to take action against Mr Jones and seize the farm for themselves. They draw up seven commandments which all animals should abide by: among other things, these commandments forbid an animal to kill another animal, and include the mantra ‘four legs good, two legs bad’, because animals (who walk on four legs) are their friends while their two-legged human overlords are evil. (We have analysed this famous slogan here .)

The animals lead a rebellion against Mr Jones, whom they drive from the farm. They rename Manor Farm ‘Animal Farm’, and set about running things themselves, along the lines laid out in their seven commandments, where every animal is equal. But before long, it becomes clear that the pigs – especially Napoleon and Snowball – consider themselves special, requiring special treatment, as the leaders of the animals.

Nevertheless, when Mr Jones and some of the other farmers lead a raid to try to reclaim the farm, the animals work together to defend the farm and see off the men. A young farmhand is knocked unconscious, and initially feared dead.

Things begin to fall apart: Napoleon’s windmill, which he has instructed the animals to build, is vandalised and he accuses Snowball of sabotaging it. Snowball is banished from the farm. During winter, many of the animals are on the brink of starvation.

Napoleon engineers it so that when Mr Whymper, a man from a neighbouring farm with whom the pigs have started to trade (so the animals can acquire the materials they need to build the windmill), visits the farm, he overhears the animals giving a positive account of life on Animal Farm.

Without consulting the hens first, Napoleon organises a deal with Mr Whymper which involves giving him many of the hens’ eggs. They rebel against him, but he starves them into submission, although not before nine hens have died. Napoleon then announces that Snowball has been visiting the farm at night and destroying things.

Napoleon also claims that Snowball has been in league with Mr Jones all the time, and that even at the Battle of the Cowshed (as the animals are now referring to the farmers’ unsuccessful raid on the farm) Snowball was trying to sabotage the fight so that Jones won.

The animals are sceptical about this, because they all saw Snowball bravely fighting alongside them. Napoleon declares he has discovered ‘secret documents’ which prove Snowball was in league with their enemy.

Life on Animal Farm becomes harder for the animals, and Boxer, while labouring hard to complete the windmill, falls and injures his lung. The pigs arrange for him to be taken away and treated, but when the van arrives and takes him away, they realise too late that the van belongs to a man who slaughters horses, and that Napoleon has arranged for Boxer to be taken away to the knacker’s yard and killed.

Squealer lies to the animals, though, and when he announces Boxer’s death two days later, he pretends that the van had been bought by a veterinary surgeon who hadn’t yet painted over the old sign on the side of the van. The pigs take to wearing green ribbons and order in another crate of whisky for them to drink; they don’t share this with the other animals.

A few years pass, and some of the animals die, Napoleon and Squealer get fatter, and none of the animals is allowed to retire, as previously promised. The farm gets bigger and richer, but the luxuries the animals had been promised never materialised: they are told that the real pleasure is derived from hard work and frugal living.

Then, one day, the animals see Squealer up on his hind legs, walking on two legs like a human instead of on four like an animal.

The other pigs follow; and Clover and Benjamin discover that the seven commandments written on the barn wall have been rubbed off, to be replace by one single commandment: ‘All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.’ The pigs start installing radio and a telephone in the farmhouse, and subscribe to newspapers.

Finally, the pigs invite humans into the farm to drink with them, and announce a new partnership between the pigs and humans. Napoleon announces to his human guests that the name of the farm is reverting from Animal Farm to the original name, Manor Farm.

The other animals from the farm, observing this through the window, can no longer tell which are the pigs and which are the men, because Napoleon and the other pigs are behaving so much like men now.

Things have gone full circle: the pigs are no different from Mr Jones (indeed, are worse).

Animal Farm: analysis

First, a very brief history lesson, by way of context for Animal Farm . In 1917, the Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, was overthrown by Communist revolutionaries.

These revolutionaries replaced the aristocratic rule which had been a feature of Russian society for centuries with a new political system: Communism, whereby everyone was equal. Everyone works, but everyone benefits equally from the results of that work. Josef Stalin became leader of Communist Russia, or the Soviet Union, in the early 1920s.

However, it soon became apparent that Stalin’s Communist regime wasn’t working: huge swathes of the population were working hard, but didn’t have enough food to survive. They were starving to death.

But Stalin and his politicians, who themselves were well-off, did nothing to combat this problem, and indeed actively contributed to it. But they told the people that things were much better since the Russian Revolution and the overthrow of the Tsar, than things had been before, under Nicholas II. The parallels with Orwell’s Animal Farm are crystal-clear.

Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution and the formation of a Communist regime in Russia (as the Soviet Union). We offer a fuller definition of allegory in a separate post, but the key thing is that, although it was subtitled A Fairy Story , Orwell’s novella is far from being a straightforward tale for children. It’s also political allegory, and even satire.

The cleverness of Orwell’s approach is that he manages to infuse his story with this political meaning while also telling an engaging tale about greed, corruption, and ‘society’ in a more general sense.

One of the commonest techniques used in both Stalinist Russia and in Animal Farm is what’s known as ‘gaslighting’ (meaning to manipulate someone by psychological means so they begin to doubt their own sanity; the term is derived from the film adaptation of Gaslight , a play by Patrick Hamilton).

For instance, when Napoleon and the other pigs take to eating their meals and sleeping in the beds in the house at Animal Farm, Clover is convinced this goes against one of the seven commandments the animals drew up at the beginning of their revolution.

But one of the pigs has altered the commandment (‘No animal shall sleep in a bed’), adding the words ‘ with sheets ’ to the end of it. Napoleon and the other pigs have rewritten history, but they then convince Clover that she is the one who is mistaken, and that she’s misremembered what the wording of the commandment was.

Another example of this technique – which is a prominent feature of many totalitarian regimes, namely keep the masses ignorant as they’re easier to manipulate that way – is when Napoleon claims that Snowball has been in league with Mr Jones all along. When the animals question this, based on all of the evidence to the contrary, Napoleon and Squealer declare they have ‘secret documents’ which prove it.

But the other animals can’t read them, so they have to take his word for it. Squealer’s lie about the van that comes to take Boxer away (he claims it’s going to the vet, but it’s clear that Boxer is really being taken away to be slaughtered) is another such example.

Communist propaganda

Much as Stalin did in Communist Russia, Napoleon actively rewrites history , and manages to convince the animals that certain things never happened or that they are mistaken about something. This is a feature that has become more and more prominent in political society, even in non-totalitarian ones: witness our modern era of ‘fake news’ and media spin where it becomes difficult to ascertain what is true any more.

The pigs also convince the other animals that they deserve to eat the apples themselves because they work so hard to keep things running, and that they will have an extra hour in bed in the mornings. In other words, they begin to become the very thing they sought to overthrow: they become like man.

They also undo the mantra that ‘all animals are equal’, since the pigs clearly think they’re not like the other animals and deserve special treatment. Whenever the other animals question them, one question always succeeds in putting an end to further questioning: do they want to see Jones back running the farm? As the obvious answer is ‘no’, the pigs continue to get away with doing what they want.

Squealer is Napoleon’s propagandist, ensuring that the decisions Napoleon makes are ‘spun’ so that the other animals will accept them and carry on working hard.

And we can draw a pretty clear line between many of the major characters in Animal Farm and key figures of the Russian Revolution and Stalinist Russia. Napoleon, the leader of the animals, is Joseph Stalin; Old Major , whose speech rouses the animals to revolution, partly represents Vladimir Lenin, who spearheaded the Russian Revolution of 1917 (although he is also a representative of Karl Marx , whose ideas inspired the Revolution); Snowball, who falls out with Napoleon and is banished from the farm, represents Leon Trotsky, who was involved in the Revolution but later went to live in exile in Mexico.

Squealer, meanwhile, is based on Molotov (after whom the Molotov cocktail was named); Molotov was Stalin’s protégé, much as Squealer is encouraged by Napoleon to serve as Napoleon’s right-hand (or right-hoof?) man (pig).

Publication

Animal Farm very nearly didn’t make it into print at all. First, not long after Orwell completed the first draft in February 1944, his flat on Mortimer Crescent in London was bombed in June, and he feared the typescript had been destroyed. Orwell later found it in the rubble.

Then, Orwell had difficulty finding a publisher. T. S. Eliot, at Faber and Faber, rejected it because he feared that it was the wrong sort of political message for the time.

The novella was eventually published the following year, in 1945, and its relevance – as political satire, as animal fable, and as one of Orwell’s two great works of fiction – shows no signs of abating.

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“Animal Farm” by George Orwell Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

The first thing that can be highlighted is that most of the literature pieces are not created just for the sake of entertainment and relaxation but also for meaningful reflections. A lot of novels and books are extremely thought-provoking and encourage readers to engage in discussions and conversations with others. What is important to mention is that different authors achieve this goal in different ways. For instance, some prefer to build their reading on metaphors, some on specific organizations and structures, and others establish their texts on satire. One of such literature prices is an allegorical novella Animal Farm written George Orwell. This reading is extremely interesting from that point of view and, for this reason, should be carefully analyzed. Therefore, the following paper will prove that Animal Farm is a satirical work by using the elements of satire.

Before discussing the elements of satire in the identified novella it seems essential to learn more about its plot and meaning. This reading is an allegory, which is a specific story where the chosen characters and situations represent other characters and situations for the purpose of making a point about them (“Animal Farm at a Glance”). In the story, a group of animals rebel against the human farmer, embrace the idea of Animalism, and organize a revolution in order to achieve justice and equality. However, everything ends with a totalitarian dictator becoming the head of the community and ruining its desire for progress and justice. Since the reading is an allegory, the readers should try looking at the vents from a different perspective. As it appears, Animalism stands for communism, farm stands for Russia, the farmer for the Russian Tzar, the pig for the revolutionary Trotsky, and Napoleon stands for the figure of Stalin (“Animal Farm at a Glance”). Therefore, even by analyzing what characters and situations represent in the story, it can already be stated that the reading is a satire because it represents real people and situations in an ironic way.

Satire and its elements are used in literature works in order to highlight some features of the situation or a person and make fun of them. It effectively represents stupidity of humans, especially those who are the members of the high society layers. One of the most obvious elements that the author of the Animal Farm uses in order to highlight the satire is irony. He uses animals and represents then as being able to talk, feel, and make decisions “in order to illustrate the abuse of one group of humans by another” (Boremyr 3). It can easily be noticed in the end of the story when it becomes almost impossible to tell the animals apart from the humans. Throughout the story, they became more human despite the commitment to the Animalism philosophy. By doing this, he achieves the goal of showing the brutality, corruption and incompetence of the Soviet Union not just like in a history book but in an entertaining and fun way.

Additionally, another way in which the author frames the story as a satirical work is the concept of defamiliarization. As suggested by Adhikari, this idea “tends to throw light on the special use of language in the works of art, unlike the use of language in the everyday life” (378). This concept generally suggests that that various forms of language used to present familiar things in unfamiliar ways for the purpose of persuading their readers and appealing to their emotions can encourage them to look at those things from a different perspective (Adhikari 378). For this reason, by using the concept of defamiliarization, the author increases the irony of the whole novella, makes the forms unfamiliar and difficult to understand, and increases the process of perception and decision-making. Orwell did not adopt the violent mode in order to represent and satirize communism (Adhikari 385). On the other hand, he satirized it and employed a more subtle way of representation (Adhikari 285). Therefore, Animal Farm can be called a satirical piece of literature because the author uses the concept of defamiliarization in order to present the readers with a different and more ironic perspective on a familiar issue.

To summarize, Animal Farm is an interesting and thought-provoking novella. It is very insightful not just from the point of its meaning but also the effective use of satire throughout the story. The author was able to incorporate the different elements of this concept in order to increase its satirical nature and encourage the readers to reflect on this more. Therefore, the presented paper proved that Animal Farm is a satirical novella.

Works Cited

Adhikari, Krishanu. “Animal Farm: A Satire on Communism Through ‘Defamilirization’.” An International Refereed e-Journal of Literary Explorations , vol. 1, no. 1, 2014, pp. 378-385.

“Animal Farm at a Glance.” CliffsNotes . Web.

Boremyr, Hanna. “Reading Orwell’s Animals: An animal-oriented study of George Orwell’s political satire Animal Farm.” 2016.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — Animal Farm

Essays on Animal Farm

What makes a good animal farm essay topic.

When it comes to writing an essay on Animal Farm, choosing the right topic is crucial. A good essay topic should be thought-provoking, engaging, and offer ample opportunities for analysis and interpretation. It should allow you to explore the various themes, characters, and literary devices employed by George Orwell in his iconic novel. Here are some recommendations to help you brainstorm and choose the perfect essay topic.

When brainstorming essay topics for Animal Farm, it's important to consider the themes and underlying messages of the novel. Think about the parallels between the events in the book and real-life historical or political events. Consider the characters and their motivations, as well as the use of allegory and symbolism throughout the story. A good essay topic should also be specific enough to allow for in-depth analysis, but broad enough to offer multiple avenues of exploration.

A good Animal Farm essay topic should be relevant, thought-provoking, and open to interpretation. It should encourage critical thinking and analysis, and allow you to delve into the complexities of the novel. Your topic should also be unique and original, offering a fresh perspective on the text. With these considerations in mind, you can choose a topic that will make for a compelling and insightful essay.

Best Animal Farm Essay Topics

• The use of propaganda in Animal Farm
• The role of the pigs in the novel
• The allegorical representation of the Russian Revolution
• The theme of corruption and power in Animal Farm
• The significance of the windmill in the story
• The role of the working class animals in the rebellion
• The character of Napoleon and his leadership style
• The theme of loyalty and betrayal in the novel
• The significance of the Seven Commandments
• The role of fear and intimidation in maintaining control
• The impact of language and rhetoric in the novel
• The symbolism of the various animals on the farm
• The theme of social class and inequality in Animal Farm
• The role of violence and coercion in the story
• The significance of the final scene in the novel
• The theme of utopia and dystopia in Animal Farm
• The portrayal of human nature in the book
• The impact of ignorance and apathy on the farm
• The role of education and knowledge in the novel
• The significance of the ending of Animal Farm

Animal Farm essay topics Prompts

• Imagine if the animals on the farm had been successful in creating a utopian society. How would the story have unfolded differently?
• Explore the parallels between the events in Animal Farm and real-life historical revolutions. How does the novel reflect the complexities of political change?
• Consider the role of fear and intimidation in maintaining power on the farm. How does this theme resonate with contemporary society?
• Analyze the character of Boxer and his unwavering loyalty to the cause. What does his story reveal about the nature of power and manipulation?
• Imagine if George Orwell had written Animal Farm from the perspective of the humans on the neighboring farms. How would this change the reader's understanding of the story?

Choosing the right essay topic for Animal Farm is essential to crafting a compelling and insightful piece of writing. By considering the themes, characters, and literary devices of the novel, you can brainstorm unique and thought-provoking topics that will allow for in-depth analysis and interpretation. Whether you choose to explore the use of propaganda, the role of the pigs, or the allegorical representation of the Russian Revolution, a good essay topic will offer ample opportunities for critical thinking and engagement with the text. With the right topic in hand, you can delve into the complexities of Animal Farm and offer a fresh perspective on this timeless classic.

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An Analysis of Literacy and Power in Animal Farm, a Book by George Orwell

"animal farm" mirrors the russian revolution in both characters and events, the exploitation in the animal farm, the revolution in animal farm, power and leadership in animal farm, animal leaders as russian politicans in animal farm, ideal society in animal farm, propaganda in animal farm, "the animal farm": a review of themes and characters, russian revolution and orwell animal farm, the animal farm, orwell's novel review: snowball and napoleon comparission, animal farm by george orwell: the issue of government and management, the difference in representation of napoleon and snowball characters in 'animal farm', the significance of old major's speech on equality in animal farm, a novel by george orwell, themes of socialism and capitalism in orwell's animal farm, comparison of snowball and napoleon in the animal farm, compassion in animal farm by george orwell, rhetorical devices in animal farm by george orwell, animals' inability to read in animal farm, ignorance and the result of class segregation: napoleon, boxer and the destruction of animal farm.

17 August 1945

George Orwell

Allegorical Novella

Political Satire

Napoleon, Old Major, Snowball, Squealer, Boxer, Mr. Jones, Clover, Pilkington, Mr. Frederick, Mr. Whymper, Benjamin

The book has been influenced during Orwell's Spanish Civil war experiences and author's opinion regarding Stalinist corruption of the original socialist ideals.

It symbolizes Russia and the Soviet Union under Communist Party rule. The symbols include capitalism, socialism, fascism, and communism. The rule of power, corruption.

The Animal Farm teaches us an important lesson that it is not possible to create a utopian society since every leader will sooner or later become corrupt. Another important aspect is the gain of power and temptation of a luxurious life that is always based on personal gain. It is a reason why it becomes an important book that tells about the potential of good intentions. While it does portray the authoritarian example of the USSR, it also explores the ways of people that still serve others with good intentions.

The book tells a story about farm animals who rebel against their human farmer. As simple as that, they hope to create a different society where every animal can live an equal life, remain free, and feel happy. It is a complex allegory that tries to reflect a revolution. Still, this animal rebellion is betrayed with the farm ending up in a poor state. The reason for this failure, according to Orwell, is the dictatorship's rule of a pig named Napoleon.

• The Animal Farm has been rejected more than most books in the history of publishing by the big names until Secker & Warburg decided to publish it.
• The book became influential for C.S. Lewis who believed that the book is about equality where every animal is equal, yet some are more equal than others.
• The book has been based on real-life village of Wallington, which is where Orwell has lived during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
• The Animal Farm became a propagandistic tool of the CIA to bring anti-communist views across the world.
• Speaking of the Soviet Union, the novel has been banned until about 1988 when "Glasnost" views have made it possible for the Latvian magazine to publish it in four parts.
• The book has also been banned in Cuba, North Korea, Kenya, and even the United Arab Emirates.
• The book has inspired numerous world-famous musicians like The Beatles and Pink Floyd.
• Patrick Stewart of Star Trek fame was the one who voiced the main character "Napoleon".
• "Remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you astray. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. It is all lies. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself. And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are comrades."
• "All the habits of Man are evil. And, above all, no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers. No animal must ever kill any other animal. All animals are equal."
• "The animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
• "Animal Farm, Animal Farm, Never through me shalt thou come to harm!"
• "Ah, that is different!" said Boxer. "If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right."

The purpose of the book is to explain how existing potential often leads to dangers of good intentions. As the political satire of the USSR's ruling style, it aims to show that revolution and striving for change comes from good intentions, yet misleads people into something else. Using dystopian fiction, Orwell remains precise in his opinion regarding tyranny and origins that it has. It also deals with ignorance and an intentional failure to notice things.

This topic is important for essays because it deals with corrupting influence of power, totalitarian regime, sincerity, propaganda, and the good intentions that we all have. It is also a good topic to tell about leadership and betrayal. Since this book deals with an allegory, it must be taken as an example of our modern life.

The Old Major's speech represents a significant element for this novel because it speaks of the very idea of rebellion that is brought to the minds of the animals. It is the first time when they start approaching human beings as their enemies and see themselves as the victims of animalism or farm oppression. The major speaks about hardships and bad lives and claims that it is Farmer Jones that is to blame. It can be approached as the turning point of the novel.

Relevant topics

• Catcher in The Rye
• A Rose For Emily
• The Crucible
• All Quiet on The Western Front
• Purple Hibiscus
• Consider The Lobster
• A Long Way Gone

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105 Animal Farm Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Animal Farm is a highly acclaimed novella written by George Orwell in 1945. This satirical allegory portrays the events leading up to the Russian Revolution and the Stalinist era in the Soviet Union. The story is set on a farm, where the animals overthrow their human farmer and establish a society of their own. As the pigs, led by Napoleon, take control, they gradually become corrupt and oppressive, mirroring the rise of totalitarianism in the real world. If you are studying Animal Farm and are in need of essay topic ideas, here are 105 examples to inspire you:

• The role of Old Major in inspiring the animals' revolution.
• The symbolism of the different animals on the farm.
• The significance of the Seven Commandments.
• How does Napoleon manipulate the other animals' beliefs and emotions?
• The dynamic between Napoleon and Snowball.
• The portrayal of the working class in Animal Farm.
• The theme of power and corruption.
• The role of propaganda in maintaining control.
• The importance of education and knowledge in the novel.
• The role of fear and intimidation in Napoleon's rule.
• The significance of the windmill as a symbol of progress.
• The role of the dogs in enforcing Napoleon's control.
• The portrayal of loyalty in Animal Farm.
• The theme of betrayal in the novel.
• The impact of language and rhetoric on the animals' perception of reality.
• The role of Squealer as a propagandist.
• The significance of Boxer's character and fate.
• The portrayal of the working class's struggles in Animal Farm.
• The theme of equality and its eventual corruption.
• The role of the neighboring farms in the story.
• The portrayal of human nature in Animal Farm.
• The importance of leadership and its abuse in the novel.
• The role of the windmill as a tool of oppression.
• The significance of the Battle of the Cowshed.
• The portrayal of the individual versus the collective in Animal Farm.
• The theme of revolution and its aftermath.
• The portrayal of the idealistic and naive animals in the story.
• The impact of the pigs' abuse of power on the other animals.
• The theme of justice and its absence in Animal Farm.
• The role of the working class in bringing about change.
• The portrayal of the media and its manipulation in the novel.
• The significance of the song "Beasts of England."
• The portrayal of the different social classes on the farm.
• The role of fear as a tool of control.
• The theme of hope and its eventual loss.
• The impact of religion and spirituality in Animal Farm.
• The portrayal of the female characters in the story.
• The significance of the pigs' transformation into humans.
• The theme of betrayal and its consequences.
• The role of the windmill as a symbol of false promises.
• The portrayal of the intelligentsia in Animal Farm.
• The impact of greed and selfishness on the animals' society.
• The theme of manipulation and its effects on the animals.
• The significance of the animals' ignorance and lack of education.
• The portrayal of the working class's exploitation in Animal Farm.
• The role of violence and intimidation in maintaining control.
• The theme of rebellion and its consequences.
• The impact of the animals' ignorance on their ultimate fate.
• The significance of the pigs' control of the food supply.
• The portrayal of the farm's economic system.
• The role of the neighboring farms in the animals' struggle for freedom.
• The theme of betrayal and its impact on trust.
• The impact of the pigs' manipulation on the animals' perception of reality.
• The significance of the Battle of the Windmill.
• The portrayal of the working class's resilience in the face of oppression.
• The role of fear as a tool of manipulation.
• The theme of idealism and its corruption in Animal Farm.
• The impact of the animals' lack of education on their ability to resist oppression.
• The significance of the pigs' control of the written word.
• The portrayal of the different social classes' struggle for power.
• The role of the windmill as a symbol of false hope.
• The theme of revolution and its failure.
• The impact of the pigs' abuse of power on the other animals' morale.
• The significance of the animals' lack of historical knowledge.

These essay topic ideas provide a wide range of avenues for exploration in your analysis of Animal Farm. Whether you choose to focus on the characters, themes, or symbols, there is no shortage of material to explore in this thought-provoking novella. Remember to support your arguments with evidence from the text and to develop your ideas in a logical and coherent manner. Happy writing!

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Planning and writing an 'Animal Farm' essay

I can plan and write an extended and developed response to 'Animal Farm'.

Lesson details

Key learning points.

• Reading the question and picking out key words is useful in order to understand its expectations.
• Planning key points helps to create an overarching argument.
• Single paragraph outlines are useful in creating a detailed plan for the main body of an essay.
• Using success criteria is an effective way to help write an essay.

Common misconception

That quotes in essays need to be long and are difficult to remember.

Can you remember anything Boxer says? How about words used to describe characters? Any of the commandments? These are all key quotes.

Hypocritical - To behave in a way that contradicts supposed beliefs or feelings.

Manipulative - To use controlling behaviours to gain power over another or get them to behave in a certain way.

Hierarchy - A system which positions people in relation to status or power.

Dependent - To need the support of someone or something in order to exist.

You will need access to a copy of 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell.

Content guidance

• Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited ( 2024 ), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Starter quiz

6 questions.

Animal Farm

73 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-7

Chapters 8-10

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Why might Orwell have chosen the format of an animal fable for his satire of the Soviet Union? Does this format make for more effective satire? Why or why not?

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?

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• George Orwell

Animal Farm

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Hook for Animal Farm – Critical essay

Animal Farm by George Orwell depicts Napoleon as the supreme leader and how the power gradually corrupts him into becoming everything they fought against in the rebellion. Losing the quote “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ fits well with Napoleon and his reign as a leader. I believe Napoleon has always wanted power, however it came to be. He, and many of the other pigs, took no part in the rebellion.

Orwell showed Napoleon as a dictation opportunist, never topping or letting anything get in his way of achieving his goal to take over and leading the farm. Orwell describes him as a pig who has “a reputation for getting his own way”. I believe this is beginning to foretell us about Napoleon’s mysterious nature and his behavior that continuously gets worse as the novella progresses. As soon as Napoleon takes the role as the leader and seizes power, we, as the reader, understand he has very little care for Old Majors speech and therefore, little care for the revolution.

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He doesn’t care about the equality of the animals, only for himself ND the other pigs. “Never mind the milk, comrades! That will be attended to. The harvest is more important…. I shall follow in a few minutes… ” ‘When they came back that evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared”. The milk is a symbol of wealth, and when the animals arrive back after the long days work the milk is gone and feel this foreshadows chapter 3 as we see Napoleon has taken it for himself, and the other pigs.

But the milk should have been given out equally, as the 7th commandment states ‘All Animals Are Equal’. ‘ ‘The mystery of where the milk went was soon cleared up. It was mixed every day into the pigs’ mash”. This is Napoleons first act of corruption as the leader. Napoleon decides soon after to have all the apples taken to the harness room for “use of the use of the pigs. The apples are another symbol of wealth and power as only the pigs are permitted to eat them.

When Napoleon gave the order for the public executions, he was officially robbing the animals of free speech. “When they had finished their confession the dogs promptly tore their throats out, and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess”. I noticed Napoleon’s preferred method of execution is to tear their throats out. Napoleon forces the animals executed to tell lies about themselves and about their supposed treachery before they are brutally murdered.

He installs fear within the animals and makes them afraid to speak the truth. He makes them afraid to speak the truth – or even speak and (if they were intelligent enough) form an opinion. He absolutely robs them of free speech, exactly like tearing out their throats. In the final scene of the novella, a delegation of neighboring rammers are offered a tour Of the farm, after which they are invited to meet back in the dining room of the farm house with Napoleon and the other pigs.

Mr. Politicking offers a toast, with the alcohol, for the success of animal, which leads Napoleon to his new policies about changing the farm name back to its original ‘Manor Farm’. After he has finished his speech the pigs and animals combined play cards, but a loud quarrel erupts when both Napoleon and Mr. Politicking each try to play the ace of spades, and as the other animals look on upon the arguments taking place, they are unable to distinguish the preference between the humans and the pigs.

This is Napoleons greatest act of absolute corruption and the final act of his transformation into Jones. The completion of the second windmill marks a further linking of the animals and humans: used not for a generator but instead for milling corn, and thus making money. The windmill’s symbolic meaning has been reversed and corrupted. Animal Farm is now inevitably tied to its human neighbors in terms of business and atmosphere. This completes the transformation from Animal Farm to Manor Farm.

There will never be a “retirement home” for old animals (as shown via Clover), and the pigs come to resemble their human oppressors to the degree that “it was impossible to say which was which” Although Napoleon is a much harsher and stern master than the reader is led to believe Jones ever was. Napoleon’s power had corrupted the whole idea of Minimalism & the Seven Commandments, which the whole utopia of animal farm first started with. The power that the three pigs obtained had corrupted them and, then Napoleon received absolute power, which corrupted the society as a whole.

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Essay on Animal Farm

Students are often asked to write an essay on Animal Farm in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Animal Farm

Introduction.

Animal Farm is a novel by George Orwell. It’s a tale about a group of animals who overthrow their human farmer to establish an independent farm.

The story is filled with symbolism. The animals represent different social classes, and the farm symbolizes a state or a country.

Animal Farm explores themes like power, corruption, and inequality. It shows how power can corrupt individuals and lead to unfair societies.

In conclusion, Animal Farm is a powerful critique of power and corruption. It encourages readers to question authority and strive for fair societies.

250 Words Essay on Animal Farm

“Animal Farm,” a novel by George Orwell, is a profound allegory that uses animals to depict the tumultuous era of the Russian Revolution. This masterpiece is replete with sophisticated themes and symbolism, making it a compelling read for college students.

Symbolism and Allegory

Orwell employs the farm animals as symbols to represent the key figures and ideologies of the Russian Revolution. For instance, the pigs Napoleon and Snowball are representations of Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky respectively. The Rebellion represents the Bolshevik Revolution, and the animal’s collective vision of a utopian society mirrors the communist ideology.

The novel explores themes of power and corruption, class struggle, and the dangers of ignorance. The pigs’ gradual accumulation of power and their transformation into oppressive rulers illustrate how power can corrupt. The ongoing conflict between the pigs and other animals signifies class struggle, while the animals’ blind trust in the pigs underscores the perils of ignorance and indoctrination.

Critical Analysis

“Animal Farm” is a critique of totalitarian regimes, particularly communism under Stalin. It illustrates how these regimes manipulate language and education to control the masses, leading to societal decay. Orwell’s clever use of satire and irony makes the novel a powerful political commentary.

“Animal Farm” is more than a simple tale about animals. It is a profound political and social critique, a timeless piece that remains relevant even today. Orwell’s novel serves as a warning of how power can corrupt and the importance of critical thinking and education in society.

500 Words Essay on Animal Farm

Orwell’s ingenious allegory.

Orwell’s narrative brilliance lies in his use of animals to represent key figures and events in Russian history. The pigs Napoleon and Snowball symbolize Stalin and Trotsky, respectively, while the Rebellion represents the Russian Revolution. By using animals, Orwell manages to distill complex historical and political events into a simple, yet profound, tale. This enables the reader to understand the mechanisms of power, corruption, and propaganda that are at play in any society, not just in the context of the Soviet Union.

Themes: Power and Corruption

“Animal Farm” offers a powerful exploration of how power can lead to corruption. The pigs, despite initially advocating for equality, gradually become indistinguishable from the humans they overthrew. This transformation underscores Orwell’s warning about the dangers of absolute power. The phrase, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others,” poignantly encapsulates this theme. It serves as a reminder that power can distort ideals, leading to inequality and oppression.

Use of Language as a Tool of Control

Relevance in contemporary society.

While “Animal Farm” is a critique of the specific historical event of the Russian Revolution, its themes have universal relevance. The novella’s exploration of power, corruption, and the manipulation of truth resonates in today’s world, where fake news and propaganda are prevalent. It serves as a cautionary tale, urging readers to question authority, challenge propaganda, and resist the allure of absolute power.

In conclusion, “Animal Farm” is a powerful allegorical tale that uses a simple story of animals’ rebellion to explore complex themes of power, corruption, and manipulation. Orwell’s narrative brilliance shines through his use of animals to represent historical figures and events. Despite being rooted in a specific historical context, the novella’s themes continue to resonate in contemporary society, making it a timeless piece of literature.

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Animal Farm

I need a good hook for my essay on animal farm, my thesis is: "how does external forces like elements of persuasion from the pigs affect the farm animals." any suggestions.

1-3 sentences to grab reader’s attention, define your key terms and make the reader want to read on. What is your essay about? Do not mention the work studied or the author in the lead. Connect real world issues on topic to your essay or historically specific examples.

You will first need to decide what angle you're using... external force. You can concentrate on propaganda, or more appropriately fear (external threats). Napoleon's use of the dogs for example.

Certainly! Crafting a compelling hook for your essay on "Animal Farm" can draw readers in and set the tone for your exploration of the influence of persuasion on the farm animals. Here's a hook suggestion: "In George Orwell's 'Animal Farm,' the enchanting promise of 'All animals are equal' reverberates through the barnyard, but as the pigs master the art of persuasion, the once-revolutionary commandment undergoes a sinister transformation. Just as a hypnotic melody can sway the most resistant soul, the pigs' persuasive tactics prove that power and rhetoric can be as seductive as any siren's song." This hook introduces the central theme of persuasion and its impact on the farm animals while using a vivid metaphor to engage your readers. It sets the stage for your thesis by highlighting the transformation of the animals' beliefs and the pigs' persuasive tactics.

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Animal Farm Essay Topics: 50+ Ideas and Example for Your Paper

by  Antony W

December 16, 2023

It’s easier and faster to write an animal farm essay if you teacher gives you a topic to cover. It’s the opposite if you have to choose a topic yourself because ideation is time consuming.

Quite too often, you have to read books, search the internet, or even consult your course mate for topics and ideas. By the time you find a good title, you probably have only a few hours left to complete the paper.

Fortunately, there’s an easier way to find essay topics . That’s by looking at our pre-compiled ideas on Animal Farm. In this post, you’ll find 50+ topic ideas related to Animal Farm, the beast fable by George Orwell.

You can use the list to inspire you to come up with a new, solid idea, or you can pick a topic from it and explore it further in your paper.

We have divided these topics into different categories, so you can choose your area according to the type of essay your teacher wants you to write. Also, while this is by no means an exhaustive list, it’s a good starting point for brainstorming.

Key Takeaways

• Choose a topic that you find interesting, especially one that falls within a theme that you‘ve always wanted to explore. 
• If you already have a topic but not enough time to write the paper, you can pay an essay writer here to get the first draft of the paper written for you.

50+ Best Animal Farm Essay Topics

Below are list of animal farm essay topics divided into different categories:

Easy Animal Farm Essay Topics

• How the narrative of Animal Farm serve as a reflection of democratic principles
• Ways in which Animal Farm mirror the inverse of Russia under Hitler’s reign, as depicted by Orwell?
• How do the animals willingly surrender their freedom in Animal Farm, and what does this signify?
• Why is the theme of freedom so crucial in George Orwell’s Animal Farm?
• The role symbolism plays in conveying the deeper messages within Animal Farm
• How does George Orwell’s biography connect to the themes and motifs explored in Animal Farm?
• Explore the theme of fear and its various manifestations throughout Animal Farm.
• The instances of corruption evident within the narrative of Animal Farm
• In what ways does Animal Farm function as an allegory for the Soviet Union?
• Analyze Squealer’s use of propaganda as a tool to instill fear among the animals in Animal Farm.
• How does the concentration of power affect the characters and events within Animal Farm?
• What are the explicit manifestations of communism in Animal Farm’s storyline?
• What are the inherent faults or shortcomings depicted within the construct of Animal Farm?
• Assess the effectiveness of Napoleon’s propaganda tactics in Animal Farm.

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Interesting Animal Farm Essay Topics

• How does George Orwell’s use fear utilized as a potent tool for spreading propaganda in Animal Farm?
• Discuss the rhetorical issues presented within the narrative of Animal Farm.
• Trace the evolution of efficiency as portrayed in the Soviet Union mirrored within the storyline of Animal Farm.
• How are issues of corruption addressed or confronted within the context of Animal Farm?
• Explore the subsequent effects of favoritism depicted in Animal Farm and its impact on the farm’s dynamics.
• How does the narrative portray the decline or deterioration of democracy within the farm?
• Assess the repercussions of curtailed freedom as depicted in Animal Farm.
• What implications does ignorance hold within the context of Animal Farm and its narrative?
• Investigate the thematic implications of freedom within the context of the story.

Good Essay Topics Derived from Animal Farm

• Compare and contrast the parallels between The Stranger and Animal Farm.
• In what ways can you compare and contrast the ideologies of Nazism and Animal Farm?
• How does Animal Farm depict the conflict between socialism and communism?
• Explore the Marxist perspective and its applicability to Animal Farm.
• Analyze Napoleon’s dictatorship and its characteristics within Animal Farm.
• Discuss the complexities and harsh realities associated with the concept of freedom in Animal Farm.
• How does Animal Farm depict the interplay between intelligence and manipulation among its characters?
• What role does education and knowledge play in the ascent and downfall of power dynamics within Animal Farm?
• How is propaganda and rhetoric used to sway and control the animals’ intelligence in Animal Farm?
• Can you explore the varying types of intelligence exhibited by different animals in Animal Farm and their significance to the story?
• How do the struggles for intelligence among the animals in Animal Farm parallel the human experience?
• Analyze the theme of intellectual suppression and control within the narrative of Animal Farm.
• How is history and memory manipulated to control the intelligence of the animals in Animal Farm?
• Discuss the failure of the intelligent animals in Animal Farm to recognize their own oppression despite their intellect.

General Animal Farm Essay Topics

• How George Orwell’s Animal Farm serves as a metaphor for life in the USSR during its time
• How George Orwell presents and characterizes Napoleon within the narrative of “Animal Farm.
• Explore the significance of the animals’ inability to read and its impact on their lives within Animal Farm.
• Analyze the use of distortion as a literary device in George Orwell’s Animal Farm and its effects on the narrative.
• In what ways does Animal Farm by George Orwell portray the importance of freedom within society?
• Examine the distortion of socialism as depicted in George Orwell’s Animal Farm.
• Trace the path to tyranny depicted in Animal Farm by George Orwell and its underlying themes.
• Discuss how Benjamin embodies a prototypical character in the tale of Animal Farm by George Orwell and the significance of his role.
• Analyze the political message against totalitarianism conveyed in George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

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About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.