ANIMAL FARM JOURNAL RESPONSE

Journal Guidelines // 20 points per response

  1. Each multi-paragraph journal must include at least two pieces of textual evidence in proper quote sandwich citations. The journal must be one-page minimum neatly handwritten (if you write big, expect to write more) or typed in MLA formatting (size 12, double spaced, Times New Roman font, with one-inch margins).
  1. The response for each set of chapters is due one week after it was assigned. Please write/type the question you answered at the top of the page before you turn in.
  1. Your response must be reflective and include deeper insights. Give more than the typical response; really dig into the novel and think critically about it. This novel has some very important lessons that we can all learn from. You’ll miss things if you skim the surface and complete the assignment just to get by.
  1. You may be asked to share your responses during class discussions, so come prepared with something interesting to say.
  1. Here’s the tricky part: Sometimes I’ll let you decide which question you want to answer, but other weeks you’ll be assigned a specific question. The correlation will not be the same each week, and I reserve the right to change my mind about the topic I give you/ your class. Therefore you’ll need to wait to see what question/s are assigned to your particular class period!
  1. Always, always proofread your work. Checking spelling and grammar takes a few seconds. Rereading your work isn’t a large time commitment either. Don’t be lazy. Any work that doesn’t meet these standards will be returned for you to complete and resubmit.

Journal Questions for Chapters 1-3

Use the information in the chapters listed to answer one of the questions below:

  1. Do you think Animal Farm will be a utopia? Why or why not? If not, how would you modify the new government? Be specific and think about the animals Seven Commandments.
  1. What freedoms do we take for granted in the USA? Do you think we have too much freedom? What does “freedom” mean to you? Compare and contrast your ideas to the animals’ ideas.

DUE DATE ______

Journal Questions Chapters 4-5

Use the information in the chapters listed to answer one of the questions below:

  1. Language is powerful. Think of how the pigs use language to manipulate the other animals on the farm. How do you manipulate language in your own life? Reflect on the variances of tone, word choice, gestures, etc. that add to your language.
  1. Often readers don’t understand how the animals could blindly follow everything Napoleon dictates to them. The same could be said of the Germans during World War 2. What do you think? Are people more likely to follow their leaders or critically think for themselves? Explain. How does this tie into propaganda?

Chapters 6-8

  1. Why do you think all of those animals confessed to plotting with Snowball? Do you really think they did? Explain.

DUE DATE ______

Journal Questions Chapters 9-10

Use the information in the chapters listed to answer one of the questions below:

  1. Some critics say that the moral of Orwell’s novel is not “could this happen again?” but rather “how is it happening already?” Explain how you think the events on Animal Farm (corruption, tyranny, etc.) are still taking place in today’s world.
  1. Why do you think Orwell made the characters animals and not humans? Does this add or subtract from the satire in the novel? Why or why not?
  1. We talked about how Animal Farm is an allegorical, satirical, fable with allusions. Pick three of those literary devices (allegory, satire, fable, or allusion) and provide three specific textual examples to show how the author uses them in his story.
  1. Research and connect one real, historical character/group from the Russian Revolution to a character in the novel (Stalin, Trotsky, Marx, T/czar Nicolas II, the proletariat, the propaganda machine). Explain in detail how the two are similar and different. See your notes for help.

DUE DATE ______