Theme
Theme of Violence
Violence in Animal Farm is a tool of political oppression. Not only do we see actual violence used to kill and to exile enemies of the leadership, but equally important is the threat of violence. If any animal rebels or questions the pigs’ leadership, he or she can expect to face violence as a punishment.
- What are the different kinds of violence we see? What are the tools of violence, and who is fighting whom here? Do the answers to these questions evolve over the course of the story?
* Throughout the book you see violence between the animals, war violence, and execution type violence. The animals go from fighting the humans to fighting each other throughout the course of the book. The answers to these questions do evolve throughout the book because throughout the book the animals learn that they are not fighting one person in particular, but they are fighting for their freedom.
- How is it that Napoleon executes such extremes of violence, and still has the other animals convinced he's a good guy?
*Napolean is a leader, so his acts of violence convince the other animals that he's doing it for the betterment of their lives,although he has an alterior motive.
-The progression of violence from battles between the animals and the humans to abuse within Animal Farm itself is the most significant outcome of the pigs’ corruption. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
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Quote
"He is dead," said Boxer sorrowfully. "I had no intention of doing that. I forgot that I was wearing iron shoes. Who will believe that I did not do this on purpose?" (4.10) Why is this quote important to the theme of Violence?
Theme of Power: Control over the Intellectually Inferior
In Animal Farm, the pigs take power after the Rebellion because they claim that they are the most intelligent animals on the farm. Yet it soon becomes clear that intelligence and good intentions need not go hand in hand.
· Are the sheep completely useless? Do we actually need these less intellectual workers to support everyone else?
· While the sheep are extraordinarily inept, do they also have a certain power?
Theme of Pride
In Animal Farm, pride serves to unite the animals as a common group; in this way it is something akin to camaraderie. The animals take pride in banding together to overthrow their oppressive leader, and their communal feeling benefits everyone. Yet Napoleon, himself an extremely vain pig, quickly learns how to use the animals’ pride as a tool of manipulation. They are also so proud of their animal-run farm that they are blind to the fact that it is failing and corrupt.
· Is pride beneficial or harmful to the animals? For the pigs? For the humans?
· What do the pigs feel proud of as compared to what the other animals feel proud of?
Quote
“There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. Napoleon was so gratified that he left his place and came round the table to clink his mug against Mr. Pilkington's before emptying it.” (10.28)
How and why is this quote important to the theme of pride?
Violence in Animal Farm is a tool of political oppression. Not only do we see actual violence used to kill and to exile enemies of the leadership, but equally important is the threat of violence. If any animal rebels or questions the pigs’ leadership, he or she can expect to face violence as a punishment.
- What are the different kinds of violence we see? What are the tools of violence, and who is fighting whom here? Do the answers to these questions evolve over the course of the story?
* Throughout the book you see violence between the animals, war violence, and execution type violence. The animals go from fighting the humans to fighting each other throughout the course of the book. The answers to these questions do evolve throughout the book because throughout the book the animals learn that they are not fighting one person in particular, but they are fighting for their freedom.
- How is it that Napoleon executes such extremes of violence, and still has the other animals convinced he's a good guy?
*Napolean is a leader, so his acts of violence convince the other animals that he's doing it for the betterment of their lives,although he has an alterior motive.
-The progression of violence from battles between the animals and the humans to abuse within Animal Farm itself is the most significant outcome of the pigs’ corruption. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
*
Quote
"He is dead," said Boxer sorrowfully. "I had no intention of doing that. I forgot that I was wearing iron shoes. Who will believe that I did not do this on purpose?" (4.10) Why is this quote important to the theme of Violence?
Theme of Power: Control over the Intellectually Inferior
In Animal Farm, the pigs take power after the Rebellion because they claim that they are the most intelligent animals on the farm. Yet it soon becomes clear that intelligence and good intentions need not go hand in hand.
· Are the sheep completely useless? Do we actually need these less intellectual workers to support everyone else?
· While the sheep are extraordinarily inept, do they also have a certain power?
Theme of Pride
In Animal Farm, pride serves to unite the animals as a common group; in this way it is something akin to camaraderie. The animals take pride in banding together to overthrow their oppressive leader, and their communal feeling benefits everyone. Yet Napoleon, himself an extremely vain pig, quickly learns how to use the animals’ pride as a tool of manipulation. They are also so proud of their animal-run farm that they are blind to the fact that it is failing and corrupt.
· Is pride beneficial or harmful to the animals? For the pigs? For the humans?
· What do the pigs feel proud of as compared to what the other animals feel proud of?
Quote
“There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. Napoleon was so gratified that he left his place and came round the table to clink his mug against Mr. Pilkington's before emptying it.” (10.28)
How and why is this quote important to the theme of pride?