Essay writing: unpacking questions and writing theses on 'Animal Farm'

I can identify the key words in a question and use them to create a thesis statement.

Lesson details

Key learning points.

  • Underlining key words in an essay question helps identify what the focus of the question is.
  • The 'how' in the question refers to language devices, character arcs and structural devices.
  • Connect key words in the question to key themes in the novella.
  • Connect key words in a question to key plot points in the novella.
  • A thesis statement is an overarching argument and should include the writer's purpose.

Common misconception

Spending too much time reading the question wastes time when you could be writing the essay.

It gives time to select what is relevant. It is just as important to know what **not** to include in a well argued response.

Thesis - An overarching argument or the main idea in a response.

Inevitable - To suggest that something is certain. It will definitely happen.

Hierarchy - A system in which people are ranked according to power or status.

Annotate - To make and add notes or short explanations to texts or images.

You will need acccess 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.

Interesting Literature

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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Themes and Analysis

Animal farm, by george orwell.

'Animal Farm' is a political allegory based on the events of the Russian revolution and the betrayal of the cause by Joseph Stalin.

Mizpah Albert

Article written by Mizpah Albert

M.A. in English Literature and a Ph.D. in English Language Teaching.

The novel echoes the corrupting nature of power through the themes and symbols. It is a satire on totalitarianism and dictatorship.

Animal Farm Analysis

Animal Farm Themes

Totalitarianism.

Orwell’s use of Totalitarianism as the theme demonstrates, without education and true empowerment of the lower classes, any revolution led would only be led into oppression and tyranny. Initially, the results of the revolution look promising, as the animals get the direct benefit of their labor. Soon, the pigs adopt human ways and make business deals with farmers that benefit them alone. But, only negative changes happen in the life of the other animals. Still, they continue to work as their leader Napoleon bid them. In the end, the revolutionary leaders become as corrupt and incompetent as the government they overthrew.

Power of Language

Language has the power to engage and disengage. In Animal form, Orwell excellently depicts the power of language through the pigs, only animals with a strong command of language. In the beginning, singing “Beasts of England,” taught by the Old Major, infuses the emotional response.

Also, Snowball compiles the philosophy of Animalism and with his eloquent speech persuades his fellow animals on the farm to follow it. Similarly, Squealer with his adept skill of oration controls the animals on the farm. At the same time, the animals’ adoption of slogans like “Napoleon is always right” or “Four legs good, two legs bad” underlines their lack of understanding and easy to be manipulated nature.

Class structures

From time immemorial class division seems to be a major issue of human society. George Orwell comments on the same through the class division in ‘ Animal Farm ‘ before and after the revolution. He ironically presents the human tendency to have class structures even though they speak of total equality. When the story begins, class division is evident with the human beings being on top of every animal as the rulers of Manor Farm.

During the revolution, they vow not to treat any animal inferior. Soon it all changes, when the pigs, so-called “brain workers”, assume the role of leader and superiors start to control other animals. Evidently, Orwell points out the threat the class division imposes on society when they aim to have democracy and freedom.

Power leading to corruption

“Power leading to corruption” is another major theme Orwell explores in ‘ Animal Farm ’. Many of the characters, predominantly the pigs after the humans demonstrate the theme in the novel. Initially, humans exploit their power over animals. Later following the revolt, the pigs start to fill in the gap created by the eviction of man. They manipulate their position of leadership to exploit other animals. Though Napoleon is presented as the villain of the novel, neither Snowball nor the Old Major is immune to corruption.

As brain workers, the pigs, including Snowball, take advantage of the animal and keeps milk and apple away for them. Even Old Major, who brings forth the idea “all animals are equal,” lecturing from a raised platform, symbolically presents an idea of him being above the other animals on the farm. Altogether, it is made clear that the desire for power, evidently corrupt people.

The Failure of Intellect

Orwell presents a sceptical view on intellect that doesn’t produce anything of importance. In the novel, the pigs, identified as the most intelligent animals, use their intelligence only to exploit other animals than making their life better. Similarly, Benjamin, who is good, acts indifferent towards using the knowledge and speaks philosophically of moral values. Also, the dogs, equally intelligent like the pigs, don’t use their knowledge except to read “the Seven Commandments”. Thus, intelligence is often being unused or ill-used.

The Exploitation of Working Class

‘ Animal Farm ‘ more than being an allegory of the ways humans exploit and oppress one another, throws light upon how they exploit and oppress animals. In the first chapter, through Old Major’s speech, we get a detailed picture of how humans exploit the animals and rob them of their productions.

Also, in the second chapter, when the animals break open the harness-room at the end of the stables, they see “the bits, the nose-rings, the dog-chains, the cruel knives” with which Mr Jones extracted cruelty on the animals. Much like this, during the conversation between Mr Pilkington and Napoleon in chapter 10, he loosely comments “If you have your lower animals to contend with […] we have our lower classes!” Ultimately, it gives a perspective that, in the views of the ruling class, animals and workers are the same.

Analysis of Key Moments in Animal Farm

  • Old Major shares his dream of a life without humans. He also teaches the animals “Beasts of England” a song that inspires them.
  • Few months after the Old Major’s death, the revolt breaks out when Mr Jones forgets to feed the animals and a fed-up cow pushes her way into the store-shed to look for food. The animals rejoice in their victory. They change the name of the farm to ‘Animal Farm’ and decide on seven commandments to live by.
  • The animals are happy and they work well together more efficiently than Mr Jones ever did. Boxer, the horse, puts in a huge effort, with the motto ‘I will work harder!’.
  • The Battle of the Cowshed establishes Snowball as a hero. He also sets up ‘committees’ focused on education, reading and writing.
  • Napoleon, however, thinks educating the old animals is a waste of time. He focuses on the youngsters and removes the puppies of Jessie and Bluebell, to educate himself which foreshadows his guile nature.  
  • At one point, Napoleon drives Snowball out of the Farm with the help of the puppies, who are now grown-up dogs. But, Squealer convinces the other animals that Snowball was a traitor.
  • Napoleon announces himself to be the leader. And, he keeps making changes in the seven commandments. Finally, they have only one commandment that says, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
  • Later, he announces that the farm will be trading with neighboring farms. This comes as a shock to the animals as it goes against their commandments of Animalism.
  • In the final image, the animals in the Farms are confused and bewildered when they realize that they cannot tell the difference between man and pig. Both have been sublimated into each other.

Style, Tone, and Figurative Language

The style and language of  ‘ Animal Farm ‘ are simple as it involves Animal characters. The dialogues are delivered in short sentences, including the conclusion of the novel: “It was a pig walking on his hind legs […] He carried a whip in his trotter” (Chapter 10).  Further, Orwell has written the sentences in the passive voice, emphasizing the characters (animals) lack of control over the incidents that are happening.

To speak about the tone, it is playful and lighthearted in the beginning. It opens like any other fable where the animals could speak. Also, a tint of excitement could felt, as the animals win over their human suppressers and have hope for a beautiful future of their own. Soon, the tone turns bitter and monotonous in accordance with the story unfolds.

Two of the dominant figurative language use in ‘ Animal Farm ‘ is “onomatopoeia” and “Allusion”. Orwell employs animal sounds and movements to describe the actions. For example, while “stirring” and “fluttering” speaks of their movement, “cheeping feebly” and “grunting” explains their way of communications. 

‘ Animal Farm ,’ being an allegorical novel, alludes to Russian Revolution, through its settings and characters.  The character of the Old Major, Snowball, and Napoleon, alludes respectively to Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Stalin. Also, the events following the revolution: Battle of the Cowshed, Snowball being chased off the Farm, and the slaughter of the hens allude to Trotsky’s exile and the Moscow trials of 1936-38.  Though, the character of Napoleon is an allusion to Joseph Stalin, Russia’s totalitarian dictator, his name attributes to Napoleon Bonaparte, the French world conqueror.

Analysis of Symbols

‘ Animal Farm ’ uses symbols prevalently as it is more than a story of animals. From the Farm to the animals represent the People and events of the Russian Revolution. Unlike a narrative fiction in which the author decides on which events or characters to highlight, here he carefully standardized his plot to evoke the desired response from the readers. are not driven by the plot as in. Instead, his choices are carefully calibrated to evoke a desired response from the reader.

“Whiskey” symbolizes corruption in the novel. The changing perspective of the pigs over, consuming Whiskey delineates how steadily they fall prey to corruption. In the beginning, when Animalism is founded, one of the commandments read: ‛No animal shall drink alcohol.’ For the animals suffered in the hands of humans. But, when Napoleon and the other pigs come to enjoy whiskey, they change the commandment ‛No animal shall drink alcohol to excess’. Finally, when Napoleon uses the money received by selling Boxer, embodies his corrupted nature similar to that of human beings.

The Windmill

The windmill in the novel represents the attempt to modernize Russia. Initially, when Snowball proposes the idea of a Windmill, Napoleon protests against it. Later, he claims it as his own idea. Also, the product coming out inferior in quality refers to the general ineptitude of Stalin’s regime.

Boxer’s character in the novel symbolizes the Russian working class. With his strength, he does most of the work on the farm. Similarly, the working-class people of the Soviet Revolution were exploited for their energy. Like Boxer and the other animals betrayed by the pigs, the people were betrayed by the intellectuals. On the whole, communism was not as beneficial for the working class as it was originally intended to be.

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Mizpah Albert

About Mizpah Albert

Mizpah Albert is an experienced educator and literature analyst. Building on years of teaching experience in India, she has contributed to the literary world with published analysis articles and evocative poems.

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70 Animal Farm Essay Topics & Examples

🔎 unique animal farm essay questions, 🏆 best animal farm essay topics & examples, 👍 simple & easy animal farm essay titles, 🎓 most interesting animal farm essay topics.

  • Who Had the Absolute Power by the End of “Animal Farm”?
  • What Was the Main Symbol of “Animal Farm”?
  • Does the Story Condone Capitalism?
  • Who Is the Protagonist of “Animal Farm”?
  • What Are the Historical References in the Story?
  • Who Can You Compare Napoleon to?
  • Does “Animal Farm” Reflect the Russian Revolution?
  • How Do You Define Socialist Ideas of “Animal Farm”?
  • What Is the Snowball’s Role in the Story?
  • Were There Innocent Characters in “Animal Farm”?
  • George Orwell and Animal Farm: A Critical Analysis Other farm owners try to attack the Animal Farm but Snowball lead a successful defense in the battle of the Cowshed and gains much worship amongst the animals.
  • Animal Farm by George Orwell: Literary Analysis Providing the title for the work, Orwell seems to ask the questions about the differences in the regime of the Soviet Union and irrational rule of animals at the farm.
  • Propaganda in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell His greatest objective is to carry out the spreading of the revolution and to bring in the improvement of the general welfare of all the animals on the farm.
  • George Orwell and Two of His Works “1984” and “Animal Farm” Orwell draws on his own personal experiences in the context of political terrorism to describe a life, lived in fear and guilt.
  • “Animal Farm” by George Orwell After the revolution in the Animal Farm, the animals establish the philosophy of Animalism in order to be different from human beings.
  • Dystopias in “Animal Farm” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” In this regard, the aim of literary dystopias is to caution and warn society against the blind following of ideologies that lead to the breakdown of social order.
  • The Animal Farm by George Orwell There are animals which represent the poor people while the pigs and dogs represent the administrators of the leader. The pigs and dogs are given power to rule the animals by Jones who is the […]
  • “I Have a Dream” and “Animal Farm” The Old Major’s speech as portrayed in the narrative Animal Farm has myriad of similarities and differences to the speech given by Martin Luther King Jr.in his attempt to liberate the black race from discrimination.
  • “Animal Farm” by George Orwell One of the most obvious elements that the author of the Animal Farm uses in order to highlight the satire is irony.
  • Russian Revolution in Orwell’s “Animal Farm” Both the long-term and the short-term causes of the revolution contributed to the public outrage and diminished the people’s belief in the monarchy.
  • Social Conflicts in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell This is the only way for the animals to establish equality and create a flourishing, happy and wealthy society.”Animal Farm” by Orwell is a description of the metamorphoses that happen within a freedom movement turning […]
  • Domination in the Book “Animal Farm” The animals believed in the concept of equality and democracy. This discussion highlights some of the factors that influenced the social life of the animals within the farm.
  • The Comparison of Snowball to Napoleon in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Presentation of Napoleon in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Inability of the Animals to Read and Its Effect on Their Lives in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Use of Distortion as a Literary Device in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • The Importance of Freedom in Society as Portrayed in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Distortion of Socialism in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Path to Tyranny in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Prototypical Character of Benjamin in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Political Message Against Totalitarianism in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • An Analysis of the Differences Between the Novella “Animal Farm” by George Orwell and It’s Cartoon Adaptation
  • The Theme of the Deterioration of Moral Rules in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • A Metaphor for the Life in the USSR in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • A Character Analysis: Boxer and Capitalism in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • Use of Humor to Describe Historical Events Illustrated in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • A Look at the Political Events That Led to the Writing of “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • Totalitarianism Indictment in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Manipulation of Authority in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Theme of Absurditiy of the Russian Revolution in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Use of Language to Create a Propaganda in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Impact of Confrontation With Ideology of Communism and Theocracy on the Individual in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Personification of Animals in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely: An Analysis of Power and Strength in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • Timeline of Events Showing Napoleon’s Rise to Power in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • An Analysis of the Destructionof the Truth in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Effects of Power and Control in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • A Comparison of Stalin and Napoleon and the Development of Allegory in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Negative Effects of Absolute Power in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Depiction of the Many Twists and Turns of Today’s Society in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • The Mocking of Communism in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • The Attributes of Boxer’s Entrepreneurship as Described in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • An Analysis of Leader and Follower in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • A Look at Social Justice Issues Brought Out in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • An Analysis of the Conflict Between the Strong and the Weak in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • An Analysis of the Hidden Meaning in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • A Depiction of Communism Through a Fictional World of Animals in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • Taking Advantage in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Troubles of Russia Depicted in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Political Cycle Depicted in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • The Transformation of an Individual Caused by the Misuse of Power in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • “Animal Farm” in the Context of What Makes Human Beings Human
  • Old Major’s Speech to the Animals in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • A Comparative Analysis of Social Commentary in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell and “Animals” by Pink Floyd
  • The Portrayal of the Utopian Society in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • Analysis of Symbolism in “The Sound of a Voice” by David Henry Hwang and “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • Utopia and Dystopia in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • Comparison of “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift and “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
  • The Corruptness of Power Depicted in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
  • An Analysis of the Communism and Socialism in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Animal Farm — The use of power and propaganda in animal farm

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The Use of Power and Propaganda in Animal Farm

  • Categories: Animal Farm George Orwell Propaganda

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Words: 1721 |

Published: Jun 29, 2018

Words: 1721 | Pages: 4 | 9 min read

Works Cited

  • Anderson, M. (2012). Propaganda Techniques. In M. A. Genovese (Ed.), Encyclopedia of the United States in the Twentieth Century (pp. 623-625). New York: Infobase Publishing.
  • Arendt, H. (1951). The Origins of Totalitarianism. New York: Harcourt Brace & Co.
  • Botsford, K. (2015). Language and Propaganda. In K. Botsford (Ed.), Propaganda and Persuasion (6th ed., pp. 117-146). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
  • Ellul, J. (1965). Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes. New York: Vintage Books.
  • Orwell, G. (1946). Animal Farm. London: Secker and Warburg.
  • Pratkanis, A. R., & Aronson, E. (1992). Age of Propaganda: The Everyday Use and Abuse of Persuasion. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
  • Stanley, J. (2015). How Propaganda Works. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
  • Sunstein, C. R. (2017). #Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
  • Tifft, S. E. (2005). Analyzing Propaganda. In S. E. Tifft & P. M. Myers (Eds.), Handbook of Political Communication Research (pp. 263-279). New York: Routledge.
  • Welch, D. (2001). Propaganda and the German Cinema, 1933-1945. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

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what is thesis statement in animal farm

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  1. Animal Farm Thesis Statement: [Essay Example], 659 words

    Introduction. In George Orwell's classic novel, Animal Farm, the author uses a farmyard setting to satirically depict the rise and fall of a totalitarian regime. Through the use of anthropomorphic animals, Orwell effectively critiques the corrupting nature of power and the dangers of totalitarianism. This essay will explore the ways in which ...

  2. Animal Farm Sample Essay Outlines

    I. Thesis Statement: Animal Farm is a historical novel, set in England but dealing with the events leading up to and after the Russian Revolution of 1917. It illustrates the idea expressed by Lord ...

  3. Starting a thesis or essay on Animal Farm

    Summary: To start a thesis or essay on Animal Farm, begin by identifying a central theme or argument you wish to explore, such as the corruption of power or the manipulation of language. Develop a ...

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    George Orwell's Animal Farm is a political allegory that satirizes the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism. The novel explores the corrupting influence of power and the manipulation of language to control the masses. One of the key characters in the novel is Squealer, a pig who serves as the mouthpiece for the ruling class and uses propaganda to maintain their control over the other ...

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    A thesis statement is an overarching argument and should include the writer's purpose. Common misconception. Spending too much time reading the question wastes time when you could be writing the essay. ... In 'Animal Farm', what role does Boxer, the horse, play in the development of the story?

  6. "Animal Farm" by George Orwell

    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 ...

  7. A Summary and Analysis of George Orwell's Animal Farm

    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 ...

  8. Animal Farm by George Orwell: Literary Analysis Essay

    An animal farm is traditionally discussed as a place where animals are bred by humans. The farms are usually named after the owner. However, Animal Farm is rather different. It is a place where animals are owners of the properties (Orwell 6). While referring to the meaning and significance of the phrase which is used for the title of the ...

  9. Animal Farm Critical Essays

    Essays and criticism on George Orwell's Animal Farm - Critical Essays. Select an area of the website to search ... Starting a thesis or essay on Animal Farm In chapter 6 of Animal Farm, why is the ...

  10. Animal Farm Themes and Analysis

    Animal Farm Themes Totalitarianism. Orwell's use of Totalitarianism as the theme demonstrates, without education and true empowerment of the lower classes, any revolution led would only be led into oppression and tyranny. Initially, the results of the revolution look promising, as the animals get the direct benefit of their labor.

  11. PDF Position 6 (Set 1) Analysis: Lit

    The paper does list part of the assertions in the thesis, providing some focus. Position: Assertion This papers scores a 6 for the assertions. All assertions directly support the thesis, and the assertions are organized chronologically. For this paper to score higher, the assertions would need to be clarified in scope. Essay: Lit - Animal Farm ...

  12. PDF Animal Farm Argument Essay Outline Packet

    Animal Farm. Argument Essay Outline Packet. Step One: Pick and circle oneof the following writing prompts for your essay. 1) What corrupts people the most - money, material items or power? 2) Is it morally wrong to be someone like Benjamin who recognizes what is happening, but does not care enough to speak up, even if others will be hurt?

  13. 70 Animal Farm Essay Topics & Examples

    Comparison of "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift and "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. The Corruptness of Power Depicted in George Orwell's "Animal Farm". An Analysis of the Communism and Socialism in "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. 104 Frankenstein Essay Topics & Examples 87 The Crucible Essay Topics & Examples.

  14. Thesis Statement For Animal Farm Essay

    Thesis Statement: Dictators Create decisions for what can be said and done. The animals in the novel Animal Farm had created a set of commandments that all the animals had to follow, then one day the group Napoleon and the other pigs broke the fourth commandment by sleeping in beds, the Animals on the farm read the commandment and it decreed "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets ...

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    Absolutely FREE essays on Animal Farm. All examples of topics, summaries were provided by straight-A students. Get an idea for your paper ... An Outline For An Argumentative Essay About Capitalism And Socialism Introduction Introduction to "Animal Farm" by George Orwell Thesis statement The Setting and Initial Call for Change Introduction ...

  16. 20 Inspiring Ideas for a Brilliant Animal Farm Essay

    You can also look at these Animal Farm essay examples for inspiration if you need it: An Analogy of Power in Animal Farm by George Orwell. A Literary Analysis of the Characters in Animal Farm by George Orwell. An Analysis of the Manipulation in Animal Farm. The Corruption in Animal Farm.

  17. Thesis Statement Animal Farm Essay

    Crafting a thesis statement for an essay about Animal Farm poses several challenges for students. The novella is allegorical and interpretable in multiple ways, requiring students to encapsulate their argument while maintaining analytical depth. Additionally, students must balance analyzing the novella's many symbolic characters within the constraints of a thesis. Finally, addressing Animal ...

  18. Thesis Statement For Animal Farm Essay

    Thesis Statement for Animal Farm Essay - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. This document discusses writing a thesis statement for an essay about George Orwell's Animal Farm. It notes that crafting an effective thesis can be challenging, as it requires a deep understanding of the complex themes, symbols, and allegories in the novel.

  19. Animal Farm Suggested Essay Topics

    Suggested Essay Topics. 1. Major cautions the animals not to resemble man. Yet by creating animals who speak and reason, Orwell has endowed them with two characteristics which are thought to ...

  20. Themes of Education and Ignorance in Animal Farm

    In George Orwell's story, Animal Farm, there is an important theme of education and ignorance. Among other themes, Orwell shows that education is a powerful is a tool that can be used to have the upper hand. living in a place where power is effortless to gain, the pigs quickly use education to manipulate the rest of the animals on the farm to ...

  21. The Use of Power and Propaganda in Animal Farm

    In his 1946 allegory Animal Farm, Orwell satirized the 1917 Russian Revolution and the subsequent decades of totalitarian Soviet oppression. The story takes place on a fictional farm where the maltreated animals rebel and overthrow their human overlords. ... Moreover, the writer has also presented a concise and informative thesis statement ...

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    What's a good hook for an essay about the failure of utopia in Animal Farm? Quick answer: A compelling hook for an essay about the failure of utopia in "Animal Farm" could include a brief personal ...