Before or during reading, it is helpful to review the ways that this novel is allegorical. Students will need knowledge of important Russian figures, and how they relate to the characters of Animal Farm. If starting this assignment while reading, students can complete this character map to help keep track of important attributes of each character. If completing before reading, internet research may be helpful to establish prominent figures and characteristics of particular communist leaders that play a significant role in the allegory.
| BOOK CHARACTERS | DESCRIPTION | HISTORICAL FIGURES |
|---|---|---|
| Old Major | He is the first of the animals who stands up for the working class. It is his original suggestion to revolt against the humans. | Karl Marx/Lenin |
| Snowball | A true leader of the revolt, the other animals look up to him. He is the one who comes up with the plans for a windmill. | Leo Trotsky |
| Napoleon | After Old Major's death, Napoleon uses Snowball to continue Major's dream. After the rebellion, he seizes control, becoming a tyrant. | Stalin |
| Squealer | Squealer often speaks for Napoleon and is excellent at using rhetoric to manipulate the animals. | Russian Media |
| Boxer & Clover | Boxer is a working horse who believes wholeheartedly in the cause. He works himself to death for "Animalism". | The Russian Working Class |
| Mollie | A horse who was never for the rebellion, she eventually is lured away from the farm because she does not believe in the animals' ideology. | Russia's Upper Classes/Loyal to Czar |
| Benjamin | A smart, wise, old donkey who can read and write just as well as the pigs. He continuously remarks that donkeys live a long time, suggesting that with age comes wisdom. | The Older Generation of Russians |
| Moses | A raven who speaks of a lost paradise for animals called "Sugar Candy Mountain." | Russian Orthodox Church |
| Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher | These dogs are Napoleon's enforcers. He uses the dogs to run Snowball off the farm. | The Police/Military |
| Mr. & Mrs. Jones | The drunk farmer that owned the farm before the animals took over. He dies with hopes to regain the farm but never does. | Tsar Nicholas II and the Former Aristocracy |
| Mr. Whymper | A capitalist that Napoleon hires to work deals with neighboring farms for him. | Capitalism in the Soviet Union |
| Mr. Pilkington | A landowner of a neighboring farm who sells Napoleon some land. In the end, he oddly cheers Napoleon's success, which seems fake! | Leaders of England |
| Mr. Frederick | Owner of Pinchfield Farm, who is notorious for "driving hard bargains", swindles Napoleon by buying timber from him with counterfeit bills. He later tries to take Animal Farm forcibly, but is unsuccessful. | Leaders of Germany |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Use This Assignment With My Students", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a character map for the major characters.
Grade Level 9-12
Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)
Type of Assignment Individual or Partner
Type of Activity: Character Map
Common Core Standards
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 25 Points | Beginning 17 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Picture & Scene | The characters and scenes are both appropriate for the book's characters. | Many of the characters and scenes match the book's characters. | More than half of the characters and scenes do not match the characters in the book. |
| Accuracy of Notes | Most of the information of the notes is correct. | Many of the notes have correct information, but some are incorrect or missing. | Less than half of the information of the notes is correct and relevant. |
| Effort | Work is complete, thorough, and neat. | Most of the sections of the character map were at least attempted and work is presentable. | Character map is unfinished and/or disorganized. |
